Gray Heron

Ardea cinerea

Audubon Illustration

John James Audubon, Birds of America (1827-1838). Public domain.

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About the Gray Heron

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.

Source: Wikipedia

Classification

Scientific name: Ardea cinerea
Family: Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Order: Pelecaniformes

Similar species

Other members of the herons, egrets, and bitterns family recorded in North America — a useful place to start if you are not certain of your identification.

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