Herons · Pelicans and herons
Gray Heron
Copied!
Ardea cinerea
Copied!
Voice
Call
Joost van Bruggen
Alarm
Sonothèque ADVL
Call
Joost van Bruggen
How to recognize it
-
Large, up to 1 m tall, with very long legs and neck
-
Grey above, white head and neck, black stripe from eye to crest
-
In flight the neck is folded into an S, legs trail far behind
-
Loud harsh croaking call, often heard in flight
About the species
The Gray Heron is easy to remember for its long neck and calm, upright look. In flight, it is just as distinctive, with the neck folded back and the long legs stretched out behind.
It moves slowly and watches for a long time before striking. Often it stands still at the water’s edge for minutes on end, then makes a sudden, quick grab. Its call is rough and harsh, and you are most likely to hear it in flight or around nesting places.
It stays close to shallow water, but it also adapts well to cities when feeding places are available. It eats mostly fish, along with frogs, crayfish, insects, and small mammals; some northern populations move south in autumn, while many others stay all year.
You might also see
Sources
- eBird — Ardea cinerea Sightings map and full description on eBird
- Wikipedia — Grey heron Encyclopedia article