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 such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide and 9 species which occur in Germany.
- Gray Heron Ardea cinerea
- Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
- Great Egret Ardea alba
- Little Egret Egretta garzetta
- Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides (A)
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis (A)
- Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
- Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus
- Great Bittern Botaurus stellaris
Read more about this topic: Birds Of Germany