Grey Heron

Taxobox
name = Grey Heron
status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1

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image_width = 250px
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Ardeidae
genus = "Ardea"
species = "A. cinerea"
binomial = "Ardea cinerea"
binomial_authority = Linnaeus, 1758
range_

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range_map_width = 240px
range_map_caption = Light green: summer
Dark green: all year
Blue: winter

The Grey Heron ("Ardea cinerea"), is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions. It has become common in summer even inside the Arctic circle along the Norwegian coast.It is a large bird, standing 90-100 cm tall, with a 175-195 cm wingspan and a weight of 1-2 kg. Its plumage is largely grey above, and off-white below. Adults have a white head with a broad black supercilium and slender crest, while immatures have a dull grey head. It has a powerful pinkish-yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults. It has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

There are four subspecies:
*"Ardea cinerea cinerea" Linnaeus, 1758. Europe, Africa, western Asia.
*"Ardea cinerea jouyi" Clark, 1907. Eastern Asia.
*"Ardea cinerea firasa" Hartert, 1917. Madagascar.
*"Ardea cinerea monicae" Jouanin & Roux, 1963. Islands off Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania.

It is closely related and similar to the American Great Blue Heron, which differs in slightly larger size, and chestnut-brown flanks and thighs. The Australian White-faced Heron is often incorrectly called Grey Heron.

Behaviour

This species breeds in colonies in trees close to lakes, the sea-shore or other wetlands, although it will also nest in reed beds. It builds a bulky stick nest.

It feeds in shallow water, catching fish or frogs with its long bill. Herons will also take small mammals and birds. It will often wait motionless for prey, or slowly stalk its victim.

In the Netherlands, the grey heron has become a very common species in recent decades by moving into urban environments in great numbers. There, the herons hunt as they usually would but also make use of food discarded by humans, will visit feeding times in zoos to birds such as penguins and pelicans and some individuals even make use of people feeding them at their homes. [All of this behaviour can be seen in the Dutch documentary "Schoffies" ("Hoodlums").]

The call is a loud croaking "fraaank".

References

* Database entry includes justification for why this species is of least concern
* Handbook of the Birds of the World 1: 405. Lynx Edicions.

External links

* [http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species/index.html?action=SpcHTMDetails.asp&sid=3715&m=0 BirdLife Species Factsheet]
* [http://ibc.hbw.com/ibc/phtml/especie.phtml?idEspecie=280 Grey Heron videos] on the Internet Bird Collection
* [http://www.kurz-belichtet.de/natur/graureih/graureih.html Photographs of breeding Grey Herons in the Black Forest, Germany]

Gallery

External links

* [http://www.sr.se/p2/p2pippi/sounds/pip0403.ram Call of the Grey Heron] (Real Audio soundfile from Sveriges Radio P2)
* [http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/43_GreyHeronAcinerea.pdf Ageing and sexing (PDF) by Javier Blasco-Zumeta]
* [http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1064669/Pictured-The-moment-grey-heron-catches-baby-rabbit-ears-drowns-swallows-thing-whole.html Grey Heron catches, kills and eats a baby rabbit] (Mail Online)