Grey Heron

Unnoticed biodiversity

Identification

Common name: Grey Heron
Latin name: Ardea cinerea
Length: 90–98 cm
Distinguishing features: grey, black and white, yellow beak
Habitat: woodland with trees beside feeding places, mainly relatively shallow freshwater lakes and rivers
Diet: opportunistic; preys on fish, birds, rodents, amphibians, crustaceans, insects
Status: Least Concern in the Ile-de-France region
Nesting period: January to June

Seen in the garden

The round Grand Bassin and octagonal Bassin hold koi carp, which the Grey Heron enjoys feeding on. It is thus not rare to see one waiting patiently for prey in the early morning, perfectly still, at either of these ornamental ponds.

Grey Heron - various flight calls

Audio

1 min.

Did you know?

The Grey Heron has become more common in urban areas since the mid-1990s. The species has been observed nesting in the Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, and a colony of between fifteen and twenty pairs is present in the Parc Georges Valbon, in La Courneuve (north of Paris).

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