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| Species within the Family Ardeidae differ in size. The herons are medium to large-sized birds with long legs and necks. The smallest species are known as bitterns. Herons and bitterns can kink their necks in an S-shape, due to the modified shape of the sixth vertebrae. The neck can retract and extend and is retracted during flight. The neck is longer in the day herons than the night herons and bitterns. The legs are long and strong with feet having three long thin toes pointing forward and one going backward. The bill | is generally long and harpoon-like. It can vary from extremely fine, as in the agami heron, to flat and wide as in boat-billed heron. The wings are broad and long. All species are largely water-associated and feed on various aquatic live prey. Many species opportunistically take larger prey, including birds and bird eggs, rodents, and, more rarely, carrion. There are 12 genera and 20 species of herons and bitterns known to occur in Peru. Photo (left): Cocoi heron. Photo (right): Least Bittern by ©Victor Bustinza. |
| Family ARDEIDAE | ||
| Herons, Bitterns | Garzas, Mirasoles | |
| Rufescent Tiger-Heron | Garza-Tigre Colorada | Tigrisoma lineatum |
| Fasciated Tiger-Heron | Garza-Tigre Oscura | Tigrisoma fasciatum |
| Bare-throated Tiger-Heron | Garza-Tigre Mexicana | Tigrisoma mexicanum |
| Agami Heron | Garza de Pecho Castaño | Agamia agami |
| Whistling Heron | Garza Silbadora | Syrigma sibilatrix |
| Boat-billed Heron | Garza Cucharón | Cochlearius cochlearius |
| Zigzag Heron | Garza Zebra | Zebrilus undulatus |
| Pinnated Bittern | Mirasol Grande | Botaurus pinnatus (H) |
| Least Bittern | Mirasol Leonado | Ixobrychus exilis |
| Stripe-backed Bittern | Mirasol Listado | Ixobrychus involucris (H) |
| Black-crowned Night-Heron | Huaco Común | Nycticorax nycticorax |
| Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Huaco de Corona Amarilla | Nyctanassa violacea |
| Striated Heron | Garcita Estriada | Butorides striata |
| Cattle Egret | Garcita Bueyera | Bubulcus ibis |
| Cocoi Heron | Garza Cuca | Ardea cocoi |
| Great Egret | Garza Grande | Ardea alba |
| Capped Heron | Garza Pileada | Pilherodius pileatus |
| Tricolored Heron | Garcita Tricolor | Egretta tricolor |
| Reddish Egret | Garcita Rojiza | Egretta rufescens (V) |
| Snowy Egret | Garcita Blanca | Egretta thula |
| Little Blue Heron | Garcita Azul | Egretta caerulea |
 PELECANIDAE: Pelicans – Pelicanos |
THRESKIORNITHIDAE: Ibises & Spoonbills – Ibis & Pico Espatula  |