Heron
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Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred to as bitterns, and, together with the zigzag heron, or zigzag bittern, in the monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks.
Heron
The neck of this yellow bittern is fully retracted.
The Pacific reef heron has two colour morphs, the light and the dark.
Lava herons are endemic to the Galápagos Islands, where they feed on fish and crabs in the intertidal and mangrove areas.
Ardea (bird)
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Ardea is a genus of herons. These herons are generally large in size, typically 80–100 cm or more in length.
Ardea (bird)
The great egret (Ardea alba, left) resembles the other Ardea in habitus, and the little egret (Egretta garzetta, right) only in color.
Image: Ardea cinerea Pak Thale
Image: Great blue heron in GWC (21718)