Bird of the month 10/2005 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) 90-98cm. Very large heron with a long neck, very long legs and a dull-yellow dagger-like bill. (Bills are partly reddish in breeding season). Adults have grey body and black and white head with white centre to the black crown that ends in a long, black wispy crest. Its whitish grey neck has stripes of black marks. Its back is grey and the large flight feathers are black. Juveniles are greyer than adults and lack the long plumes. Flies with bended neck. Habitat shallow edges of lakes, fishponds, slow rivers, marshes and estuaries. Breeding in Hungary, arrives early spring and leaves late autumn | 
© Photo by Markku Helle |