annettem's Identifications

Habitat: Found on a beach coast while feeding in the Fred-Howard park in Tarpon Springs.

Weather: 93 degrees, slightly windy, minimal cloud cover, very sunny, moderate humidity, not raining, found in mid afternoon.

Taxonomic information:
Kingdom: Animalia/Metazoa (multicellularity).

Subkingdom: Eumetazoa – have true tissues.

Clade:

• Bilateria – division of Eumetazoa into this clade based on bilateral body symmetry.
• Deuterstomia – division of Bilateria into this clade based on difference in developmental pathway(endoskeleton).

Phylum: Chordata

• Single group based on the presence, at some point during their life cycle, of these four major characteristics: Notochord, hollow dorsal nerve cord, pharyngeal arches, muscular postanal tail.

Subphylum: Vertebrata

• Division of the Chordata phylum into this subphylum based on these characteristics: a cranium(bony or cartilaginous structure that houses the brain), and a vertebral column(bony or cartilaginous column of interlocking vertebrae that replaces the notochord during development). Both of these structures are part of the endoskeleton, which contains living cells that secrete materials to build bone. Most vertebrates also have two pairs of appendages that are part of the endoskeleton.

Class: Aves

• Division of Chordata phylum into this class based on these characteristics: Feathers, toothless beaked jaws, the laying of hard-shelled eggs, high metabolic rate, a four chambered heart, and a strong yet lightweight skeleton.

Order: Pelecaniformes

• Division of Aves class into this order that include medium and large sized waterbirds found worldwide.
• Defined by all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed.

Family: Ardeidae

• Commonly called Herons
• Division of Pelecaniformes order into a family of medium to large sized coastal and freshwater birds with long(very strong) legs, long harpoon-like beaks, and long necks. Their wings are broad and long, exhibiting 10 or 11 primary feathers, 15-20 secondaries, and 12 rectices. The feathers are soft with strikingly complex plumage. The feet have long, thin toes, with three forward-pointing ones and one pointing backward. Herons may resemble birds in other families, but differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down.

Genus: Ardea

• Division of the Ardeidae family into this genus that is commonly referred to as the Great Herons.
• This division is associated with their large size. These large herons are associated with wetlands where they pray on fish, frogs, and other aquatic species. These are powerful birds with large spear-like bills, long necks and legs, which hunt by waiting motionless or stalking their prey in shallow water before seizing it with a sudden lunge. They have a slow steady flight, with neck retracted(characteristic of Herons), distinguishing them from other birds.

Species: A. Herodias

• Species commonly called the Great Blue Heron.
• Species of Ardeidae family characterized by: slaty flight feathers, red-brown thighs, and a paired red-brown and black stripe up the flanks; the neck is rusty-gray, with black and white streaking down the front; head is paler, with a nearly white face, and a pair of black or slate plumes runs from just above the eye to the back of the head. The feathers on the lower neck are plume-like. The bill is dull yellowish, becoming orange briefly at the start of breeding season, and the lower legs are gray, also becoming orangey at the start of breeding season. Two of the three front toes are generally closer together. In a track, the front and back toes, often show the small talons.
• Distinguishable from other species in this family by its coloration, size, and primarily the retracted neck seen when they are in flight.

ID justification: This organism is species A. Herodias because it had bilateral symmetry(Bilateria). It was also a vertebrate with an endoskeleton, and two pairs of appendages(Vertebrata). It had wings and toothless beaked jaws(Aves). It was a large sized waterbird(Pelecaniformes). It had long, broad wings that seemed helpful in its slow, steady flight, along with long harpoon-like beaks, long necks, and long /strong legs(Ardeidae). It’s large size made it distinguishable among the waterbirds, as well as their spear-like bills. I saw it hunting in a shallow area with a slow, methodical approach that eventually lead to a quick lunge, which was successful in catching its prey, which I also observed. It had a notably retracted head when in flight, a highly distinguishable characteristic of the Herons(Ardea). Lastly, its specific species was identified through its color scheme that was rusty-gray(appeared to simulate the ‘blue’ that gives this species its name), with a white face and black plumes that trailed from above the eye to the back of its head. The bill was also a yellowish/orange. This large bird appeared to be almost two feet tall with a large wingspan.

Distribution:

Habitat - The great blue heron can adapt to almost any wetland habitat in its range. It may be found in numbers in fresh and saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, flooded meadows, lake edges, or shorelines. It is quite adaptable and may be seen in heavily developed areas as long as they hold bodies of fish-bearing water. They rarely venture far from bodies of water, but are occasionally seen flying over upland areas. They usually nest in trees or bushes near water's edge, often on islands (which minimizes the potential for predation) or partially isolated spots

Range – Breeds from southern Canada south to the West Indies and Mexico. It winters as far north as southern Alaska and southern New England. It can also be found in the Galapagos Islands.