Watch A Huge Heron Slurp Up A Live Snake Like A Pasta Noodle

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This great blue heron is beginning to realize that catching a snake is a bit easier than actually eating it! In the below clip, we get to see this magnificent bird change positions several times and wait it out until the snake stops struggling. Then, it manages to position the reptile so it can swallow it whole!

Where Do Great Blue Herons Live?

This vid was posted by a Florida-based YouTuber and great blue herons are considered a North American native species. However, that does not mean that you will not see them elsewhere in the world including the north coast of South America, Canada, southern Europe and even Iceland! They can be found in all US continental states but only visit some areas, such as Montana, during their breeding season.

As you would expect from waterbirds, they choose habitats that are close to water! They are happy to live near fresh and saltwater environments so you will find them in mangrove swamps, estuaries, rocky shores and sandy beaches as well as near ponds, lakes, rivers and streams. They are an elegant and graceful bird, popular with bird watchers in many countries.

What Do Great Blue Herons Normally Eat?

These waterbirds usually forage for prey alone. Most of their diet is made up of various types of fish ranging from larger species such as bass and carp to smaller perch and minnows. They are large birds and need a lot of food – most eat up to two pounds of fish per day. Because they are so light, this equates to 25 to 50 percent of their body weight!

You can also see them eating amphibians, reptiles, and even small mammals. Some great blue herons also eat crabs and shrimp.

Their hunting method is to wade slowly through water or to perch on a rock, keeping a sharp eye out for movement. Once they spot something – they strike! Using their strong mandibles, they will grab at just about any small animal in striking distance. They can also use their beak like a dagger and impale larger fish. Prey is swallowed whole, in fact, you can see this snake in the heron’s neck as it is being swallowed!