Gray Heron Photo Gallery
Adult
A large, gray heron with a heavy, daggerlike bill. Adult has a broad black stripe above and behind each eye, a white central crown stripe and white face, black shoulder patches, dark gray upperparts (with lighter gray plumes in breeding season), and a grayish-white neck with black streaks down the middle. The bill is orange in full breeding plumage.
© Patrick MONNEY / Macaulay LibraryFreiburg, May 11, 2018Juvenile
Juvenile is duller overall, with a muted head pattern that lacks the crisp black-and-white stripes of an adult. The neck is the same light gray as the back and wings. Juvenile lacks plumes and has duller bill and legs than adult.
© Christoph Moning / Macaulay LibrarySchleswig-Holstein, August 22, 2010Adult
A large, long-necked heron found in lakes, ponds, and other wetlands. Adult in breeding plumage has gray upperparts (with lighter gray plumes), a grayish-white neck with black streaks down the front, a white face and crown stripe, a broad black stripe above and behind each eye, and a long black plume extending from the back of the head.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryCsongrád, May 02, 2015Not all videos have soundAdult
Gray Herons fly with the neck tucked in, creating a bulge below the back of the head. In flight, note the two-toned upperwing pattern: black flight feathers and gray inner coverts, with a small white patch at the bend of the wing.
© Chris Maines / Macaulay LibraryTokyo, December 01, 2017Adult
Underwings appear more uniformly dark gray. During peak breeding season, both the bill and legs can become bright orange-red.
© Neoh Hor Kee / Macaulay LibrarySelangor, April 26, 2016Immature
Immature is duller overall and lacks the crisp white-and-black facial patterning of an adult. This heron eats mostly fish, which it catches by standing motionless—or in this case, walking slowly in shallow water—before quickly striking.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryEngland, August 16, 2017Not all videos have soundAdult (Mauritanian)
The rare “Mauritanian” Gray Heron is much paler than the common, widespread “Gray” Gray Heron.
© Andrew Spencer / Macaulay LibrarySaint-Louis, December 29, 2018Adult (Madagascar)
The “Madagascar” Gray Heron is typically larger than “Gray” Gray Heron, with a larger bill and longer legs.
© Holger Teichmann / Macaulay LibraryToliara, August 07, 2018Adult
Performs treetop courtship displays that include elaborate stretches, erected plumes, calls, and bill snaps.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryRajasthan, July 02, 2014Not all videos have soundAdult
Forages in a wide variety of shallow wetlands, including lake shores, marshes, ricefields, and fishponds.
© Sneha Gupta / Macaulay LibraryMaharashtra, September 27, 2016Adult
Female builds stick nest from materials delivered by male. Nests are high up in treetops and often reused from year to year.
© Josep del Hoyo / Macaulay LibraryProvence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, April 17, 2017Not all videos have soundCompare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns(Order: Pelecaniformes, Family: Ardeidae)
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