Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea (Linnaeus, 1758)
H.
GREHE
1220
Family: Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae
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.
trends explorerIdentification
Grey Heron identification is usually straightforward. The following article may help when identifying Grey Heron.
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.
Browse training coursesStatus 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 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>).
UK breeding population | No population change in UK (1929–2022) |
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 explorerDISTRIBUTION
Grey Herons are widely distributed across Britain & Ireland except for the most mountainous areas.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
No. occupied in breeding season | 2085 |
% occupied in breeding season | 69 |
No. occupied in winter | 2779 |
% occupied in winter | 92 |
European Distribution Map
European Breeding Bird Atlas 2
Breeding Season Habitats
Most frequent in | Along Rivers |
Also common in | Lakes |
Relative frequency by habitat
Relative occurrence in different habitat types during the breeding season.
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
% change in range in breeding season (1968–72 to 2008–11) | +15.3% |
% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | +6.9% |
SEASONALITY
Grey Herons are present year-round and recorded on up to 30% of complete lists.
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
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 explorerSURVIVAL & LONGEVITY
View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report
Maximum Age from Ringing | 23 years 9 months 2 days (set in 2003) |
Typical Lifespan | 5 years with breeding typically at 2 year |
Adult Survival | 0.732±0.018 |
Juvenile Survival | 0.26 (to age 2) |
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 explorerCODES & CLASSIFICATION
Ring size | J |
Field Codes | 2-letter: H. | 5-letter code: GREHE | Euring: 1220 |
For information in another language (where available) click on a linked name
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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