The herons and egrets make up the Ardeidae family. Species belonging to genus Ardea are usually considered to be herons and those belonging to genus Egretta are called egrets. However, there is no clear distinction between herons and egrets. Those species that are white or have fancy plumage are usually called egrets. Bitterns also belong to the Ardeidae family.A common feature of the Ardeidae species is that they fly with their necks retracted, unlike the ibis that fly with their necks outstretched


Bitterns

Genus Botaurus

Bittern, American Botaurus lentiginosus   Found: North America, Central America
Photographed by:  1) Alan D. Wilson  - Francis Road Dike, Richmond, British Columbia 
   2) Charlie Westerinen - Colusa Reserve, California  



Genus Ixobrychus

Bittern, Least  Ixobrychus exillis   Found: The Americas
Photographed by:  1, 2) Mike Baird - Morro Bay, California



HERONS

Genus Ardea
This genus contains two species that are commonly referred to as egrets: the Great Egret and Intermediate Egret!


Egret, Great aka Great White Egret Ardea alba   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia
Photographed by: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) Dick Daniels, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Australia
    8) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Floridas
2, 8) Breeding plumage 



Heron, Great Blue Ardea herodias   Found: North America, Central America, Galapagos
Photographed by: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7) Dick Daniels   3) Dick   6) Ted Grussing




Genus Butorides

Heron, Green Butorides virescens   Found: North America, Central America
Photographed by 1, 4) Dick - New Jersey   2) Dick - Everglades Natiional Park, Florida   3) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens, Florida
     5) Dick - California   6) Alan D. Wilson - Varner Harbour, Salton Sea State Recreation Area, California
4, 5) Juvenile




Genus Nycticorax

Heron, Black-crowned Night Nycticorax nycticorax   Found: The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - New Jersey   3) Dick - Brookfield Gardens, So. Carolina
    4) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Florida  5) Dick Daniels- Kauai, Hawaii 6) Ted Grussing  7)Chris Queen
1, 2, 6) Juvenile



Heron, Yellow-crowned night- Nyctanassa violacea   Found: The Americas
Photographed by:   1)  Dick Daniels - Flamingo Gardens in Florida  2)  Dick - Flamingo Gardens in Florida
    3) Sandy Cole - Flamingo Gardens in Florida  4) Dick - Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida 
    5) Dick - the Cheasapeak Bay Bridge  
5) Juvenile