Ciconiiformes: Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and Egrets are medium to large sized wadng birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secrative. Unlike other long necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted . There are 61 species world wide, and 17 North American species.
- ( * SW) American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus (Winters?)
- ( * SW) Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
- ( * SW) Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
- ( * SW) Great Egret, Ardea alba
- ( * SW) Snowy Egret, Egretta thula (?)
- (SW) Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
- ( * SW) Green Heron, Butorides virescens, (Green-backed Heron)
- ( * SW) Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Read more about this topic: List Of Arizona-SW Birds (Yuma County, Arizona)