Herons, egrets and bitterns

Started by <k>, September 24, 2013, 09:02:23 PM

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<k>

From Wikipedia:

The herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 64 recognised species (some are called "egrets" or "bitterns" instead of "heron"). Within Ardeidae, all members of the genera Botaurus and Ixobrychus are referred to as "bitterns", and — including the Zigzag Heron or Zigzag Bittern — are a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. However, egrets are not a biologically distinct group from the herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes. Although egrets have the same build as herons, they tend to be smaller.

The classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty, and there is still no clear consensus about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera, Ardea and Egretta.

Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises, spoonbills and cranes, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down. Some members of this group nest colonially in trees, while others, notably the bitterns, use reedbeds.



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Topic index: Birds on coins
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<k>

#1
Singapore 5c 1977-.JPG

Singapore5c1977.jpg

Singapore, 5 cents, 1977.  Great white egret.
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<k>

#2
BVI $5 1979.jpg

BVI, $5, 1979.  Franklin Mint collector coin.  Snowy egret.
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<k>

#3
New Zealand $2 reverse.jpg

New Zealand, $2.  Kotuku (white heron).
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<k>

#4
Malawi 5 tambala 2003.jpg

Malawi, 5 tambala.  Purple heron.
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<k>

#5


Hungary, 5 forint.  White egret.
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<k>

#6
Canada $1 2009.jpg

Canada, 1 dollar, 2009.  Great blue heron.
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<k>

#7
Bermuda $2 1991.jpg

Bermuda, 2 dollars, 1991.  Yellow-crowned night heron.
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<k>

#8
Antigua $100 1988.jpg

Antigua, $100, 1988.  Cattle egret.
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<k>

Cayman Islands $2 1972.jpeg

Cayman Islands, $2, 1972. 

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias).
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<k>

Botswana, 2 pula, 1986-.jpg

Botswana, 2 pula, 1986.


Slaty egret (Egretta vinaceigula).
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