Identification
A large grey heron with a pale neck, strong bill and dark markings on the head. In flight, the neck is folded back rather than stretched straight.
When to look
European populations vary from resident to migratory. Romanian numbers and locations change with movement, water levels and freezing conditions.
Where to look
A wide range of shallow waters is used, including lakes, channels, marshes and flooded fields. Suitable feeding shallows matter more than a single habitat label.
Behaviour and ecology
Food and nutrition
Fish are important, but its flexible diet includes other small animals. It often waits motionless before striking quickly.
Breeding and life cycle
Nests are commonly grouped in colonies, often in trees. Feeding alone does not mean the species also nests alone.
A closer look
Herons and storks can look superficially similar overhead: the folded neck of a flying heron is a particularly helpful distinction.
Global conservation assessment
LC · Least Concern
Global category recorded from the linked assessment; it does not describe local abundance. Least Concern does not mean absence of threats.
View the source assessment ↗Observation and photography
Watch the water in front of the bird as well as its head. Keep clear of colonies and do not interrupt a prolonged hunt.
Sources and further reading
Keep a distance that allows birds to feed and rest normally. Do not enter colonies, approach nests, flush roosts or use playback for photographs. Never publish precise nest locations of sensitive species. Follow reserve rules and your guide's advice.