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Grey heron (Ardea cinerea)
LEASTCONCERN
Grey heron fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Grey heron description
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Ciconiiformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea (1) |
The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is the largest heron in Europe (4). It has a long neck, a strong, dagger-like bill and long yellow legs (2). In flight, the neck is folded back (5), and the wings are bowed (2). In adults, the forehead, sides of the head and the centre of the crown are white, whereas in juveniles these are greyish (2). The sexes are similar in appearance (2).
- French
- Héron cendré.
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Related species
Grey heron biology
The grey heron feeds mainly on fish (5), which it hunts by patiently standing completely still at the side of the water, and striking rapidly when a fish comes into range (2). The prey is caught in the bill or speared; amphibians, small mammals, birds and invertebrates may also be taken (5). Feeding areas are often vigorously defended against intruders (4). It breeds either solitarily or in colonies, called heronries, in woodland close to water (2). The heronries are usually traditional sites used by successive generations (5). The flat nest of sticks is built in the crown of the tree early in the year, and four or five eggs are laid towards the end of March (5), though often earlier in mild winters (6). Both parents share the duties of incubation, which takes 25 to 26 days. The young, which are covered in down in their first days of life and are fed on regurgitated fish, fledge after 20 to 30 days (5).
TopGrey heron range
Common and widespread throughout Britain (4). The grey heron is known throughout most of temperate Europe, and extends through Russia as far east as Japan. It reaches south through China to India, and is also found in parts of Africa, and in Madagascar (5).
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Species with a similar range
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You can view distribution information for this species at the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Grey heron habitat
The grey heron occurs in most freshwater habitats, including rivers lakes, ponds and reservoirs (5).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Grey heron status
The grey heron is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List (1). Included in the Birds of Conservation Concern Green List (low conservation concern) (3).
Grey heron threats
The grey heron is not currently threatened; indeed it is increasing its range, and is now more abundant in Britain than it has ever been since monitoring of heronries began in 1928 (7). This may be the result of an increase in temperature during winter, and a fall in levels of persecution (7).
TopGrey heron conservation
There is no conservation action targeted at this common species.
|
View information on this species at the UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre. |
|
|
There may be further information about this species available via the National Biodiversity Network Gateway. |
Find out more
For more information on the grey heron and other bird species:
-
BirdLife International:
http://www.birdlife.org -
The RSPB:
http://www.rspb.org.uk
Authentication
Information authenticated by the RSPB:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/
Glossary
- Amphibians
- Cold-blooded vertebrates of the class Amphibia, such as frogs or salamanders, which characteristically hatch as aquatic larvae with gills. The larvae then transform into adults with air-breathing lungs.
- Incubation
- The act of incubating eggs, that is, keeping them warm so that development is possible.
- Invertebrates
- Animals with no backbone, such as insects, crustaceans, worms, molluscs, spiders, cnidarians (jellyfish, corals, sea anemones), echinoderms, and others.
References
-
IUCN Red List (March, 2011)
http://www.iucnredlist.org/ - Mullarney, K., Svensson, L., Zetterstrom, D., & Grant, P.J. (1999) Collins Bird Guide. HarperCollins Publishers Ltd, London.
-
RSPB (2003) The population status of birds in the UK:
http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/5_20625.pdf - Lack, P. (1986) The Atlas of Wintering Birds in Britain and Ireland. T. & A. D. Poyser Ltd, Calton.
- Gooders, J. (1982) Collins British Birds. William Collins Sons and Co Ltd, London.
- RSPB (2003): Pers. comm.
-
BTO Breeding birds in the wider countryside (November 2002)
http://www.bto.org/birdtrends/wcrheron.htm
More »Related species
This species is featured in:
This species is featured in the Mediterranean Basin eco-region
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Image credit
Two adult grey herons in nest with chicks
© Laurent Geslin / naturepl.com
Nature Picture Library
5a Great George Street
Bristol
BS1 5RR
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 117 911 4675
Fax: +44 (0) 117 911 4699
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