PORTLAND PRESS HERALD • October 22, 2026
A grey heron was seen for the first time in Maine on Sunday, Oct. 18. To the uninitiated, it looks like a great blue heron, its distant relative. But grey herons, which are native to Europe, Africa and Asia, have white on the bend of their wings and thighs. Their more common counterparts have rusty red accents. Grey herons are daintier and more compact, with shorter legs and smaller bills. They are incredibly rare, especially on this continent.