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 22 species which have been recorded in Ecuador.
- Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
- Cocoi Heron Ardea cocoi
- Great Egret Ardea alba
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula
- Little Egret Egretta garzetta
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- Striated Heron Butorides striata
- Lava Heron Butorides sundevalli (E)
- Green Heron Butorides virescens
- Agami Heron Agamia agami
- Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea
- Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius
- Fasciated Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma fasciatum
- Rufescent Tiger-Heron Tigrisoma lineatum
- Zigzag Heron Zebrilus undulatus
- Stripe-backed Bittern Ixobrychus involucris
- Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
- Pinnated Bittern Botaurus pinnatus
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Ecuador