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Bitterns, Herons, and Allies21 Bird Species
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American BitternA rather compact heron-like bird with a fairly long tapering neck and head. The head is mostly brown with white supercillium and pale iris. Large, long, sharp, dirty-yellowish bill. White throat bordered with dark malar. Neck patterned with broad, bold brown vertical stripes. Heavy body with smudgy, more... Length: 71 cm Wingspan: 107 cm |
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Bare-throated Tiger-HeronSimilar to Rufescent and Fasciated Tiger-Herons, which are unrecorded from the U.S. Black crown, gray cheeks, and yellow-green face and throat. Yellow eye. Gray bill and legs. Gray-brown neck and upper back finely barred; wings have faint barring or checkering. Rusty, pale-fringed stripe on front ext more... Length: 80 cm Wingspan: cm |
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Bare-throated Tiger-HeronSimilar to Rufescent and Fasciated Tiger-Herons, which are unrecorded from the U.S. or Canada. Black crown, gray cheeks, and yellow-green face and throat. Yellow eye. Gray bill and legs. Gray-brown neck and upper back finely barred; wings have faint barring or checkering. Rusty, pale-fringed stripe o more... Length: 80 cm Wingspan: cm |
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Black-crowned Night-HeronAdult: large head with black crown, red eye, pale forehead, dark lores and thick, pointy, dark bill. Several long, thin white plumes. Pale face and throat, short pale gray neck, pale gray underparts and wings. Black back and dark green. Short gray tail. Yellow legs. Breeding plumage: plumes longer, more... Length: 64 cm Wingspan: 112 cm |
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Cattle EgretSmallest of the white herons, Cattle Egrets are easily recognized by their short necks, comparatively short bills, and upland foraging habits. Adults are white overall, with a relatively short yellow bill and yellow legs and feet. During the breeding season, buffy-orange plumes appear on the crown, b more... Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 91 cm |
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Chinese EgretMedium-small white egret with long neck and long legs. Alternate Adult: plumage is entirely white with shaggy plumes. Bill is long, sharp, reddish at the base and gradually fading to orange towards the tip. Bare skin on lores is azure-blue and irises are yellow. Legs are dark with orangish-yellow fee more... Length: 65 cm Wingspan: 105 cm |
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Chinese Pond-HeronSmall heron with thick pointed bill and relatively short legs. In flight, white wings contrast strongly with body. Adult Breeding male: Rich chestnut-maroon head, neck and breast with slate purple patch on lower breast. White throat and chin. Bill is school bus yellow with a dark (near black) tip, bl more... Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 86 cm |
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Gray HeronLarge, long legged heron with thick and pointy bill. Alternate Adult: Thick dark stripe behind eye, turning into two or three occipital plumes. Pale head. Pale eye, dark lores. Bill color ranges from dirty yellowish to yellowish-pink. Grayish sides and back of neck. White center of neck with black st more... Length: 92 cm Wingspan: 175 cm |
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Great Blue HeronExtremely tall, gray-blue heron that is often mistaken for a "crane" by non-birders. Adult: gray and white face, pale yellow eye, broad dark stripes border the white crown, black plumes and white crown stripe extending to thick yellowish bill. Long, gray neck with white and black streaking on the for more... Length: 117 cm Wingspan: 183 cm |
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Great EgretThe largest egret in North America; has a very long neck and long legs with all-white plumage. Breeding adult: white head, pale iris, light greenish lores. Long, yellow-orange bill. Long, white neck with plumes at base. Slim white body with long white plumes hanging from back and long, dark legs. Juv more... Length: 99 cm Wingspan: 130 cm |
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Green HeronSmall, stocky heron with long bill. Alternate adult: dark dusky green crown and back that are glossy. Face, neck, and sides of upper breast dark chestnut. Two-toned bill with dark upper mandible and straw yellow lower mandible. White chin and throat and short white malar stripe. White on center of ne more... Length: 64 cm Wingspan: 112 cm |
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Intermediate EgretThis all white heron looks very much like a small Great Egret, with a yellow bill and dark legs, and nuptial plumes in the breeding season. On Intermediate Egret, the bill is shorter, with plumage extending farther out on the underside of the bill. The gape does not extend beyond the eye on Intermedi more... Length: 68 cm Wingspan: cm |
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Least BitternThe smallest and most secretive North American heron. Mostly dark above and orangish buff to cream below. Yellow eyes, lores and bill. Distinct whitish stripes on dark shoulders. Yellow legs with long toes. Adult male: glossy, black crown, back, rump, and tail. Face, sides of neck, and upper flanks o more... Length: 33 cm Wingspan: 43 cm |
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Little Blue HeronSlender mid-sized heron that is nearly all-white as an immature and all-dark as an adult. Bill is thicker at base than other similar-sized herons and egrets, but tapers to pointed tip. Alternate Adult: gray-blue plumage overall with purple neck and head. Long lanceolate plumes on head and neck; gray more... Length: 61 cm Wingspan: 102 cm |
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Little EgretSmall white egret. Alternate Adult: all white plumage, several plumes including two or three white occipital plumes, pale eye and dark bill. Reddish lores and feet. Black legs. Basic Adult: similar to alternate except no plumes, gray-blue lores, gray at base of bill, and yellow feet. Juvenile: like b more... Length: 60 cm Wingspan: 91 cm |
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Reddish EgretMedium-sized heron. Dark morph adult: reddish-brown head and neck covered in shaggy plumes. Pale eye and pale purple-gray lores. Thick, pink bill with dark tip. Gray-blue body and legs. Basic-plumaged dark-morph adult: similar to alternate adult, but shorter breast plumes, black legs and feet. Juveni more... Length: 76 cm Wingspan: 117 cm |
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American Bittern
23 Photographs -
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
3 Photographs -
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
0 Photographs -
Black-crowned Night-Heron
12 Photographs -
Cattle Egret
7 Photographs -
Chinese Egret
0 Photographs -
Chinese Pond-Heron
0 Photographs -
Gray Heron
0 Photographs -
Great Blue Heron
44 Photographs -
Great Egret
7 Photographs -
Green Heron
13 Photographs -
Intermediate Egret
2 Photographs -
Least Bittern
9 Photographs -
Little Blue Heron
14 Photographs -
Little Egret
0 Photographs -
Reddish Egret
5 Photographs
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Non-vegetated Areas0 species |
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Salt Water |
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American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus |
Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Open Country and Grasslands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Chinese EgretEgretta eulophotes |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows |
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Chinese Pond-HeronArdeola bacchus |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers |
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Gray HeronArdea cinerea |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers |
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Great Blue HeronArdea herodias |
Estuaries and Bays, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Great EgretArdea alba |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Streams and Brooks, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Green HeronButorides virescens |
Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Intermediate EgretMesophoyx intermedia |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Least BitternIxobrychus exilis |
Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Mangroves |
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Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves |
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Little EgretEgretta garzetta |
Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Reddish EgretEgretta rufescens |
Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Mangroves |
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Snowy EgretEgretta thula |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Western Reef-HeronEgretta gularis |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes |
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Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Human-altered Areas |
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Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Gray HeronArdea cinerea |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers |
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Great Blue HeronArdea herodias |
Estuaries and Bays, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Great EgretArdea alba |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Streams and Brooks, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Green HeronButorides virescens |
Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Fresh Water |
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American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus |
Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Open Country and Grasslands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Chinese Pond-HeronArdeola bacchus |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers |
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Gray HeronArdea cinerea |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers |
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Great Blue HeronArdea herodias |
Estuaries and Bays, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Great EgretArdea alba |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Streams and Brooks, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Green HeronButorides virescens |
Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Intermediate EgretMesophoyx intermedia |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Least BitternIxobrychus exilis |
Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Mangroves |
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Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves |
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Little EgretEgretta garzetta |
Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Reddish EgretEgretta rufescens |
Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Mangroves |
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Snowy EgretEgretta thula |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes |
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Yellow BitternIxobrychus sinensis |
Fresh Water Marshes |
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Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Grassland and Scrubland |
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Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Open Country and Grasslands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Great Blue HeronArdea herodias |
Estuaries and Bays, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Great EgretArdea alba |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Streams and Brooks, Open Country and Grasslands |
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Green HeronButorides virescens |
Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Forest and Woodlands |
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Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax |
Estuaries and Bays, Saltmarshes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Ponds and Rivers, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Cattle EgretBubulcus ibis |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Fresh Water Marshes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Open Country and Grasslands, Eastern Deciduous Forest, Southeastern Pine-oak Forest, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Green HeronButorides virescens |
Saltmarshes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Open Country and Grasslands, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Snowy EgretEgretta thula |
Estuaries and Bays, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
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Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea |
Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Southern Wooded Swamps, Mangroves, Streamside Gallery Forest and Riparia |
