Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Ardeidae
The family Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) belongs to the order Pelecaniformes and comprises 74 species in the AviList v2025 checklist, of which 8 globally threatened (IUCN categories VU, EN and CR).
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Species
- 74
- Threatened species
- 8
- Expert guides
- 2
Expert guides for Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
2 professional guides list species of this family among their specialties.
All species of the family Ardeidae
In AviList checklist order. Click a species to find guides and destinations.
White-crested Tiger Heron
Tigriornis leucolopha
Rufescent Tiger Heron
Tigrisoma lineatum
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
Tigrisoma mexicanum
Fasciated Tiger Heron
Tigrisoma fasciatum
Boat-billed Heron
Cochlearius cochlearius
Agami Heron
Agamia agami
Zigzag Heron
Zebrilus undulatus
Stripe-backed Bittern
Botaurus involucris
Least Bittern
Botaurus exilis
Australasian Bittern
Botaurus poiciloptilus
Eurasian Bittern
Botaurus stellaris
American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Pinnated Bittern
Botaurus pinnatus
Black Bittern
Botaurus flavicollis
Cinnamon Bittern
Botaurus cinnamomeus
Von Schrenck's Bittern
Botaurus eurhythmus
Dwarf Bittern
Botaurus sturmii
Little Bittern
Botaurus minutus
Yellow Bittern
Botaurus sinensis
New Zealand Bittern
Botaurus novaezelandiae
Black-backed Bittern
Botaurus dubius
Malayan Night Heron
Gorsachius melanolophus
Japanese Night Heron
Gorsachius goisagi
White-backed Night Heron
Calherodius leuconotus
White-eared Night Heron
Oroanassa magnifica
Capped Heron
Pilherodius pileatus
Whistling Heron
Syrigma sibilatrix
Pied Heron
Egretta picata
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
TriColoured Heron
Egretta tricolor
Reddish Egret
Egretta rufescens
White-faced Heron
Egretta novaehollandiae
Black Heron
Egretta ardesiaca
Slaty Egret
Egretta vinaceigula
Chinese Egret
Egretta eulophotes
Pacific Reef Heron
Egretta sacra
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Western Reef Heron
Egretta gularis
Little Egret
Egretta garzetta
Bermuda Night Heron
Nyctanassa carcinocatactes
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Reunion Night Heron
Nycticorax duboisi
Mauritius Night Heron
Nycticorax mauritianus
Rodrigues Night Heron
Nycticorax megacephalus
Nankeen Night Heron
Nycticorax caledonicus
Ascension Night Heron
Nycticorax olsoni
Little Heron
Butorides atricapilla
Striated Heron
Butorides striata
Lava Heron
Butorides sundevalli
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Forest Bittern
Zonerodius heliosylus
Indian Pond Heron
Ardeola grayii
Chinese Pond Heron
Ardeola bacchus
Javan Pond Heron
Ardeola speciosa
Rufous-bellied Heron
Ardeola rufiventris
Squacco Heron
Ardeola ralloides
Malagasy Pond Heron
Ardeola idae
White-necked Heron
Ardea pacifica
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Yellow-billed Egret
Ardea brachyrhyncha
Medium Egret
Ardea intermedia
Plumed Egret
Ardea plumifera
Western Cattle Egret
Ardea ibis
Eastern Cattle Egret
Ardea coromanda
Humblot's Heron
Ardea humbloti
Great-billed Heron
Ardea sumatrana
White-bellied Heron
Ardea insignis
Purple Heron
Ardea purpurea
Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron
Ardea goliath
Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Cocoi Heron
Ardea cocoi
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Other families of the order Pelecaniformes
- 36 species
Ibises and Spoonbills
Threskiornithidae
- 1 species
Shoebill
Balaenicipitidae
- 1 species
Hamerkop
Scopidae
- 8 species
Pelicans
Pelecanidae
Taxonomy, sequence and conservation status: AviList Core Team (2025), AviList: The Global Avian Checklist v2025, CC BY 4.0. Vernacular names: IOC World Bird List.