heron

¹ American  

[her-uhn] / ˈhɛr ən /

noun

1. any of numerous long-legged, long-necked, usually long-billed birds of the family Ardeidae, including the true herons, egrets, night herons, and bitterns.

---

Heron ² American  

[heer-on] / ˈhɪər ɒn /

noun

1. Hero.

---

Heron ¹ British  

/ ˈhɪərɒn /

noun

1. same as Hero

2. Patrick. 1920–99, British abstract painter and art critic

---

heron ² British  

/ ˈhɛrən /

noun

1. any of various wading birds of the genera Butorides, Ardea, etc, having a long neck, slim body, and a plumage that is commonly grey or white: family Ardeidae, order Ciconiiformes

---

Etymology

Origin of heron

1275–1325; Middle English heiro ( u ) n, hero ( u ) n < Middle French hairon ( French héron ) < Germanic; compare Old High German heigir

Explanation

Herons are birds that use their long legs to wade in marshes, ponds, and along the coastline. There are herons living on every single continent except Antarctica. There are dozens of heron species, ranging from medium-sized to the impressive goliath heron, which stands five feet tall. All of these shorebirds have long legs, long necks, and a wide wingspan. When a heron stands upright, it holds its neck in a distinctive S-shape, but when it flies, it tucks its head tightly up against its body. Heron is from the Old French hairon, which may derive from an imitative root mimicking the cry of a heron.

Example Sentences

"Look at the length of the skull, the length of the neck, and the length of the hind limb -- you're in heron territory."

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

Just then a great blue heron flew overhead.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 19, 2026

Awkwafina voices a street pigeon named Chump, Keegan-Michael Key is a Jamaican parrot named Delroy and Carol Kane is a heron named Erin.

From New York Times • May 3, 2024

The film centres on a young boy who meets a mysterious speaking heron after losing his mother during World War Two.

From BBC • Jan. 7, 2024

“It doesn’t look like the heron is going to come off too well,” I said.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt