Herons, Storks, and Relatives
- Herons, storks and their relatives—bitterns, egrets, spoonbills and ibises—are long-legged, sharp-billed carnivorous birds that inhabit freshwater wetlands. The group, collectively known as the Ciconiiformes, includes 115 species. Most members of the group are solitary hunters that stalk their prey slowly before striking quickly with their powerful bill.
- Herons, storks and their relatives come in all different shapes and sizes. The bitterns include the smallest members of the group and stand a mere 10 inches in height. The storks are the largest members of the group, with some storks measuring as much as 5 feet from bill to tail.
- Most herons, storks and their relatives have long and flexible toes that lack webbing. This foot structure makes it easier for the birds to stand in thick mud without sinking and enables them to perch on tree top roosting sites.
- During flight, storks can be distinguished from other members of the group by the way they hold their neck. Storks fly with their neck extended straight out in front of their body while most herons and egrets coil their necks into an S shape. Another noticeable characteristic of herons, storks and their relatives is that when they fly, their long legs trail behind them.
- All herons, storks and their relatives are carnivores. Most feed on fish, amphibians and insects they snatch up from shallow water. Many species are visual hunters but some, such as the ibises and spoonbills have specialized bills that help them locate prey when foraging in muddy water.
- Classification:
- Herons, storks and their relatives are one of 30 basic groups of birds. They are divided into three subgroups which include the herons, the storks and the ibises and spoonbills.
- Evolution:
- The earliest known ancestors of today's herons, storks and their relatives date back to the Late Eocene. Their closest living relatives are the flamingos.
Herons
Storks