Great Blue Heron

Q: What are the chances of seeing a Great Blue Heron in Caracas?

Rare. Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Great Blue Heron sighting in Caracas on a given day, based on 263 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 112th most-seen of the 295 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

Q: When is the best time to see a Great Blue Heron in Caracas?

January. In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Great Blue Heron in Caracas on a given day, against under 5% in March to November, the lowest months. That is one of Caracas's driest months, with about 40 mm of rain against 120 mm in August.

Q: What time of day is best to see a Great Blue Heron?

Between 9 am and noon. Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Great Blue Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Q: Is Caracas the best place to see a Great Blue Heron?

38th of 44. Of the 44 cities where we can rate Great Blue Heron sightings, Caracas ranks 38th at under 5%. The best odds are in Mesa (United States, about 50%), Vancouver (Canada, about 50%) and Seattle (United States, about 40%).

Q: Where does the Great Blue Heron sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records. It is estimated from how often the Great Blue Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in Caracas (263 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

Ardea herodias

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR

KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
PhylumChordata (Chordates)
ClassAves (Birds)
OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies)
FamilyArdeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GenusArdea (Great Herons and Egrets)
SpeciesArdea herodias (Great Blue Heron)

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

at Caracas

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

263 Verified sightings at Caracas

64,453 In all 86 parks From 2019 to 2026

January Best month

☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Great Blue Heron

The great blue heron (Ardea herodias) is a large wading bird in the heron family (Ardeidae), common near shores of open water and wetlands over most of North and Central America, as well as Northwestern South America, the Caribbean, and the Galápagos Islands. It is occasionally found in the Azores and is a rare vagrant to Europe. An all-white population found in South Florida, the Florida Keys, and the Caribbean islands, is known as the great white heron. Debate exists about whether these white birds are a color morph of the great blue heron, a subspecies of it, or an entirely separate species.

The great blue heron was one of many species originally described by Carl Linnaeus in his 18th-century work, Systema Naturae. The scientific name comes from Latin ardea, and Ancient Greek ἐρῳδιός (erōdios), both meaning "heron".

The great blue heron's niche in the Old World is filled by the congeneric grey heron (Ardea cinerea), which is somewhat smaller at 90–98 cm (35–39 in) and sports a pale gray neck and legs, lacking the brown hues of the great blue heron. The great blue heron forms a superspecies with the grey heron, which also includes the Cocoi heron of South America, which... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Call0:10

United States · 2025

Uncertain0:33

Canada · 2024

Nocturnal flight call0:56

Canada · 2023

Global Distribution

Where it is recorded most Our parks where it lives Our cities where it livesIn captivity: 23 zoos & centres

Parks Where Found

#	Park	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Big Cypress National Preserve	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
2	Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge	🇺🇸 United States	~70%
3	Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~70%
4	Channel Islands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
5	Padre Island National Seashore	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
6	Everglades National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~60%
7	Point Pelee National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
8	Palo Verde National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~50%
9	Ciénaga de Zapata	🇨🇺 Cuba	~50%
10	El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
11	Bahía de Loreto National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~50%
12	Celestún Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~40%
13	Lago de Yojoa	🇭🇳 Honduras	~40%
14	Galápagos Islands	🇪🇨 Ecuador	~30%
15	Great Bear Rainforest	🇨🇦 Canada	~30%
16	Carara National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
17	Isla del Coco National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~30%
18	Grand Teton National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
19	Redwood National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
20	Jaragua National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~20%
21	Yellowstone National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
22	Ostional Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
23	Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
24	Pacific Rim National Park Reserve	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
25	Tortuguero National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~20%
26	Congaree National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
27	Zion National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
28	Elk Island National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~20%
29	Utría National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	~20%
30	Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
31	Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	~20%
32	Cabo Pulmo National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
33	Arrecifes de Cozumel National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~20%
34	Acadia National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~20%
35	Olympic National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
36	Voyageurs National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
37	Biotopo Cerro Cahuí	🇬🇹 Guatemala	~10%
38	Riding Mountain National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
39	Bastimentos Island National Marine Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
40	Soberanía National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
41	Caroni Swamp	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	~10%
42	Cape Breton Highlands National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
43	Big Bend National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
44	La Amistad International Park (Panama)	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
45	Great Smoky Mountains National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
46	San Lorenzo Protected Forest	🇵🇦 Panama	~10%
47	Cañón del Sumidero National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	~10%
48	Corcovado National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
49	Las Baulas Marine National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
50	Los Haitises National Park	🇩🇴 Dominican Republic	~10%
51	Grand Canyon National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
52	Manuel Antonio National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	~10%
53	Banff National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	~10%
54	Death Valley National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
55	Shenandoah National Park	🇺🇸 United States	~10%
56	Santa Rosa National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
57	Saguaro National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
58	Marino Ballena National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
59	Cahuita National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
60	Rocky Mountain National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
61	Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
62	Celaque National Park	🇭🇳 Honduras	<5%
63	Coiba National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
64	Parque Natural Metropolitano	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
65	Calakmul Biosphere Reserve	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
66	Piedras Blancas National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
67	Glacier National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
68	Yosemite National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
69	Rincón de la Vieja National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
70	Badlands National Park	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
71	Jasper National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
72	Chagres National Park	🇵🇦 Panama	<5%
73	Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks	🇺🇸 United States	<5%
74	Arenal Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
75	Braulio Carrillo National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
76	Tayrona National Natural Park	🇨🇴 Colombia	<5%
77	Cabo Blanco Absolute Nature Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
78	Los Quetzales National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
79	Main Ridge Forest Reserve	🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago	<5%
80	Gros Morne National Park	🇨🇦 Canada	<5%
81	Cumbres de Monterrey National Park	🇲🇽 Mexico	<5%
82	Tenorio Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
83	Tikal National Park	🇬🇹 Guatemala	<5%
84	Tapantí-Macizo de la Muerte National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
85	Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%
86	Poás Volcano National Park	🇨🇷 Costa Rica	<5%

Cities Where Found

#	City	Country	Daily sighting probability
1	Mesa	🇺🇸 United States	~50%
2	Vancouver	🇨🇦 Canada	~50%
3	Seattle	🇺🇸 United States	~40%
4	Los Angeles	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
5	San Diego	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
6	Dallas	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
7	Portland	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
8	Austin	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
9	Miami	🇺🇸 United States	~30%
10	Boston	🇺🇸 United States	~30%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

#	Zoo / Centre	Country
1	Disney's Animal Kingdom	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
2	San Diego Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
3	California Academy of Sciences	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
4	Zoo Miami	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
5	San Diego Zoo Safari Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
6	San Francisco Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
7	Fort Worth Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
8	Gatorland	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
9	Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
10	San Antonio Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
11	Lehigh Valley Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
12	Queens Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
13	Animal Forest	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
14	Jardin zoologique de la ville de Lyon	🇫🇷 France	In captivity
15	Jungle Island	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
16	Alameda Park Zoo	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
17	Florida Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
18	Ralph Perkins II Wildlife Center and Woods Garden	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
19	Wonders of Wildlife Museum & Aquarium	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
20	Mote Marine Laboratory	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
21	Gator Park	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
22	Seaside Seabird Sanctuary	🇺🇸 United States	In captivity
23	TidePools Aquarium	🇨🇦 Canada	In captivity

Show all 23 Show fewer

Closest Relatives at Caracas

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Bubulcus ibis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible

Nycticorax nycticorax

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible

Butorides striata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Tigrisoma lineatum

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Syrigma sibilatrix

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck

Butorides virescens

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta caerulea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Nyctanassa violacea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta thula

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Egretta tricolor

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Phimosus infuscatus

Daily sighting probability ~40% · Likely

See all 12 relatives Show fewer

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Great Blue Heron in Caracas?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Great Blue Heron sighting in Caracas on a given day, based on 263 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 112th most-seen of the 295 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Great Blue Heron in Caracas?

January

In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Great Blue Heron in Caracas on a given day, against under 5% in March to November, the lowest months. That is one of Caracas's driest months, with about 40 mm of rain against 120 mm in August.

What time of day is best to see a Great Blue Heron?

Between 9 am and noon

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Great Blue Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Caracas the best place to see a Great Blue Heron?

38th of 44

Of the 44 cities where we can rate Great Blue Heron sightings, Caracas ranks 38th at under 5%. The best odds are in Mesa (United States, about 50%), Vancouver (Canada, about 50%) and Seattle (United States, about 40%).

Where does the Great Blue Heron sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Great Blue Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in Caracas (263 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

← Back to Caracas

Great Blue Heron

About the Great Blue Heron

Sounds

Recent sightings of Great Blue Heron in Caracas

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

Cities Where Found

Zoos & Centres Where Found

Closest Relatives at Caracas

Great Egret

Cattle Egret

Black-crowned Night Heron

Striated Heron

Rufescent Tiger Heron

Whistling Heron

Green Heron

Little Blue Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Snowy Egret

Tricolored Heron

Bare-faced Ibis

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Great Blue Heron in Caracas?

When is the best time to see a Great Blue Heron in Caracas?

What time of day is best to see a Great Blue Heron?

Is Caracas the best place to see a Great Blue Heron?

Where does the Great Blue Heron sighting chance come from?