Heron (white, gray, reddish).
A genus of large (80-100 cm and above) birds of the heron family. These birds live along marshy areas, where their prey consists of fish, frogs, and other aquatic animals.
Herons are powerful birds with long conical beaks, long necks, and long legs. Most species have a well-defined tuft of feathers at the back of the head.
While foraging, herons stand motionless for long periods in shallow water, or near the burrows of field voles or gophers, waiting for their prey. The gray heron requires a combination of suitable feeding waters with open areas of wet meadows or swamps, and for nesting - thickets of reeds, bulrushes, flooded shrubs, or tall trees. Therefore, the main habitats of herons are the water bodies of steppes, forest-steppes, and sub-taiga, i.e., areas most altered by human activity. The heron feeds on a variety of animal food (insects and their larvae, small fish, frogs and tadpoles, reptiles, rodents). The main diet consists of fish measuring 10-25 cm in length and weighing 200-500 g.
In flight, they are slow, retracting their heads towards themselves — this distinguishes them from other water birds — cranes, storks, and spoonbills.
Gray Heron. A large bird easily distinguishable from other herons. Wing length is 460-470 mm, weight up to 1.8 kg, sometimes up to 2 kg. The back is gray, the underside is white; the flight feathers, the stripe above the eye, the crest, and the spots on the neck are black. The head is narrow, with a long, straight, laterally compressed yellowish beak. The legs are long, yellowish, and dangle awkwardly in the air during takeoff.
The wings are large and broad, and the tail is short. Flight is smooth, slow, with slow wingbeats. In flight, it throws its legs back and bends its neck in a G-shape.
A very cautious bird. Silent, but during flight, it emits a characteristic call that makes it easy to recognize: a loud and sharp sound like "krank." Growing chicks make monotonous crackling sounds like "kuong-ka-ka-ka."
For nesting, gray herons prefer tall trees, often nesting at the tops of pines; some colonies persist for hundreds of years. In mixed colonies, they nest higher than other herons. The breeding season for gray herons is extended; they begin laying eggs in April. Most birds lay eggs in late April and early May, while some individuals do so in June. The average clutch size is 4 chicks. The nest (usually renewed each year) can be up to 80 cm in diameter and 60 cm in height. The clutch typically contains 3-5 greenish-blue eggs; in the tropics, incubation lasts 21 days, while in temperate latitudes, it lasts 26-27 days. The chicks are covered with gray down, and feathers begin to grow at 7-9 days. Feeding continues for 50 days.
A lifespan of 25 years has been recorded.
White Heron differs from its gray relative by its snow-white plumage and slightly larger size. In breeding plumage, it has a small crest on the back of its head. The beak is straight, sharp, black with a yellow base. There is a bare greenish-yellow ring around the eyes. However, the voice of the heron does not correspond to its beautiful appearance. The white heron emits coarse, hoarse sounds: "Krrank!"
A rare bird species, although in the recent past it inhabited all continents except Antarctica. For many centuries, the white heron was a favorite target for hunters, but especially devastating for it was the mass hunting for the famous egrets (feathers for women's hats or hairstyles), which were considered the most fashionable decoration in the 9th century. This fashion, which lasted until the early 20th century, played a tragic role in the fate of the heron.
It inhabits areas near water bodies with extensive reed thickets. The great white heron can nest in trees, but more often builds nests in the bends of reeds in hard-to-reach swamps. The clutch contains 3-5 eggs, with incubation by both partners lasting 25-26 days. The young remain in the nest for about 45 days.
Reddish Heron. A medium-sized heron measuring 79 cm, distributed from Southern Europe to Africa, and east to Japan. It is found in swamps, mangrove groves, along the shores of lakes and rivers, as well as in marshy lowlands.
Rusty-red tones predominate in the plumage coloration.
It usually nests in small colonies, sometimes with other bird species. Nests are built in bushes or bends of reeds. The clutch contains 3-5 bluish eggs. Incubation lasts about 4 weeks. The chicks leave the nest after 40-45 days.
All herons are protected from getting wet by a special powdery down - powder down, which is located on the chest and back, and as it grows, it turns into powder and covers the feathers like talcum powder.
Birds