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''Egretta'' is a genus of medium-sized
The genus ''Egretta'' was introduced in 1817 by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster with the little egret as the type species. The genus name comes from the Provençal French for the little egret, ''aigrette'', a diminutive of ''aigron'', "heron".
As with other heron groupings, the taxonomy of these birds has been a source of dispute. Some of these species have been placed with the great herons in '' Ardea'', and conversely, the large white species such as the great egret are occasionally allocated to ''Egretta''. The fact that some members of the genus have common names of "heron" and some of "egret" , causes further confusion in differentiating between this genus and ''Ardea''.
heron
The herons are long-legged, long-necked, freshwater and coastal birds in the family Ardeidae, with 72 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Members of the genera ''Botaurus'' and ''Ixobrychus ...
s, mostly breeding in warmer climates.
Representatives of this genus are found in most of the world, and the little egret, as well as being widespread throughout much of the Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
, has now started to colonise the Americas.
These are typical egrets in shape, long-necked and long-legged. A few plumage features are shared, although several have plumes in breeding plumage; a number of species are either white in all plumages, have a white morph (e.g. reddish egret
The reddish egret (''Egretta rufescens'') is a medium-sized heron that is a resident breeder in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, the Gulf Coast of the United States (primarily Texas), and Mexico. The egret is known for its unusual ...
), or have a white juvenile plumage ( little blue heron).
The breeding habitat of ''Egretta'' herons is marshy wetlands in warm regions. They nest in colonies, often with other wading birds, usually on platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs.
These herons feed on insects, fish, and amphibian
Amphibians are tetrapod, four-limbed and ectothermic vertebrates of the Class (biology), class Amphibia. All living amphibians belong to the group Lissamphibia. They inhabit a wide variety of habitats, with most species living within terres ...
s, caught normally by cautious stalking.
Taxonomy
The genus ''Egretta'' was introduced in 1817 by the German naturalist Johann Reinhold Forster with the little egret as the type species. The genus name comes from the Provençal French for the little egret, ''aigrette'', a diminutive of ''aigron'', "heron".
As with other heron groupings, the taxonomy of these birds has been a source of dispute. Some of these species have been placed with the great herons in '' Ardea'', and conversely, the large white species such as the great egret are occasionally allocated to ''Egretta''. The fact that some members of the genus have common names of "heron" and some of "egret" , causes further confusion in differentiating between this genus and ''Ardea''.
Species
The genus contains 13 species: A fossil species, ''Egretta subfluvia'', is known from the Late Miocene or Early Pliocene of Florida.References
External links
* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q312272 Bird genera Extant Miocene first appearances Taxa named by Thomas Ignatius Maria Forster