genus Zebrilus, form a monophyletic group, Botaurinae, within the Ardeidae family. Egrets do not form a biologically distinct group from herons, and tend to be named differently because they are mainly white or have decorative plumes in breeding plumage. Herons, by evolutionary adaptation, have long beaks.

The classification of individual heron and egret species is fraught with difficulty, and no clear consensus exists about the correct