Egrets and Herons

The scientific name of the heron family is Ardeidae. This is derived from the Latin word for the heron, ardea. There are more than 60 species in this family, but some of these species are egrets and bitterns instead of true herons. The biological differences between the heron and egret are fairly minimal, besides the fact that egrets have a whiter appearance, especially in the breeding season. They can even occur in the same genus together.