Grey Heron
Ardea cinerea
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Ardeidae) · Pelecaniformes (Pelecaniformes)
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Often mixed up with
In quizzes, players most often confuse Grey Heron with these birds— either this species was picked by mistake, or the other way around.
| Species | Mix-ups |
|---|---|
| Great White Egret Ardea alba | 17 |
| Purple Heron Ardea purpurea | 15 |
| Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias | 6 |
| Little Egret Egretta garzetta | 5 |
| Western Cattle-Egret Ardea ibis | 3 |
Family
Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 75 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genus Botaurus are referred to as bitterns, and, together with the zigzag heron, or zigzag bittern, in the monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group, Botaurinae, within the Ardeidae family. Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they …
Order
The Pelecaniformes are an order of medium-sized and large waterbirds found worldwide. As traditionally (but erroneously) defined, they encompass all birds that have feet with all four toes webbed. Hence, they were formerly also known by such names as totipalmates or steganopods.