Herons in Illinois: Where to See Them and How to Identify Them

Herons show up in every Illinois county, but the best places are large wetlands and major waterways. The Illinois River backwaters around Starved Rock State Park are reliable, as are the Emiquon Preserve and the Cache River Wetlands in the south. Along Lake Michigan, Montrose Harbor and the Chicago lakefront can turn up herons during migration. Smaller ponds and farm drainage ditches also hold them, especially Great Blue Herons. For a full guide to top spots, see our Illinois wildlife page.

Spring and summer are prime time for most species. Great Blue Herons arrive in March and stay through October, and some linger near open water all winter. Green Herons and night-herons come in April and leave by September. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and most active feeding. On hot summer days, herons often rest in the shade at midday, so plan your trip around dawn or dusk.

Start with size and color. Great Blue Heron stands about 4 feet tall with a gray-blue body, long neck, and a black stripe that extends from the eye to the back of the head. Green Heron is much smaller (about the size of a crow) with a dark cap and reddish chest. Black-crowned Night-Heron is stocky with a black back and red eyes; Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has a pale yellow crown and gray body. For side-by-side comparisons, visit our heron identification page.

See our state animal guide for the next step.

Herons need shallow water to hunt. They use marshes, swamps, flooded fields, lake edges, and slow-moving rivers. Great Blue Herons will also stalk crayfish in farm ditches and pond edges. Night-herons prefer dense brush along shorelines. For the best odds, look for areas with a mix of open water and emergent vegetation like cattails and bulrushes.

Yes, a few less common herons appear each year. Little Blue Herons show up in spring and fall, usually in the southern half of the state. They look all dark as adults, white as juveniles. Tricolored Herons are slender with a white belly and can be seen along the Mississippi River. Reddish Egrets are very rare, but a few have been spotted at Lake Michigan beaches. Check eBird for recent reports before heading out.