A passing migrant from Cyprus and the Akamas peninsula (March – April and August – October). During its migratory trip it often follows the coastline to pass from the Akamas peninsula, flying either further away over sea or close to the shoreline. It can make a stop at points along the shoreline or islets on the route. It is seen mostly in flocks, sometimes in mixed groups with other heron species.

It’s a big sized heron species, tall and thin, that normally looks dark colored in the field, especially from a distance. It has a dark grey back, dark grey wing coverts with brownish-purple tint, head and neck sides are reddish-brown with black vertical lines.