Great White Heron - description, habitat

Heron means a large-sized bird, which immediately attracts attention. Representatives of the heron family are similar to storks, but apart from external data, nothing connects them. The closest relatives of the family under discussion are bitterns and herds. Today we will analyze everything related to herons, and also highlight the main aspects in more detail.

Habitat

Individuals of this breed group like warm climatic regions close to tropical. They can be found in Eurasia, America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Africa, South America.

It can live both in brackish and fresh water sources. It prefers a medium with a moderate or slow course or without it at all. Individuals can be found in marshy areas, seashores, as well as rivers.

Most often, birds are attracted by other sources, for example, river mouths, lowlands like swamps, shores, freshwater or brackish lakes, overgrown in the tropics, flooded farmlands, as well as rice plantations and ditches.

Almost all their lives, these birds live in the water. However, when the task arises - to get food, they can move to dry places or go aground from deep water. Individuals feed on small fish, as well as worms and bugs that live within sight.

Description

1. The heron standing out from the rest of the birds attracts attention, it is difficult to confuse it with other representatives of birds. In height, these inhabitants grow to 100 cm or more. If you add to the indicators a wingspan of 1.5 meters, then you can make up your mind. Mature females and males reach a weight of 1 kg., Usually males are slightly larger.
2. This bird has distinctive features, it is worth highlighting elongated gray fingers, as well as a curved neck. The feathers are whitish, gray or yellow. The paws are dark gray or brown, the beak is long, stiff and yellow.
3. Since the heron has a definitely arranged vertebral apparatus, the bird can easily retract its neck and pull it up a decent distance. In the process of obtaining food, the bird often uses this.
4. The tail is wedge-shaped and shortened, it is practically invisible. When winter comes, white feathers appear in the area behind the tail and on the side.
5. When the mating season begins, the birds lose weight, their size becomes smaller. The shade of the beak changes from yellowish to orange with a redhead. The heron does not have this type of tuft on the head, in contrast to its relatives. If you study the males and females, then visually they are almost no different.

Nutrition

1. Since the birds of this family are predators, most of their daily nutrition is protein food. That is, herons feed on animal food that lives aground, near the coast, in marshland. Due to their structure, birds can twist their heads and do it quickly. They feel when the game comes up, after which they take it by surprise.
2. The basis of the daily menu includes crickets, frogs, butterflies, bugs and cockroaches (river), snake-like creatures. The bird also feeds on sea plankton, grasshoppers, crustaceans, small fish, rodents and their offspring.
3. Generally speaking, the represented family feeds on all living creatures, which cannot stand up for themselves and are in the field of visibility. Since there are excellent hunting instincts, the heron eats live food.
4. By their nature, these individuals are not distinguished by selectivity.According to experts who study the lifestyle and behavior of the bird family under discussion, the heron rises on one leg to catch more prey. Because when it moves, “food” literally leaks from under your feet.

Characteristic features of the species

1. At the heron you can notice a peculiar grace and smoothness in absolutely all movements. Often birds go out in search of food in the evening or in the afternoon. Hunting of individuals often occurs in small groups. Often individuals and alone seek food.
2. The daily routine for such birds is quite familiar. At night they rest, and in the afternoon go about their business. It should be noted separately that herons have a rather aggressive and pugnacious temperament. Often skirmishes between individuals are due to tidbits.
3. Herons offend those who are smaller in size, but they also do not interfere in engaging in a fearless battle with equal relatives. Such individuals often fight for food, despite the fact that in the marshland there is enough. As a result, the one who is stronger wins.
4. Even during the flight, herons show grace. Speed ​​can reach up to 50 km / h. Such indicators directly depend on the physical condition of the individual and age. If a heron cannot find food in a familiar area, it flies away in search of a usual place for 15-20 km.
5. As soon as the mating season begins in individuals, each bird begins to aggressively defend its territory. Presented herons are not monogamous. It is customary for individuals to change partners every season. Some bird families can live in the same area unhindered throughout the year.
6. With the onset of the cold season, other colonies move to other regions with warmer weather. Also, there are those individuals who adhere to flights to hot countries. Moreover, the flight distances are quite large.
7. Most factors directly depend on the climate and habitat of the herons in question. Also, the population of individuals in a particular place depends on the age of the birds and their physical condition. But, as a rule, most individuals leave their usual habitat for a short distance. They try to adhere to the limits of their usual territory.

Captivity

1. It is worth noting that the individuals in question can get used to various living conditions without any problems. White herons do not show whims at all in their environment and nutrition. The basic rule remains that birds should always have free access to a body of water.
2. In addition, such individuals need a large amount of animal feed. Herons should receive a sufficient amount of protein per day. Such birds are often kept in large zoos. Presented herons get used to captive living conditions without any problems. They practically do not get sick and live very long.
3. If you are going to keep such birds in captivity, without fail they need to provide high-quality and plentiful food. In addition, birds should be pampered with various vitamin supplements. It is highly recommended that herons be kept in small families. Alone individuals do not live long.

White herons are birds unique in nature. Such individuals are distinguished by grace in all movements. Birds have a rather interesting and at the same time aggressive temperament. They will constantly conflict with relatives for food or territory. If you are going to keep herons in captivity, you should seriously prepare for this.

Video: Great Egret (Ardea alba)