Grey heron images

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Taxonomic classification   < >   Images
The Grey heron (Ardea cinerea) belongs to the family Ardeidae under the order Pelecaniformes.

Grey heron taxonomy

The Ardeidae is the family of herons. The family Ardeidae was first described by William Elford Leach, MD, FRS (2 February 1791 – 25 August 1836), an English zoologist and marine biologist, in the year 1820.

The family Ardeidae comprises three subfamilies, viz., Tigriornithinae, Botaurinae and Ardeinae. The subfamily Ardeinae contains eleven extant genera, including Ardea.

The genus Ardea was first introduced by Carl Linnaeus (23 May 1707 – 10 January 1778), a Swedish botanist, physician and zoologist, in the year 1758.

The genus Ardea comprises 14 extant species, including Ardea cinerea. The species Ardea cinerea was first described by Carl Linnaeus in the year 1758.

The species Ardea cinerea is polytypic and comprises four subspecies, viz., Ardea cinerea cinerea, Ardea cinerea jouyi, Ardea cinerea firasa and Ardea cinerea monicae.

Taxonomic classification
Binomial name:	Ardea cinerea
Species:	A. cinerea
Genus:	Ardea
Subfamily:	-
Family:	Ardeidae
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Class:	Aves
Phylum:	Chordata
Kingdom:	Animalia

1.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by Dick Mudde

2.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by Jon Sullivan

3.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by J.M.Garg

4.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by Manfred Schulenburg

5.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by Toñidanialba

6.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by ErRu

7.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by Andreas Eichler

8.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by JJ Harrison

9.Grey heron - Ardea cinerea
Image by Juan Emilio

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1.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blauwe_Reiger.jpg (cropped)
Author: Dick Mudde | License: Public domain
2.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amerikanharmaahaikara.jpg (cropped)
Author: Jon Sullivan | License: Public domain
3.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Grey_Heron_(Ardea_cinerea)-_Immature_at_Bharatpur_I_IMG_5716.jpg (cropped)
Author: J.M.Garg | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 7/29/18
4.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardea_cinerea_Graureiher_01_ms.jpg (cropped)
Author: Manfred Schulenburg | License: CC BY-SA 4.0 as on 7/29/18
5.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Garza_real_capturando_una_cuebra.JPG (cropped)
Author: Toñidanialba | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 7/29/18
6.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardea_cinerea_-_Graureiher_oder_Fischreiher.jpg (cropped)
Author: ErRu | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 7/29/18
7.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2013.08.04.-21-Ladenburg-Graureiher.jpg (cropped)
Author: Andreas Eichler | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 7/29/18
8.Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ardea_cinerea_-_Pak_Thale.jpg (cropped)
Author: JJ Harrison | License: CC BY-SA 3.0 as on 7/29/18
9.Image source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Garza_Real_(Ardea_cinerea)_(5593437102)_cropped.jpg (cropped)
Author: Juan Emilio | License: CC BY-SA 2.0 as on 7/29/18
Current topic in Birds of India: Grey heron - Ardea cinerea images.

Grey heron

Home   ›   Ruddy shelduck   ›   Grey heron - Ardea cinerea.

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea), is a wading bird belonging to the family Ardeidae.

The grey heron is distributed in Europe, Asia, Indian subcontinent and Africa. There are four recognized subspecies of these herons.

The subspecies A. c. cinerea occurs in Europe, Africa, Asia including India and Sri Lanka. The subspecies A. c. jouyi occurs in Myanmar, Southeast Asia and Philippines.

The subspecies A. c. firasa occurs in Madagascar. The subspecies A. c. monicae occurs in islands off Mauritania.

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has categorized and evaluated these heron species and has listed them as of "Least Concern".

The heron is a large bird standing up to one meter tall. Its length is 90 to 100 cm and weight is 1,000 to 2,000 grams. It has a wingspan of 175 to 200 cm. Its forehead, crown and throat are white.

The plumage of the heron is grey on the back and off-white below. In adult birds a broad black supercilium is found as a broad black eyestripe from above eye to back of crown and extending beyond the neck. The breeding adults have a bright pinkish-yellow bill.

These herons inhabit shallow, fresh, brackish or salt, standing or flowing waters. They feed on fish, crustaceans, insects and frogs.

In Europe, these herons are getting used to urban life. They breed in colonies on tree tops near water sources.

Indian birds - Grey heron - Ardea cinerea

Biological classification of Ardea cinerea
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Subfamily:	-
Genus:	Ardea
Species:	A. cinerea
Binomial name:	Ardea cinerea
Distribution:	Europe, Asia, Indian subcontinent, Africa;
Feeding habits:	fish, crustaceans and insects;
IUCN status listing:	Least Concern

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Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Harmaahaikara.jpg
Author: Jon Sullivan | License: Public domain
Current topic in Birds of India: Grey heron - Ardea cinerea.