Bitterns, Herons and Egrets
Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Unlike other long-necked birds suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 15 species which occur in the Central African Republic.
- Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
- Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
- Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
- Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
- Great Egret Ardea alba
- Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
- Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
- Little Egret Egretta garzetta
- Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- Striated Heron Butorides striata
- Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
- White-crested Bittern Tigriornis leucolophus
- Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii
- Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of The Central African Republic