Grey Heron

Afrikaans name: Bloureier

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

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

Edition	Roberts nr	Scientific name
1st	54	Ardea cinerea cinerea
2nd	54	Ardea cinerea
3rd	54	Ardea cinerea
4th	54	Ardea cinerea
5th	62	Ardea cinerea
6th	62	Ardea cinerea
7th	438	Ardea cinerea

Edition	Roberts nr	English name
1st	54	Common Grey Heron
2nd	54	Grey Heron
3rd	54	Grey Heron
4th	54	Grey Heron
5th	62	Grey Heron
6th	62	Grey Heron
7th	438	Grey Heron

Edition	Roberts nr	Afrikaans name
1st	54	Blou-reier
2nd	54	Blou Reier
3rd	54	Blou Reier
4th	54	Blou Reier
5th	62	Bloureier
6th	62	Bloureier
7th	438	Bloureier

References and further reading

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BirdLife South Africa

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List of South African Birds