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


Genus Bubulcus - 1 species

Egret, Cattle Bubulcus ibis Found - The Americas, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia.
Photographed by: 1, 2) Dick Daniels - Australia  3, 7) DIck - North Carolina   4) Dick - Puerto Rico  
    5, 6) Dick - Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida,
1, 2, 3) Breding




Genus Egretta

Egret, Reddish Egretta rufescens   Found: North America and Central America
Photographed by:  1) Googie Man   2, 5) Dick Daniels - Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida
    3) Alan D Wilson - Laguna Madre Nature Trail, South Padre Island, Texas
    4) Elaine R Wilson - Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve, Huntington Beach, California



Egret, Snowy Egretta thula   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1) Jason Engman    2) Dick Daniels - New Jersey  3)  Dick - Huntington Beach, California   
    4) Alan D Wilson - Fulton Harbour, Fulton, Texas  5, 6) Dick - Jamaica
1) Breeding plumae



Heron, Little Blue Egretta caerulea   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1,  2) Dick Daniels - Jamaica  3, 6) Dick - Puerto Rico 
    4) Dick Daniels - Brookfield Gardens, South Carolina   5) Dick - Southport, North Carolina
1) Juvenile



Heron, Tricolored Egretta tricolor   Found: The Americas
Photographed by: 1, 7) Dick Daniels - Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island, Florida 
    2, 5) Dick - Lake Okeechobee, Florida  3, 4, 6) Dick  in the Carolinas