What does a heron look like? 50 interesting facts about herons. Listen to the voice of a gray heron

Appearance and behavior. Large heron, body length 90–98 cm, weight 1.1–2.3 kg, wingspan 175–195 cm. The color is generally gray, sometimes very light individuals are found. During the mating season, adult birds have a thin crest on the head, and elongated feathers are noticeable at the bottom of the neck. A sedentary bird, it can stand for hours in shallow water or at the edge of reed thickets, practically without changing its position. Sometimes it is also found in dry places, where it behaves in exactly the same way. Often sits on trees, especially likes individual protruding dry branches. When in danger, it flies away and rises from the ground easily, without running, even from dense thickets. The flight is easy and leisurely; when flying in a group, gray herons often line up in a line or wedge. Active around the clock.

Description. The main color tone is ash-gray, the flight and tail feathers are almost black, there are longitudinal dark streaks on the underside of the neck, the belly is white, the sides of the body are black, and in a standing bird there is a black and white spot on the bend of the wing. In adult birds, the head is almost white, only a black “bandage” stretches from the eye to the back of the head, turning into a thin hanging braid. Young birds are less contrasting; their heads are grayish, with a black “cap”. The legs are greenish-gray, the beak of adult birds is yellow, pinkish during the mating season, and the eyes are yellow. Young birds have a two-color beak - the mandible is black, the mandible is yellow. The chicks' down is light gray. Flying gray herons are clearly distinguished from red-headed herons by their contrasting wing colors (light gray and black) and longer legs.

Distribution, status. The breeding range covers a significant part of Eurasia and Africa. In European Russia, the heron is the most widespread, found from Karelia in the north to the Black Sea coast in the south. In the middle zone - a migratory bird, sometimes winters in the south; in recent years, winter sightings have appeared near Moscow. It is common, although not numerous, in the south in many places it is inferior in number to other species of herons - for example, or. In spring it arrives very early; the first birds can be seen near the colonies even when there is snow all around and the water bodies are covered with ice. Flies late, some birds linger almost until freeze-up.

Lifestyle. It settles in various bodies of water, usually nesting in colonies - mainly in trees, as well as in flooded bushes or reed thickets. Colonies can be located in the forest at a distance of up to several kilometers from the reservoir. Colonies vary in size; several hundred pairs can nest together in the south of the region. The nests, like those of other herons, are shaped like an inverted cone with translucent walls through which the eggs are clearly visible. When nesting in trees and shrubs, the main building material thin dry twigs and branches serve. The nests are extremely light, so they are supported by thin tree branches and reed stems.

They form pairs for life. The clutch contains 3–5 greenish-blue eggs, the size of a chicken or slightly larger. It is mainly the female who incubates the clutch. Newborn chicks are completely helpless, but sighted. Adult birds feed them by regurgitating semi-digested food. The chicks rise to their feet approximately 2 weeks after hatching. In strong winds, grown chicks often fall out of nests located in trees. In this case, they are almost certainly doomed to death, since the parents do not feed the chicks outside the nest, and they are not able to return there on their own, not being able to fly.

At its wintering grounds in South-West Africa, the gray heron is considered a useful bird, since there it eats mainly harmful insects and even reptiles. Video and photo

Squad— Crane-shaped

Family— Herons

Genus/Species- Ardea cinerea. gray heron

Basic data:

DIMENSIONS

Length: 90-95 cm, head and neck longer than body.

Wing length: up to 47.2 cm.

Weight: 1.5-2 kg.

REPRODUCTION

Puberty: usually from 2 years of age.

Carrying: one per year.

Number of eggs: 4-6.

Hatching of eggs: 26-27 days.

Feeding chicks: 50-55 days.

LIFESTYLE

Habits: the gray heron (see photo) is a flocking bird; nests in colonies; the male guards the territory.

Food: fish, insects, birds, small mammals.

Lifespan: The oldest known bird was 25 years and 4 months old.

RELATED SPECIES

Red-headed heron, common heron and others.

A gray heron that stands motionless, lying in wait for prey, or leisurely strolls along the shallows, seems slow and clumsy. However, with the appearance of a fish, frog or small bird, a complete transformation occurs: the heron kills the prey with a lightning strike of its beak.

REPRODUCTION

The nesting period for herons begins early in the spring. Each male defends his territory during the nesting period. If another male approaches, the owner of the territory straightens his neck and points his sharp beak threateningly in his direction. The owner of the territory often attacks an alien who is already moving away. To attract a female, the male performs a “mating song” several times during the day, and sometimes at night. When a female approaches, the male performs a mating dance, during which he raises his beak to the sky.

These birds make nests in trees, large bushes or reed thickets. The female and male build the nest together. The finished nest has the shape of a cone, turned upside down. With an interval of two days, the female lays from 4 to 6 greenish-blue eggs.

After laying the first egg, gray herons begin to incubate it. Therefore, the first hatched chick will be significantly larger than subsequent ones. The eggs are incubated alternately by the female and the male. After the chicks hatch, they participate together in feeding them.

The hatched chicks are helpless, but already sighted. At the age of 7-9 days they develop feathers, and by 16 days they can already stand on their feet.

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

Gray herons look for food on the banks of streams and slow-moving rivers, in shallow lake waters and in sunny sea bays. Sometimes early in the morning gray herons fly into garden ponds and catch golden fish and crucian carp from them. They also regularly visit streams and rivers where watermills stand. In winter, birds hunt mice and voles among blackberry bushes. After a heavy snowfall, when land animals become inaccessible, herons eat blackberries.

They build nests on coastal trees. In some areas, herons nest in reed beds, bushes and on rocks.

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

The heron often hunts near the shore or wanders through shallow waters, where the water in the deepest place barely reaches its belly. She patiently waits for some careless animal to appear - then she quickly stretches her neck and grabs the prey with a strong, long and sharp beak, from which the prey can no longer slip out. Along with fish, the gray heron also catches other small animals: insects, small mammals and birds, frogs, snakes and even crayfish. A place suitable for hunting is often located at a distance of up to 30 km from the nesting colony. If the hunting grounds are rich in food, then a considerable number of gray herons can be present on them at the same time.

WATCHING THE GRAY HERON

When resting, the gray heron hides its head between its shoulder blades. Despite its large size, the heron is very difficult to spot. A not very attentive researcher notices it only when he approaches it very close, and the heron straightens its neck, emits a loud cry “crack” and flies away. In flight, the heron bends its neck into an “S” shape and stretches its legs far back. Thanks to the measured movements of the wings, the bird's flight looks very elegant. The bird is noticeably smaller white crane. You should not disturb herons without reason in their nesting areas, since these birds are very shy and can leave them.

The largest heron in the world is the gray heron, which lives in African papyrus thickets; its height reaches 140 cm.
Central European gray herons are partially migratory, meaning not all birds fly south in winter. During severe winters, many of the birds that remain die of hunger (if there is a lot of snow). Northern gray herons migrate in flocks and winter in sub-Saharan Africa.
The heron always takes off easily, even if it is in the water.
The heron always tries to swallow the fish from its head. Therefore, fish bones, scales and fins do not get stuck in her throat.

PLEASE OF THE GRAY HERON

To protect the feathers from getting wet, the heron, in addition to the coccygeal gland, has a special down, which over time turns into a powder that covers the feathers, like talcum powder. This fluff grows on herons on the chest and back. Adult herons of both sexes are no different from each other. The gray plumage with black and white stripes on the neck darkens slightly in winter.

Young birds up to two years of age have a small crest on their heads, their plumage is darker, their first winter plumage is brown.

— Habitat of the gray heron

WHERE DOES THE GRAY HERON LIVE?

The gray heron is distributed in Europe and Asia from the shores of the Atlantic Ocean to Sakhalin and the Japanese Islands, south to North-West Africa and Sri Lanka, north to St. Petersburg and Yakutsk. Breeds in Madagascar. Winters in most of Africa, India and Indochina.

PROTECTION AND PRESERVATION

The number of herons is declining in many places. Today, gray herons are protected.

Gray Heron.mpg. Video (00:00:45)

Gray Heron in Virgin Heath Park. 06/24/2010, 14:03

Gray Heron USA. Video (00:04:23)

Gray Heron. Video (00:00:41)

Gray Heron. Video (00:00:29)

Gray Heron on a walk

Gray Heron Gray Heron.mp4. Video (00:03:06)

From the first days of arrival, the herons began building nests and laying eggs.

Gray Heron in the Vondelpark / Gray Heron in Vondel Park. Video (00:01:58)

Leisurely walks through a Dutch park with a gray heron.

The gray heron is also gyrfalking: the birds are pretending. Video (00:05:51)

Gray heron. Birds of Brateevograd. Video (00:00:43)

In Moscow, the gray heron is constantly observed during periods of seasonal migration.
In Brateevo and Maryino, the gray heron was often seen during flights with a landing for rest at the end of the Maryinskaya embankment and on the opposite Brateevsky shore near the water.
In spring, summer and autumn they see a pair of herons in the park on the Bratislava Street circle.

czapla siwa (Ardea cinerea) Gray Heron, Graureiher-cinerea, Gray Heron. Video (00:01:35)

Nowe Potulice 29.09.2013.

Heron: description, types and habits. Where does the heron live and what does it eat? Heron hunting

October 23, 2011 Hunting and fishing, Game birds

The heron is a fairly common bird in Russian landscapes. Despite its small numbers, the heron's distribution is so wide that it covers large areas around the world.

According to their species diversity, herons include Egyptian, gray, white, sunny, red, night herons, etc. However, the classification is not limited to this - some types of herons are also divided into subspecies.

Description of herons

The appearance of a heron, especially its color, largely depends on the species to which the bird belongs. However, it is possible to note certain external characteristics, characteristic of all herons included in this family. Thus, herons are marsh birds with long and thin legs without membranes.

There are small, medium and large herons in size. All herons have special powders with which they powder their plumage, and do not lubricate it, unlike other water birds. On the heron’s paw there is a special finger, different in shape (it is slightly longer) - the heron uses it as a “comb”. The wings are blunt at the ends.

Types of herons

There are a large variety of herons, which form not only species, but also subspecies.

In general, this family of herons includes 63 species that belong to 16 genera. The most famous and common types of herons:

gray heron (consists of 4 subspecies);
egret (consists of at least 12 subspecies);
Egyptian heron;
red heron;
night heron, etc.

Habits of a heron

The heron is, first of all, a wading bird, and therefore its habits are appropriate.

It forms entire colonies, arranging nests in reed beds, on low-growing trees or shrubs growing near swampy bodies of water. The movements of the heron are slow and stately, accompanied by stretching of the neck forward. A heron can go hunting either alone or in groups. The heron is most active at dusk and during the day (at this time it gets its food). When late evening comes, he tries to take refuge in a shelter.

The gray heron spends a long time standing on one leg in complete immobility.

All species of this bird are quite aggressive towards each other during feeding, so they often take away the caught food from each other. If danger threatens, the heron stretches its neck and freezes, but it is ready to take off at any moment. When hunting, the heron keeps its head down, looking out for its prey. If it comes across a large one, the heron first hits it sharply, then grabs it with its beak and shakes it.

Egyptian herons have slightly different habits, since they always stick to herds of large animals (usually wild ungulates), on whose back they spend a very long time.

Heron habitats

The Egyptian heron is found mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.

Recently spotted at the mouth of the Volga. Widely found in Africa, where it is distributed from the southern regions of the continent to the east coast and Senegal. It also inhabits South Asian territories. Found in the Greater Sunda Islands, the Philippines and southern Japan. Egrets have a wider distribution and are found everywhere except Antarctica. There are especially many of them in Africa. On the territory of Russia there are mainly three species - gray, little and great white herons.

The gray heron is distributed mainly in Asia, Europe (in countries with temperate climates), inhabiting areas from the Japanese Islands and Sakhalin to the Atlantic coast (to the north - to Yakutsk and St. Petersburg, to the south - to Ceylon and northwestern Africa ). The red-headed heron is found in the southern regions of the Iberian Peninsula - its nesting grounds extend into Pakistan and Iraq through Hungary and the entire Balkan Peninsula. It can also be found in Hindustan, Indochina, China, Ceylon and Primorye.

In the east it covers the territory of Taiwan, Ryuko, the Philippine Islands, in the south - the Sunda Islands and Sulawesi. It is not uncommon in Africa either.

Where does the heron live

Any heron lives primarily in swampy areas. However, the specifics in this case depend most on the species to which the heron belongs.

For example, Egyptian herons can live among herds of ungulates (hippos, rhinoceroses, etc.), on the backs of which they spend most of their time. The gray heron is a typical representative of birds that are found along lakes, streams, rivers and swamps.

At the same time, the salinity of the water does not matter to them. For herons, the main factor is the presence of shallow water. The white heron settles near bodies of water located both inside the continent and near the sea. Its favorite places to live are mangroves, salt and fresh lakes, shores, floodplains, and swampy lowlands.

It is also found among agricultural plantings, in fields, and near drainage canals.

What does a heron eat?

The basic diet of any type of heron consists of frogs, fish, crayfish, snakes, tailless amphibians, and rodents. The heron also feeds on all kinds of insects (crickets, grasshoppers) and their larvae, voles, rats, small gophers and lizards. The red heron can peck locusts, and the Egyptian heron can eat ticks and body insects, which it catches in the fur and skins of animals.

The white heron often eats the chicks of sparrows and other small birds.

Heron hunting

Heron hunting is prohibited in the Russian Federation- due to the small number of this bird.

Its production peaked in the 19th century. At that time, such a privilege was available exclusively to the nobility, but ordinary people were strictly forbidden to hunt herons, since the heron was considered noble. The heron used to be a classic trophy in falconry and gun hunting.

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Sometimes it is also found in dry places, where it behaves in exactly the same way. Often sits on trees, especially likes individual protruding dry branches. When in danger, it flies away and rises from the ground easily, without running, even from dense thickets. The flight is easy and leisurely; when flying in a group, gray herons often line up in a line or wedge.

Active around the clock.

In adult birds, the head is almost white, only a black “bandage” stretches from the eye to the back of the head, turning into a thin hanging braid. Young birds are less contrasting; their heads are grayish, with a black “cap”. The legs are greenish-gray, the beak of adult birds is yellow, pinkish during the mating season, and the eyes are yellow.

Young birds have a two-color beak - the mandible is black, the mandible is yellow. The chicks' down is light gray. Flying gray herons are clearly distinguished from red-headed herons by their contrasting wing colors (light gray and black) and longer legs.

In the middle zone - a migratory bird, sometimes winters in the south; in recent years, winter sightings have appeared near Moscow. Common, although not numerous, in the south in many places it is inferior in number to other species of herons - for example, the little white or night heron. In spring it arrives very early; the first birds can be seen near the colonies even when there is snow all around and the water bodies are covered with ice. Flies late, some birds linger almost until freeze-up.

When nesting in trees and bushes, the main building material is thin, dry twigs and branches. The nests are extremely light, so they are supported by thin tree branches and reed stems.

They form pairs for life. The clutch contains 3–5 greenish-blue eggs, the size of a chicken or slightly larger.

It is mainly the female who incubates the clutch. Newborn chicks are completely helpless, but sighted. Adult birds feed them by regurgitating semi-digested food. The chicks rise to their feet approximately 2 weeks after hatching.

In strong winds, grown chicks often fall out of nests located in trees. In this case, they are almost certainly doomed to death, since the parents do not feed the chicks outside the nest, and they are not able to return there on their own, not being able to fly.

All about herons: photos, descriptions, interesting facts

They usually feed in reservoirs, but sometimes they can lie in wait for prey in fields - most often this happens in early spring. Like all herons, they eat any animals they can handle and swallow. Fish up to 30 cm long and rodents the size of a rat are relatively easily swallowed. During the hunt, they stand in shallow water for a long time, patiently waiting for the prey to approach within an accessible distance.

They lie in wait at the burrows of gophers and voles. Less often, they walk around shallows and dry areas in search of food.

Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea)

In the middle of the swamp, a lonely “ballerina” stands motionless. Graceful, in an elegant outfit, she, like a flower on a stem, rises above the green surface of the water. What was this beauty thinking about while standing on one leg? Who is she and why is she here?

This is a heron. It's time for lunch and she's on the lookout for prey. The swamp offers a varied menu, but today is a fishing day for the feathered mademoiselle and it will certainly take place, because the heron is a successful hunter.

The life of a heron is amazing. The biologists who studied it claim that it is entirely Interesting Facts:

More than 60 species of herons are known and described today. Their distribution area is extensive - there are many islands and almost all continents except Antarctica;
The largest individuals are up to one and a half meters tall, and the smallest ones are up to 40 cm;
Maximum life expectancy is 25 years.
during migratory flights, herons were seen at an altitude of 2000 m (helicopters fly at this altitude)
Being a semi-aquatic bird, it feeds on amphibians and fish, but never dives or swims.
When eating a fish, the heron swallows it head first so as not to injure the esophagus;
While waiting for prey, the heron has to stand in cold water for hours, which is why it tucks one leg in, warming it up. This "signature" stance distinguishes it from other birds.
The heron creates shade, attracting fish. To increase the shading area, she spreads her huge wings and folds them into a dome, while lowering her head down. This technique allows you not only to attract more fish, but also to choose the best one, because the “umbrella” relieves the bird’s eyes from blinding water glare.

Appearance care

The heron, like a real fashionista, pays a lot of attention appearance and spares no time in caring for the feathers. Her “cosmetic bag” is always with her - small feathers grow all over her body - powders, which tend to break off and crumble from time to time, forming a kind of powder. Having previously combed its hair with its own finger, the bird “powders itself”, distributing fragments of fluff throughout its “clothing”. This treatment gives the plumage water-repellent properties and does not get wet.

Other birds whose life is connected with water have a coccygeal gland in the tail area. It secretes a special secret that protects the cover from getting wet. The heron has such a miracle - there is no remedy.

Caution: love

During the mating season, the heron transforms. In some of its species, luxurious feathers called aigrette grow on their backs. The color of the skin around the beak and eyes changes, as if the bird had applied makeup. Males develop the ability to sing and dance: fluffing their lacy aigrette and shaking their crest, the suitor performs ritual squats. The dance is accompanied by songs and the cracking of the beak. Such a cacophony can drive not only local young ladies crazy, but also all living things within the radius of the swamp.

Mating behavior does not leave the feathered tribesmen indifferent, and soon the charming silhouette of a friend appears on the horizon. But woe to her if she decides to get too close too soon. For such frivolity you can get punches and be expelled, so it is better to be patient and wait for the gentleman’s initiative. A paradox, and that’s all. There is an explanation for this: females and males of herons are no different in appearance. Therefore, before the male rejoices, he must make sure that it is a young lady in front of him, and not a rival competitor.

Family

Herons are considered monogamous. But can a relationship lasting one season be considered monogamous? As an exception, there are couples family life which last two years or more.

The purpose of creating a family is to have offspring. But first, the future mother and father build a nest, approaching this very rationally: so that there is no conflict of interest, the female is appointed as the architect and builder, and the male is engaged in the search and delivery of building materials.

If a strong nest from last year is in sight and it is not occupied by anyone, the family will happily repair the “secondary” one, because it is less expensive than the cost of new housing.

Waiting for offspring

Having laid eggs (usually from 2 to 7), the couple awaits the appearance of offspring. Heron eggs are unusual in appearance; they are greenish in color and oblong in shape.

Both parents do the incubation, taking turns. This is a difficult period. There are many enemies around who want to feast on eggs or chicks, but the heron will selflessly protect the clutch in case of danger and will not leave it. With her harpoon beak she is able to drive away ill-wishers from the nest.

The chicks are born within a month and the parents begin new worries.

Herons and people

Dutch herons refuted this version. They settled in large numbers in Amsterdam and feel great in the conditions of civilization.

A huge population of these birds chose to live in the Dutch capital more than 10 years ago. The birds liked city life, and they are not going to return to the swamps.

There are no problems with food - at the markets you can always beg for a fish or two or quietly steal from the counter. But the kind residents of Amsterdam often feed their feathered neighbors themselves and do it with pleasure.

Herons roam freely around the city to the delight of the townspeople and the amazement of numerous tourists; they take photographs with pleasure, receiving tasty “fees” for photo sessions.

Europeans treat the long-legged birds that have decorated Amsterdam with warmth and love, becoming its latest attraction.

Good relations with herons did not always develop. In the century before last, beautiful birds were shot en masse by people because of the fashion for women's hats with decorations made of openwork feathers.

The scary times are over. Today the heron doesn't count rare bird, but its numbers individual species has not yet recovered.

The heron is a proud, strong bird from the stork family. It belongs to the group of long-footed birds that lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle. The population has taken root well in many parts of the world; it can be found on almost any continent.

The birds have one thing in common: one way or another, all herons live near bodies of water, in deltas, and floodplains. They successfully populated swamps, reed beds, lakes, and fertile areas of wet meadows.

What do herons eat?

The main diet of the bird consists of representatives from the world of aquatic and coastal living creatures. Herons happily eat tadpoles; their diet includes a lot of fish, from fry to adult specimens. They do not disdain snakes, newts, lizards, snakes, all kinds of frogs, and toads. Their delicacies include mollusks, insects, and crustaceans.

At every opportunity, the heron is not averse to feasting on warm-blooded creatures. Their diet includes rodents, moles, and gull chicks. The quantity and quality composition of a heron's food varies depending on the characteristics of its habitat and season.

In the lower reaches of the Syr Darya, small fish are the basis of the heron’s diet. When reservoirs dry up, birds hunt for young pike and carp. If the season is fruitful, an increase in the locust population is observed in these places. In this case, the heron completely switches to eating insects. If areas are flooded with floods in the spring, birds happily hunt gerbils.
Near Lenkoran in the summer, local herons devour fish, frogs, cicadas, and fillies with might and main. In the steppes they hunt voles, rats, mice, and find aquatic insects near the shore, swallowing parts of marsh plants along with them. In winter, the bird switches to young pike, carp, bream, and kutum.
In the Astrakhan Nature Reserve, the bird feeds mainly on frogs, mice, and water rats. Does not disdain large larvae, insects, snakes.

“The heron is important, big-nosed, and stands like a statue all day.” The nursery rhyme makes you smile and your imagination pictures a large bird with a long beak, very long thin legs and a long neck curved in the shape of an S. These birds are known for their affinity for shallow waters, where they can stalk fish for hours while standing on one leg.

Herons belong to the order Aciformes (wadiformes) and the heron family. True herons form a genus of the same name, which includes 14 species of birds, similar in structure and lifestyle, but differing in size and color of plumage.

Because of its clumsy mincing gait, in Rus' the heron was called “chaplea” or “chepura”. Similar names for birds can be traced in all Slavic languages, because they come from the common word “chapat”.

What does a heron look like?

These are large birds with a height of 80 - 100 cm and above. The average weight of a heron is about 1.5 - 2 kg, males are slightly heavier than females and no other external sexual differences have been found in the genus of birds.

The heron's body is elongated, dense and massive. Looking at the photo of a heron, what catches your eye is its long neck - a unique and distinctive part of the body of these birds. If other storks stretch their necks far forward in flight, the heron, on the contrary, folds its neck in such a way that the back of its head rests on its back.

The legs of herons are long and thin, ending in 4 fingers: 3 directed forward, one backward. On the claw of the middle finger grows a particularly long, serrated claw, which plays an important role in hygiene procedures. From the broken tips of feathers on the body of birds, so-called powders are formed - a kind of powder, necessary for birds for lubricating feathers so that they do not stick together from the mucus of the fish they eat. This is where the long claw helps, with which the heron “powders” its plumage.

The long rounded wings of herons with a span of about 2 m are well adapted for long flights. Herons take off in an interesting way: at first the bird makes frequent flaps and lifts off the surface, but does not tighten its legs and for some time they dangle freely in the air. A heron that has gained height has a slow and calm flight, and its long legs are extended into a string and set far behind the body.

Narrow long beak Herons are an excellent tool for obtaining food; birds use them to easily pierce fish and kill rodents the size of a young rabbit. The heron's beak has a slightly laterally flattened shape and grows up to 13 - 15 cm. The color of the beak ranges from pale yellow to dark brown.

The plumage of herons is thick and loose and does not differ in a variety of colors. The predominant colors are gray, white and black, only the main plumage of the red heron is chestnut-brown. In many species, the back of the head is decorated with a tuft of long feathers.

The gray heron is ready to take to the blue sky in a moment.

Habitat and lifestyle

Herons are distributed throughout the world. Inhabitants of the northern regions migratory birds wintering in the south. Some of them remain for the winter in nesting areas, provided the water bodies are not frozen.

Most herons live near fresh lakes; individual colonies are found near brackish water bodies and seas. The main thing for birds is shallow water, where they can get fish and tall trees for nesting. Herons do not live only in dense forests, deserts and high mountain areas.

Sometimes herons can be found in settlements located near reservoirs, as well as within the city.

These birds do not adhere to a specific time of sleep and wakefulness; they can be active day and night, although they prefer to hunt at dawn and dusk. Most of the time, herons forage for food, but they do not feed so much as they track prey, standing in the water with their legs tucked under them.

Gray heron with a caught fish.

What do herons eat?

Each heron has its own method of obtaining food. Some patiently stand on one leg in the reeds, others wander along the shore with their necks folded, stirring up the water with their long legs. Some spread their wings, shading the area of water, and look at what is happening under their feet.

As soon as the prey comes into view, the heron straightens its neck with lightning speed and grabs the prey across the body. Then it deftly tosses it along its beak and swallows it whole, head first. The heron tears large food into pieces, gouges it with its beak and breaks bones.

Mollusks, crustaceans, amphibians and large insects are necessarily present in the diet of herons. Birds do not disdain small animals and willingly eat water rats, mice and moles. On occasion, they steal prey from bitterns, cormorants and gulls, but they themselves become victims of robbery by other birds, for example, hooded crows.

Near human habitation, herons readily feed on waste and processed products from fish farms.

Great white egret in flight.

Features of reproduction

Females mature at one year of age, puberty in males it occurs by 2 years of age. In individuals of both sexes, the beak and legs become intense red during the mating season.

Herons are monogamous, some species mate for life, others only for one season. The inhabitants of the tropics are not tied to a specific breeding time. Migratory populations of the temperate zone nest immediately after arrival: in March - early April.

During the nesting season, most heron species form large colonies of tens or even hundreds of pairs. Nests are built high in trees, sometimes in thickets of bushes and reeds.

Mating is preceded by a very original mating ritual. The male begins to build the nest first, and then calls the female, standing on the nest in a characteristic pose with open wings and head thrown back into the sky. A female arrives, attracted by the croaking sounds, and the male immediately beats her and drives her away. This continues over and over again, and the later the female arrives, the sooner a pair is formed, sometimes without the ritual of beatings and expulsions.

The herons mate and continue building the nest. The male brings twigs and dry reeds, the female lays them down, at the same time protecting the nest from the encroachments of neighbors. The heron's nest looks like a carelessly dumped pile of branches, its shape is an inverted cone, with an average height of 50 - 60 cm with a tray diameter of about 80 cm. Often the pair reuses the nest, correcting and adding to it every year.

Breeding offspring

The female lays 3 to 9 greenish-blue eggs, many pointed at both ends, and sits alternately with the male in the nest. Herons of southern populations incubate eggs for 3 weeks, living in temperate latitudes for 26 - 27 days. The chick hatches first from the first egg laid and has every chance of survival.

The chicks are born sighted, covered with grayish-white down and completely helpless. Parents feed their offspring with digested food, which is regurgitated from the stomach.

After some time, fierce competition begins among the chicks. The first is the strongest, he gets more food, he takes food from weak brothers and sisters, it was often noted that large chicks ate the younger ones. While the parents are busy getting the next food, food from the chicks can be taken away by the chicks - neighbors who are already able to fly.

In the best case, half of the offspring survive; often 1 - 2 of the strongest chicks remain in the nest. At the age of 2 months, young birds acquire the ability to fly and begin to feed on their own.

In captivity, herons live up to 20 years, in wildlife their life expectancy is significantly shorter.

Types of herons

To date, 12 species of herons belonging to the genus true herons have been the most studied, most of them are quite numerous, but some are rare and are in danger of extinction. The heron family also includes the following genera: white herons (10 species), Egyptian herons (1 species), pond herons (6 species), tiger herons (3 species) and others. Bitterns and night herons are also members of the heron family.

Representatives of the species are quite numerous and live in most of Eurasia and Africa. The largest number of birds is recorded in Russia, China and Japan. These are large herons weighing up to 2 kg with a characteristic bluish-gray back plumage and light gray lower body.

Gray herons on a dried tree.

Great Gray Heron on the morning hunt.

Gray Heron on a walk.

Gray heron in flight.

A gray heron lands on the water, photo taken in Israel.

These closest relatives of the gray heron are widespread in the New World. The height of an adult reaches 137 cm with a body weight of about 2.5 kg. The upper part of the bird's body is gray; black, white and brownish stripes are clearly visible on the long neck. The back of the males' head is decorated with a tuft of black feathers.

Great blue herons on the nest.

A numerous species of herons found in Africa, America, Eurasia, Australia and New Zealand. Adult birds grow up to 104 cm and weigh just over kg. A distinctive feature of the great egret is its completely snow-white plumage.

Great white egret, Okavango Delta, Botswana.

The great egret is a large wading bird with long legs, 94-104 cm tall.

Widespread, large populations of these birds range from East Africa to southern Asian regions and Australia. Very reminiscent of a great white heron, but has a smaller body size.

A rare, endangered species of heron living in northern Myanmar, India and Bhutan. These are large birds, up to 127 cm tall, dark gray in color with a whitish lower body.

A medium-sized bird with a chestnut-brown underparts and a gray back. It lives in Africa and Eurasia, forms 4 subspecies, which are quite numerous throughout the entire range.

Red-haired heron (Ardea purpurea).

Red-haired heron chasing fish.

Absolutely white birds with a crest on the head and a bright yellow beak. They live in Russia, Korea and China, wintering on the islands of Southeast Asia. Today, yellow-billed herons are classified as a vulnerable species.

Yellow-billed heron in flight.

A species of small heron with a body length of about 45 - 55 cm. The contrasting color of the plumage is reminiscent of a magpie: dark gray back and head and white chest. The birds are found in large numbers in Australia, New Guinea and the nearby small islands.

The birds are medium-sized, about 85 cm in size. The plumage color is reminiscent of gray herons, but darker in color with black markings on the neck. They live south of the Sahara Desert and on the island of Madagascar. The status of the black-necked heron population is not alarming.

A black-necked heron collects twigs for a nest.

An endangered species of herons living in Madagascar. This is a medium-sized bird, about 90 cm long, with slate-gray plumage.

A very numerous species of birds found throughout the area South America and nearby islands. The body length of adult birds is 95 - 127 cm and weighs up to 2.5 kg. The belly of the birds is black, the head is decorated with a black cap, the neck and chest are white.

The largest representative of the genus, also known as the goliath heron and giant heron. The bird's height is 155 cm, and its body weight reaches 7 kg. The plumage of the birds is gray-brown, the neck and head are chestnut-brown, the chin is colored White color. A large population of birds lives throughout the African continent south of the Sahara Desert.

Gigantic herons near a pond.

The little egret belongs to the genus white herons. Outwardly similar in appearance to a great egret from the genus Common Egrets.

The American white heron belongs to the genus Egret. Lives almost throughout South America and in the south North America. On the North American continent this type leads a migratory lifestyle.

An American white heron caught a crayfish.

American egret (Snowy Egret) - about 60 centimeters long, feed on a variety of small fish, crustaceans, reptiles and, sometimes, insects.

Relatives of herons are cranes, look

At its wintering grounds in South-West Africa, the gray heron is considered a useful bird, since there it eats mainly harmful insects and even reptiles. Video and photo

REPRODUCTION

WHERE DOES IT LIVE?

WHAT DOES IT EAT?

WATCHING THE GRAY HERON

PLEASE OF THE GRAY HERON

Gray Heron.mpg. Video (00:00:45)

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Gray Heron. Video (00:00:29)

Gray Heron Gray Heron.mp4. Video (00:03:06)

Gray Heron in the Vondelpark / Gray Heron in Vondel Park. Video (00:01:58)

The gray heron is also gyrfalking: the birds are pretending. Video (00:05:51)

Gray heron. Birds of Brateevograd. Video (00:00:43)

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Description of herons

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