heron
Also known as the heron family, Ardeidae
Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 75 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genus Botaurus are referred to as bitterns, and, together with the zigzag heron, or zigzag bittern, in the monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have lo
AI overview
Herons are long-legged, long-necked wading birds found in freshwater and coastal environments, belonging to a family called Ardeidae that includes 75 recognized species. They matter as a diverse group of birds adapted to aquatic habitats, and the naming distinctions among them—such as calling some "egrets" or "bitterns"—reflect differences in appearance rather than true biological categories.
AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.
Species
herons
Family
- PhylumChordata
- ClassAves
- OrderCiconiiformes
- FamilyArdeidae
Habitatmarine, brackish, freshwater
「鹭」重定向至此。關於簡稱鹭的行政區域，詳見「廈門」。 鹭科（学名Ardeidae）在动物分类学上是鸟纲中的鹳形目中的一个科，也被称为鹭类。本科的鸟类为大、中型涉禽，主要活动于湿地及附近林地，它们是湿地生态系统中的重要指示物种。 目录 1 特征 2 进化 3 习性 4 分类 5 与人类的关系 6 参考 特征 鹭科的鸟类具有“三长”的特点，即喙长、颈长、腿长。鹭科鸟类的体形呈纺锤形，胸前有饰羽，头顶有的有冠羽，在繁殖期时，这两部分是重要的炫耀特征。腿部被羽，胫部裸露，脚三趾在前一趾在后。 鹭科鸟没有明显的嗉囊，食道中部膨大，整个食道都能储存食物。 鹭科的鸟具有发达的粉䎃，在胸、腹和胁部成斑块分布。 进化 鹭科比较古老，其起源认为在中生代白垩纪后期。 习性 鹭科的鸟多栖息在湿地环境，近水林区也有活动。它们大多要迁徙，并选择固定的地点筑巢，繁殖期时多群居营巢。鹭属、白鹭属、牛背鹭属、池鹭属、夜鹭属多结群在树上营巢，苇鳽属、麻鳽属的鸟多在芦苇或草丛间栖息。 鹭科鸟的卵呈圆形或椭圆形，卵壳多呈蓝或绿色，同巢的卵有的颜色、形状差别很大。双亲一起坐巢孵化。 雏鸟属晚成雏，多有双亲哺育。 鹭科鸟主要以水种生物为食，包括鱼、虾、蛙及昆虫等。 分类 鹭科在鸟类传统分类系统中属鹳形目-鹭亚目下一个科，这在鸟类DNA分类系统中也同样适用。这个科可以被细分为鹭亚科Ardeinae，夜鹭亚科Nyticoracinae，虎鹭亚科Tigrisomatinae和麻鳽亚科Botaurinae。以下是各属的名称： 鹭科鹭属的大藍鷺 栗腹鹭属 Agamia 鹭属 Ardea 池鹭属 Ardeola 麻鳽属 Botaurus 牛背鹭属 Bubulcus 绿鹭属 Butorides 舵嘴鹭属 Cochlearius 白鹭属 Egretta 夜鳽属 Gorsachius 苇鳽属 Ixobrychus 黄顶夜鹭屬 Nyctanassa 夜鹭属 Nycticorax 黑顶鹭属 Pilherodius 白冠虎鹭属 Tigriornis 虎鹭属 Tigrisoma 啸鹭属 Syrigma 波斑鹭属 Zebrilus 林鳽属 Zonerodius 与人类的关系 鹭科的鸟是人类认识较早的鸟类之一，由于体态优美，常成为古人诗歌中赞美的对象。由于它们主要在湿地栖息，对于湿地的变化具有重要的知识意义，所以也受到了人们的重视，成为科学研究的对象。人们对它们的鸟卵的成份和微观结构、血液生化和同工酶谱都有很细致的研究，对于它们的迁徙和行为学研究也有着很长的历史。 鹭科的鸟多分布在人口压力大的地区，有的甚至在市区中集群营巢，人们虽然喜爱它们，但鸟与人争树、争鱼的事情时有发生，而这多与湿地环境受到破坏，鹭科鸟栖息地缺乏有关。近些年有些种类大量出现在城市周边，有的人以此认为是城市环境变好而适合它们生存；但实际情况是，原有的栖息地受到
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Wikidata facts
Article
11 sectionsContents
- Name
- Description
- Distribution and habitat
- Behaviour and ecology
- Diet
- Breeding
- Taxonomy and systematics
- Symbolic meaning in mysticism
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 75 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genus Botaurus are referred to as bitterns, and, together with the zigzag heron, or zigzag bittern, in the monotypic genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group within the Ardeidae. Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks.
The classification of the individual heron/egret species is fraught with difficulty, and no clear consensus exists about the correct placement of many species into either of the two major genera, Ardea and Egretta. Similarly, the relationships of the genera in the family are not completely resolved. However, one species formerly considered to constitute a separate monotypic family, the Cochlearidae or the boat-billed heron, is now regarded as a member of the Ardeidae.