Bitterns, Herons and Egrets
Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large 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 this family fly with their necks retracted. There are 61 species worldwide of which 20 occur in Thailand.
| Common name | Binomial | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Grey Heron | Ardea cinerea | Winter visitor, formerly bred |
| Great-billed Heron | Ardea sumatrana | Now very rare |
| Purple Heron | Ardea purpurea | Winter visitor |
| Eastern Great Egret | Ardea modesta | |
| Intermediate Egret | Egretta intermedia | Winter visitor |
| Little Egret | Egretta garzetta | |
| Chinese Egret | Egretta eulophotes | Very rare winter visitor, globally vulnerable |
| Pacific Reef Heron | Egretta sacra | |
| Indian Pond Heron | Ardeola grayii | |
| Chinese Pond Heron | Ardeola bacchus | Winter visitor |
| Javan Pond Heron | Ardeola speciosa | |
| Cattle Egret | Bubulcus ibis | |
| Striated Heron | Butorides striata | |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Nycticorax nycticorax | |
| Malayan Night-Heron | Gorsachius melanolophus | |
| Yellow Bittern | Ixobrychus sinensis | |
| Schrenck's Bittern | Ixobrychus eurhythmus | Passage migrant |
| Cinnamon Bittern | Ixobrychus cinnamomeus | |
| Black Bittern | Ixobrychus flavicollis | |
| Great Bittern | Botaurus stellaris | Winter visitor |
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of Thailand