One of nature's most accomplished fishermen, the grey heron is known for its motionless stance at the water's edge.
Herons have no predators in the UK. At the top of the food chain, they're 'kings' of our canals.
Heron facts
Scientific name: Ardea cinerea
Family: Ardeidae
Diet: Primarily fish and amphibians. However, herons can also feed on small rodents, reptiles and birds
Size: 84-102cm in length, 155-175cm wingspan
Weight: 1.5-2kg
Kings of the canals
These long-necked, beaked birds stand guard at the edges of canals, rivers, and ponds. Some are regularly sighted, others are tricky to spot, and a few are more recent visitors encouraged by warming temperatures.
Herons make their homes near water. They're highly adaptable birds, feeding in any water, be it fresh, salt, clear or muddy, so long as it will yield a catch.
Herons and our canals
The grey heron population is doing well in the UK and is more abundant now than ever despite the ever-present danger of starvation over the cold winter months.
Our canals provide vital habitats, but herons can be negatively affected by poor water quality. Therefore, their presence on our waterways is a sign of a healthy ecosystem.
How to identify a heron
Standing tall and as still as a statue, grey herons are a distinctive sight on our canals as they patiently wait for their next meal to swim by. In flight, they stretch their long, thin legs out while retracting their necks.
Grey herons are large and long-legged with an 'S'-shaped neck. The back and wings are grey, while the neck and under-body are white. They have white heads, black wispy crests and a long, pointed yellow bill, giving them a prehistoric look.
These birds typically live for about five years.
A grey heron stands on a mossy branch in the sunlight, distinguished by its grey feathers, long neck, and yellow bill.
What do herons eat?
Herons can stand for several minutes with their necks tensed, waiting for an unsuspecting fish to swim into reach. Alternatively, they will stalk the shallows, searching for food. Then, quick as a flash, they dart down and spear the prey with their long dagger-like bill.
Most heron species are opportunists. They'll eat anything they can get their powerful bills on, including insects, fish, amphibians, small mammals, and small birds.
Herons use their long necks and beaks to snatch fish from shallow waters.
How do herons breed?
Herons nest early in the year. Males become defensive of their territory as the breeding season begins in February. Herons lay between three and seven eggs.
Where do herons live?
Herons build their nests in colonies, known as heronries, to breed. These are usually at the tops of tall trees, near water, and there might be as many as ten to a tree. In some habitats, they nest on cliffs, in reedbeds, or bushes – almost always next to a body of water.
Head to your local canal, river, or reservoir to spot the striking and unmistakable grey heron. This more common species can be found in rural and urban areas, standing still in the shallows of the water.
In the breeding season, find a heronry and watch them fly to and from their nests. Herons typically arrive in February, returning to the same nest each year and young hatch between March and April.
Threats to herons
Although climate change means warmer temperatures, which is actually encouraging more heron species to further their range in the UK, the birds are still threatened by habitat loss. With most herons making their homes by water, our canals and rivers are vital spaces.
