Melanistic Great Blue Heron

Melanistic Great Blue Heron


The increased development of the dark-colored pigment melanin in the skin and hair of an animal is called Melanism, and is the opposite of Albinism.

This great blue heron was found at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.
We did a road trip and found it on the Grindstone Marsh Trail in Hendrie Valley.

Ardea herodias

Great Blue Herons can hunt day and night thanks to a high percentage of rod-type photoreceptors in their eyes that improve their night vision.
source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

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