Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Family: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns · Status: Very common resident · Size: 90–98 cm · Conservation: Least Concern

Range

Occurs from Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian subcontinent through China, Korea, and Japan to Southeast Asia; most northerly populations winter south.

Identification

Non-breeding adult has grey upperparts, mostly white head and neck with a broad black head-stripe extending to black nape-plumes and bold blackish streaks down centre of foreneck, whitish underparts, black shoulder-patch and dull yellowish bill. Breeding adult has blue lores, bright orange-yellow bill with a dark pink base, and dark pink legs and feet. Juvenile resembles non-breeding adult but is duller and more greyish with less contrasting head and neck pattern and shorter head-plumes.

Habitat

Various inland and coastal wetlands.

Behaviour

Normally a solitary feeder, standing or walking slowly at the water's edge. Nests colonially in tall trees, sometimes in mixed-species colonies.