The Ardeidae family of birds is the heron, egret and bittern family of wading birds.

Within the family, all members of the genera, Botaurus and Ixobrychus are classed as bitterns, not herons. However the species sometimes known as egrets are simply white-coloured herons with decorative plumes, and not a biologically distinct group (although one could also define true Egrets as the members of genus Egretta). The classification of the individual heron species is fraught with difficulty, and there is still no clear consensus about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera, Ardea and Egretta. Although herons resemble other families, such as the storks, ibises and spoonbills, unlike the latter groups, herons fly with their necks retracted, not outstretched.

The Boatbill is sometimes classed as a heron, and sometimes given its own family Cochlearidae.

The members of this family are all primarily associated with wetlands, and prey on fish, frogs and other aquatic species. Some, like the Cattle Egret, also take large insects, and are less tied to watery environments. Some members of this group nest colonially in trees, others, notably the bitterns, use reedbeds.

In February 2005 the Canadian scientist Dr Louis Lefebvre announced a method of measuring avian IQ in terms of their innovation in feeding habits. Herons were named among the most intelligent birds based on this scale.

Species
Genus Ardea
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
Goliath Heron, Ardea goliath
Cocoi Heron, Ardea cocoi
White-necked Heron or Pacific Heron, Ardea pacifica
Black-headed Heron, Ardea melanocephala
Madagascar Heron, Ardea humbloti
White-bellied Heron, Ardea insignis
Great-billed Heron, Ardea sumatrana
Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea
Great Egret or Great White Egret, Ardea alba
Pied Heron, Ardea picata or Egretta picata
Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia or Egretta intermedia
Swinhoe's Egret or Chinese Egret, Ardea eulophotes or Egretta eulophotes
Genus Philherodias
Capped Heron, Pilherodius pileatus
Genus Butorides
Green Heron or Green-backed Heron, Butorides virescens
Striated Heron, Butorides striatus or Ardea striatus
Genus Ardeola
Indian Pond Heron, Ardeola grayii
Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides
Chinese Pond Heron, Ardeola bacchus
Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa
Madagascar Pond Heron, Ardeola idae
Rufous-bellied Heron, Ardeola rufiventris
Genus Bubulcus
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis or Ardea ibis
Genus Egretta
Little Egret, Egretta garzetta or Ardea garzetta
Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens
Slaty Egret, Egretta vinaceigula
Black Heron, Egretta ardesiaca
Tricolored Heron or Louisiana Heron, Egretta tricolor
White-faced Heron, Egretta novaehollandiae or Ardea novaehollandiae
Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea
Eastern Reef Egret, Egretta sacra or Ardea sacra
Western Reef Heron, Egretta gularis
Genus Agamia
Agami Heron, Agamia agami
Genus Tigrisoma
Bare-throated Tiger Heron, Tigrisoma mexicanum
Fasciated Tiger Heron, Tigrisoma fasciatum
Rufescent Tiger Heron, Tigrisoma lineatum
Genus Tigriornis
White-crested Tiger Heron, Tigriornis leucolophus
Genus Zonerodius
New Guinea Tiger Heron, Zonerodius heliosylus
Genus Zebrilus
Zigzag Heron, Zebrilus undulatus
Genus Syrigma
Whistling Heron, Syrigma sibilatrix
Genus Nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax violaceus
Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
White-backed Night Heron, Nycticorax leuconotus
Rodrigues Night-Heron, Nycticorax megacephalus (extinct)
Genus Gorsachius
Nankeen Night Heron or Rufous Night Heron, Gorsachius melanolophus or Nycticorax caledonicus
White-eared Night Heron, Gorsachius magnificus
Japanese Night Heron, Gorsachius goisagi
Malayan Night Heron, Gorsachius melanolophus
Genus Ixobrychus
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris
Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
Schrenck's Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus
Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii
Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
Genus Botaurus
American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosa.
Great Bittern or European Bittern, Botaurus stellata
South American Bittern Botaurus pinnatus
Australasian Bittern Botaurus poiciloptilus

miscellaneous tsunami sure fashion review fashion historical houses information cold stone creamery cookie

Web Hosting · Blog · Guestbooks · Message Forums · Mailing Lists
Easiest Website Builder ever! · Build your own toolbar · Free Talking Character · Email Marketing
powered by bravenet.com