Ardeinae is a subfamily of herons, which includes the herons, night herons, and egrets.

Taxonomy

Extant Genera

ImageGenusLiving species
Nycticorax T. Forster, 1817 – typical night heronsBlack-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Nankeen night heron or rufous night heron, Nycticorax caledonicus Rodrigues night heron, † Nycticorax megacephalus (extinct) Réunion night heron, † Nycticorax duboisi (extinct) Mauritius night heron, † Nycticorax mauritianus (extinct) Ascension night heron, † Nycticorax olsoni (extinct) Niue night heron, † Nycticorax kalavikai (prehistoric)
Nyctanassa Stejneger, 1887 – American night heronsYellow-crowned night heron, Nyctanassa violacea Bermuda night heron, † Nyctanassa carcinocatactes
Gorsachius Bonaparte, 1855 – Asian and African night heronsJapanese night heron, Gorsachius goisagi Malayan night heron, Gorsachius melanolophus
Butorides Blyth, 1852 – green-backed heronslittle heron, Butorides atricapilla green heron, Butorides virescens striated heron, Butorides striata lava heron, Butorides sundevalli
Agamia Reichenbach, 1853 – Agami heronAgami heron, Agamia agami
Pilherodius Reichenbach, 1853 – capped heronCapped heron, Pilherodius pileatus
Ardeola F. Boie, 1822 – pond heronsIndian pond heron, Ardeola grayii Squacco heron, Ardeola ralloides Chinese pond heron, Ardeola bacchus Javan pond heron, Ardeola speciosa Malagasy pond heron, Ardeola idae Rufous-bellied heron, Ardeola rufiventris
Bubulcus Bonaparte, 1855 – cattle egretsWestern cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis Eastern cattle egret, Bubulcus coromandus
Ardea – typical heronsGreat blue heron, Ardea herodias Grey heron, Ardea cinerea Goliath heron, Ardea goliath Cocoi heron, Ardea cocoi White-necked heron or Pacific heron, Ardea pacifica Black-headed heron, Ardea melanocephala Humblot's heron, Ardea humbloti White-bellied heron, Ardea insignis Great-billed heron, Ardea sumatrana Purple heron, Ardea purpurea Great egret or great white egret, Ardea alba Intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia
Syrigma Ridgway, 1878 – Whistling heronwhistling heron, Syrigma sibilatrix
Calherodius Wagler, 1827 - White-backed night heronwhite-backed night heron, Calherodius leuconotus
Oroanassa Ogilvie-Grant, 1899 - White-eared night heronwhite-eared night heron, Oroanassa magnifica
EgrettaT. Forster, 1817 – typical egretsPied heron, Egretta picata White-faced heron, Egretta novaehollandiae Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens Black heron, Egretta ardesiaca Slaty egret, Egretta vinaceigula Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor – also known as Louisiana heron Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea Snowy egret, Egretta thula Little egret, Egretta garzetta Western reef heron, Egretta gularis Dimorphic egret, Egretta dimorpha Pacific reef heron, Egretta sacra – also known as Pacific reef egret or eastern reef heron Chinese egret, Egretta eulophotesEgretta subfluvia, (Late Miocene or Early Pliocene)

Fossils