A widely recognized wader, gracing a variety of aquatic landscapes with its poised stance and striking appearance. This bird is a familiar sight across temperate Europe, parts of Asia, and Africa, often found along the edges of lakes, rivers, and ponds.
Standing up to a meter tall, the Grey heron is an imposing figure with a wingspan that can reach up to 195 cm (77 inches). Its plumage is an elegant combination of slate grey on the body, with a contrasting white head and neck. During the breeding season, adults don a more ornate look with black feathers forming a striking eyestripe extending to the nape and beautiful, elongated plumes called “aigrettes” adorning their chest and back.
The Grey heron’s slender legs are perfectly adapted for wading through various water depths, while its long, sinuous neck coils into an “S” shape during flight, making it a distinctive silhouette against the sky. Its bill is sharp and powerful, ideal for spearing fish, its primary prey. However, the heron’s diet is not limited to aquatic life; it will also hunt small mammals like voles, birds, amphibians, and even insects, making it an opportunistic and versatile predator.
These birds are known for their solitary hunting habits, often standing statue-like, peering into the water to locate their next meal. When prey comes within range, the Grey heron strikes with lightning speed, its bill an effective tool for capturing and subduing its catch. Despite this apparent stillness, they are capable of quick movements when necessary.
Socially, Grey herons are more gregarious. They breed in colonies known as heronries, which may contain dozens to hundreds of nests, often in tall trees. These communal nesting sites foster a safe environment for raising young, with multiple pairs providing collective vigilance against potential threats.
Distribution
Afghanistan
Albania
Algeria
Andorra
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Belarus
Belgium
Benin
Bhutan
Bosnia And Herz.
Brunei
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Burundi
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central Af. Rep.
Chad
China
Comoros
Croatia
Cyprus
Czechia
DR Congo (Kinshasa)
Denmark
Djibouti
Egypt
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
Faroe Islands
Finland
France
Gabon
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Gibraltar
Greece
Greenland
Guam
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
India
Iran
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kenya
Korea
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Latvia
Lebanon
Libya
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Malaysia
Mali
Malta
Mauritania
Mexico
Moldova
Mongolia
Montenegro
Morocco
Myanmar
Nepal
Netherlands
Niger
Nigeria
Nort. Mariana Is.
North Korea
North Macedonia
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Palau
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Romania
Russia
Rwanda
Saint Pierre
San Marino
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Serbia
Seychelles
Sierra Leone
Singapore
Slovakia
Slovenia
Somalia
South Sudan
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Svalbard
Sweden
Switzerland
Syria
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Tanzania
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad & Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Turkey
UAE
Uganda
Ukraine
United Kingdom
United States
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen
Zambia
ZimbabweAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
