How long do great blue herons live?
The oldest Great Blue Heron on record lived to 24.5 years, a record from a wild bird. That is a ceiling, not an average: most wild great blue herons live only a few years.
- Longest recorded lifespan
- 24.5 years
- Record from
- Wild bird
- Age at first breeding
- About 2 years
- Eggs per clutch
- 2–7 eggs
- Broods per year
- 1 per season
- Size
- 38.2–53.9 in, 74.1–88.2 oz
- Rank in family (of species on this site)
- 1 of 4
Record age versus typical age
Longevity records come from birds that were marked and later found again, usually through bird banding, or from birds kept in zoos. They show what a Great Blue Heron can survive to, not what most do.
For small birds, the first year is the hardest. Many eggs and nestlings are lost to predators and weather, and young birds that leave the nest still have to learn to find food and avoid hawks and cats. A bird that survives its first winter has a much better chance of living several more years. That is why average lifespans in the wild are short even when the record is long.
Great blue herons usually start breeding at about 2 years old. Each season a pair lays 2–7 eggs and raises 1 per season, with eggs taking 25–30 days to hatch.
How great blue herons compare with relatives
Oldest recorded ages for other herons and egrets on this site.
- Great Egret22.8 years
- Black-crowned Night Heron21.1 years
- Green Heron11.6 years
More about great blue herons
Frequently asked
How long do great blue herons live?
The longest-lived Great Blue Heron on record reached 24.5 years, recorded from a wild bird. Most wild great blue herons live far shorter lives, because the majority of young birds don't survive their first year.
How old is a Great Blue Heron when it first breeds?
Usually about 2 years old.
What is the oldest Great Blue Heron ever recorded?
24.5 years, according to the AnAge longevity database.
How many young can a Great Blue Heron raise in a year?
Pairs lay 2–7 eggs and raise 1 per season.
Source: AnAge, The Animal Ageing and Longevity Database (Human Ageing Genomic Resources), record quality "acceptable", sample size "medium". genomics.senescence.info