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Chordates

Invertebrates

Family Ardeidae

Herons are long-legged medium to large wading birds with 64 currently recognized species. Cosmopolitan in distribution (with the obvious exception of Antarctica) they patrol shallow water looking for animal prey. They fly with their necks cocked in a characteristic “S” configuration and hunt in the same way. Prey are captured by a rapid neck extension and impaled on the sharp beak. Depending on species, food items include fish, amphibia, reptiles and various arthropods.


Herons appear to be a highly successful group with well-documented range expansions in recent years. For instance, the cattle egret, originally from Africa has now colonized much of North America having moved northwards from South America after flying there from Africa. In a similar manner the white-faced heron has colonized New Zealand and Fiji (from Australia?) in recent years. As is usually the case Wikipedia gives a good overview of the family.

 

Ardea cinerea Grey heron

Ardea cinerea grey heron

BIRD 91615 Ardea cinerea grey heron, Singapore.

Ardea herodias Great blue heron

Ardea herodias, Great blue heron, Sea of Cortez

BIRD 4862 Ardea herodias, Great blue heron, striking at fish, Sea of Cortez.

Great blue heron with fish

BIRD 0940 Ardea herodias, great blue heron with fish.

Ardea picata Pied heron

rdea picata, pied heron

Ardea picata, Pied heron, Northern Territory, Australia.

Ardea pacifica White necked heron

Ardea pacifica White necked heron, Kakadu, Australia

Ardea pacifica White necked heron, Kakadu, Australia

Ardeola grayii Indian pond heron or paddybird

Ardeola grayii Indian pond heron or paddybird, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Ardeola grayii Indian pond heron or paddybird, Yala National Park, Sri Lanka

Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern

Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian buttern

Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern, Orana Park, Christchurch.

Bubulcus ibis Cattle egret

Ardea ibis cattle egret, Singapore

BIRD 9638 Bubulcus ibis cattle egret, Singapore.

Ardea ibis cattle egret

BIRD 9666 Bubulcus ibis cattle egret, Singapore.

Ardea ibis cattle egrets following tractor mowing grass, Louisiana

BIRD 2278 Bubulcus ibis cattle egrets following tractor mowing grass, Louisiana.

Butorides striatus Mangrove heron

Butorides striatus, mangrove heron, Fiji

BIRD 0301 Butorides striatus Mangrove heron, Taveuni, Fiji

Butoroides striatus Singapore

Butoroides striatus Singapore

Butorides virescens Green-backed heron

Green heron in coconut tree Belize

Butorides virescens, green-backed heron in coconut tree, Belize.

Butorides virescens Green backed heron

Butorides virescens, green-backed heron on the look out for fish.

Egretta alba White heron

Egretta alba White heron, New Zealand

BIRD 4385 Egretta alba, white heron or kotuku photographed at Mapua, Nelson, New Zealand.

Egretta alba, kotuku

Egretta alba, kotuku, white heron in flight. Westland.

Egretta caerulea, Little blue heron

Egretta caerulea, Little blue heron, Crooked Tree, Belize

Egretta caerulea, Little blue heron, Crooked Tree, Belize

Egretta garzetta Little egret

Egretta garzetta Little egret, Tessa, Sri Lanka

Egretta garzetta Little egret, Tessa, Sri Lanka

Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron

Egretta novaehollandiae Naisoso, Suva, Fiji

Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron, Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji

Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron, Naisoso

Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron, Naisoso

Egretta sacra Pacific reef egret

 

Egretta sacra Pacific reef egret

BIRD 3952 Egretta sacra, Pacific reef egret, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.

Eastern reef heron

BIRD 7784 Egretta sacra, Eastern reef heron, Suva

Egretta tricolor tricolored Heron

Egretta tricolor tricolored Heron, near Venice-

Egretta tricolor tricolored Heron, in breeding plumage, Lousiana

Egretta tricolor Tricolored egret, Venice, Louisiana

Egretta tricolor Tricolored egret, Venice, Louisiana

Tigrisoma mexicanum Bare-throated tiger heron

Tigrisoma mexicanum, Bare-throated tiger heron immature, Crooked Tree, Belize

BIRD 2566 Tigrisoma mexicanum, Bare-throated tiger heron immature, Crooked Tree, Belize

Tigrisoma mexicanum, Bare-throated tiger heron, Crooked Tree, Belize

BIRD 2511 Tigrisoma mexicanum, Bare-throated tiger heron, Crooked Tree, Belize

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