Yellow-crowned night herons, Nyctanassa violacea are one of the two-night heron species found in the Americas. The other is the black-crowned night heron. It is referred to in French as the “bihoreau violacé” and in Spanish as the “pedrete corona clara”. Quick Overview: Nyctanassa Violacea – Yellow-crowned Night-HeronBody size: Around 22-28 in (56-71 cm) and […]
Butorides Virescens – Green Heron
Green herons, Butorides virescens are tiny species of heron found in North and Central America. Butorides is derived from the Middle English butor “bittern” and the Ancient Greek -oides, “similar,” while virescens is Latin meaning “greenish.” For a long time, it was thought conspecific with its sister species, the striated heron (Butorides striata), and the […]
Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle Egret
Tropical, subtropical, and warm-temperate zones are home to this heron in the family Ardeidae species of Bubulcus ibis. Western cow egret and Eastern cattle egret are considered separate species by some writers. Contrary to popular belief, the Ardean heron is not related to Egretta egrets, despite its plumage. Quick Overview: Bubulcus Ibis – Cattle EgretBody […]
Egretta Rufescens – Reddish Egret
The reddish egret, Egretta rufescens is a heron that is about the size of a heron. It is a resident breeder in Central America, the Bahamas, the Caribbean, the United States Gulf Coast, and Mexico. Post-breeding dispersion occurs to locations further north of the nesting zone. This bird was once a victim of the plume […]
Egretta Tricolor – Tricolored Heron
The tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor, formerly known as the Louisiana Heron, is a small heron species native to the Americas’ coastal regions; in the Atlantic region, it ranges from the northeastern United States south along the coast, through the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, to northern South America as far south as Brazil. It […]
Egretta Caerulea – Little Blue Heron
The little blue heron, Egretta caerulea is a small heron species that is a member of the Ardeidae family. Egretta caerulea flies gracefully and powerfully. Their wingbeats are faster than those of larger herons, and they fly with their heads lowered and their legs extended to the back. Usually silent, they occasionally produce a low […]
Egretta Thula – Snowy Egrets
Snowy egrets, Egretta thula are little white herons. The genus name is derived from the Provençal French word for the small egret, aigrette, which is a diminutive of aigron, ‘heron.’ The species name thula is derived from the Araucano word for black-necked swan, which was incorrectly ascribed to this species in 1782 by Chilean naturalist […]
Ardea Alba – Great Egret
The great egret, Ardea alba, also known as the common egret, huge egret, or (in the Old World) great white egret or great white heron, is a large, widely distributed egret found in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe. It has four subspecies. It is found in the majority of the world’s tropical and […]
Ardea Herodias – Great Blue Heron
The great blue heron, Ardea herodias is a big wading bird in the heron family Ardeidae. It is found throughout most of North and Central America, as well as the Caribbean and the Galápagos Islands, near the coasts of open water and in wetlands. It is a very uncommon vagrant to coastal Spain, the Azores, […]
Ixobrychus Exilis – Least Bittern
The least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis is a small heron found in the Americas. It is the smallest member of the Ardeidae family. Least Bitterns are a type of heron that is extremely small. They have long legs and toes, daggerlike bills, and long necks that they frequently tuck under themselves, giving them a hunched look. […]
