Plumed Grey Heron

Other names
None known.

Description
A huge heron with unique toe arrangement. It is said to be a mutation. However, not all individuals have six toes, they may have four or five.

It is one of the largest species of heron, being about 40 in tall and 50 in long. Its wingspan measures 80 in.

Males are grey with an orange belly. Females are similar, but lack the orange belly. Both sexes have many long, black plumes that adorn them during the breeding season; they both have golden wings that are "pencilled" in black. They have a long, black streak on the sides of their faces and black streaks or dots (variable) on their throats and necks. Both sexes have dark blue to pale blue eyes.

Very rarely shows albinism, partial albinism or leucism.

Sometimes hybridises with the great blue heron or grey heron.

Similar species
Unique. Not even the Great Blue Heron nor the Grey Heron have yellow on them.

Its wingspan is comparable to a Magnificent Frigatebird and its length is comparable to a Wandering Albatross. It is almost as tall as a Secretarybird.

Diet
It feeds on fish, amphibians, crayfish, insects, snakes and birds.

Calls
Harsh croaking, not unlike that of the great blue or grey herons.

Reproduction
Performs an extravagant display, fanning out its beautiful plumes. Occasionally, the bill base may turn purplish-blue.

Nest is in some of the tallest trees in swamps or other wet areas. Incubates the eggs for an average of 28 days. The eggs are pale green to pale olive.

Young fledge in about 68 days.

Distribution/habitat
Found in many wet areas, around lakes, wet fields and sometimes away from water.

Based on...
It is based on a mix of seven different herons. Though I don't remember all of them, one of them might be the great blue heron, which is where some of the info came from.

The idea of this beautiful, handsome bird came from one of my friends. I thought it was absurd at first, knowing that birds rarely have more than four toes. But I gave in and decided to create it. Its initial design was vastly different from the one shown. Its original wingspan was 145", not 80"! That is CRAZILY huge! (The wingspan of the wandering albatross is 100-138").