Ardea (genus)

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iArdea

Great Blue Heron

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Ciconiiformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Genus:	Ardea Linnaeus, 1758

Species

Many: see text

Ardea is a genus of herons. Linnaeus named this genus as the Great Herons, referring to the generally large size of these birds, typically 80-100 cm or more in length

These large herons are associated with wetlands where they prey on fish, frogs and other aquatic species.

Most members of this almost worldwide group breed colonially in trees, building large stick nests. Northern species such as Great Blue, Grey and Purple Herons may migrate south in winter, although the first two do so only from areas where the waters freeze.

These are powerful birds with large spear-like bills, long necks and long legs, which hunt by waiting motionless or stalking their prey in shallow water before seizing it with a sudden lunge. They have a slow steady flight, with the neck retracted as is characteristic of herons and bitterns; this distinguishes them from storks, cranes and spoonbills, which extend their necks.

[edit] Taxonomy

Some members of Ardea are clearly very closely related, such as the Grey, Great Blue and Cocoi Herons, which form a superspecies. However, the Great Egret in particular has been placed in other genera by various authors as Egretta alba and Casmoderius alba. Nevertheless, this species closely resembles the large Ardea herons in everything but colour, whereas it shows fewer similarities to the smaller white egrets.