The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in
the family Ardeidae. There are 64 recognised species
in this family. Some are called "egrets" or "bitterns"
instead of "heron".
Egretta is a genus of medium-sized herons, mostly breeding in
warmer climates. Representatives of this family are found in
most of the world, and the Little Egret, as well as being widespread
throughout much of the Old World, has now started to colonise
the Americas.
These are typical egrets in shape, long-necked and long-legged.
There are few plumage features in common, although several
have plumes in breeding plumage; a number of species are either
white in all plumages, have a white morph (e.g. Reddish Egret),
or have a white juvenile plumage (Little Blue Heron).
The breeding habitat of Egretta herons is marshy wetlands
in warm countries. They nest in colonies, often with other
wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs.
These herons feed on insects, fish and amphibians, caught
normally by cautious stalking.
Engelsk |
Norsk |
Latinsk |
Black Heron |
Skyggehegre |
Egretta
ardesiaca |
Little Blue Heron |
Blåhegre |
Egretta
caerulea |
Chinese Egret |
Kritthegre |
Egretta
eulophotes |
Little
Egret |
Silkehegre |
Egretta
garzetta |
Western Reef-Heron |
Strandhegre |
Egretta
gularis |
Intermediate Egret |
Duskhegre |
Egretta
intermedia |
White-faced Heron |
Hvitmaskehegre |
Egretta
novaehollandiae |
Pied Heron |
Hvithalshegre |
Egretta
picata |
Reddish Egret |
Dansehegre |
Egretta
rufescens |
Pacific Reef-Heron |
Sothegre |
Egretta
sacra |
Snowy Egret |
Snøhegre |
Egretta
thula |
Tricolored Heron |
Prakthegre |
Egretta
tricolor |
Slaty Egret |
Ruststrupehegre |
Egretta
vinaceigula |
English |
Norsk |
Latin |
Great
Egret |
Egretthegre |
Ardea
alba |
Gray
Heron |
Gråhegre |
Ardea
cinerea |
Cocoi Heron |
Cocoihegre |
Ardea
cocoi |
Goliath Heron |
Goliathegre |
Ardea
goliath |
Great Blue Heron |
Herodiashegre |
Ardea
herodias |
Humblot's Heron |
Madagaskarhegre |
Ardea
humbloti |
White-bellied Heron |
Keiserhegre |
Ardea
insignis |
Black-headed Heron |
Svarthodehegre |
Ardea
melanocephala |
Pacific Heron |
Hvithodehegre |
Ardea
pacifica |
Purple Heron |
Purpurhegre |
Ardea
purpurea |
Great-billed Heron |
Sotvingehegre |
Ardea
sumatrana |
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Little
Egret, Egretta garzetta
The Little Egret forms a superspecies with the Snowy Egret (Egretta
thula) with the Little Egret being present
in the Old World while the Snowy Egret is found in the New World.
It is partially migratory
with more northern populations migrating
south during the northern winter.
©
Arthur Grosset
They are found in a wide variety of open wetland type of habitat
where they feed during the day on a variety of animals
such as insects, frogs, reptiles, etc.. They use a variety of hunting
techniques including foot stirring with its bright yellow
feet which seems to attract prey within the range of its bill.
Little
egret - hunting and feeding behaviour and
nesting and roosting behaviour
BBC Natural History Unit
http://www.arkive.org
Denmark,
June 2007
Photo
© Jørgen
Scheel
The
nezxt rictures are probably Great Egret, Ardea alba
All
pictures La Gomera, Canary Islands
©
www.vulkaner.no
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