What does a heron eat, structural features. Heron: bird photo
The closest relatives of these birds are bitterns and night herons, and they are connected with storks only by distant kinship.
2. Herons live all over the world with the exception of the polar regions and Antarctica.
3 Herons are birds that lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle. They live near various bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, swamps in reed beds and wet meadows.
4. More than 60 species of herons are known and described today. The most famous among these species are: great blue heron; gray heron; black heron; black-necked heron; red heron; great white egret.
5. Gray and red herons nest in Russia.
6. Types of herons differ not only in color, but also in height. The sizes of herons vary over a wide range: for example, the little heron reaches a height of no more than 40-60 centimeters, and the great heron reaches up to 1.5 meters in size. The average weight of these birds is 2.5 kilograms.
7. Birds of different species most often have a uniform color. The heron can be white, red, black, gray, and sometimes two-colored.
8. The plumage of birds is smooth, and the head of a heron is often decorated with a crest, the size of which depends on the type of bird, but the crest is not present in all species.
great egret
9. Mostly herons have dark feet and a yellow beak, but sometimes there are herons with a black beak.
10. A heron’s head is on a long neck, which they extend when hunting. The heron's beak is long and straight. This structure of the heron's beak allows it to easily catch and hold slippery fish.
11.The thin and long legs have tenacious toes, and the tail is sharp and short. The heron walks with long steps, about 0.5 meters, and when searching for food, its steps become smaller, up to 25 centimeters long.
12. A heron can stand motionless on one leg for several hours. Why does a heron stand on one leg? The heron is a bird with a special structure of the knee joint. When its leg is unbent, a kind of lock is activated, and therefore the bird can stand very long time, giving rest to the second leg. By pressing its leg to its body, the heron warms it, because the water in the pond can be cold.
13. In addition, this position of the heron is a good camouflage when hunting, because the second leg of the bird does not stand out, and the heron’s victims mistake it for grass or reeds.
14. The heron stands for a long time and does not move, watching for prey in the pond, and then, at the right moment, pierces and captures it with its long beak.
15. What is the difference between a heron and a stork? Firstly, a heron differs from a stork in appearance. The heron's neck is curved, while the stork's is absolutely straight. In addition, the stork is more large bird than a heron. The heron is more graceful.
16.Secondly, there are differences in the habitat. The life of a heron is spent more in the swamp, while the stork prefers hills, rooftops or tall trees.
17. Storks feed mainly on rodents and reptiles. Herons mainly feed on fish and amphibians.
18. The stork is an exclusively diurnal bird, and the heron is awake not only during the day, but also at night.
19. During the mating season, the heron transforms. In some of its species, luxurious feathers called aigrette grow on their backs. The color of the skin around the beak and eyes changes, as if the bird had applied makeup.
20. Males develop the ability to sing and dance: fluffing openwork aigrette and shaking his crest, the suitor performs ritual squats. The dance is accompanied by songs and the cracking of the beak. Such a cacophony can drive not only local young ladies crazy, but also all living things within the radius of the swamp.
21.Mating behavior does not leave feathered tribesmen indifferent and soon the charming silhouette of a friend appears on the horizon.
22.But woe to her if she decides to get too close too quickly. For such frivolity you can get punches and be expelled, so it is better to be patient and wait for the gentleman’s initiative.
Blue Heron
23. There is an explanation for this: females and males of herons are no different in appearance. Therefore, before the male rejoices, he must make sure that it is a young lady in front of him, and not a rival competitor.
24. A heron is a bird that feeds on semi-aquatic and aquatic life, such as frogs, snakes, insects, newts, tadpoles, fish, mollusks, fry and crustaceans. In addition, she can eat other people's chicks, small rodents, or attack a small hare or rabbit.
25. These birds hunt from ambush. They walk through shallow water and look for prey, and sometimes they stand in one place for a long time and attack when the opportunity arises. There are herons that accompany large animals such as buffalos, rhinoceroses and elephants in the hope of profiting from frightened insects.
26. During migratory flights, herons were spotted at an altitude of 2000 m (helicopters fly at this altitude).
27. Unlike most other birds, a heron does not extend its neck forward when flying, but, on the contrary, draws it inward.
28. Most species of heron feed on fish, amphibians and reptiles, but some do not disdain animals like moles and mice, and even other birds, such as seagulls.
29. The heron creates shadow, attracting fish. To increase the shading area, she spreads her huge wings and folds them into a dome, while lowering her head down. This technique allows you not only to attract more fish, but also to choose the best one, because the “umbrella” relieves the bird’s eyes from blinding water glare.
30. The heron swallows its prey, mainly fish, from the head so that it does not get stuck in the throat (fish scales and fins, bones).
31. Although herons lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle, they do not dive or swim, as their feathers can easily get wet. All waterfowl have a coccygeal gland, which secretes fat that prevents the birds from getting wet. Unlike waterfowl, the heron does not have one.
32. As the heron grows, its down crumbles and turns into powder, covering its feathers with an even layer and protecting them from getting wet.
gray heron
33. Heron eggs are unusual in appearance; they are greenish in color and oblong in shape.
34. Basically, herons live in the swamp. The herons choose swamps depending on the time of year, with fresh water in summer and coastal salt water wetlands in winter.
35. The maximum lifespan of herons is 23 years. The most famous long-lived heron lived for 25 years.
36. Many of these bird species live in small groups. These colonies may contain different numbers of individuals.
37.The peculiarity of herons is that the birds do not gather in dense flocks, but prefer to simply be close to each other.
Little egret
38. In places where there is little food, a flock of herons settles at a remote distance, and large colonies live only in places rich in food.
39. The giant heron and several other species of herons live only alone.
40. The Great White Heron was listed in the Red Book, but later its numbers were restored.
41. Herons are monogamous birds, but pairs last only for a season. As an exception, there are couples family life which last two years or more. The heron breeds only once a year. The purpose of creating a family is to produce offspring.
42.The herons build their nest together. The male collects material for him, and the female lays the nest. Herons build nests on tree branches using twigs. They arrange it higher than other nests. Their neighbors are often ibises or cormorants. If a strong nest from last year is in sight of the herons and it is not occupied by anyone, the family will happily repair the “secondary” one, because it is less expensive than the cost of new housing.
43.Basically, a heron lays from 2 to 7 eggs, which are immediately incubated. Both parents do this, and after 28-33 days the chicks are born. Often, heron eggs are prey for crows, vultures and raccoons.
44. Heron chicks appear in different time, sighted, and only after a week they are covered with sparse and sloppy fluff. Out of the entire brood, only one heron chick can survive, but if there is a lot of food, 2-3 chicks survive. Growing chicks emit a monotonous crackling cry. The sounds of the heron resemble something like “cuong-ka-ka-ka”.
45. Chicks can fly after 55 days, and form family groups with their parents. Only after 2 years does the heron chick reach sexual maturity.
Red-haired heron
46. It is generally accepted that wild animals avoid people and decide to contact only in case of hunger or illness. Dutch herons refuted this version. They settled in large numbers in Amsterdam, and feel great in the conditions of civilization.
47. A huge population of these birds chose to live in the Dutch capital more than 10 years ago. The birds liked city life, and they are not going to return to the swamps.
48. There are no problems with food - in the markets you can always beg for a fish or two or quietly steal from the counter. But the kind residents of Amsterdam often feed their feathered neighbors themselves and do it with pleasure.
49.Herons walk freely around the city to the delight of the townspeople and the amazement of numerous tourists; they take photographs with pleasure, receiving tasty “fees” for photo sessions. Europeans treat with warmth and love long-legged birds, which decorated Amsterdam, becoming its next attraction.
50.Good relations with herons did not always develop. In the century before last beautiful birds were massively shot at by people because of the fashion for women's hats with ornaments made of openwork feathers. Today the heron is not considered a rare bird, but its numbers individual species has not yet recovered.
The gray heron is a bird from the heron family of the order Storkidae.
The gray heron has a very distinctive appearance. The heron's long neck stands out very strongly. When a heron sits, the neck is often folded or pulled into the shoulders. The characteristic appearance of the heron is provided by its long beak and thin long legs. This bird is quite big.
The weight of an adult gray heron reaches 1.5 kg, and some specimens grow up to 2 kg. The bird's wingspan is 1.5 - 1.75 m, and its body length is up to 102 cm.
The beak is relatively long and quite sharp. Its length ranges from 10 to 13 cm. The shape of the beak resembles a cone, flattened from the sides. The beak of the gray heron is usually colored brownish-yellow. The mandible, as a rule, is somewhat lighter than the mandible. In the area between the beak and the eye, the so-called “lore”, there is a yellowish spot.
Listen to the voice of a gray heron
The gray heron has a greenish ring around its eye. The iris of the eye is yellow, with some shade of green. The bird's legs are colored brown-olive. Males and females are practically no different in appearance. The only sign by which a male can be distinguished from a female is the size of the bird. In this species of herons, the male is larger than the female.
Color and plumage of the gray heron
The undertail, belly and chest of the bird are painted in white and gray tones. The upper part of the body is gray-gray in color. The plumage on the head is white. Gray-black stripes run from the eyes to the back of the head. Connecting at the back of the head, they form a kind of crest of feathers. On the white-gray neck there are black spots that form 2-3 stripes running in the longitudinal direction. The primary flight feathers of the heron are black. They are somewhat paler than the black feathers on the head, as they are covered with powder with which the bird constantly rubs them.
The secondary flight feathers are gray-gray in color. The scapular feathers, hanging down the back and wings in the form of a fringe, form a kind of braids. These braids are usually painted in lighter colors than the back: from whitish to light gray. The feathers on the chest and throat are somewhat elongated. This lengthening is especially noticeable during the mating season.
On the sides of the heron's body there are black stripes. When the bird's wings are folded, the feathers in the area of the carpus form a distinct black and white spot. The tail feathers are colored a solid gray.
The gray heron is a long-legged, long-necked bird, with feathers of the same color, with a rather long, sharp beak. Breeding range of gray herons
The main breeding range of the gray heron is between the continental borders in Southeast and South Asia and the African coast of the Mediterranean Sea. In South, Southeast, East Africa, as well as in Sri Lanka, the Greater Sunda Islands, the Maldives and Madagascar, this bird nests sporadically. The heron is generally not found above 1000 m above sea level. Only in Northern India, in the Ladakh region, the bird was observed at an altitude of up to 4000 m above sea level, and in Armenia at an altitude of up to 2000 m.
In the lowland regions of Central and Western Europe The gray heron nests almost everywhere, provided there are suitable bodies of water. Along the coast of the Arctic Ocean in Scandinavia, the heron rises to the level of the 68th parallel, but in many inland areas with mountainous Arctic climates the bird is not observed. Relatively stable nesting sites have been observed in the southern part of Finland and in the southern third of Sweden. In the British Isles it breeds over most of the territory except the mountains of Northern Scotland.
In the territory Russian Federation The gray heron lives from St. Petersburg in the north to the level of Sakhalin in the south. In the European part of the country, the border of the range passes through the Leningrad, Kirov, Vologda and Perm regions. In the Middle and Western Siberia the border runs approximately along the 60th parallel. Further in the Lena River basin, the limit of the nesting range passes through the lower and middle Vilyui. To the east, the border stretches through the mouth of the Amur and the valley of the lower Aldan. An isolated nesting area was noted near Yakutsk. In the areas of the lower reaches of the Dnieper, Danube, Volga and Dniester rivers, the highest density of habitat of this heron is noted.
In Asia, nesting sites are located in Pakistan, Northern Iran, Turkey, in many Central Asian republics, as well as in Mongolia, Korea, Northern China, Japan down to Shikoku in the south, in Southeast and Southern Asia up to Java. In southern Iran, on the Arabian Peninsula, as well as in the arid deserts and mountains of the interior regions, the gray heron is not found.
Seasonal migrations of gray herons
In the temperate climate zone, the nature of seasonal migrations is quite complex. The tendency of birds to migrate to wintering grounds increases from west to east and also from south to north. In addition to seasonal migrations at the end of the nesting period, the gray heron is characterized by a fairly wide dispersion, especially of young individuals. In Great Britain, the majority of the population remains within a 200 km radius of the breeding site for the winter. Here the herons do not leave their native bodies of water even when they are covered with a crust of ice. However, from southern England, some individuals still fly across the English Channel and winter in Western France, the Netherlands, Belgium and partly in Spain.
Individuals living on the territory of the Russian Federation, as a rule, carry out very long-distance seasonal flights. From Western Siberia and the European part of the range, a huge part of the birds fly to the African continent south of the Sahara Desert. The remaining small part of the individuals winters in the lower reaches of rivers flowing into the Black Sea, as well as in European countries.
In Africa, on the islands of the Malay Archipelago, as well as in Southeast and East Asia, gray herons lead a nomadic or sedentary lifestyle within traditional habitats.
Habitats of the gray heron
Within the entire habitat of the bird, stay near bodies of water. Most of These bodies of water are fresh, but sometimes the heron settles near brackish and salt lakes and even near the sea.
One of the main features of habitats is the presence of shallow places where the heron could go to forage. Also the most important factors are a good food supply and climatic conditions under which the reservoir must be free of ice cover for at least 4–5 months. The gray heron gets along quite well in a wide variety of conditions. This bird does not live only in dense forests. In conditions of abundance and availability of food, the gray heron can live without bodies of water at all.
As a rule, the gray heron stays away from human settlements, but sometimes it can settle on the outskirts of cities, rural settlements and near the shores of fish ponds.
Lifestyle of gray herons
The bird usually nests in small groups or colonies, which usually number 10–20 nests. The largest colonies usually do not number more than 200 individuals, but sometimes giant ones can be found, numbering up to 1000 birds. Often herons nest in pairs.
This bird cannot be called an exclusively nocturnal, crepuscular or diurnal species. Herons are active at different times of the day. They can hunt both at night and during the day. Basically, hunting locations and activity times depend on the terrain in which the heron lives.
The heron molts completely once a year. In birds living in the European part of their range, molting begins in June with the end of the mating season.
Gray heron feeding
Gray Heron exclusively predatory bird. She eats almost any animal that she can physically overcome. Since the heron usually lives near bodies of water, its diet is based on various fish, as well as aquatic insects, vertebrates, crustaceans, mollusks and other animals. Land animals such as lizards, rodents, snakes, locusts and beetles also form a significant part of this bird's diet.
The gray heron has a large number of different hunting techniques in its arsenal. As a rule, each heron’s methods are individual. The heron can walk slowly, waiting for prey, or simply hide and wait. A bird can use its wings to shade a certain area of water in order to attract prey there. The heron often scares away small animals and fish by dangling its legs in the water.
As a rule, the heron swallows its prey whole. However, if this prey is large enough, the bird first tears it into several parts with its beak.
Reproduction of gray herons
Sexual maturity occurs in female gray herons in the second year of life, and in males in the third year.
The gray heron is monogamous. According to some sources, birds form pairs for one breeding season, and according to others for life. In areas with cold and temperate climates, nest construction begins immediately after arrival.
The male is the first to start building the nest. Some time after the start of construction, the male begins to call for the female. While in the nest, he throws back his head, spreads his wings, points his beak upward and begins to emit cries similar to croaking. After the female arrives, the male drives her away from the nest and even hits her. This ritual is repeated several times, after which the male allows the female to approach the nest.
Gray herons build nests at a height of up to 50 m on fairly tall trees. If there are no trees nearby, the birds make a nest on the ground, in reed creases or on large bushes. Both the female and the male take part in the construction of the nest. At the very end of construction, the female increasingly remains in the nest, strengthening it building material, which the male brings. At the beginning of egg incubation, the completion of the nest is still ongoing. Finished construction It is like a flat cone with its apex down. The diameter of the nest usually ranges from 60 to 80 cm, and the height is 50 – 60 cm.
In one clutch of a gray heron there are from 3 to 9 eggs, the shells of which are colored bluish-green with white spots. The female lays eggs at intervals of about two days. Incubation begins with the first egg in the clutch. In tropical climates, the incubation period lasts about three weeks. In areas with moderate climatic conditions, this period extends to 26–27 days. Both the female and the male take part in incubation.
The chicks that are born are absolutely helpless and practically devoid of feathers. During the period immediately after birth, they require maximum attention and constant care. The hatched chick has a body weight of 40–50 g. 7–9 days after birth, the first feathers begin to appear. Feeding is done with vomit from the stomach of the parents.
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The slender, impeccably elegant silhouette of a heron can often be seen in a swamp or damp meadow, where it stands for hours in complete motionlessness, lying in wait for prey.
Habitat. Lives in Europe, Asia and Africa.
Habitat.
The gray heron lives along the banks of fresh inland waters, settling in the vicinity of rivers, lakes, irrigation canals and swamps, where there are nearby groups of tall trees for nesting. Depending on the geographical location of the nesting sites, herons lead a sedentary, nomadic or migratory lifestyle. Birds living in warm regions nest and winter in the same place. Some of the herons nesting in the temperate climate zone winter in their homeland, while others fly away to winter in warmer climes. Finally, herons that breed in northern Europe winter in the southern and western regions of the continent. Nomadic birds make short flights in search of places abundant in food.
Species: Gray Heron – Ardea cinerea.
Family: Herons.
Squad: Ankle.
Class: Birds.
Subphylum: Vertebrates.
Security.
In those countries where the gray heron is hunted, a ban on its shooting is introduced annually from March 1 to August 14. However, the economic development of the natural hunting grounds of these birds forced them to hunt in fish farms, which is why they are often killed even during the protection period. To discourage herons from feeding ponds, nets are often stretched over the water surface, and the banks are lined with thorny bushes.
Did you know?
- The heron's neck is designed in such a way that during hunting the bird can sharply throw its head forward, but it is almost unable to twist it from side to side. For this reason, the heron has to clean its feathers not with its beak, but with a long claw; its coccygeal gland is poorly developed, and almost all the necessary lubricant is produced by downy feathers growing on the chest and back - powder feathers.
- The African black heron has adopted an unusual hunting technique. Standing motionless in shallow water, she opens her wings wide and slowly walks, covered with them like an umbrella. Zoologists explain the reasons for this behavior in different ways. According to some assumptions, the heron lures fish into the shadow of its own wings, which seek shelter from the scorching sun.
- The green night heron hunts by throwing lumps of regurgitated food into the water. If a fish attracted by a tasty morsel swims close enough, the night heron immediately grabs it with its beak. If there is no bite, the bird, like a real fisherman, picks up food from the water and flies to another place.
Lifestyle.
Gray herons live in colonies. For the night, the whole group gathers on the branches of tall trees, and during the day each bird hunts alone. Having chosen a suitable place, the heron begins hunting. Most often, she slowly walks through the meadow, looking for prey - small vertebrates or insects. Her insinuating, sliding gait gives her an amazing resemblance to a nosy spy. The heron often wanders through shallow water, hunting fish and frogs, or patiently lies in wait for prey in ambush. Standing in the water or sitting on a branch hanging over the water, it freezes for a long time with a curved neck, but as soon as a fish appears in the field of view, the heron instantly throws its head forward, pierces the victim with its sharp beak and swallows it whole (if the prey is too large, the bird has no regrets throws it away). The heron devotes a lot of time to caring for its plumage. To protect the feathers from getting wet, she regularly lubricates them with the fat of the coccygeal gland and powder from special feathers growing on the chest and back. As they grow, they turn into a powder similar to talcum powder, which the bird covers its feathers with the help of a long claw of the middle finger, which has a jagged inner edge resembling a comb. The heron flies well. In flight, it strongly retracts its neck, resting its head, burdened by a long beak, on its shoulders. Flocks of herons fly in a disorderly crowd, not observing formation.
Reproduction.
In early March, herons on seasonal migrations fly to their nesting sites, invariably returning to their old homes. Herons nest colonially. The male who has taken his place stands in the nest, standing at attention, like a sentry on duty, and loudly calls for his girlfriend. As soon as any female pays attention to him, he stretches his neck even more, opens his beak and pretends to swallow a fish, after which he demonstratively takes a twig and puts it in the nest. If his chosen one also takes the branch and places it in the place indicated by the gentleman, the marriage can be considered successful. A loose nest of a heron, located in the crown of a tall tree, is made up of branches of different thicknesses. One tree can accommodate several nests at once, and several hundred in a colony. In April-May, the female lays eggs. Usually there are 4-5, less often 7, bluish-green eggs in a clutch. Both parents take turns incubating the clutch for 25-27 days, and later jointly feed the chicks. At 30 days old, the fledged chicks leave the nest and move to neighboring branches, and on the 50th day they begin to fly. At first, the teenagers stay close to the colony and fly to the nest for the night. Having become independent, the juveniles leave the colony and wander through the surrounding meadows and swamps until September, gaining strength before leaving for the winter. The heron reaches sexual maturity at the age of two.
Gray Heron – Ardeo cinerea.
Length: 90-98 cm.
Wingspan: 175-195 cm.
Weight: 1-2 kg.
Number of eggs in a clutch: 4-5.
Incubation period: 25-27 days.
Sexual maturity: 1 year.
Diet: small fish, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, insects.
Structure.
Beak. The long yellow beak looks like a sharp stiletto.
Neck. At the base of the long neck grows a frill of dark feathers.
Head. Wide black stripes stretch over the eyes, meeting at the back of the head.
Plumage. The head, neck and ventral side of the body are grayish-white, and the back and wing coverts are dark gray.
Legs. The long legs are covered with yellow scales.
Fingers. Three fingers point forward, one finger points back.
Decorative crest. On the back of the head grows an elegant crest of two long black feathers.
Wings. The wings are long, rounded, with black flight feathers.
Related species.
The heron family includes 62 species of birds of varying sizes. Features common to all: a long S-shaped neck, a small head with an elegant crest of several feathers, a straight strong beak and long legs. Elongated toes allow these birds to walk without getting bogged down in marshy, marshy soil. Herons live along the shores of water bodies all over the world, with the exception of Antarctica, feeding mainly on fish and other small vertebrates.
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Herons are a large group of long-footed birds that lead a semi-aquatic lifestyle. Herons belong to the family of the same name in the order Aoriformes, which numbers 62 species. The closest relatives of herons are night herons and bitterns; a more distant relationship connects them with storks, but herons have nothing in common with birds such as cranes and flamingos.
Great egret (Ardea alba).
The sizes of herons vary widely: the smallest species reach a height of 40-60 cm, the largest giant heron reaches a height of 1.4 m, the average weight of these birds is 1-2.5 kg. Appearance Herons are very recognizable, they are characterized by a long straight beak, a long neck, a short, sharp tail and long thin legs with prehensile toes. In a calm environment, herons keep their necks half-folded; when hunting, they stretch them out, but the bend of their neck is ugly, as if broken. In this position, birds often resemble a dry branch. Despite their affinity for water, herons do not have a coccygeal gland, with the fat of which waterfowl usually lubricate their plumage. Instead, they have special areas of skin with loose, brittle fluff on their chest and back—powder patches. Herons cover their plumage with powdery feather crumbs produced by powderers. Due to this feature, the plumage of herons is not protected from getting wet, so they do not swim or dive. The plumage of herons is smooth, close-fitting, and there is often a small crest on the head. The color of these birds is often monochromatic - gray, white, black, red, less often bicolor (for example, the magpie heron is black and white), the beak is usually yellow, less often black, the paws are dark. Sexual dimorphism is weakly expressed, males are slightly larger than females; during the mating season, some species of herons acquire feather decorations, but even in this case, males and females are almost indistinguishable from each other.
American White Heron (Egretta thula) in mating season.
Herons are very widespread throughout the world; they are found on all continents and on some oceanic islands (Galapagos, for example). They are only absent in Antarctica and the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Area different types differs in size, for example, the great white egret is found on almost all continents, and the Madagascar egret lives only on Madagascar and nearby islands. Everywhere, herons are attached in one way or another to bodies of water; they inhabit swamps, mangroves, floodplains and river deltas, lakes, wet meadows and reed thickets. On the banks of large bodies of water with extensive open areas herons are rare. Most species are colonial and live in groups of 15-100 individuals, but these formations are unstable. Firstly, herons do not form dense flocks; rather, they stay at a close distance from each other. Secondly, large colonies exist only in places rich in food; on the banks of small rivers, herons disperse and nest at a distance. Finally, a number of species are always found only singly (giant heron).
Giant heron (Ardea goliath).
Populations in tropical regions are sedentary, while populations from the temperate zone migrate seasonally. As a rule, herons from Europe and the northern regions of Asia fly to South Asia, Southern Europe and Africa for the winter. Herons from North America fly to South and Central America for the winter. Birds fly away in September-October and arrive in March-May. Herons take off from the ground easily and quickly, but their flight is heavy and slow; they fly at high speed only to escape from enemies. Thus, their speed reaches 24-50 km/h. During migration, herons never form a wedge; in general, their migrations are not noticeable.
In flight, herons keep their necks folded and this distinguishes them from other long-necked birds.
Herons feed on a variety of aquatic and near-aquatic life - fish, fry, tadpoles, adult frogs and toads, newts, snakes, snakes, lizards, mollusks, crustaceans, insects. On occasion, they can also hunt warm-blooded animals: they catch chicks of seagulls, mouse-like rodents and even moles. These birds practice ambush hunting, and do this in several ways. Sometimes a heron slowly walks through shallow water, freezing in one place for a long time and looking closely. Seeing the prey, she grabs it with a swift movement.
A gray heron (Ardea cinerea) carries a caught frog in its beak.
Sometimes the heron stands still, completely motionless, but she not only waits, but also lures prey. To do this, she moves her fingers, which are often colored in a contrasting color with her paws. The fish take their fingers for worms and swim closer.
The yellow-orange toes of the white heron contrast in color with the dark legs, which attracts fish.
Egyptian herons generally rarely hunt in water; they prefer to accompany herds of herbivores and catch insects scared by them. You can often see these birds sitting on the backs of buffalos, rhinoceroses, and elephants. The most unusual method of hunting is used by the black heron. She also walks in shallow water, but always does this with half-opened wings. The shadow of the wings attracts fish, who seek refuge in it from the heat and dangers.
Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) in search of prey.
At the climax of the hunt, the heron with a sharp movement closes its wings like a tent, while hiding its head under them. This allows her to see the fish better while avoiding the glare of the water. The heron always swallows the caught prey whole; if it is large, the bird throws it into the air and catches it, directing it along its beak.
Hunting by a black heron is reminiscent of a game of hide and seek.
These birds breed once a year. In species of the temperate zone, the breeding season begins in April-May. A number of species (the most famous of which is the great egret) grow long, delicate feathers on their backs during the mating season, these decorations are called aigrettes. In addition, their beak and skin near their eyes change color. Herons are monogamous birds, but pairs last only one season. During courtship, the male cracks his beak, crouches, and opens his crest and aigrettes. The attracted female approaches him, but may be... driven out if she did it too hastily. Only by demonstrating patience is she accepted by the male.
The great egret displays aigrettes; during the mating season, the skin near the eyes of this species turns green.
The birds work together to build a nest, with the male mainly collecting material and the female laying it down. Herons most often make nests in trees, closer to neighbors, and less often in dense reed thickets. They often form mixed colonies with other bird species - cormorants, ibises, but at the same time they try to build their nests higher than others. The nests of these birds are loose, large piles of branches up to 1 m in diameter and 60 cm in height. The female lays 2-7 white or greenish-blue eggs and begins to incubate them immediately. For this reason, the chicks do not hatch at the same time; the latter lag behind the former in development. The incubation period lasts 28-33 days, both birds incubate. The chicks are born sighted, but naked, and after a week they are covered with sloppy, sparse down.
Great white heron chicks.
Their parents regurgitate fish for them, but there is not enough food for everyone at one time; food goes to the strongest first. Because of this, in a brood of herons, one chick survives in hungry years, and two or three in years rich in food. In addition to lack of food, chicks often die when they travel along branches, falling to the ground or getting caught with their necks in a fork and suffocating. Having learned to fly (after about 55 days), the chicks form family groups with their parents. They reach sexual maturity by 2 years. The lifespan of herons in nature is 10-15 years, with a maximum of 23.
Egyptian heron (Bubulcus ibis).
The enemies of herons in the air are daytime birds of prey - falcons, harriers, kites, hawks, eagles; in reservoirs they are hunted by crocodiles. Nests are often destroyed by crows, wild cats, and martens. Despite this, herons are quite common birds and, for the most part, are not rare. However, such prosperity did not always last. In the past, herons were hunted for their elegant aigrettes, which were used to decorate hats. In the 19th century, every year in Europe and North America 1.5-2 million birds were destroyed! Therefore, a number of species, such as the great white, yellow-billed heron and others, were almost completely destroyed. When the fashion for feathers passed, the herons restored their numbers, but not for all species this process ended successfully. For example, the yellow-billed heron, which lives in China and Korea, is on the verge of extinction; once destroyed, it was never able to restore its numbers due to competition with a more widespread species - the little egret. The Madagascar heron is in the same threatening situation.
An elephant wanders along the road, accompanied by his little friends - buffalo herons. These birds often accompany elephants in the hope of profiting from insects scared away by the giant.
But thanks to humans, the Egyptian heron has spread beyond its range. Together with herds of livestock, she occupied the Northern and South America, Australia, Southern Europe. Herons provide benefits by destroying sick fish, harmful insects and rodents, and therefore need protection.
A gray heron, with its paw tucked, is trying to keep warm on the March ice.
The heron belongs to the group of ankles, the order of storks. There are more than 60 species of these birds.
Despite the name of the order, the closest relationship unites herons with night herons and bitterns, and only then come storks.
But the crane and the heron, despite popular belief, have nothing in common, like the heron and the flamingo.
Description of the heron
Based on the diversity of heron species, we can conclude that appearance these birds can differ significantly from each other. All herons are predominantly monochromatic in color. Only some species combine two colors, mostly white and black.
However, despite the fact that the size of the smallest representative of the species is 3 times smaller than the largest of them, which reaches one and a half meters in height, the structure of their body is such that the heron cannot be confused with any other bird.
All herons, without exception, have a long neck, beak, legs and are distinguished by large wings and a small tail. When at rest, the heron's neck is bent in the shape of the letter S.
During the hunt, it straightens up, and its straight, sharp beak strikes its prey like a spear. In addition, the beak is equipped with sharp edges, sometimes even jagged, so that when you grab it you won’t miss the living creature.
Despite the fact that the heron's habitat is near water, it does not have a gland with oil that could lubricate its feathers, protecting them.
As a kind of protection, the heron uses its own down, the areas with which are called powders.
It crumbles easily and turns into powder. Herons cover their feathers with it. They do this every day, so the herons always look well-groomed in the photo.
Lifestyle and nutrition
Herons have a fairly wide habitat. They cannot be found except in Antarctica and the Arctic. The most common species in Russia is the gray heron.
Moreover, these birds prefer to nest near small bodies of water. They are not often found on the coast.
Herons prefer to settle at a considerable distance from each other, although there are species that settle in groups quite close, especially in places abundant with food.
Herons feed mainly on living creatures living in the water - fish, frogs, snakes. They will not refuse insects, as well as rodents and small birds or their chicks.
Some species of herons hunt from ambush, others use waiting tactics. Some birds even lure their prey by standing in the water and wiggling their fingers.
Egyptian herons generally prefer to hunt insects, following herds of herbivores. Thus, they are not at all attached to water.
And the black heron, standing in the water, creates a shadow with its wings, thus attracting fish. In addition, this allows her to better see her prey, removing glare from the sun.
Herons living in tropical latitudes do not make long flights. Every autumn, herons leave temperate latitudes for warmer climes. Their migrations are difficult to notice, since they do not gather in large flocks, and their flight is not at all fast.
Breeding herons
Forming pairs for one season, herons are still monogamous birds. They breed once a year. During the mating season, birds may change their appearance.
Male great egrets, for example, grow long feathers. During this period, herons often change the color of their beaks and the skin around their eyes.
It is very interesting to watch the mating rituals of these birds. During courtship, the male raises his crest, can squat and crack his beak.
However, by attracting a female in this way, he chooses only patient individuals. And if the female approaches the male too hastily, she may be rejected by him.
The nest is built jointly by both partners, while the male’s responsibilities include obtaining material, and the female must lay it down.
The most common place to build a nest is a tree, but there are herons that prefer coastal thickets. The nest consists of a heap of branches laid quite loosely. Moreover, the height of the nest can be more than 50 cm.
The eggs of herons are white or green-blue. The female lays two to seven eggs and incubates them with the male for about a month.
Naked chicks after hatching from eggs become covered with down only after a week. Since herons swallow their food whole, they feed their chicks by regurgitating it.
If there is a large brood in the nest, then there is not enough food for everyone at once, so it goes to the strongest, and accordingly only 1-3 chicks survive, depending on the abundance of food.
The chicks begin to fly at about one and a half months and remain close to their parents until sexual maturity, which occurs at 2 years.
Photo of a heron
