For details point at or click the
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea [Linnaeus, 1758]
Other Names
Trends & Distribution
Breeding & Survival
Biometrics
Books & Links
Order:
Ciconiiformes
Family:
Ardeidae
BTO Codes:
H. , GREHE
EURING No:
1220
Number in Britain:
13 thousand nests (Summer)
Conservation Status:
UK:
GREEN
European:
Not a species of concern
Global:
Least Concern
View video clips from
IBC
Status in UK:
(A) Resident Breeder, Winter Visitor
Subspecies:
cinerea recorded in Britain (of 4 subsp. in the world)
.
Length:
94 cm
Wingspan:
185 cm
Weight:
M/F: 1.5 kg
Scientific name from:
L.: ardea =a heron
and L.: cinereus =ash-coloured (from cinis =ashes)
World Distribution:
Much of Europe, Asia (except ne) through Indonesia and sub-Saharan Africa
Habitat:
Lakes, marshes, rivers, flooded fields
Diet:
Animals, esp fish, amphibians, small mammals, insects and reptiles
TitBit:
In the 16th/17th Century hunting herons with Peregrines was high sport and kings identified 'their' birds by means of metal leg rings, in Scotland being caught poaching could mean losing a hand
Population and Distribution
Population Trend:
Regional Trends:
Distribution:
New Atlas )
British Population Size:
Summer:
13 thousand nests
in 2003
First Record:
8th Century
[Fossil evidence from
Devensian (last) glaciation, 10-120,000 yr ago]
Latest Survey:
Marchant et al. (2004) Ibis 146:323-334
Habitat Occupancy (in the Breeding Season):
Most frequent in:
Along Rivers
Also common in:
Lakes
And found in:
Marsh, Estuaries, Ponds
Relative Frequency in Each Habitat:
European Population Size:
Summer:
185 to 230 thousand pairs
Birds in Europe
Listed on the Appendices/Schedules of:
Bern(III)
Survey Results:
Breeding and Survival
Egg Size:
61 x 43 mm
Egg Weight:
61.0 g (of which 8 % is shell)
Number of Nest Records:
369
Clutch Size:
3 - 4 eggs
3.66 ± 1.06 (2 - 7) N = 264
Incubation:
27 - 27 days
26.95 ± 0.90 (27 - 29) N = 264
by the:
Male + Female
Fledging:
50 - 55 days
52.87 ± 2.62 (50 - 55) N = 1506
as:
Altricial, downy
Source:
British Trust for Ornithology (2005) Nest Record Scheme data
First Clutches Laid:
12 Mar (19 Feb - 2 May)
Number of Broods:
1(2)
Trends in Breeding Productivity
Number Ringed:
607
Adult Survival:
0.732
Juvenile Survival:
0.26 (to age 2 )
Age at First Breeding:
2
years
Typical Lifespan:
5
years
Maximum Recorded Age:
23yr9m
(The Netherlands: 35yr 1m)
Biometrics
Ring Size:
J
Wing Length
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Weight
Adult:
Insufficient Data.
Juvenile:
Insufficient Data.
Male:
Insufficient Data
Female:
Insufficient Data
Other Names
Includes A. herodias
Gaelic:
Corra-ghritheach
Welsh:
Crëyr Glas
Danish:
Fiskehejre
Dutch:
Blauwe reiger
Finnish:
Harmaahaikara
French:
Héron cendré
German:
Graureiher
Hungarian:
Szürke gém
Icelandic:
Gráhegri
Irish:
Corr Réisc
Italian:
Airone cenerino
Norwegian:
Gråhegre
Polish:
Czapla siwa
Portuguese:
Garça-real
Spanish:
Garza real
Swedish:
Häger
Local Names: Harnser, Frank
Collective Noun: Siege (Breeding coloony=Heronry)
For More Information...
Books and Monographs:
Voisin, C. 1991 The herons of Europe Poyser, London
[598.461 VOI]
Lowe, F. 1954 The heron Collins, London
[598.461 LOW]
Kushlan, J.A. & Hancock, J. 2005 The Herons Oxford University Press
[598.461 KUS]
See Also:
BirdFacts home | BTO Home birdfacts@bto.org These data should be cited as:
© British Trust for Ornithology, | Privacy Statement
button; for sources point at the 
button
Other Names
