General Description: Great White Herons (Ardea herodias occidentalis), considered by some to be a subspecies of Great Blue Heron or even a full species (but not yet settled), are large, all-white herons with a heavy yellow bill, a straight culmen, and a bit of a crest (head plumes shorter than in regular Great Blue Herons). Often thought to be Great Egrets, Great White Herons have a crest and lack the fancy breeding plumes of Great Egrets.

Taxonomy: Pelecaniformes, Ardeidae.

Where to Find: Don't look for Great White Heron around Las Vegas. Rather, look for them in marshes and ponds in south-most Florida where they can be found foraging on the seashore and in freshwater ponds and swamps.