Grey Heron

Also known as Ardea cinerea, Gray Heron

species of bird

AI overview

A grey heron is a large wading bird commonly found in wetland environments like lakes, rivers, and marshes across Europe, Asia, and Africa. It plays an important ecological role as a predator of fish and other small aquatic animals, helping to maintain the balance of wetland ecosystems.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Species

Least Concern

grey heron

Species

PhylumChordata
ClassAves
OrderCiconiiformes
FamilyArdeidae

Habitatfreshwater

Observations241,572

via IUCN

Wikidata facts

Mass: 61
Image: Kerkini lake in May 01.jpg

Show 8 more facts

Commons category: Ardea cinerea
taxon name: Ardea cinerea
Commons gallery: Ardea cinerea
taxon common name: Vanokasira
wingspan: 1.73
litter size: 3.9
egg incubation period: 27
short name: A. cinerea

Sources (8)

via Wikidata · CC0

~20 min read

Article

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water, or stalking its prey through the shallows.

Standing up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.