great white heron

noun

1. a large white heron, Ardea occidentalis, of Florida and the Florida Keys.

2. a large white egret, Casmerodius albus, of southeastern Europe, tropical Africa, Asia, New Zealand, and America.

great white heron

noun

1. a large white heron, Ardea occidentalis, of S North America

2. a widely distributed white egret, Egretta (or Casmerodius ) albus

Word History and Origins

Origin of great white heron¹

First recorded in 1805–15

Example Sentences

Wolkowsky’s island supports great white herons, migratory birds such as the piping plover, raptors of all kinds and shorebirds.

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The club also unveiled its crest, a circular logo including two great white herons — an emblem it says celebrates Miami’s “international, diverse, inclusive, creative and ambitious spirit.”

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There were aggressively friendly toy-size Key deer, which begged for picnic table scraps, and a regal great white heron that held court for hours.

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The decorative touches come straight from the Sunshine State gallery: a statue of swimming sea turtles, a painting of a great white heron, tall vases filled with shells.

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From the grass above came the sleepy cry of marsh hens, and once a great white heron rose like a ghost across their path.

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