Taxonomy
There are four subspecies:
- Ardea cinerea cinerea Linnaeus, 1758. Europe, Africa, western Asia
- Ardea cinerea jouyi Clark, 1907. Eastern Asia
- Ardea cinerea firasa Hartert, 1917. Madagascar
- Ardea cinerea monicae Jouanin & Roux, 1963. Islands off Banc d'Arguin, Mauritania.
It is closely related and similar to the American Great Blue Heron, which differs in slightly larger size, and chestnut-brown flanks and thighs.
Read more about this topic: Grey Heron