great blue heron
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A large wading bird native to North and Central America: The great blue heron is a species of heron characterized by its significant size, long legs, long neck, and a dagger-like bill. Its plumage is primarily a bluish-grey color.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- We spotted a great blue heron standing motionless in the shallow water, waiting to catch a fish.
- The great blue heron is a common sight in wetlands along the coast.
Advanced Usage
- As a subject of conservation or study: The term is used in biological and ecological contexts.
- The population dynamics of the great blue heron are monitored by local wildlife agencies.
Variants and Related Words
- Heron (n): The general family of long-legged freshwater and coastal birds to which the great blue heron belongs.
- Ardea herodias (n): The scientific binomial name for the great blue heron.
Synonyms
- Blue heron: A common shortened name for the species.
- North American heron: A descriptive term indicating its primary habitat.
Notes on Meaning
- The term "great blue heron" refers specifically to the single species . It is not a general term for any large blue-grey heron. Other large herons in different parts of the world, such as the grey heron () in Europe and Asia, are distinct species.
Noun
- large American heron having bluish-grey plumage