Grey Heron — Birds

The story behind the answer

This is a Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea): note the pale grey body, white head with a bold black eye-stripe extending into long plumes, dark “shoulder” patch, and a yellow dagger-like bill. In flight it holds its neck in an S-shape. It’s not a Great Blue Heron (larger, North American, more bluish with rufous thighs), nor a Purple Heron (slimmer, with rich chestnut neck), and definitely not a Little Egret (entirely white with black bill and yellow feet).

Common across Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa, Grey Herons stalk wetlands and can stand motionless for minutes before spearing fish. They often nest in noisy “heronries” high in