学名：Ardea cinerea
英文名：Grey Heron
分类：鹳形目
苍鹭，又称老等、灰鹭、青庄。大型水边鸟类。成对和成小群活动，迁徙期间和冬季集成大群，有时亦与白鹭混群，营巢在水域附近的树上或芦苇与水草丛中，有时一棵树上有巢数对至十多对。营巢结束后开始产卵，通常每隔一天产1枚卵。每窝产卵3～6枚，其中以5枚居多。主要以小型鱼类、泥鳅、虾、喇蛄、蜻蜓幼虫、蜥蜴、蛙和昆虫等动物性食物为食。几乎分布于中国各地。
Grey Heron also known as old and green heron.It’s a kind of large waterside bird which belongs to the order of ciconiiformes.They are always in pairs and into small group activities, they are in a large group in winter during the migration, sometimes with mixed egrets group.Nesting in the waters near the tree or reeds, sometimes a tree have several nests or more than ten nests.When the nest is built, it begins to lay eggs.There are 3 ~ 6 eggs in each nest.It mainly lives on animal food such as small fish, loach, shrimp, crawfish, dragonfly larvae, lizards, frogs and insects.They are distributed everywhere in China.
苍鹭以“懒”出名。在鸟类中，说不定它们可以算上“懒汉之最”了。所以，苍鹭为自己赢得了“长脖老等”的“美名”——老在那儿等着，哪儿也不去。
等什么？在浅水的岸边，苍鹭可以专心致志地注视着水中的游鱼多时。然后，伺机快速地伸出长脖子，一“嘴”捕获！苍鹭捕鱼的动作可以用“神速”来定义，但是，等候的时间也很煎熬。它们“守河待鱼”的“注视”需要多久？当然以捕到鱼为准了。
苍鹭捕到大鱼后，会将鱼在岸上先狠狠地摔死，然后，再慢慢吞食。吃鱼时，苍鹭也是耐心十足的样子。它们让鱼头先入口，以免被鱼鳍刺伤。食物中不能一下子消化的部分，还会吐出来——不温不火，不急不躁，没有半点儿脾气。对于需要付出时间和耐心处理的事儿，苍鹭都能做到气定神闲，像个绅士那样，进食之前要细心地掖掖餐布，沾沾纸巾，从不现出狼吞虎咽的急迫。
飞行时，苍鹭的长颈会缩成“S”形，有点儿底气不足似的，呈现出瑟缩和老迈之态，还会不时发出低沉、粗哑的“哇、哇”声。叫声从伸缩自如、折叠如风琴的长颈传出来，与胸腔产生共鸣，和它们阅尽人生百态般的身姿、神态极其相符。
一娘生九子，九子各不同。同胞兄弟还千差万别呢，鹭当然也不例外。同样是鹭类，白鹭飘逸、清秀；白琵鹭纯美、隽永。而苍鹭却不！一看苍鹭那身装扮，总觉得它跟谁打过架、斗过狠，刚刚带伤退下战场似的。其实不然！苍鹭几乎没有天敌。或许，它们因矮小、单薄，不够挺拔、潇洒，自知在模样上不占优势吧。用一生的时光，为你等候！看来，在相貌上不占优势，只能靠耐力、温文这些好品质，赢得美名了。
Grey Heron are known for being lazy.They might be "the laziest" birds because they always waited there, and they didn't go anywhere.
Waiting for?On the Banks of shallow water, herons can concentrate on the fish in the water.Then waiting for the opportunity to quickly reach out long neck and capture the fish by mouth!The process of fishing can be defined by "the fastest speed", but the waiting time is also longest .How long does it take them to "watch" for fish?
The heron catches the big fish and then slams the fish on the shore, finally eats it slowly.When eating fish, herons are also patient.They let the fish head first to avoid being stung by a fin.The part of the food that can't be digested in a moment will also spit out.For things that takes time and patience to deal with, heron can do like a gentleman.
When flying, the long neck of the herons will be shrunk into "S" shape, which will show the state of clench and aging, they will occasionally make a low and gruff sound.
Herons have few natural enemies although they are short, thin.It seems that there is no advantage in appearance, but it can only rely on the good qualities to win the reputation.