page_title: List of birds of Tonga
section_title: Bitterns, herons and egrets
hierarchical_section_title: List of birds of Tonga / Bitterns, herons and egrets
caption_attribution_description: Eastern Reef Egret, Egretta sacra; wild bird
context_page_description: This is a list of the bird species recorded in Tonga. The avifauna of Tonga include a total of 73 species, of which two are endemic, five have been introduced by humans and eight are rare or accidental. Seven species are globally threatened.
  This list's taxonomic treatment and nomenclature follow the conventions of The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World, 6th edition. The family accounts at the beginning of each heading reflect this taxonomy, as do the species counts found in each family account. Introduced and accidental species are included in the total counts for Tonga.
  The following tags have been used to highlight several categories. The commonly occurring native species do not fall into any of these categories.
  Accidental - a species that rarely or accidentally occurs in Tonga
  Endemic - a species endemic to Tonga
  (I) Introduced - a species introduced to Tonga as a consequence, direct or indirect, of human actions
context_section_description: Order: Pelecaniformes   Family: Ardeidae
  The family Ardeidae contains the bitterns, herons and egrets. Herons and egrets are medium to large wading birds with long necks and legs. Bitterns tend to be shorter necked and more wary. Members of Ardeidae fly with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises and spoonbills.
  White-faced heron, Egretta novaehollandiae
  Pacific reef heron, Egretta sacra
  Striated heron, Butorides striata (A)
caption: Pacific reef-egret
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