Any wading bird of the genus
Ardea and allied genera, of the family
Ardeidæ. The herons have a long, sharp bill, and long legs and toes, with the claw of the middle toe toothed. The common European heron (
Ardea cinerea) is remarkable for its directly ascending flight, and was formerly hunted with the larger falcons. [
1913 Webster]
" There are several common American species; as, the great blue heron (Ardea herodias); the little blue (Ardea cœrulea); the green (Ardea virescens); the snowy (Ardea candidissima); the night heron or qua-bird (Nycticorax nycticorax). The plumed herons are called egrets."
[1913 Webster]