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 Botaurinae Bock, 1956
             Genus Botaurus Stephens, 1819
               Botaurus stellaris (Linnaeus, 1758) - Eurasian bittern
                 Botaurus stellaris capensis (Schlegel, 1863) - African bittern