Herons, Egrets and Bitterns
Order: Ciconiiformes Family: Ardeidae
Herons, egrets and bitterns are long-legged birds typically associated with wetlands; herons and egrets are long-necked, while bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and quite secretive. Birds in this family often wade in shallow waters, preying on various aquatic organisms (including fish and frogs) as well as reptiles, amphibians and the occasional small bird. In flight, they hold their neck retracted in a gentle S-curve. There are 61 species worldwide; of these, 29 occur in Africa, and 18 in The Gambia.
- Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea
- Black-headed Heron, Ardea melanocephala
- Goliath Heron, Ardea goliath
- Purple Heron, Ardea purpurea
- Great Egret, Ardea alba
- Black Heron, Egretta ardesiaca
- Intermediate Egret, Egretta intermedia
- Western Reef Heron, Egretta gularis
- Little Egret, Egretta garzetta
- Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides
- Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
- Striated Heron, Butorides striata
- Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
- White-backed Night-heron, Gorsachius leuconotus
- White-crested Bittern, Tigriornis leucolophus
- Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus
- Dwarf Bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii
- Great Bittern, Botaurus stellaris (A)
Read more about this topic: List Of Birds Of The Gambia