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Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) German name(s): "Graureiher" Size: 84-102 cm; wing span 1.55-1.75 m Body mass: 1.0-2.1 kg Wing loading [g/cm2]: 0.34-0.40

Europe: Family Group 5 Family Group 5 Table Great Egret Little Egret Western Cattle Egret Grey Heron Purple Heron Striated Heron Black-crowned Night Heron Squacco Heron Green Heron Eurasian Bittern Little Bittern Eurasian Spoonbill Glossy Ibis White Stork Black Stork Greater Flamingo Thumbnails page Family group table Index of bird names German birds home page

Similar species

Description     Classification     Distribution     Sightings     Photos     Breeding     Nest     Eggs     Behaviour     Food     Call/s

Physical description Click here for a physical description Grey Herons are tall, very slender herons. Adults have a white head with black stripes from just above and behind the eyes leading to black nuchal plumes at the nape of the neck. The long, kinked neck is grey down the front, with prominent black spots. The rest of the neck is pinkish-buff. The rest of the body plumage is grey, except for black streaks along the base of the underwings. The wings have mid-grey coverts and dark-grey flight feathers, with black and white shoulder patches. The irises are orange-brown. The bill is bright orange-yellow. The legs and feet are greyish-yellow. Juvenile Grey Herons are grey where adults are pinkish-buff and their bill is yellowish-grey, with a grey upper mandible. They do not have a white head yet, but a grey cap (first winter) and then an off-white cap with short dark nuchal plumes (second winter). Also the wing patches are less pronounced than in adults and the legs are greyer, too.

Taxonomy, classification See Grey Heron at Wikipedia .

Range, habitat, finding this species Click here for information on habitat and range The overall distribution of this species can be assessed, and specific locations where birds have been spotted can be found, based on individual sighting reports submitted by birdwatchers to ebird.org . The global distribution of the Grey Heron is available HERE . There are 4 races of Grey Herons, which are a partly migratory species. Nominate race "cinerea" is found throughout temperate Europe, Asia and also large parts of Africa. They are permanent residents on the British Isles, in most of France and northern Germany and Poland, as well as northern Italy and some other parts of the northern Mediterranean. They are also permanently present along the river Danube, the Black Sea coastline, towards the southern Caspian Sea and along the major rivers of Iraq towards the Persian Gulf coastline. In summertime they extend their breeding range into mid-latitude Eurasia and coastal central Scandinavia. Part of the European population winters in the northern Mediterranean, most of Turkey and the African North coast along the Atlas Mountains. There is also a wintering population in parts of the Middle East, Iraq and along parts of the Arabian coastline. Other races are found in eastern Asia, Madagascar and islands off Mauritania (for details see a field guide). In Europe Grey Herons, race "cinerea", are found all year round in western and central Europe; in Iberia and around the Mediterranean they are mostly winter visitors, while roughly from south-western Germany and northern Poland eastwards they are breeding migrants. Grey Herons can be found in both freshwater habitats such as lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and other types of wetlands, and saline water, e.g. along oceanic coastlines.

Sightings Click here for sighting information Race "cinerea" We spotted a Grey Heron, race "cinerea", hunting in the River Lahn, near Bad Kreuznach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, in June 2010. They are also regularly found in wetlands along the river Rhine. D. Wilczynska reports spotting Gery Herons, race "cinerea", regularly along the river Bug, e.g. near Brok and Malkinia, Masovia, Poland. The species was also found by D. Wilczynska near Oristano, western Sardinia, Italy, in June 2016. H. Dahlem-Senger reports spotting Gery Herons, race "cinerea", near Arnhem, Netherlands, in April 2018. Others are found regularly in various parts of Germany. J. Pires reports spotting Gery Herons, race "cinerea", regularly in various locations in Portugal, in particular in the area of Mora, Evora, Portugal. M. Eaton reports finding a Gery Heron, race "cinerea", at Titchfield Haven National Nature Reserve, Fareham, Hampshire, England, and in St. James's Park, London, England, in September 2019. G. Normand found a Gery Heron, race "cinerea", in Reschen, Albania, in August 2021. C. Pears reports spotting Gery Herons, race "cinerea", at Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland, in September 2023. A. Sarok reports finding Gery Herons, race "cinerea", in Vojvodina, Serbia, in the timeframe 2010-2024. Grey Herons, race "cinerea", were also spotted by us in Oman.

Photos

Race "cinerea"

ADULT

MALE

BREEDING

Lateral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage with nuptial flush (note the pinkish bill) bringing nest material; in a pair the bird bringing nest material is the male (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

FEMALE

BREEDING

Grey Heron in breeding plumage on its nest - the bird attending to the nest is the female; note the all-yellow bill and the nuchal plumes (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

PAIR

Near-frontal view of a pair of Grey Herons in breeding plumage (note the white forehead and the nuchal plumes), with nuptial flush (indicated by the pinkish bill), on their nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Lateral view of a pair of Grey Herons in breeding plumage (note the white forehead and the nuchal plumes), with nuptial flush (indicated by the pinkish bill), near their nest - the bird attending to the nest, in the foreground, is the female; the bird behind is the male (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2017]

Partly obscured lateral view of a pair of Grey Herons, both with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, April 2019]

Sex unknown

BREEDING

Near-lateral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage with nuptial flush (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Comparison of Grey Herons in breeding plumage (note the white forehead and the nuchal plumes), WITH nuptial flush(indicated by the pinkish bill; left), and without (yellow bill; right)
(photos courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal]

Frontal view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2024]

Near-frontal/ventral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage with nuptial flush in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage; note the all-yellow bill and the nuchal plumes
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2018]

Close-up lateral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, May 2026]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2019]

Lateral portrait of a Grey Heron moulting into its breeding plumage; it has most of the attributes of an adult bird, except the grey forehead and some remnant grey on the crown (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Arnhem, Netherlands, April 2018]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron moulting into its breeding plumage; it has most of the attributes of an adult bird, except the grey forehead (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Arnhem, Netherlands, April 2018]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, March 2020]

NON-BREEDING

Near-frontal view of a Grey Heron in non-breeding plumage; note the grey upper mandible of the bill
(photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]

Dorsal view of a Grey Heron in non-breeding plumage (photo courtesy of M. Eaton)
[St. James's Park, London, England, September 2019]

Near-dorsal view of a Grey Heron in non-breeding plumage in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa dos Patos, Odivelas, Alentejo, Portugal, October 2019]

Dorsal view of a Grey Heron in non-breeding plumage "taking care of business"... (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

IMMATURE/JUVENILE

Frontal view of a second-winter Grey Heron; note the grey upper mandible (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, September 2019]

Near-frontal view of a second-winter Grey Heron (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2019]

Close-up lateral view of a second-year Grey Heron (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2023]

Lateral view of a second-year Grey Heron (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, September 2020]

Lateral view of a second-year Grey Heron
[River Lahn, near Bad Kreuznach, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, June 2010]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron in second-winter plumage hunting in a meadow (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Rüdesheim, Rheinhessen, Germany, October 2016]

Near-dorsal view of a second-year Grey Heron; note the grey upper mandible (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, September 2020]

Dorsal view of a second-year Grey Heron (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[Near Oberkirch, Baden-Württemberg, Germany, October 2023]

Hard times for fish trapped in a stagnant pool of water: Grey Herons, Little Egrets and Great [White] Egrets gathered for an easy meal (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2015]

Lateral view of a second-year Grey Heron in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]

Ventral view of a second-year Grey Heron in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, May 2015]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Heron; note the grey cap (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[Near Malkinia, Masovia, Poland, July 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Heron (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Mora, Evora, Portugal, February 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Heron (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Monte do Espargueiro, Mourao, Evora, Portugal, February 2022]

Lateral view of an adult, back, and a juvenile Grey Heron flushing from cover (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Heron flushing from cover (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Sorraia River, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, January 2019]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Heron in flight, wings up (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2025]

Lateral view of a juvenile Grey Heron in flight, wings down (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Tejo estuary, Portugal, January 2025]

Lateral/ventral view of a juvenile Grey Heron in flight (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2014]

Breeding information

Breeding season: Feb - June

Eggs: 3 - 5

Incubation period: 25 days

Fledging age: 49 - 56 days

Nest building: Female & male

Incubation: Female & male

Dependent care: Female & male

Male Grey Herons collect the nesting material, while females use it to actually build the nest.

Nest

Type: Basket

Material: Sticks, twigs, lined with dry grass

Height above ground: 0 - >10 m

Near-frontal view of 3 near-fledging age Grey Heron chicks in their nest (photo courtesy of A. Sarok)
[Vojvodina, Serbia, date unknown]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron on its nest in reeds surrounded by water (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa da Estacada, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, March 2024]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron standing near its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa da Estacada, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, March 2024]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron stretching its wings standing near its nest (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Lagoa da Estacada, Sesimbra, Setubal, Portugal, March 2024]

(Most likely female) Grey Heron on its nest, rearranging sticks (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, April 2019]

Time on the nest can also be used for preening (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, between Walluf and Schierstein, Hessen, Germany, April 2021]

Grey Herons nesting in a colonial nesting tree together with Cattle Egrets (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, March 2014]

Grey Herons nesting in a colonial nesting tree - these are the birds whose calls were recorded on 8 June 2019
(photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, June 2019]

Eggs

Size: 60 x 43 mm

Colour: Matt greenish-blue

Shape: Tapered oval

Behaviour

Social behaviour: Communal

Mobility: Partially migratory

Elementary unit: Solitary/pair/flock

In much of southern, south-eastern, central and western Europe part of the Grey Heron population is sedentary. Others overwinter in those reginos, migrating north- and eastward, to breed in parts of Scandinavia and eastern Europe. Grey Herons breed colonially.

Where the fishing is good, especially outside the breeding season, Grey Herons can appear in significant numbers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Vila Franca de Xira, Tejo estuary, Portugal, December 2024]

Frontal view of a Grey Heron drying its wings (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, December 2013]

Grey Herons can often be seen standing in slow-moving water, or wading upstream while looking for fish in the water
(photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]

Grey Herons also hunt from hiding places between tall reeds (photo courtesy of D. Wilczynska)
[River Bug, near Brok, Masovia, Poland, August 2016]

Food, Diet

All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans).

To see how a Grey Heron beaches a fish and then disposes of it, click HERE.

Frontal view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage swallowing its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Near-frontal view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage with nuptial flush gobbling up its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, April 2019]

Lateral view of a Grey Heron in breeding plumage taking small prey (photo courtesy of G. Pinelas)
[Alges, Lisbon, Portugal, April 2017]

Near-dorsal view of a juvenile Grey Heron swallowing its prey (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Near Mora, Evora, Portugal, November 2013]

Grey Herons can take big prey (photo courtesy of H. Dahlem-Senger)
[River Rhine, near Walluf, Germany, May 2017]

Grey Herons hunting in numbers (photo courtesy of J. Pires)
[Montargil Dam, near Mora, Evora, Portugal, October 2013]

Call(s)/Song

For this species we have recorded the following call(s)/song. The interpretation of their meaning is our own; comments and suggestions for improvement are welcome.

gheron_dw_20200726.m4a	cinerea (Poland)	Contact call	© DW
gheron_dw_20180818.m4a	cinerea (Poland)	Contact calls	© DW
gheron_jp_20190608_2.m4a	cinerea (Portugal)	(Begging calls+) contact call	© JP
gheron_jp_20190608_1.m4a	cinerea (Portugal)	Alarm call	© JP
gheron_jp_20190608_3.m4a	cinerea (Portugal)	Various, incl. begging chicks (+ House Sparrows)	© JP

More Grey Heron sound recordings are available at xeno-canto.org .

These pages are largely based on our own observations and those of our contributors. The structure of these bird pages is explained HERE. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.

Would you like to contribute photos or sound recordings to this site? If interested, please CLICK HERE. Credits to contributors are given HERE.