3. Grey Heron The Grey Heron is slightly larger than the Blackheaded Heron, but very much the same kind of shape; the body though is generally darker and the neck is white, with a broad bright black eyebrow-stripe over each eye that seems to turn into the thin black plume running off the back of the head and down the neck. The beak is a brighter yellow than that of the Black-necked, which is a more grey-green shade of yellow. They are more likely to be found in or near water, and use the same kind of hunting strategy as the Black-necked Heron, for they are after the same kinds of food. With the bill pointing straight into the sky like a reed, they can still look forward through both eyes horizontally under their ‘chins’, which is a strange trick. Like the Black-necked, they roost and breed in colonies, usually in the tops of tall trees. They have the same rowing motion when seen in flight from below; but their underwing pattern is distinctive. The underwings of the grey are a uniform grey, while the Black headed has a wide black band right across the trailing feathers of their broad wings. Birds of AFRICAMA House 10 Birds of AFRICAMA House 11