Family: ARDEIDAE
A large, worldwide family of long-legged wading birds. Herons have long
necks and long straight, spear-like bills used for striking at fish, small
vertebrates, and invertebrate prey. Several species exhibit long, fine,
erectile plumes during the breeding season. Nests are generally large twig
platforms built in trees.
Most of the 22 species occuring in the Greater Sundas are fairly
distinctive, but care must be taken to separate the white egrets.
