Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets
Order: Pelecaniformes. 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 suck as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted.
- American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
- Yellow Bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis (A)
- Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
- Bare-throated Tiger-Heron, Tigrisoma mexicanum (A)
- Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
- Gray Heron, Ardea cinerea (A)
- Great Egret, Ardea alba
- Intermediate Egret, Mesophoyx intermedia (A)
- Chinese Egret, Egretta eulophotes (A)
- Little Egret, Egretta garzetta (C)
- Western Reef-Heron, Egretta gularis (A)
- Snowy Egret, Egretta thula
- Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea
- Tricolored Heron, Egretta tricolor
- Reddish Egret, Egretta rufescens
- Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
- Chinese Pond-Heron, Ardeola bacchus (A)
- Green Heron, Butorides virescens
- Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Nyctanassa violacea
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of The United States