
The herons are medium- to large-sized birds with long legs and necks. They exhibit very little sexual dimorphism in size. The smallest species is usually considered the dwarf bittern, which measures 25–30 cm (9.8–11.8 in) in length, although all the species in the genus Ixobrychus are small and many broadly overlap in size. The largest species of heron is the goliath heron, which stands up to 152 cm (60 in) tall. The necks are able to kink in an S-shape, due to the modified shape of the cervical vertebrae, of which they have 20–21. Bitterns are birds belonging to the subfamily Botaurinae of the heron family Ardeidae. Bitterns tend to be shorter-necked and more secretive than other members of the family. Learn more about Heron and bittern
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Heron and Bittern Species Videos
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Common Name | Scientific Name | Conservation Status |
Agami Heron (15 videos) | Agamia agami | Vulnerable |
American Bittern (24 videos) | Botaurus lentiginosus | Least concern |
Bare-throated Tiger-heron (2 videos) | Tigrisoma mexicanum | Least concern |
Black Heron (31 videos) | Egretta ardesiaca | Least concern |
Black-crowned Night Heron (89 videos) | Nycticorax nycticorax | Least concern |
Boat-billed Heron (15 videos) | Cochlearius cochlearius | Least concern |
Capped Heron (8 videos) | Pilherodius pileatus | Least concern |
Cattle Egret (81 videos) | Bubulcus ibis | Least concern |
Chinese Bittern (3 videos) | Ixobrychus sinensis | Least concern |
Cocoi Heron (3 videos) | Ardea cocoi | Least concern |
Eastern Great Egret (37 videos) | Ardea modesta | Not Available |
Fasciated Tiger Heron (9 videos) | Tigrisoma fasciatum | Least concern |
Goliath Heron (37 videos) | Ardea goliath | Least concern |
Great Blue Heron (584 videos) | Ardea herodias | Least concern |
Great Egret (617 videos) | Ardea alba | Least concern |
Green Heron (189 videos) | Butorides virescens | Not Available |
Green-backed Heron (10 videos) | Butorides striata | Least concern |
Grey Heron (290 videos) | Ardea cinerea | Least concern |
Indian Pond Heron (2 videos) | Ardeola grayii | Least concern |
Little Blue Heron (58 videos) | Egretta caerulea | Least concern |
Little Egret (54 videos) | Egretta garzetta | Least concern |
Pacific Reef Heron (10 videos) | Egretta sacra | Least concern |
Pied Heron (10 videos) | Egretta picata | Least concern |
Purple Heron (15 videos) | Ardea purpurea | Least concern |
Reddish Egret (10 videos) | Egretta rufescens | Near threatened |
Rufescent Tiger Heron (4 videos) | Tigrisoma lineatum | Least concern |
Rufous Night Heron (6 videos) | Nycticorax caledonicus | Least concern |
Snowy Egret (147 videos) | Egretta thula | Least concern |
Squacco Heron (18 videos) | Ardeola ralloides | Least concern |
Tricolored Heron (42 videos) | Egretta tricolor | Least concern |
Western Reef Heron (2 videos) | Egretta gularis | Least concern |
Whistling Heron (1 videos) | Syrigma sibilatrix | Least concern |
White-faced Heron (230 videos) | Egretta novaehollandiae | Least concern |
Yellow-crowned Night-heron (24 videos) | Nyctanassa violacea | Least concern |