This blog post was updated on October 18, 2018.
This majestic, solitary heron is a sight to behold. Keep an eye out for the grey-plumaged beauty when traversing the warmer parts of Europe –and even Amsterdam!
Natural habitat: temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa (favor lakes, rivers, and wetlands)
Protection status: Secure
Population: estimates range from 790,000-3,700,000 globally
Size: the largest heron in Europe, with a body length generally ranging from 84 to 102 cm
Life span: 5 years
Diet: fish, amphibians, small mammals, insects and reptiles
Personality: Who needs friends? Not these birds! Grey herons need their alone time…and a lot of it at that.
Fun fact: The grey heron can stand as still as a statue –and it’s often mistaken for one. Humans can find it difficult to tell one apart from a plastic model typically placed near garden ponds
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