• Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

• Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

• Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

• Birds (Class Aves)

• Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies (Order Pelecaniformes)

• Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Family Ardeidae)​

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Family Ardeidae is the heron family, a diverse group of long-legged wading birds that includes herons, egrets, and bitterns. Members of this family are found on every continent except Antarctica and are most commonly associated with wetlands, marshes, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal habitats. Ardeids are characterized by their long necks, spear-like bills, and elongated legs, adaptations that make them highly effective hunters of fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects, and other small animals. Most species hunt by standing motionless or slowly stalking through shallow water before striking rapidly with their bill.