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5

Grey Heron

(Ardea cinerea)
Size: 84-102 cm; wing span 1.55-195 m
Weight: 1.0-2.1 kg

Similar species

Taxonomy, classification

See Grey Heron at Wikipedia .

Sightings

A Grey Heron was first spotted on the campus of Sultan Qaboos University near Muscat, Oman, in August-October 2009. Then again spotted in Qurm, near Muscat, in December 2009.

Photos

Lateral view of a Grey Heron

Lateral view of a probably immature Grey Heron in a palmtree

Here the same Grey Heron as above, going about its normal business of hunting in a shallow pond

Portrait of the same Grey Heron as above

Grey Heron in flight

Grey Heron (right) and dark phase Western Reef Heron (left) next to each other, which gives a good impression of the relative sizes of both species

Food

All egrets and herons prey on aquatic creatures in fresh water or estuaries (fish, frogs, snakes or crustaceans).

These pages are largely based on our own observations. For more salient facts on any bird species please refer to a field guide.