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
             01 Genus †Proherodius Lydekker, 1891, nom. dub.
             02 Genus †Eoceornis Shufeldt, 1915
             03 Genus †Botauroides Shufeldt, 1915
             04 Genus †Proardea Lambrecht, 1933
             05 Genus †Coliathia Lambrecht
             06 Genus †Ardeacites Haushalter, 1855
             07 Genus †Botaurites Ammon, 1918
             08 Genus Ardea Linnaeus, 1758
             09 Genus Nycticorax Forster, 1817
             10 Genus †Palaeophoyx McCoy, 1963
             11 Genus Butorides Blyth, 1852