Adult Male:
Two black bands extend from the front of the eyes, over the eyes, to the nape and crest. The crown, chin, and area around the eyes are white. The shoulders, wing coverts, and secondary flight feathers are ash gray. The feathers on the shoulders and upper back are often long, with light gray tips. The tips of the secondary flight feathers are dark black. The tail is gray, with the central tail feathers being darker and the tips of the feathers slightly black. The primary flight feathers, outer secondary flight feathers, large wing coverts, and alula are almost black.
A long band across the front of the neck is formed by alternating black and white streaks. The rest of the neck is white, mixed with a few bamboo-leaf-shaped, grayish-buff feathers on the chest. Some feathers have black shafts. The center of the chest, abdomen, and undertail coverts are white. The sides of the chest have black markings extending down the sides of the back and merging at the rear. The flanks and axillaries are gray.
Juvenile:
Overall, the plumage is duller, darker gray, and slightly brown. The neck, forehead, and center of the crown are grayish-brown, tinged with purple. There are no long feathers on the chest or shoulders. The black stripes across the front of the neck are more distinct. The eyes are dark yellow. During the breeding season, the bill is yellow, with a black band on the culmen; in winter, the bill is nearly grayish-brown. The bare skin in front of the eyes is pale yellowish-green. The legs are pale brownish-green with a few yellow markings at the joints and on the toes.
Measurements:
Wing: 175 – 180 mm; Tail: 165 – 170 mm; Leg: 140 – 170 mm; Bill: 109 – 135 mm.
Distribution:
The Gray Heron is distributed in India, Myanmar, and China (except the Northwest). In winter, this species is found in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
In Vietnam, the Gray Heron is found throughout the plains and is occasionally seen in rice fields in the midlands.