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Nominate race occurs over most of range with much paler ''monicae'' on the Banc D'Arguin of Mauritania, ''jouyi''' in the east from Japan to Java and ''firasa'' on Madagascar, Aldabra and the Comoros.
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==Identification==
==Identification==
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90 - 98 cm and up to 2 kg. The Grey Heron has the crown bright white, with a black line running from above and behind the eye to the nape and extending as a spike-like crest. The neck is white with a double row of black streaks running down the front of the throat. The rest of the underparts are grey, with a black patch running from the shoulder and down the flanks. The back and wings are grey. The long, dagger-like bill is yellow and the legs and feet are greenish-yellow. Like others of the family, the Grey Heron flies with its long neck retracted and the head pulled back into its shoulders. It has an all-grey underwing.
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Height 90-98 cm<br/>
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Weight up to 2 kg
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*Bright white crown
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*Black line running from above and behind the eye to the nape and extending as a spike-like crest
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*White neck with a double row of black streaks down the throat
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*Underparts grey
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*Black patch from shoulder down to flanks
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*Grey back and wings
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*Long, yellow bill
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*Greenish-yellow legs and feet
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*All-grey underwing
== Distribution ==
== Distribution ==
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A very widespread Old World species breeding across much of Eurasia and Africa. Breeds throughout the British Isles and much of mainland Europe from north and central France north to coastal Scandinavia and east across Russia to Sakhalin, Manchuria and Japan. In the south found at scattered localities from Iberia to Greece and Turkey, the Caucasus and east across southern Asia, India and Indochina south to Sumatra and Java. In Africa breeds on the Mediterranean coast and in the Nile Valley, on the Banc D'Arguin in Mauritania, probably also on the Azores, in West Africa, western Madagascar and from Ethiopia south to South Africa. Northernmost birds are migratory and winter range is more extensive in Europe, Africa, south-west Asia and Indonesia. Vagrant north to Greenland and Svalbard and to the south a rare resident/migrant or vagrant to Azores and Cape Verde Islands. Also recorded on Bermuda and in the West Indies.
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A very widespread Old World species breeding across much of [[Eurasia]] and [[Africa]]. '''Breeds''' throughout the [[British Isles]] and much of mainland [[Europe]] from north and central [[France]] north to coastal [[Scandinavia]] and east across [[Russia]] to Sakhalin, Manchuria and [[Japan]]. In the south found at scattered localities from [[Iberia]] to [[Greece]] and [[Turkey]], the Caucasus and east across southern [[Asia]], [[India]] and Indochina south to [[Sumatra]] and [[Java]]. In Africa breeds on the Mediterranean coast and in the Nile Valley, on the Banc D'Arguin in Mauritania, probably also on the Azores, in West Africa, western [[Madagascar]] and from [[Ethiopia]] south to [[South Africa]].<br/>
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Northernmost birds are '''migratory''' and winter range is more extensive in Europe, Africa, south-west [[Asia]] and [[Indonesia]]. '''Vagrant''' north to [[Greenland]] and [[Svalbard]] and to the south a rare resident/migrant or vagrant to [[Azores]] and [[Cape Verde Islands]]. Also recorded on [[Bermuda]], the [[West Indies]] and in [[Newfoundland]].
== Habitat ==
== Habitat ==
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Colonial breeder, usually in trees in most of Europe, sometimes on a cliff or in reedbeds in the east, race monicae nests on the ground on islets. Frequents the margins of a variety of freshwaters including lakes, streams and swamps, brackish lagoons and estuaries, and often sea-coasts. Also feeds or rests on grassland. In some parts of range a common bird in urban areas. The Grey Heron is a familiar bird of lakes, rivers, pans and also rocky coastlines where it is usually seen hunting in shallow water.
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Colonial breeder, usually in trees in most of Europe, sometimes on a cliff or in reedbeds in the east; race ''monicae'' nests on the ground on islets. Frequents the margins of a variety of freshwater including lakes, streams and swamps, brackish lagoons and estuaries, and often sea-coasts. Also feeds or rests on grassland.
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== Behaviour ==
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In some parts of range a common bird in urban areas. The Grey Heron is a familiar bird of lakes, rivers, pans and also rocky coastlines where it is usually seen hunting in shallow water.
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[[Image:Heron 6.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by {{user|robbyuk|robbyuk}}<br />Photographed at Towneley, [[UK]]]]
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==Taxonomy==
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====Subspecies====
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Nominate race occurs over most of range with much paler ''monicae'' on the Banc D'Arguin of [[Mauritania]], ''jouyi'' in the east from [[Japan]] to [[Java]] and ''firasa'' on [[Madagascar]], Aldabra and the [[Comoros]].
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==Behaviour==
Birds spend long periods standing still in the water, waiting patiently for prey to swim within range of a lightning fast lunge of the bill.
Birds spend long periods standing still in the water, waiting patiently for prey to swim within range of a lightning fast lunge of the bill.
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== Foraging & Food ==
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====Flight====
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Grey Herons eat fish, frogs, crabs, insects and also land animals. They true opportunists and have even been recorded catching swifts flying in to their nests under a low level bridge.
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Like others of the family, the Grey Heron flies with its long neck retracted and the head pulled back into its shoulders.
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== Breeding ==
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====Diet====
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The nest is a large structure of sticks, which is placed in a tree or reedbed, very often in a mixed heronry, which may include several species of herons and egrets, as well as cormorants, spoonbills and other waterbirds.
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Opportunist feeders, Grey Herons eat a wide variety of fish, invertebrates, ducklings and land animals, such as rats and young rabbits.<br />
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== Bird Call ==
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They have even been recorded catching swifts, by ambushing them under a low level bridge.<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>
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The call is a guttural ''kraak''.
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====Breeding====
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==Bird Song==
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Colonial breeders, often mixed with other species such as egrets, cormorants and spoonbills. The colony is almost always associated with water - fresh or salt.
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The nest is an untidy platform of sticks, usually at the top of a tall tree. Usual clutch size is 3-4 eggs.
*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=grey+heron&perpage=12&sort=4&cat=all&ppuser=&friendemail=email@yourfriend.com&password=&x=0&y=0 View more images of Grey Heron in the gallery]
A very widespread Old World species breeding across much of Eurasia and Africa. Breeds throughout the British Isles and much of mainland Europe from north and central France north to coastal Scandinavia and east across Russia to Sakhalin, Manchuria and Japan. In the south found at scattered localities from Iberia to Greece and Turkey, the Caucasus and east across southern Asia, India and Indochina south to Sumatra and Java. In Africa breeds on the Mediterranean coast and in the Nile Valley, on the Banc D'Arguin in Mauritania, probably also on the Azores, in West Africa, western Madagascar and from Ethiopia south to South Africa.
Colonial breeder, usually in trees in most of Europe, sometimes on a cliff or in reedbeds in the east; race monicae nests on the ground on islets. Frequents the margins of a variety of freshwater including lakes, streams and swamps, brackish lagoons and estuaries, and often sea-coasts. Also feeds or rests on grassland.
In some parts of range a common bird in urban areas. The Grey Heron is a familiar bird of lakes, rivers, pans and also rocky coastlines where it is usually seen hunting in shallow water.
Nominate race occurs over most of range with much paler monicae on the Banc D'Arguin of Mauritania, jouyi in the east from Japan to Java and firasa on Madagascar, Aldabra and the Comoros.
Opportunist feeders, Grey Herons eat a wide variety of fish, invertebrates, ducklings and land animals, such as rats and young rabbits.
They have even been recorded catching swifts, by ambushing them under a low level bridge.[1]
Colonial breeders, often mixed with other species such as egrets, cormorants and spoonbills. The colony is almost always associated with water - fresh or salt.
The nest is an untidy platform of sticks, usually at the top of a tall tree. Usual clutch size is 3-4 eggs.
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