What Eats Great Blue Herons?

Great blue herons (Ardea herodias) are found all over North America. There is an all-white form that lives in Florida and the Caribbean called the great white heron, but it is actually the same species. Blue herons primarily eat fish and are commonly found near ponds and marshes.

  1. Egg Predators

    • Ravens can quickly steal eggs from unsupervised heron nests.

      Crows and ravens are very smart and commonly steal eggs from heron nests while parents are away hunting.

    Chicks

    • Raccoons will eat eggs or chicks left unattended.

      Unsupervised chicks, like eggs, are an easy meal for predators like raccoons and red-tailed hawks.

    Adults

    • Bears are large enough to take down an adult blue heron if they choose.

      Great blue herons are the largest species of heron, but a hungry bear or eagle can still make a meal of one. Adult herons will usually leave an area where an adult or chick has been killed.