Hēr'on, n.

noun

n. [Fr. héron, O. Fr. hairon, Sp. airon, Pr. aigron, It. aghirone, from O. H. Ger. heigir, heigero, heigro, heron, Icel. hegri, Dan. heire. Cf. O. H. Ger. hehera, M. H. Ger. hēher, N. H. Ger. hāher, A-S. higere, hygera, woodpecker, pie. Cf. AIGRET.] (Ornith.) A wading bird of the genus Ardea (A. cinerea), with long legs and neck, and having the claw of the middle toe toothed. It is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted by hawks. The blue heron, found in the United States, is the A. Erodias. The night-heron, or Qua bird of the south, is A. nycticorax.

An engraving of a heron standing among reeds. — Common Heron (*Ardea cinerea*).