Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets and Bitterns)
Order Ciconiiformes
63 species in 18 genera

Size: Between 27 cm (Little and Dwarf bitterns, Ixobrychus minutus and I.sturmii) and 140 cm (Goliath Heron, Ardea goliath).

Distribution: All the continents, excepting Antarctica. Many migratory species.

Habitat: All types of aquatic ecosystems. Nocturnal species are more dependent on dense vegetation areas in the habitat, to find refuge during daytime.

Feeding: Carnivorous birds, feeding mainly on aquatic prey (fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, small mammals and a great variety of invertebrates).

Breeding: Platform made of sticks, reeds and other vegetal materials, placed usually above water or close to it. Monogamous. Solitary or colonial. 3-7 eggs. Incubation 18-30 days. Nestling period very variable, from 25 days in the smallest species to 13 weeks in the largest ones.

Threat status: 8 threatened species (1 Critically Endangered, 5 Endangered and 2 Vulnerable). 4 Extinct. [+info]
18 / 63 species available
Capped Heron
Pilherodius pileatus
Rufescent Tiger-heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
Tigrisoma mexicanum
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Cocoi Heron
Ardea cocoi
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Whistling Heron
Syrigma sibilatrix
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Boat-billed Heron
Cochlearius cochlearius