About the Gray Heron
The grey heron 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.
Source: Wikipedia
Taxonomy & Classification
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae) |
| Species | Ardea cinerea |
| Species Codes | graher1, GRAH, GRHE |
Frequently Asked Questions
What family does the Gray Heron belong to?
The Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea) belongs to the Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns family (Ardeidae), in the order Pelecaniformes.
How can I identify the Gray Heron?
The grey heron 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 se...
Where can I report a Gray Heron sighting?
You can log sightings of Gray Heron on eBird (ebird.org) using species code graher1, or on iNaturalist.
Related Species in Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns 74 species
More Birds in Order Pelecaniformes
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