Mark Manning Wildlife Photography

Great Egret - part of the Heron family

The Downy Woodpecker, Ontario Canada

Herons are long-legged freshwater and coastal birds, with 64 recognised species, some of which are referred to as egrets or bitterns rather than herons. Although herons resemble birds in some other families, such as the storks, ibises, spoonbills, and cranes, they differ from these in flying with their necks retracted, not outstretched. They are also one of the bird groups that have powder down. Some members of this group nest colonially in trees, while others, notably the bitterns, use reed beds. The great blue heron is the largest of the herons in North America. Notable features of great blue herons include gray with a slight azure blue flight feathers, a rusty-gray neck and a paler head, with a nearly white face. A pair of black or slate plumes runs from just above the eye to the back of the head.