Herons - Family Overview

Herons belong to the family Ardeidae, a diverse group of long-legged, long-necked wading birds commonly associated with wetlands, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and coastal habitats.

This family includes herons, egrets, bitterns, and night herons, all adapted for slow, deliberate hunting in shallow water. Their characteristic S-shaped neck allows for a rapid stabbing motion when capturing prey such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, insects, and small mammals.

Members of the Ardeidae family vary widely in size and plumage. While many species display subtle grey or brown tones for camouflage, others—especially egrets—are known for striking white plumage, which historically made them targets of the plume trade.

Herons are found on every continent except Antarctica and can be resident or migratory depending on species and region. Some species are solitary hunters, while others form large breeding colonies known as heronries.

In India, herons are a familiar sight across wetlands, agricultural landscapes, mangroves, and urban water bodies, playing an important role as indicators of healthy aquatic ecosystems.

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Licensing & Prints

Photographs and videos of herons from India and around the world are available for licensing and prints.

Explore the Herons collection here:
https://shop.birdsphotos.net/herons