A heron is a large wading bird with long, thin legs, a long neck, and a sharp, pointed beak. Herons stand perfectly still in shallow water, waiting patiently for fish, frogs, or other small creatures to swim close. When prey comes near, the heron strikes with lightning speed, catching its meal with that dagger-like beak.

You'll often spot herons along rivers, lakes, marshes, and coastlines. The most common species in North America is the great blue heron, which stands about four feet tall and has blue-gray feathers. When a heron flies, it folds its long neck into an S-shape rather than stretching it out straight like a goose or duck does.

Herons hunt alone and move with remarkable grace and patience. Watching one fish is like watching a master at work: it might stand motionless for many minutes, seemingly doing nothing, then suddenly lunge with perfect accuracy. That combination of patience and precision makes herons successful hunters and fascinating birds to observe in the wild.