Scientific Name: Ardea cinerea
Malay Name: Pucung Seriap Biasa
Chinese Name: 苍鹭
Range: Found from Europe, Africa, Middle East, Indian subcontinent, China, Korea, Japan to Southeast Asia with most northerly populations wintering south
Taxonomy: Polytypic. Subspecies are: cinerea, jouyi, monicae, firasa.
Local Subspecies: jouyi
Size: 90-98 cm
Identification: Non-breeding adult has grey upperparts, mostly white head and neck with prominent broad black head-stripes and blackish streaks down centre of foreneck, black nape-plumes, whitish underparts, black shoulder-patch and dull yellowish bill. Breeding adult has bright orange-yellow bill, legs and feet. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult but is duller and has less contrasting head and neck pattern and much shorter head-plumes.
Similar looking species: Great-billed Heron, Purple Heron
Habitat: Mangroves and various inland and coastal wetlands.
Behaviour/Ecology: Feeds on large fish.
Local Status: Very common resident
Conservation Status: Least Concern (BirdLife International 2019)
Location: Sungei Buloh, Mandai Mudflat, Lower Seletar Mudflat, Lorong Halus, Chinese Gardens, Pulau Ubin and any suitable patch of habitat.
- Our first guided walk! (Blog)
- Local extinctions of Singapore birds (Science)
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List Page
Sound Recordings: xeno-canto Link
Wikipedia Entry: Wikipedia Link
eBird Species page: eBird (Gray Heron)
References:
BirdLife International. (2019). Ardea cinerea. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T22696993A154525233.en. Accessed on 1 January 2023
Robson, C. (2014). Field guide to the birds of South-East Asia (Second Edition). Bloomsbury Publishing, London.
RECOMMENDED CITATION
Bird Society of Singapore. (n.d.). Grey Heron. Retrieved on December 6, 2024 from https://singaporebirds.com/species/grey-heron.