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The Wildebeest's guide to South Africa

Grey Heron

Afrikaans name: Bloureier

Grey Heron

Grey Heron hunting

Photo © Steven Herbert

Ardea cinerea

The Grey Heron is a large heron that is up to 1 metre tall. It weighs between 1 and 2 kg's. Their wingspan varies from 1.5 metres to almost 2 metres.

It is a common bird that can be found over most of South Africa in suitable habitat. Unlike the Black-headed Heron the Grey Heron is normally associated with water habitats. It is found around dams, ponds, estuaries  and other slow-moving bodies of water. The Black-headed Heron is often found in grassland although they may roost and nest near, or over, water.

Grey Herons have a wide distribution across Africa, Europe and Asia. It occurs in most regions apart from desert, mountainous areas and colder regions. Typically they are residents in an area but some migration is seen from Europe to Africa, presumably in the winter months.

It breeds communally along with other herons, egrets, ibises and cormorants. They build their nests from sticks and reuse it every year. Each breeding season they add more sticks with the effect that the nest gets bigger and bigger until it collapses from the weight or is blown down. The female normally lays between 3 and 5 bluish-green eggs. Both sexes tend to the eggs and chicks.

The Grey Heron feeds on fish, amphibians, crustaceans and insects. Smaller mammals and birds may also be taken if the opportunity arises. I once saw one catch and swallow an unsuspecting Laughing Dove that had come down to the waters edge for a drink.

Grey Heron

Grey Heron

Photo © Steven Herbert

Grey Herons are similar in looks to Black-headed Herons. The Grey Heron is white and not black on the sides of the head. The neck is a pale grey unlike the two-tone colour of the Black-headed Heron. In flight the underwing of the Grey Heron is more uniform in colour. Click the link for more pictures showing the differences between Grey and Blackheaded Herons.

Roberts Birds Names by Edition

EditionRoberts nrScientific name
1st54Ardea cinerea cinerea
2nd54Ardea cinerea
3rd54Ardea cinerea
4th54Ardea cinerea
5th62Ardea cinerea
6th62Ardea cinerea
7th438Ardea cinerea

EditionRoberts nrEnglish name
1st54Common Grey Heron
2nd54Grey Heron
3rd54Grey Heron
4th54Grey Heron
5th62Grey Heron
6th62Grey Heron
7th438Grey Heron

EditionRoberts nrAfrikaans name
1st54Blou-reier
2nd54Blou Reier
3rd54Blou Reier
4th54Blou Reier
5th62Bloureier
6th62Bloureier
7th438Bloureier

References and further reading

Wildlife of Southern Africa - Author: Martin Withers and David Hosking - Published: 2011 - Page: 28

Wildlife of the Cape Peninsula - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 2001 - Page: 36

Wild About Johannesburg - Author: Duncan Butchart - Published: 1995 - Page: 30

Two Oceans - Author: Branch, Griffiths, Branch and Beckley - Published: 2010 - Page: 354

Wading Birds of the World - Revised edition - Author: Eric and Richard Soothill - Published: 1989 - Page: 18

The Sandton Field Guide - Author: Sandton Nature Conservation Society - Published: 1982 - Page: 42

The Herons Handbook - Author: James Hancock and James Kushlan - Published: 1984 - Page: 43

The Birds of South Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Dr. Austin Roberts - Published: 1949 - Page: 20

The Coastal Guide of South Africa - Author: Jacana Media - Published: 2007 - Page: 102

Southern African Wildlife - Author: Readers Digest - Published: 1989 - Page: 129

Southern African Bird Names Explained - Author: Charles Clinning - Published: 1989 - Page: 18

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 4th Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 2011 - Page: 60

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair et al. - Published: 1993 - Page: 56

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 6th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1993 - Page: 45

Roberts Birds of Southern Africa - 5th Edition - Author: Gordon Lindsay Maclean - Published: 1985 - Page: 45

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 4th Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1981 - Page: 30

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 3rd Edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1975 - Page: 27

Roberts Birds of South Africa - 2nd edition - Author: McLachlan and Liversidge - Published: 1957 - Page: 20

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 7th Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 2000 - Page: 74

Roberts Bird Guide - Author: Hugh Chittenden - Published: 2007 - Page: 178

Newmans Birds of Southern Africa - 1st Edition - Author: Ken Newman - Published: 1984 - Page: 74

Meeting with Birds - Author: Tom Spence - Published: 1986 - Page: 25

Freshwater Life - Author: C. Griffiths, J. Day & M. Picker - Published: 2015 - Page: 52

Ian Sinclairs Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: Ian Sinclair - Published: 1988 - Page: 52

Field Guide to the Birds of Kruger National Park - Author: Ian Sinclair and Ian Whyte - Published: 1991 - Page: 26

Collins Illustrated Checklist - Birds of Southern Africa - 1st edition - Author: Ber van Perlo - Published: 1999 - Page: 8

Birds of the Transkei - Author: C.D. Quickelberge - Published: 1989 - Page: 29

Birds of the Transvaal - Author: Tarboton, Kemp and Kemp - Published: 1987 - Page: 13

Birds of the South Western Cape - Author: Joy Frandsen - Published: 0 - Page: 19

Birds of the Natal Drakensberg Park - Author: Robin Little and William Bainbridge - Published: 1992 - Page: 3

Birds of Southern Africa - Kruger National Park - Author: Kenneth Newman - Published: 1985 - Page: 20

Bird Atlas of Natal - Author: Digby Cyrus and Nigel Robson - Published: 1980 - Page: 38

Animals of the Kruger National Park - Author: G. de Graaff - Published: 1987 - Page: 52

A First Guide to South African Birds - 6th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1959 - Page: 171

A First Guide to South African Birds - 7th Edition - Author: Leonard Gill - Published: 1975 - Page: 171

A Field Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa - 2nd Edition - Author: O.P.M. Prozesky - Published: 1983 - Page: 35

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