Ardeidae
| Ardeidae |
|
| Scientific classification |
|
|
| Genera |
|
Ardea
Philherodias
Butorides
Ardeola
Bubulcus
Egretta
Agamia,
Tigrisoma
Tigriornis
Zonerodius
Zebrilus
Syrigma
Nycticorax
Gorsachius
Ixobrychus
Botaurus
|
|
The Ardeidae family of birds is the heron, egret and bittern family of wading birds.
The species in the Ardeidae which are named as bitterns tend to be the shorter
necked, often more secretive members of this family. The herons are the longer-necked
species.
The members of this family are all primarily associated with
wetlands, and predate fish, frogs and other aquatic species. Some,
like the Cattle Egret, also take large insects, and are less tied
to watery environments.
A variety of techniques are used for hunting, and these are
dealt with in the species' accounts.
Some members of this group nest colonially in trees, others,
notably the bitterns, use reedbeds.
The heron family is one of the families in the order Ciconiiformes,
which also includes other wading bird families:
- Order Ciconiiformes
- Family Cochlearidae, (Boatbill)
- Family Balaenicipitidae, (Shoebill)
- Family Scopidae, (Hammerkop)
- Family Ciconiidae, (storks)
- Family Threskiornithidae, (ibises and spoonbills)
- Family Ardeidae, (herons, egrets,
and bitterns)
- Ardea, typical herons
- Philherodias, Capped Heron
- Butorides, green herons
- Ardeola, Chinese Pond Heron
- Bubulcus, Cattle Egret
- Egretta, egrets
- Agamia, Agami Heron
- Tigrisoma, tiger herons
- Tigriornis, White-crested Tiger
Heron
- Zonerodius, New Guinea Tiger
Heron
- Zebrilus, Zigzag Heron
- Syrigma, Whistling Heron
- Nycticorax, night-herons
- Gorsachius, eastern night herons
- Ixobrychus, dwarf bitterns
- Botaurus, typical bitterns
- Family Phoenicopteridae (the flamingos) is related,
and is sometimes grouped with the Ciconiiformes.
-This article has been brought to you by BambooWeb and Wikipedia-
