Herons and in the order of Pelecaniformes and family of Ardeidae of herons and egrets. There are three subfamilies, 20 genera. The genera Egretta and Bubulcus are listed under Egrets and the subfamily of Botaurinae, the bitterns, will be listed separately when bittern photos become available. The genus Ardea consisting of typical herons is the largest genus. The species for which photo are available on the whole ComingsBirds.com website including Costa Rica, are highlighted in red.

Subfamily Tigrisomatinae – Tiger Herons
Boat-billed Heron Cochlearius cochlearius
Bare-throated Tiger-heron, Tigrisoma mexicanum
Fasciated Tiger-heron, Tigrisoma fasciatum
Rufescent Tiger-heron, Tigrisoma lineatum
White-crested Tiger-heron Tigriornis leucolopha
New Guinea Tiger-heron Zonerodius heliosylus

Subfamily Ardeinae
Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Nankeen Night Heron or Rufous Night Heron, Nycticorax caledonicus
Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Nyctanassa violacea
White-backed Night Heron, Gorsachius leuconotus
White-eared Night Heron, Gorsachius magnificus
Japanese Night Heron, Gorsachius goisagi
Malayan Night Heron, Gorsachius melanolophus
Green Heron or Green-backed Heron, Butorides virescens
Lava Heron, Butorides sundevalli
Striated Heron, Butorides striata
Agami Heron Agamia agami
Capped Heron Pilherodius pileatus
Indian Pond Heron, Ardeola grayii
Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides
Chinese Pond Heron, Ardeola bacchus
Javan Pond Heron, Ardeola speciosa
Madagascar Pond Heron, Ardeola idae
Rufous-bellied Heron, Ardeola rufiventris
Great 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
Madagascar 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
Eastern Great Egret, Ardea modesta
Pied Heron, Ardea picata or Egretta picata
Intermediate Egret, Ardea intermedia or Egretta intermedia
Swinhoe's Egret or Chinese Egret, Ardea eulophotes or Egretta eulophotes
Little Blue Heron, Egretta caerulea
Whistling Heron Syrigma sibilatrix