As of 2/4/2023 I have finally seen every species of egret, heron and bittern native to the United States! The last species was an American Bittern spotted at Corkscrew Swamp in South Florida. These birds form the taxonomical family Ardeidae.
Herons and Egrets
Herons and Egrets are long-necked carnivorous waterbirds that hunt fish and small animals with their spear-like bills. They inhabit beaches, ponds and wetlands. 'Egret' typically refers to species with white plumage, but they are not a distinct group separate from herons.
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Reddish Egret
Cattle Egret
Great Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Green Heron
Bitterns
Bitterns are migratory herons that typically live in swamps and wetlands. They are well camouflaged, and very reclusive. They can often be found in reed beds where they hunt for fish. Both American species seem to exhibit this interesting behavior where they stick their head up and wiggle in an attempt to imitate a reed swaying in the wind. They are very hard to find here in central Florida and are only present for part of the year.
Least Bittern
American bittern
Night-Herons
Night Herons are small, stocky nocturnal herons with a wide distribution across the coastlines of the Americas. They can be found near any body of water, fresh or saltwater, usually in shaded areas slightly out of view. Both species are very common in Florida and they can often be found together.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
