Ardea cinerea rectirostris (Grey heron)

• 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.