Quick answer
Key facts about grey heron — size, diet, habitat, and conservation in one place.
Still hunting
Herons freeze for minutes before striking in milliseconds — neck coiled then thrust forward. Slow movements avoid alerting prey.
Urban adaptability
Park ponds and ornamental fish support growing city heron populations from London to Tokyo. Garden koi losses frustrate homeowners.
Colonial nesting
Herons nest in treetop colonies called heronries, sometimes with dozens of pairs. Noise and guano mark active sites in spring.
Flight identification
Retracted neck in flight distinguishes herons from cranes and storks — a key field mark across Eurasia.