Grey Heron
Grey HeronGrey HeronGrey HeronGrey Heron

Grey Heron

Ardea cinerea

Silhouette: Rebecca Groom · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
at Wilpattu National Park

In 3 days ~90% in a week >90%

281 Verified sightings at Wilpattu National Park From 2019 to 2026
46,826 In all 107 parks
October Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Grey Heron

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird of the heron family, Ardeidae, native throughout temperate Europe and Asia, and also parts of Africa. It is resident in much of its range, but some populations from the more northern parts migrate southwards in autumn. A bird of wetland areas, it can be seen around lakes, rivers, ponds, marshes and on the sea coast. It feeds mostly on aquatic creatures which it catches after standing stationary beside or in the water, or stalking its prey through the shallows.

Standing up to 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) tall, adults weigh from 1 to 2 kg (2 to 4 lb). They have a white head and neck with a broad black stripe that extends from the eye to the black crest. The body and wings are grey above and the underparts are greyish-white, with some black on the flanks. The long, sharply pointed beak is pinkish-yellow and the legs are brown.

The birds breed colonially in spring in heronries, usually building their nests high in trees. A clutch of usually three to five bluish-green eggs is laid. Both birds incubate the eggs for around 25 days, and then both feed the chicks, which fledge when 7-8 weeks old. Many juveniles do not survive their first winter, but if they do, they can expect to live for about 5 years.

In Ancient Egypt, the deity Bennu was depicted as a heron in New Kingdom artwork. In Ancient Rome, the heron was a bird of divination. Roast heron was once a specially prized dish; when George Neville became Archbishop of York in 1465, 400 herons were served to the guests. Wikipedia →

Sounds

Flight call0:17

Estonia · 2026

© Uku Paal · XC1099051 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:12

Netherlands · 2025

© Susanne Kuijpers · XC1045046 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Nocturnal flight call0:15

United Kingdom · 2025

© Mark Newsome · XC1012296 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~80%
2 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~80%
3 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~70%
4 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~70%
5 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~70%
6 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~70%
7 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
~60%
8 West Coast National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~60%
9 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~60%
10 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~60%
11 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~60%
12 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~60%
13 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~60%
14 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~60%
15 Udawalawe National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~50%
16 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~50%
17 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~50%
18 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~50%
19 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~50%
20 Biebrza National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~50%
21 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~50%
22 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~50%
23 De Hoop Nature Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
24 Wadden Sea National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~40%
25 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~40%
26 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~40%
27 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~40%
28 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
~40%
29 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
30 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~40%
31 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~40%
32 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
33 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~40%
34 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~40%
35 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~30%
36 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
37 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
38 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
39 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~30%
40 Gir National Park 🇮🇳 India
~30%
41 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
42 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~30%
43 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
~30%
44 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~30%
45 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
46 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
47 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~30%
48 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~30%
49 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~20%
50 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
51 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~20%
52 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
53 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
~20%
54 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
55 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
56 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~20%
57 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
~20%
58 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~20%
59 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
60 Plitvice Lakes National Park 🇭🇷 Croatia
~20%
61 Triglav National Park 🇸🇮 Slovenia
~20%
62 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
63 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
~20%
64 Nikko National Park 🇯🇵 Japan
~20%
65 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
66 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~20%
67 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
68 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
69 Gauja National Park 🇱🇻 Latvia
~10%
70 Jim Corbett National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
71 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
72 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
73 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
74 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
75 Mudumalai National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
76 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
77 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
78 Golden Gate Highlands National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
79 Mercantour National Park 🇫🇷 France
~10%
80 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
81 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
82 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
83 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
84 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
85 Bale Mountains National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
<5%
86 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
<5%
87 Vatnajokull National Park 🇮🇸 Iceland
<5%
88 Tatra National Park 🇸🇰 Slovakia
<5%
89 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
90 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
<5%
91 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
<5%
92 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
<5%
93 Taroko National Park 🇹🇼 Taiwan
<5%
94 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
95 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
96 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
97 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
98 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
99 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
100 Taman Negara National Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia
<5%
101 Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
102 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
103 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
104 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
105 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
106 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
107 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Daejeon 🇰🇷 South Korea
~80%
2 Osaka 🇯🇵 Japan
~70%
3 Amsterdam 🇳🇱 Netherlands
~70%
4 Naha 🇯🇵 Japan
~70%
5 Nagoya 🇯🇵 Japan
~70%
6 Tokyo 🇯🇵 Japan
~60%
7 Hiroshima 🇯🇵 Japan
~60%
8 Zanzibar City 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~60%
9 Tuen Mun 🇨🇳 China
~60%
10 Manama 🇧🇭 Bahrain
~60%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Zhuhai Chimelong Ocean Kingdom 🇨🇳 China In captivity
2 Chimelong Spaceship 🇨🇳 China In captivity
3 Basel Zoo 🇨🇭 Switzerland In captivity
4 ZooParc de Beauval 🇫🇷 France In captivity
5 Leipzig Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
6 Copenhagen Zoo 🇩🇰 Denmark In captivity
7 Natura Artis Magistra 🇳🇱 Netherlands In captivity
8 Zürich Zoo 🇨🇭 Switzerland In captivity
9 Dresden Zoo 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
10 Barcelona Zoo 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
11 Fota Wildlife Park 🇮🇪 Ireland In captivity
12 Zoologic park de Lille 🇫🇷 France In captivity
13 Parc des oiseaux 🇫🇷 France In captivity
14 Le rocher des aigles 🇫🇷 France In captivity
15 Vinpearl Safari 🇻🇳 Vietnam In captivity
16 西霞口神雕山野生動物世界 🇨🇳 China In captivity
17 Safari de Peaugres Circuit Auto 🇫🇷 France In captivity
18 Kyiv Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
19 Berlin Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
20 Wrocław Zoological Garden 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
21 Zoologischer Garten Leipzig 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
22 Natur- und Tierpark Goldau 🇨🇭 Switzerland In captivity
23 Explorer Village 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates In captivity
24 Refuge de l'Arche 🇫🇷 France In captivity
25 Zoo Osnabrück 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
26 Zoologischer Garten Magdeburg 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
27 Budapest Zoo & Botanical Garden 🇭🇺 Hungary In captivity
28 Kharkiv Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
29 London Zoo 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
30 Thiruvananthapuram Zoo 🇮🇳 India In captivity
31 Aquarama Barcelona 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
32 African Village 🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates In captivity
33 Valencia Bioparc 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
34 Birdworld 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
35 Jardin zoologique de la ville de Lyon 🇫🇷 France In captivity
36 World of Birds Wildlife Sanctuary and Monkey Park 🇿🇦 South Africa In captivity
37 Hsinchu Zoo 🇹🇼 Taiwan In captivity
38 Bali Bird Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia In captivity
39 Vogelpark Heiligenkirchen 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
40 The Seal Sanctuary 🇬🇧 United Kingdom In captivity
41 Africarium 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
42 Aquarium Berlin 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
43 Kharkiv Dolphinarium 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
44 Ogród Zoologiczny w Katowicach 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
45 terrarium ogrodu zoologicznego we Wrocławiu 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
46 Wolfgang-Köhler-Primaten-Forschungszentrum 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
47 Зоовольерный комплекс 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity
48 Тульский экзотариум (новая экспозиция) 🇷🇺 Russia In captivity

Closest Relatives at Wilpattu National Park

Great Egret
LC

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Purple Heron
LC

Purple Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea purpurea

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Indian Pond Heron
LC

Indian Pond Heron

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Ardeola grayii

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
Little Egret
LC

Little Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta garzetta

Daily sighting probability ~60% · Likely
intermediate egret
LC

intermediate egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta intermedia

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Black-crowned Night Heron
LC

Black-crowned Night Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Nycticorax nycticorax

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Black-headed Ibis
LC

Black-headed Ibis

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Threskiornis melanocephalus

Daily sighting probability ~50% · Likely
Grey Pelican
NT

Grey Pelican

🌅 Crepuscular Bird

Pelecanus philippensis

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Eurasian Spoonbill
LC

Eurasian Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea leucorodia

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Common Peafowl
LC

Common Peafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Pavo cristatus

Daily sighting probability ~90% · Very likely
Pearl-necked Dove
LC

Pearl-necked Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Spilopelia chinensis

Daily sighting probability ~80% · Very likely

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Grey Heron in Wilpattu National Park?

Likely

About 50% of wildlife watchers report a Grey Heron sighting in Wilpattu National Park on a given day, based on 281 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 26th most-seen of the 169 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 90%, and over a week to over 90%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Grey Heron in Wilpattu National Park?

October

In that month about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Grey Heron in Wilpattu National Park on a given day, against about 40% in November, the lowest month. That is one of Wilpattu National Park's wettest months, with about 260 mm of rain against 40 mm in February.

What time of day is best to see a Grey Heron?

Between 4 and 7 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Grey Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Which relatives of the Grey Heron live in Wilpattu National Park?

Same genus: Ardea

The closest relatives of the Grey Heron that you can see in Wilpattu National Park (genus Ardea, Great Herons and Egrets) are Great Egret (about 60%) and Purple Heron (about 50%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Grey Heron sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Grey Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in Wilpattu National Park (281 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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