Grey Heron

Крупная птица с длинными ногами и длинной шеей, которая в полете сложена S-образно, так что голова как бы втянута в плечи. Этим цапля хорошо отличается от других крупных длинноногих птиц - аистов и журавлей, летающих с вытянутой шеей. Основной тон оперения светло-серый, а также белый и черный. Самцы и самки окрашены одинаково, но у самок короче черные косицы за глазами и все оперение немного темнее. Молодые отличаются от взрослых более темной окраской, зеленоватыми (а не желтыми) ногами и клювом; вместо черных косиц на голове сплошная черная шапочка. Вес 1100-2300 г, длина 90-98, крыло 42.8-48.5, размах 175-195 см.

Common, in places abundant breeding migrant. Inhabits waters with reed-beds, tree-bush vegetation and shallow water. In spring arrives very early, in time when the waters are still ice-covered and the snow is still deep; in the end of February – March in the southern Kazakhstan, and in mid–end April in the northern areas. Migrates singly or in small flocks, which rarely consist of up to 50 birds. Nests in separate pairs or in colonies to 200-300 nests, usually together with Cormorants, White Egrets or other Herons. Breeding begins in early April – early May. Bulky nests are built by both partners on the trees, bushes (Russian Olive, Asiatic Poplar, Willow) at height 6-10 m above the ground, from the dry twigs, and are lined with some grass; in another case nests are located in reed-beds, built from the dry reed stems and leaves at height 0.2-0.8 m above the water. Clutch of 2-6, usually 4-5 eggs is produced in early April – early June. Both parents incubate for 26-27 days and feed nestlings which hatch in early May – early June, and begin to fly from end May to end July. Autumn migration begins in end of August – early September and finishes at early – mid-October in northern areas. In southern Kazakhstan migration passes to early – mid-November.