Graureiher vs Variable Darner

Ardea cinerea compared with Aeshna interrupta

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Graureiher	Variable Darner
Kingdom same	Animalia (Tier)	Animalia (Tier)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordatiere)	Arthropoda (Gliederfüßer)
Class	Aves (Vögel)	Insecta (Insekten)
Order	Pelecaniformes (Pelecaniformes)	Odonata (Libellen)
Family	Ardeidae	Aeshnidae
Genus	Ardea	Aeshna
Species	Ardea cinerea	Aeshna interrupta

Evolutionary Relationship

Graureiher and Variable Darner share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Tier)

Conservation Status

Graureiher

LC — Least Concern

Trend: Stable →

Variable Darner

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Graureiher	Variable Darner
Diet	Carnivore	—
Average Lifespan	15 years	—
Average Length	95 cm	—
Average Weight	1.5 kg	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Graureiher

Habitat

Typically found in diverse ecosystems where prey species are available.

Range

Found across Europe (6 countries).

Variable Darner

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in United States.

Graureiher

A large, elegant wading bird reaching up to 1 meter in height, gray herons inhabit wetlands, rivers, lakes, and coastal areas across Europe, Asia, and Africa. Patient, solitary hunters, they stand motionless for long periods before striking fish, frogs, and small mammals with lightning-fast dagger bill strikes. They nest colonially in tall trees in rookeries called heronries, sometimes shared with other colonial waterbirds. Widely distributed and of Least Concern globally.