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Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Description:

It is a large bird, standing 90–100 cm tall, with a 175–195 cm wingspan and a weight of 1–2 kg. Its plumage is largely grey above, and off-white below. Adults have a white head with a broad black supercilium and slender crest, while immatures have a dull grey head. It has a powerful, pinkish-yellow bill, which is brighter in breeding adults. It has a slow flight, with its long neck retracted (S-shaped). This is characteristic of herons and bitterns, and distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks. The call is a loud croaking "fraaank". The Australian White-faced Heron is often incorrectly called Grey Heron. In Ireland the grey heron is often colloquially called " crane ".

Habitat:

The Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea), is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia and also parts of Africa. It is resident in the milder south and west, but many birds retreat in winter from the ice in colder regions. It has become common in summer even inside the Arctic circle along the Norwegian coast.

Notes:

Foto feita em um pequeno porto da Holanda no Mar do Norte

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Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea Grey Heron


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elenelias
Spotted by
elenelias

Volendam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands

Spotted on May 22, 2007
Submitted on Aug 13, 2011

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