Ardeidae - Herons, Egrets, Bitterns |
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 The birds in this family live in inland and coastal wetlands.
Most species in this family have long necks; short tails; long, pointed bills; and long legs. They eat fish, crustaceans, amphibians, and other aquatic animals.
Herons, egrets and bitterns are found around the world. There are around 65 species of birds in this family.
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct  Not Enough Data
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist.
Location Key
 Africa  Asia  Australia/Oceania  Europe  North America  South America  NH  Click for More Info  Click for Image
Additional Information Resource Key
 Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
Agami Heron - Agamia agami
The agami heron is found in lowland forests from southern Mexico to northern South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
American Bittern - Botaurus lentiginosus
During the breeding season, the American Bittern ranges from the Mid-United States to northern Canada.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Australasian Bittern - Botaurus poiciloptilus
The Australasian bittern is also known as the brown bittern.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Australasian Bittern - Botaurus poiciloptilus
The Australasian bittern is found in the wetlands of southern Australia, New Zealand, and New Caledonia.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Bare-throated Tiger-heron - Tigrisoma mexicanum
The bare-throated tiger-heron is found from Mexico south to northern Peru and Argentina.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black Bittern - Ixobrychus flavicollis
The black bittern is found in Australia, Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, the Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
The black-crowned night heron is a medium-sized heron with a stocky body and short legs and neck. It has a black crown and back, gray wings, and a white underside.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
The black-crowned night-heron is most active at dusk and at night.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Black-crowned night herons are found in a variety of wetland habitats such as swamps, streams, rivers, marshes, mud flats and the edges of lakes that have become overgrown with rushes and cattails.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Black-crowned night-herons are gregarious and are often seen in very large groups.
Source: Seattle Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
The black-crowned night-heron is one of the most common herons in the northern United States.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Middle School
Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Male black-crowned night herons use their nests to attract a mate. The same nest may be used for many years.
Source: National Zoo Photo Gallery Intended Audience: General Reading Level: N/A
Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala
The black-headed heron is found in Sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal to Eritrea and south to South Africa.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle
Black Heron - Egretta ardesiaca
The black heron is found in sub-Saharan Africa. It uses its wings to great a shady spot that attracts fish!
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Boat-billed Heron - Cochlearius cochlearius
The boat-billed heron has a large flat bill. It is found from Mexico to South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Capped Heron - Pilherodius pileatus
The capped heron is found in Central and South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
The cattle egret gets its name from its habit of wandering alongside herds of cattle.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
The cattle egret is native to Africa and Asia. It made its own way to other continents and was first reported in the United States in 1941.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
The cattle egret often looks like it is hunched over. It has short legs and a thick neck compared to other species of egrets.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
The cattle egret is also known as the buff-backed heron.
Source: Honolulu Zoo Intended Audience: Students-Reading Level: Elementary School
Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
Grasshoppers are an important part if the cattle egret's diet. it also eats toads, tree-frogs, skinks, dragon flies, beetles, crickets, moths, termites and spiders.
Source: Oakland Zoo Intended Audience: Students Reading Level: Elementary School
Chinese Egret - Egretta eulophotes
The Chinese egret breeds in Russia, North Korea, South Korea and mainland China.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Chinese Egret - Egretta eulophotes
The Chinese egret is white with black legs and greenish-yellow feet.
Source: Birds of Korea Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Chinese Egret - Egretta eulophotes
The Chinese egret is found in shallow tidal estuaries, mudflats and bays.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Chinese Pond-heron - Ardeola bacchus
The Chinese pond-heron is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, , Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cinnamon Bittern - Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
The cinnamon bittern is found in Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, , Malaysia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cocoi Heron - Ardea cocoi
The Cocoi heron is a large heron with an all-black cap, a white neck, white plumes on the breast, a gray back and wings, and white thighs.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cocoi Heron - Ardea cocoi
The Cocoi heron breeds in South America and is a vagrant in Trinidad and Tobago.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Cocoi Heron - Ardea cocoi
The Cocoi heron is the largest South American heron.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Dwarf Bittern - Ixobrychus sturmii
The dwarf bittern is a small heron found across much of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Fasciated Tiger-heron - Tigrisoma fasciatum
The fasciated tiger-heron is found along rocky streams and rivers in subtropical forests in southern Central and northern and central South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Forest Bittern - Zonerodius heliosylus
The forest bittern is found in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath
At around 4-5 feet in height, Goliath herons are the largest of all living herons.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Gray Heron - Ardea cinerea
The gray heron is the largest heron in Europe.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Gray Heron - Ardea cinerea
The gray heron breeds in colonies in trees close to lakes, the seashore or other wetlands.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great-billed Heron - Ardea sumatrana
The great-billed heron is found in Australia, Brunei Darussalam, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Bittern - Botaurus stellaris
The bittern is more likely to be heard than seen. During the mating season, the male's booming call can be heard up to a mile away.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
The great blue heron is the largest heron in North America.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
An all white form of the great blue heron is found from southern Florida into the Caribbean, and used to be considered a separate species, the "Great White Heron."
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
The great blue heron has a six-foot wingspan.
Source: Seattle Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
Great blue herons always live near sources of water, including rivers, lake edges, marshes, saltwater seacoasts, and swamps.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
Great blue herons nest in colonies.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Egret - Casmerodius albus
The great egret is found in wetlands.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Egret - Casmerodius albus
The great egret is also known as the great white egret.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Egret - Casmerodius albus
The great egret stabs its prey with its long sharp bill and swallows the prey whole.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Egret - Casmerodius albus
The great egret is about three feet tall.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Great Egret - Casmerodius albus
In the early 20th century, the long feathers of the great egret were used on ladies hats. The species was almost hunted into extinction.
Source: National Zoo Photo Gallery Intended Audience: General Reading Level: N/A
Green Heron - Butorides virescens
The green heron is sometimes called the green-backed heron. It is a small heron, about the size of a large crow.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Green Heron - Butorides virescens
The green heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It drops bait into the water and snatches up the small fish that take the bait.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Green Heron - Butorides virescens
The green heron has a dark head with a small black crest. Its back and wings are dark gray-green to dark gray-blue.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Green Heron - Butorides virescens
Except during mating season, the green heron is a solitary bird.
Source: Seattle Audubon Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Green Heron - Butorides virescens
The green heron feeds at the edge of the water. It eats mostly small fish, but it also eats crustaceans, mollusks, insects, reptiles, amphibians, spiders, and leeches.
Source: National Zoo Photo Gallery Intended Audience: General Reading Level: N/A
Indian Pond-heron - Ardeola grayii
The Indian pond-heron has white-gray plumage, a brown stripe on its back, and a yellow beak with a black tip.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Indian Pond-heron - Ardeola grayii
The Indian pond-heron breeds from southern Iran and east to India, Burma, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Intermediate Egret - Ardea intermedia
The intermediate egret is found across Africa south of the Sahara, as well as in South and Southeast Asia, to China, Japan, New Guinea, and Australia
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Japanese Night-heron - Gorsachius goisagi
The Japanese night-heron is a small, stocky heron found in East Asia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Javan Pond-heron - Ardeola speciosa
The Javan pond-heron is found in Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis
The least bittern breeds in the central and eastern United States. It winters in Florida, Mexico, and Central and South America.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis
When startled, the least bittern sometimes stands motionless and points its bill straight up in the air in an attempt to blend in with the tall marsh vegetation.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Bittern - Ixobrychus minutus
The little bittern is a small heron with a dark back, dark cap and buffy-white neck and wing patches.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
Adult little blue herons are slate blue. Immature little blue herons are white.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
The
little blue heron breeds in freshwater and estuarine habitats.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
In the U.S., the little blue Heron is found along the Atlantic coast from Massachusetts to Florida, but it is most abundant along the Gulf of Mexico.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
The little egret is usually found in large wetland areas.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
The little egret is all white with black legs and yellow feet.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Madagascar Heron - Ardea humbloti
The Madagascar heron breeds only in Madagascar.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Madagascar Heron - Ardea humbloti
There are around 1,500 Madagascar herons in the wild.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Madagascar Pond-heron - Ardeola idae
The Madagascar Pond-heron is found in Madagascar and the Seychelles.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Madagascar Pond-heron - Ardeola idae
During the breeding season, the Madagascar Pond-heron is white with long crest on its head and a blue bill.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Malayan Night-heron - Gorsachius melanolophus
The Malayan night-heron is found in Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pacific Reef-egret - Egretta sacra
The Pacific reef-egret comes in a dark morph and a light morph.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Pinnated Bittern - Botaurus pinnatus
The pinnated bittern is found in shallow freshwater marshes and lake edges from Mexico to Argentina.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
The purple heron is 31-35 inches tall and has a wingspan of 4-5 feet.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens
In the U.S., the reddish egret is found on the Gulf Coast in Texas and Louisiana and in the Gulf and Atlantic coasts of southern Florida.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens
The reddish egret is often seen running, jumping, and spinning in its pursuit of fish.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rufescent Tiger-heron - Tigrisoma lineatum
The rufescent tiger-heron is found from southern Mexico south to Argentina.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rufous Night-heron - Nycticorax caledonicus
The rufous night-heron is also known as the Nankeen night-heron. It is found in Australia, Brunei Darussalam, Christmas Island, Indonesia, Malaysia, Micronesia, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Rufous-bellied Heron - Ardeola rufiventris
The rufous-bellied heron is found in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Schrenck's Bittern - Ixobrychus eurhythmus
Schrenck's bittern is found in Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Slaty Egret - Egretta vinaceigula
The slaty egret is blue-gray with a white throat and a dark reddish foreneck.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Slaty Egret - Egretta vinaceigula
In Botswana the slaty egret is confined to the Okavango Delta.
Source: Birds of Botswana Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Slaty Egret - Egretta vinaceigula
The slaty egret is found in Zambia, Botswana, and northern Namibia.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
In breeding season, the snowy egret has lacy plumes on its head, neck, and back.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
The snowy egret has black legs and yellow fee.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
The snowy egret is found throughout North, Central, and South America as well as the Caribbean.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides
The squacco heron is named for its piercing ‘squawk’ call.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Striated Heron - Butorides striata
The striated heron is a small, stocky blue-gray heron. It is also known as the green-backed heron.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Stripe-backed Bittern - Ixobrychus involucris
The stripe-backed bittern is found in South America.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
The tricolored heron is also known as the Louisiana heron.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
The tricolored heron has slate blue feathers on most of its body except for a white chest and belly and a rust-colored neck.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
The tricolored heron is found in shallow marshes and shores.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Western Reef-egret - Egretta gularis
The western reef-egret is native to Africa and Asia, but vagrant individuals have been recorded as far away as the Caribbean, and North America.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Whistling Heron - Syrigma sibilatrix
The whistling heron is found in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-backed Night-heron - Gorsachius leuconotus
The white-backed night-heron is found across much of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-bellied Heron - Ardea insignis
The white-bellied heron is a very large, long-necked heron.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-bellied Heron - Ardea insignis
The white-bellied heron is found from the eastern Himalayan foothills in Bhutan and north-east India to the hills of Bangladesh, and north Myanmar.
Source: BirdLife International Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School
White-crested Tiger-heron - Tigriornis leucolopha
The white-crested tiger-heron is found in rainforests in equatorial Africa.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-eared Night-heron - Gorsachius magnificus
The white-eared night-heron is found in China and Vietnam.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-faced Heron - Egretta novaehollandiae
The white-faced heron is found in Australia, Christmas Island, Fiji, Indonesia; New Caledonia, New Zealand, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, and Timor-Leste.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
White-necked Heron - Ardea pacifica
The white-necked heron is found across Australia.
Source: Internet Bird Collection Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Yellow-crowned Night Heron - Nyctanassa violacea
The yellow-crowned night heron is more solitary than other herons. It prefers to nest separately from other birds.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Zigzag Heron - Zebrilus undulatus
The zigzag heron is found in Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Source: Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Neotropical Birds Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
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The birds in this family live in inland and coastal wetlands.
Endangered in US
Threatened in NH 
Endangered in NH 
Breeds in NH 
Introduced
