Grey Herron
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
///trailers.ripen.grownup
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a large, long-legged wading bird widely distributed across temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Known for its remarkable patience and stealthy hunting technique, it is a common and distinctive sight in wetland habitats.
Key Characteristics and Behavior
Appearance:
Grey herons stand up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall with an impressive wingspan of around 1.8 metres (6 ft). They have a largely ash-grey body, a white head and neck with a broad black stripe extending from the eye into a crest, and a long, dagger-shaped yellow bill.
Flight:
In flight, they are easily distinguished from other large birds like cranes and storks by their habit of retracting their long neck into an S-shape against their body, while their long legs trail behind them. Their wingbeats are slow and deliberate.
Hunting:
Herons are solitary hunters and apex predators in their aquatic environments. They often stand motionless as statues in shallow water (fresh or salt) for long periods, patiently waiting for prey to come within striking distance before spearing it with lightning speed.
Diet:
Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they are opportunistic feeders and will also prey on amphibians (frogs, newts), crustaceans, insects, small mammals (voles, rats, young rabbits), and even small birds like ducklings.
Habitat:
Highly adaptable, they can be found wherever there is suitable shallow water, from remote rivers and estuaries to urban garden ponds and canals.
Breeding and Life Cycle:
Grey herons gather during the breeding season to nest in colonies called heronries. These are typically located high in the tops of tall trees, although they will also use cliffs, bushes, or reedbeds in some areas.
Nesting:
Males gather sticks for the nest, a bulky platform that is often reused and enlarged each year, while the female builds it.
Eggs and Chicks:
The female usually lays a clutch of 3-5 bluish-green eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 25 days. The chicks fledge (learn to fly) at around 7-8 weeks old but may remain near the nest for a few more weeks, dependent on their parents for food.
In Culture:
The bird has been associated with patience, contemplation, and nobility in various cultures. In Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu (associated with the sun and creation) was depicted as a heron.
Interactions with Humans:
They have adapted well to human environments, sometimes visiting garden ponds for an easy meal, which can be a nuisance for fish owners. Netting a pond is the only effective preventative measure.
Grey Herron
WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre.
What3Words
///trailers.ripen.grownup
The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) is a large, long-legged wading bird widely distributed across temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Known for its remarkable patience and stealthy hunting technique, it is a common and distinctive sight in wetland habitats.
Key Characteristics and Behavior
Appearance:
Grey herons stand up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall with an impressive wingspan of around 1.8 metres (6 ft). They have a largely ash-grey body, a white head and neck with a broad black stripe extending from the eye into a crest, and a long, dagger-shaped yellow bill.
Flight:
In flight, they are easily distinguished from other large birds like cranes and storks by their habit of retracting their long neck into an S-shape against their body, while their long legs trail behind them. Their wingbeats are slow and deliberate.
Hunting:
Herons are solitary hunters and apex predators in their aquatic environments. They often stand motionless as statues in shallow water (fresh or salt) for long periods, patiently waiting for prey to come within striking distance before spearing it with lightning speed.
Diet:
Their diet primarily consists of fish, but they are opportunistic feeders and will also prey on amphibians (frogs, newts), crustaceans, insects, small mammals (voles, rats, young rabbits), and even small birds like ducklings.
Habitat:
Highly adaptable, they can be found wherever there is suitable shallow water, from remote rivers and estuaries to urban garden ponds and canals.
Breeding and Life Cycle:
Grey herons gather during the breeding season to nest in colonies called heronries. These are typically located high in the tops of tall trees, although they will also use cliffs, bushes, or reedbeds in some areas.
Nesting:
Males gather sticks for the nest, a bulky platform that is often reused and enlarged each year, while the female builds it.
Eggs and Chicks:
The female usually lays a clutch of 3-5 bluish-green eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about 25 days. The chicks fledge (learn to fly) at around 7-8 weeks old but may remain near the nest for a few more weeks, dependent on their parents for food.
In Culture:
The bird has been associated with patience, contemplation, and nobility in various cultures. In Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu (associated with the sun and creation) was depicted as a heron.
Interactions with Humans:
They have adapted well to human environments, sometimes visiting garden ponds for an easy meal, which can be a nuisance for fish owners. Netting a pond is the only effective preventative measure.