Long-Legged WADERS of The World

The long-legged waders are comprised of the egrets, herons, ibises, spoonbills, storks, and flamingos. They are a diverse group, united by their long legs that enable them to wade for food. The egrets and herons are - the Ardeidae family, while the ibises and spoonsbill belong to Threskiornithidae. These two families belong to the same order and it is considered by some to be the same order as the storks (Ciconiiformes), but DNA information is prompting them to be moved to a different order. The flamingos belong to their own order, Phoenicopteriformes.



Egrets

Order Ciconiiformes disputed    Family Ardeidae

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

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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, Little Egretta garzetta   Fourd: Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
Similar to snowy egret.
Photograped by: 1) J M Garg - Kolkata   2) DIck Daniels - Plettenberg Bay, South Africa 
    3) Dick - Cairns, Australia  4) Birdman1 - the Okovango Delta of Botswana, Africa 
   5) Arno Meintjes   6, 7) Sandy Cole - St. Lucia, South Africa
1, 2) Breeding plumage.  7) The Little Egret, Egyption Geese, and Reed Cormorant kept the crocodile from coming ashore.



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 



Heron, Eastern Reef  aka Pacific Reef Heron  Egretta sacra Found: Asia, Australasia
Photographed by: 1) John Feather  2, 3) Glen Fergus - Ladt Elliot Island, Australia  4) Oystercatcher
Most birds are dark, but there is also a white morph.


Heron, Western Reef  Egretta gularis   Found: Africa, Asia
Photographed by: 1) Bhardwaj Shanthanu - Kachchh, Gujarat, India  2, 3) ChriKo near St. Louis, Senegal


Heron, White-faced   Egretta novaehollandiae   Found: Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand
Photographed by: 1, 3, 4, 5) Dick Daniels in Australia  2) David Cook - Goorooyarroo Nature Reserve, Canberra, ACT






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