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 |
|
BIRD 91615 Ardea cinerea grey heron, Singapore.
|
Ardea herodias Great blue heron |
|
BIRD 4862 Ardea herodias, Great blue heron, striking at fish, Sea of Cortez.
|
|
BIRD 0940 Ardea herodias, great blue heron with fish.
|
Ardea picata Pied heron |
|
Ardea picata, Pied heron, Northern Territory, Australia.
|
Ardea pacifica White necked heron |
|
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
|
Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern |
|
Botaurus poiciloptilus Australasian bittern, Orana Park, Christchurch.
|
Bubulcus ibis Cattle egret |
|
BIRD 9638 Bubulcus ibis cattle egret, Singapore.
|
|
BIRD 9666 Bubulcus ibis cattle egret, Singapore.
|
|
BIRD 2278 Bubulcus ibis cattle egrets following tractor mowing grass, Louisiana.
|
Butorides striatus Mangrove heron |
|
BIRD 0301 Butorides striatus Mangrove heron, Taveuni, Fiji
|
|
Butoroides striatus Singapore
|
Butorides virescens Green-backed heron
|
|
Butorides virescens, green-backed heron in coconut tree, Belize.
|
|
Butorides virescens, green-backed heron on the look out for fish.
|
Egretta alba White heron |
|
BIRD 4385 Egretta alba, white heron or kotuku photographed at Mapua, Nelson, New Zealand.
|
|
Egretta alba, kotuku, white heron in flight. Westland.
|
Egretta caerulea, Little blue heron |
|
Egretta caerulea, Little blue heron, Crooked Tree, Belize
|
Egretta garzetta Little egret |
|
|
Egretta garzetta Little egret, Tessa, Sri Lanka
|
Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron |
|
Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron, Laucala Bay, Suva, Fiji
|
|
Egretta novaehollandiae white-faced heron, Naisoso
|
Egretta sacra Pacific reef egret |
|
BIRD 3952 Egretta sacra, Pacific reef egret, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua.
|
|
BIRD 7784 Egretta sacra, Eastern reef heron, Suva
|
Egretta tricolor tricolored Heron |
|
Egretta tricolor tricolored Heron, in breeding plumage, Lousiana
|
|
Egretta tricolor Tricolored egret, Venice, Louisiana
|
Tigrisoma mexicanum Bare-throated tiger heron |
|
BIRD 2566 Tigrisoma mexicanum, Bare-throated tiger heron immature, Crooked Tree, Belize
|
|
BIRD 2511 Tigrisoma mexicanum, Bare-throated tiger heron, Crooked Tree, Belize
|
Ryan
Photographic - Ardeidae - herons, egrets and bitterns
