Grey Heron

Grey Heron Facts

Size	33-40 inches (84-102 cm)
Speed	Unknown
Weight	2.2-4.4 pounds (1-2 kg)
Lifespan	5 years
Food	Fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects, rats, mice
Predators	Eagle, eagle-owl, goshawk, crow, fox, marten
Distribution	Europe, Asia, Africa
Habitat	Water-rich lowlands
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Herons
Scientific name	Ardea cinerea
Characteristics	Large wading bird; neck curved in S-shape in flight

Main Characteristics

The grey heron is a large wading bird known for its long beak and long legs. In Germany it is often referred to as the fish heron due to its fondness for eating fish. When in flight, it can be easily distinguished from storks and cranes: it pulls its head back towards its shoulders, creating an S-shaped curve in its neck, while the other birds maintain a straight neck.

Grey Heron Grey Heron - Photo: erika8213/stock.adobe.com

Species

There are nearly 70 species of herons. The most well-known are the great blue heron in the United States, along with the grey heron and the great egret, which are commonly found across Europe, Asia, and Africa.

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Distribution and Habitat

The grey heron can be found across Europe, Asia, and Africa. In Germany, there are currently around 20,000-25,000 breeding pairs. This bird prefers low-lying areas rich in water, such as regions with rivers, lakes, swamps, marshes, lagoons, river mouths, and coastal areas. These habitats provide plenty of fish, which is its favorite food.

Way of Life

Grey herons are solitary creatures. They spend a lot of time wading slowly through the water, on the lookout for fish. They are active during the day and, in the evening, they find a safe spot high up in trees to spend the night and rest.

Grey Heron Characteristics Grey Heron Characteristics - Photo: Piotr Krzeslak/stock.adobe.com

Anatomy and Appearance

Size and Weight

The grey heron has a body length of 33-40 inches (84-102 cm), with a wingspan measuring 68-76 inches (175-195 cm). Despite its size, it is surprisingly lightweight, weighing only 2.2-4.4 pounds (1-2 kg).

Bill

Grey herons have a long bill. During the breeding season, it shines in a bright orange-yellow color, but at other times, it appears yellowish-green.

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Legs

Grey herons have long, greenish-gray legs.

Plumage

The feathers on the neck and chest are white. The feathers on the back and wings range from medium gray to dark gray, which is why it's called the grey heron. A black stripe starts above the eyes and runs over the back of the head. During the breeding season, they sport long, thin black ornamental feathers on the back of their heads.

Grey Heron or Great Blue Heron – What's the Difference?

Grey herons and great blue herons are closely related and remarkably similar in appearance. So, how can you tell them apart? The easiest method is the "location trick": grey herons are found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, while great blue herons are exclusive to North America. Depending on where you are, you can likely determine whether you're looking at a grey heron or a great blue heron. However, there have been sightings of gray herons in the Caribbean, so it's not always certain. Interestingly, the great blue heron can be completely white, depending on the subspecies, while the grey heron is always gray and white.

Grey Heron or Great Blue Heron – What's the Difference? Grey Heron or Great Blue Heron – What's the Difference? - Photo: erika8213 (left), Tony (right)/stock.adobe.com

Grey Heron or Great Egret – What's the Difference?

Grey herons and great egrets are easy to tell apart. The great egret is always completely white, including its head. In contrast, the grey heron has a gray and white plumage and features a black stripe that starts above its eyes and extends to the back of its head. Many people mistakenly believe that grey herons turn white in winter, but that's not true. They simply migrate south during that time. While great egrets also move south, they don’t travel as far or in as large numbers. This is why you often see more great egrets in winter.

Grey Heron or Great Egret – What's the Difference? Grey Heron or Great Egret – What's the Difference? - Photo: javiindy (left), Gowri Subramanya/Wirestock (right)/stock.adobe.com

Diet

The grey heron is a carnivore that primarily feeds on fish. However, it also hunts frogs, crustaceans, insects, rats, voles, and earthworms. Once it catches its prey with its sharp, long beak, it swallows it whole.

Behavior

Hunting

Grey herons are not frantic, fast hunters. They stand still in the water with their heads lowered, carefully watching the surface. When they spot a prey, they swiftly plunge their sharp bill into the water to catch it.

Territorial Behavior

Grey herons are solitary not only in their way of life but also when it comes to hunting for food. They become aggressive if other birds invade their fishing territory, even driving away their own kind. Other birds are only tolerated when there are so many fish in one spot that everyone can eat their fill.

Winter

Not all grey herons are migratory birds. Only those that live very far to the north migrate south during the winter. They travel to Central and Southern Europe, with some even reaching Africa, south of the Sahara. They begin their journey to warmer areas in September and return between late February and early March. Otherwise, grey herons tend to be resident birds.

Sounds

The grey heron is recognized for its croaky call, which sounds like a harsh "kraank". During the breeding season, it also produces hoarse, rough, screeching, and chuckling sounds.

Are Grey Herons Dangerous?

Grey herons may appear calm and peaceful, but they can actually be quite aggressive. When they discover an area rich in fish, they will fiercely defend it against other birds, including their own kind. During the breeding season, their aggression can increase significantly, too. However, they are only aggressive towards other birds and not towards people.

Grey Heron Head and Bill Grey Heron Head and Bill - Photo: Danny Ye/stock.adobe.com

Senses and Abilities

Senses

Grey herons have excellent eyesight and hearing.

Speed

This bird isn't really known for being fast, especially when it comes to flying. When it hunts for fish, it can strike super quickly with its bill, but in the air, it takes its time. It flaps its wings slowly and tries to use the wind to help it glide.

Longest Migration by a Grey Heron

The longest distance ever flown by a grey heron is 3,644 miles (5,865 km). It traveled from Sweden to Sierra Leone in West Africa to spend the winter. Some gray herons have also been spotted in Greenland, Newfoundland, and the Caribbean.

Swimming

Grey herons have long, thin legs, which might make you think they can’t swim well, but they actually can! They can even take off into the air right from the water. However, they don’t do that very often. Instead of swimming, they prefer to wade through the water.

Life Expectancy

Grey herons usually live to be about five years old. However, some can live much longer than that. In the Netherlands, a heron was shot by a hunter when it was 35 years and one month old. In Denmark, a dead grey heron was discovered that was even older, at 37 years and six months. Both of these birds had rings on their legs, which showed the date they were tagged.

Grey Heron in Flight Grey Heron in Flight - Photo: Piotr Krzeslak/stock.adobe.com

Enemies and Threats

Natural Enemies

Adult grey herons have very few enemies. However, their chicks can be preyed upon by sea eagles, eagle-owls, hawks, crows, kites, and foxes. Pine martens also steal the eggs from their nests.

Human Impact

Hunting

Grey herons need fish to survive, which makes them a nuisance for many fishing businesses. Unfortunately, they are not protected and can be hunted and killed, even in Germany. Occasionally, fish farm operators resort to using poisoned bait.

Pollution

Water pollution is getting worse every day. Fertilizers and pesticides from farming, along with harmful substances from factories and mining, are making our water quality drop. This leads to problems like algae blooms and fish dying off. Right now, less than 40% of the water bodies in Germany are considered "healthy." This is also a problem for the gray heron, which spends a lot of time in the water and feeds on fish.

How Many Are Left?

The grey heron is not an endangered species. According to an estimate from the IUCN in 2019, there are 500,000-2,500,000 of these birds around the world.

Importance for the Ecosystem

Grey herons aren't very favored by fishermen. However, they play a crucial role in maintaining balance in nature. They help control the number of fish, amphibians, and mammals (like rats) to keep everything healthy.

Grey Heron Resting on a Hippo Grey Heron Resting on a Hippo - Photo: Ludwig/stock.adobe.com

Reproduction

Mating Behavior

Grey herons are not monogamous, but they do stay together during the breeding season.

Breeding Season

Grey herons start their breeding activities quite early. They begin mating as early as February and continue to nest until around June.

Nesting Colonies

While grey herons are generally solitary, they form large nesting colonies during the breeding season. It's not uncommon to find up to ten nests in a single tree.

Courtship Dance

Before mating, male and female grey herons perform a courtship dance. They hold their beaks vertically, extending their necks first upward, then backward, and finally downward, while bending their legs. They also rapidly clack their beaks together. If both agree to mate, they groom each other's feathers.

Nests

Grey herons "recycle" their nests, meaning they reuse old nests in the following year. To prepare the nest for use again, the male collects branches and twigs and brings them to the female. She then refurbishes the old nest, lining it with soft grasses and reeds. These nests are typically built high up in trees, around 82 feet (25 meters) off the ground.

Eggs

A clutch typically contains 4-5 eggs. They are oval-shaped and feature a light blue-green hue. They are slightly smaller than the palm of a human hand, measuring around 1.5 inches (4 cm) in width and 2.3 inches (6 cm) in length.

Hatchlings

Chicks hatch from their eggs after about 25 days. Life in the nest can be quite chaotic, as the young ones often engage in fierce competition for food and parental attention. Sometimes, one chick may even push another out of the nest. This period is also challenging for the parents, who spend up to 23 hours a day foraging for food, covering distances of up to 24 miles (38 km). After 50 days, the chicks are ready to fledge. The parents continue to care for their young for an additional two and a half months before the fledglings venture out on their own. Fun Facts