Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758) H. GREHE 1220
Family: Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae

Grey Heron, Edmund Fellowes

The Grey Heron is a distinctive species with grey, black, and white plumage. It is often seen along rivers or lake margins, or standing in flooded fields.

In flight their large size, impressive wingspan, long legs, and folded neck give them an unmistakable silhouette. Largely silent away from colonies, flight is sometimes accompanied by a harsh ‘kraank’ call.

Grey Herons gather to nest in treetop sites called heronries, some of which have been occupied for many decades. These have been monitored in the UK since 1928 through the Heronries Census. Overall the UK's breeding population has increased, with numbers peaking in the early 2000, but with some more recent declines.

Exploring the trends for Grey Heron

Our Trends Explorer will also give you the latest insight into how the UK's Grey Heron population is changing.

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Identification

Grey Heron identification is usually straightforward. The following article may help when identifying Grey Heron.

related video

Identifying Little Egret and Great White Egret

25 years ago the sighting of any White Heron in the UK would have been greeted with excitement. While Little Egret is now relatively common, it can sometimes be confused at distance with a much rarer visitor - Great White Egret. This video also helps separate GW Egret from 'white' or leucistic Grey Herons.

SONGS AND CALLS

Listen to example recordings of the main vocalisations of Grey Heron, provided by xeno-canto contributors.

Flight call

Alarm call

Call

Develop your bird ID skills with our training courses

Our interactive online courses are a great way to develop your bird identification skills, whether you're new to the hobby or a competent birder looking to hone your abilities.

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Status and Trends

Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.

CONSERVATION STATUS

This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.

POPULATION SIZE

POPULATION CHANGE

The BTO Heronries Census, which has monitored Grey Herons since 1928, shows the species to have been more abundant in the early 2000s than at any time in the last 90 years. In the full survey of UK heronries, carried out in 2003 to mark the 75th anniversary of the Heronries Census, a record total of more than 10,441 Grey Heron nests were counted, around 75% of the estimated total population for that year. In the most recent full survey in 2018, a higher number of sites were visited than in 2003 but fewer nests were counted, reflecting a subsequent downturn.

Wintering numbers, which include some Scandinavian breeders, fell between 2006/07 and 2012/13, but have since been broadly stable, mirroring the heronries census trend (WeBS: Frost et al. 2020). Numbers have increased across Europe since 1980 (PECBMS: PECBMS 2020a>).

Exploring the trends for Grey Heron

Our Trends Explorer will also give you the latest insight into how the UK's Grey Heron population is changing.

trends explorer

DISTRIBUTION

Grey Herons are widely distributed across Britain & Ireland except for the most mountainous areas.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Breeding Season Habitats

Relative frequency by habitat

Relative occurrence in different habitat types during the breeding season.

>Bar of similar size indicate the species is equally likely to be recorded in those habitats

DISTRIBUTION CHANGE

Some distribution gains may be attributed to improved coverage, whilst others may relate to true population increases.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

SEASONALITY

Grey Herons are present year-round and recorded on up to 30% of complete lists.

Weekly occurence of Grey Heron from BirdTrack
Weekly occurrence patterns (shaded cells) and reporting rates (vertical bars) based on BirdTrack data. Reporting rates give the likelihood of encountering the species each week.

Movement

Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

RINGING RECOVERIES

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Foreign locations of Grey Heron ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Encountered in: Winter (Nov-Feb); Spring (Mar-Apr); Summer (May-Jul); Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information about Grey Heron, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING

Exploring the trends for Grey Heron

Our Trends Explorer will also give you the latest insight into how the UK's Grey Heron population is changing.

trends explorer

SURVIVAL & LONGEVITY

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report

Exploring the trends for Grey Heron

Our Trends Explorer will also give you the latest insight into how the UK's Grey Heron population is changing.

trends explorer

BIOMETRICS

Feather measurements and photos on featherbase

CODES & CLASSIFICATION

For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name

Gaelic: Corra-ghritheach
Welsh: Crëyr Glas
Catalan: bernat pescaire
Czech: volavka popelavá
Danish: Fiskehejre
Dutch: Blauwe Reiger
Estonian: hallhaigur
Finnish: harmaahaikara
French: Héron cendré
German: Graureiher
Hungarian: szürke gém
Icelandic: Gráhegri
Irish: Corr Réisc
Italian: Airone cenerino
Latvian: zivju garnis
Lithuanian: pilkasis garnys
Norwegian: Gråhegre
Polish: czapla siwa
Portuguese: garça-moura-europeia / garça-real
Slovak: volavka popolavá
Slovenian: siva caplja
Spanish: Garza real
Swedish: gråhäger
Folkname: Harnser, Frank

Research

Interpretation and scientific publications about Grey Heron from BTO scientists.

CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS

Causes of change

There has been no change in the number of fledglings per breeding attempt, hence the population increases most likely relate to increased survival of adults and/or immature birds. The ecological reasons behind these changes are unclear.

Further information on causes of change

The effects of harsh winters, which induce severe mortality in this species (Besbeas et al. 2002), are clearly visible in the long-term trend. The general increase that underlies these fluctuations may stem from reduced persecution, improvements in water quality, the provision of new habitat as new lakes and gravel pits mature, and increased feeding opportunities at freshwater fisheries (Gibbons et al. 1993, Marchant et al. 2004). The strong downturn between 2005 and 2013 is, as yet, unexplained, but could be linked to cold winter weather and spring gales. High rates of nest failure at the chick stage were noted in the late 1960s, but not subsequently. Clutch and brood sizes have fallen in the long term but the number of fledglings per breeding attempt has not changed.

Information about conservation actions

A reduction in the frequency of cold winters may have benefited this species, as well as improvements in water quality and the provision of new wetland habitats. Ongoing conservation action to help provide habitat for other wetland species is therefore also likely to help the Grey Heron. Heronries can sometimes be located some distance from wetland sites and hence actions to ensure that key sites are protected and to prevent disturbance may also be helpful, although there is no evidence currently to suggest any problems occur during the breeding season.

Conflicts with anglers and aquaculture may occur in future, particularly if numbers pick up again after the recent slight downturn. Therefore, policy decisions may need to be made to ensure Grey heron populations are protected whilst minimising conflict.

Links to more information from ConservationEvidence.com

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