Class Aves Linnaeus, 1758 - birds
see Subclass Aves Linnaeus, 1758
Subclass Ornithurae Haeckel, 1866
see Clade Ornithurae Haeckel 1866 [Gauthier 1986] {Chiappe 1991}
Infraclass Carinatae Merrem, 1813
see Clade Carinatae Merrem 1813 [Gauthier & de Queiroz 2001]
Order Ardeiformes Wagler, 1830
Suborder Ardeae Wagler, 1831
see Order Ardeiformes Wagler, 1830
Family Ardeidae Leach, 1820 - herons, bitterns and egrets
Genus Ardea Linnaeus, 1758