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 21 species which occur in the Philippines.
- Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
- Great-billed Heron Ardea sumatrana
- Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
- Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta
- Intermediate Egret Egretta intermedia
- Little Egret Egretta garzetta
- Chinese Egret Egretta eulophotes
- Pacific Reef-Heron Egretta sacra
- Chinese Pond-Heron Ardeola bacchus (A)
- Javan Pond-Heron Ardeola speciosa
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- Striated Heron Butorides striata
- Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
- Rufous Night-Heron Nycticorax caledonicus
- Japanese Night-Heron Gorsachius goisagi
- Malayan Night-Heron Gorsachius melanolophus
- Yellow Bittern Ixobrychus sinensis
- Schrenck's Bittern Ixobrychus eurhythmus
- Cinnamon Bittern Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
- Black Bittern Ixobrychus flavicollis
- Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris (A)
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of The Philippines