Great Blue Heron Sounds

Overview
ID info
Life History
Maps
Sounds

Calls
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Arizona, August 01, 2019Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Florida, January 14, 2016Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Florida, March 03, 2007Recorded by Mike Andersen / Macaulay Library
Calls
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Florida, April 01, 2018Recorded by Paul Marvin / Macaulay Library
Display
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Texas, April 17, 2013Recorded by Andrew Spencer
Juvenile calls
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New York, June 13, 2001Recorded by Martha Fischer / Macaulay Library

Sounds provided by Macaulay Library.
Listen to more sounds of this species from the ML archive.

Calls

Great Blue Herons are most vocal on the breeding grounds, where they greet their partner with squawking roh-roh-rohs in a “landing call” when arriving at the nest. A disturbance can trigger a series of clucking go-go-gos, building to a rapid frawnk squawk that can last up to 20 seconds. If directly threatened, birds react with a screaming awk lasting just over 2 seconds. Chicks give a tik-tik-tik call within minutes of hatching.

Other Sounds

Both male and female Great Blue Herons snap their bill tips together as part of breeding and territorial displays, a behavior that may be analogous to a songbird’s territorial song. Paired birds often “clapper” at each other, chattering the tips of the bill together.