Egretta

Taxobox
name = "Egretta"

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image_width = 200px
image_caption = Snowy Egret ("Egretta thula")
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Ardeidae
genus = "Egretta"
genus_authority = T. Forster, 1817
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = See text.

"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 herons 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.

Taxonomy

As with other heron groupings, the taxonomy of these birds has been a source of dispute. Some of these species have been placed with the great herons in "Ardea", and conversely the large white species like Great Egret are occasionally allocated to "Egretta".

The fact that some of the group are named as “heron” and some as “egret” has no taxonomic significance.

pecies

* Little Egret, "Egretta garzetta" or "Ardea garzetta"
* Snowy Egret, "Egretta thula"
* Reddish Egret, "Egretta rufescens"
* Slaty Egret, "Egretta vinaceigula"
* Black Heron, "Egretta ardesiaca"
* Tricolored Heron, "Egretta tricolor" also known as Louisiana Heron
* White-faced Heron, "Egretta novaehollandiae" or "Ardea novaehollandiae"
* Little Blue Heron, "Egretta caerulea"
* Eastern Reef Egret, "Egretta sacra" or "Ardea sacra" also known as Pacific Reef Egret
* Western Reef Heron, "Egretta gularis"
* Dimorphic Egret, "Egretta dimorpha"
* Chinese Egret, "Egretta eulophotes"A fossil species, "Egretta subfluvia", is known from the Late Miocene or Early Pliocene of Florida.