Alaska Storyteller Photography

Bitterns, herons, and egrets

Order: Ciconiiformes. Family: Ardeidae

The family Ardeidae contains the herons, egrets, and bitterns. Herons and Egrets are medium to large-sized wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more secretive. Unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills, members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted.

• American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus - RF Stock - DT
• Yellow Bittern, Ixobrychus sinensis (A)
• Gray Heron, Ardea cinerea (A)
• Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias - RF Stock - DT
• Great Egret, Ardea alba - RF Stock - DT
• Intermediate Egret, Mesophoyx intermedia (A)
• Chinese Egret, Egretta eulophotes (A)
• Little Egret, Egretta garzetta (A)
• Chinese Pond-Heron, Ardeola bacchus (A)
• Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
• Green Heron, Butorides virescens - RF Stock - DT
• Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax - RF Stock - DT