Ardea cinerea rectirostris (Grey heron)
Class: Aves
Sub -class: Neornithes
Super-order: Neognathae
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidea
• Grey heron is a long- legged and long necked wading marsh bird with pointed bill.
• They are ash grey with a white crown and neck.
• Elongated black – tipped white feathers are found in chest region.
• They inhabit in land water bodies and are distributed all over India.
• Herons are mostly solitary bur gregarious while breeding and nesting.
• They stand motionless on the edge of the water body, or in the shallow water with their head sunken in between shoulders.
• They are crepuscular.
• They search for prey and strike prey with great-speed when it comes nearby.
• The prey, caught in between toes is directed towards mouth with a sudden upward jerk of the head.
• The food consists of mainly fishes, frogs, molluscs, crustaceans, small rodents etc…
• They are also observed catching and killing juvenile birds such as ducklings.
• Tree-standing in water and surrounding regions are selected for nesting.
• Nest is a small platform of twigs with a central depression, occasionally lined with straw and water weeds.
• Both parents share the duties in caring for young ones.