• East view from Crissy Field overlook with old Coast Guard station on left and city on right

    Presidio of San Francisco

    California

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Great Blue Heron

(Ardea herodias)
 
Great Blue Heron
A Great Blue Heron fishes at Crissy Marsh.
Will Elder, NPS
 

Natural History: This bird sustains itself by feeding on small fish and other small vertebrates as well as invertebrates caught by stalking. It is found around both freshwater habitats and brackish marshes. This species usually nests in colonies near water.

General Distribution: In the Presidio, it can be found near freshwater, saltwater bays, and tidal areas, particularly frequenting Crissy Marsh.

Frequency: This bird is common throughout the year at the Presidio.

Presidio Birds main page

Identifying Characteristics: This large heron is gray-blue in color and has a black stripe above its eye and a yellow bill. It is the largest of the herons.

Did You Know?

Crissy Field around 1940

During 1941 and 1942, Japanese-American language specialists were trained at the Military Intelligence Service Language School at Crissy Field.