Bitterns, Herons, and Night Herons
Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and egrets are medium-sized to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted. There are 12 New Jersey species.
- American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
- Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
- Great Egret Ardea alba
- Snowy Egret Egretta thula
- Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea
- Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor
- Reddish Egret Egretta rufescens (A)
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- 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 New Jersey
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