Neornithes Gadow, 1893 - living birds
   Neognathae Pycraft 1900 see Cohort Neognathae Pycraft, 1900
     Neoaves Sibley et al. 1988 see Subcohort Neoaves Sibley et al., 1988
       [Order] Ciconiiformes Bonaparte, 1854
         Family Ardeidae Leach, 1820 - herons, bitterns and egrets
           Subfamily Ardeinae Leach, 1820
             01 Genus Gorsachius Bonaparte, 1855
             02 Genus Nycticorax Forster, 1817
             03 Genus Nyctanassa Stejneger, 1887 [monotypic]
             04 Genus Butorides Blyth, 1852
             05 Genus Ardeola Boie, 1822
             06 Genus Bubulcus Bonaparte, 1855 [monotypic]
             07 Genus Ardea Linnaeus, 1758
             08 Genus Pilherodius Reichenbach, 1850 [monotypic]
             09 Genus Syrigma Ridgway, 1878 [monotypic]
             10 Genus Egretta Forster, 1817