Ardeinae is a subfamily of herons, which includes the herons, night herons, and egrets.
Taxonomy Extant Genera Image Genus Living speciesNycticorax – typical night herons Black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Nankeen night heron or rufous night heron, Nycticorax caledonicus Rodrigues night heron, Nycticorax megacephalus (extinct) Réunion night heron, Nycticorax duboisi (extinct) Mauritius night heron, Nycticorax mauritianus (extinct) Ascension night heron, Nycticorax olsoni (extinct) Niue night heron, Nycticorax kalavikai (prehistoric)Nyctanassa – American night herons Yellow-crowned night heron, Nyctanassa violacea Bermuda night heron, Nyctanassa carcinocatactesGorsachius – Asian and African night herons Japanese night heron, Gorsachius goisagi Malayan night heron, Gorsachius melanolophusButorides – green-backed herons little heron, Butorides atricapilla green heron, Butorides virescens striated heron, Butorides striata lava heron, Butorides sundevalliAgamia – Agami heron Agami heron, Agamia agamiPilherodius – capped heron Capped heron, Pilherodius pileatusArdeola – pond herons Indian pond heron, Ardeola grayii Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides Chinese pond heron, Ardeola bacchus Javan pond heron, Ardeola speciosa Malagasy pond heron, Ardeola idae Rufous-bellied heron, Ardeola rufiventrisBubulcus – cattle egrets Western cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus coromandusArdea – typical herons Great blue heron, Ardea herodias Grey heron, Ardea cinerea Goliath heron, Ardea goliath Cocoi heron, Ardea cocoi White-necked heron or Pacific heron, Ardea pacifica Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala Humblot's heron, Ardea humbloti White-bellied heron, Ardea insignis Great-billed heron, Ardea sumatrana Purple heron, Ardea purpurea Great egret or great white egret, Ardea alba Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia Syrigma – Whistling heron whistling heron, Syrigma sibilatrix Calherodius - White-backed night heronwhite-backed night heron, Calherodius leuconotus Oroanassa - White-eared night heronwhite-eared night heron, Oroanassa magnifica Egretta – typical egrets Pied heron, Egretta picata White-faced heron, Egretta novaehollandiae Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca Slaty egret, Egretta vinaceigula Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor – also known as Louisiana heron Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea Snowy egret, Egretta thula Little egret, Egretta garzetta Western reef heron, Egretta gularis Dimorphic egret, Egretta dimorpha Pacific reef heron, Egretta sacra – also known as Pacific reef egret or eastern reef heron Chinese egret, Egretta eulophotes Egretta subfluvia, (Late Miocene or Early Pliocene)
Fossils Genus Proardea (fossil) Genus Zeltornis (fossil, Early Miocene of Djebel Zelten, Libya) Genus undetermined Easter Island heron, Ardeidae gen. et sp. indet. (prehistoric)
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