Ardeidae
鹭科
lù kē

General

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Pinyin readings reflect standard Mandarin usage; for some dialect alternative names it may be of little practical use, especially for South China. Many Korean glosses are highly tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

The general name for the herons in Chinese is 鹭 lù. The character 鹭 is made up of the phonetic 路 lù on top, and the character 鸟 niǎo or 'bird' underneath. Herons are also known as 鹭鸶 lùsī, which dates back to Classical Chinese. Sometimes the form 鹭鹚 lùcí is also found. The term 鹭鸶 lùsī may also be narrowly applied to the egrets.

In Taiwan, all ardeids are still known as 鹭 lù, including bitterns, which are known as 小鹭 xiǎo-lù 'small heron'. However, Mainland ornithologists have come up with a new name for the small herons and bitterns: yán, sometimes written . These are simplifications of the character , which is an old name for the Chinese Pond Heron Ardeola bacchus and given the reading jiān by dictionaries. Its ancientness can be judged by the fact that even in the 说文解字 shuōwén jiězì dictionary of the 2nd century AD it is described as an old name for the 䴔䴖 jiāoqīng (Chinese Pond Heron).

As a simplification, is rather incongruous in retaining the obsolete radical on the left while simplifying the bird radical 鸟 on the right. Current normal practice, both Simplified and Traditional, substitutes the radical 开 for , i.e., 鳽 in the Traditional characters and in the Simplified characters. While read yán by ornithologists, the character has also been read as jiān (standard reading), qiān (wagtail), and zhān (hawk).

In the official Mainland nomenclature, night-herons belonging to Gorsachius have been systematised as 夜鳽 yè-yán 'night-bitterns' and bitterns belonging to Ixobrychus as 苇鳽 wěi-yán 'reed bitterns'.

Cultural:

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties in China, the Egret (鹭鸶 lùsī) was depicted in 'Mandarin Squares' (known as 补子 bǔzi) attached to official uniforms of the high-ranking bureaucrats. It was the insignia of rank for Grade Six of civilian official.

2. Species names

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BOTAURINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Botaurus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Botaurus stellaris Eurasian bittern Great bittern Bittern Common bittern 大麻鳽 (大麻鳽) dà má-yán 'large flax bittern' (大麻鹭) 大麻鷺 dà má-lù 'large flax-heron' 蒲鸡 (蒲雞) pú jī 'sedge fowl/chicken' (FS) 大水骆驼 (大水駱駝) dà shuǐ luòtuo 'large water camel' (FS) サンカノゴイ (三家五位) sanka no goi 'mountain-house bittern' 알락해오라기 allak-haeoragi 'speckled bittern' Chim Vạc rạ 'stubble vạc bird' (onomat.) Усны бухшувуу usni bukh-shuvuu 'water bull-bird' Former official: Усны бух usni bukh 'water bull' Ixobrychus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Ixobrychus minutus Little bittern 小苇鳽 (小葦鳽) xiǎo wěi-yán 'small reed bittern'     コヨシゴイ (小葦五位) ko yoshi goi 'small reed bittern'     Бичил одойбух bichil odoi-bukh 'tiny dwarfbull' Former official: Одой бух odoi bukh 'dwarf bull' Ixobrychus sinensis Yellow bittern Chinese little bittern 黄斑苇鳽 (黃斑葦鳽) huáng-bān wěi-yán 'yellow-striped reed bittern' (2, 4) 黄苇鳽 (黃葦鳽) huáng wěi-yán 'yellow reed bittern' (1, 3, 5) (黄小鹭) 黃小鷺 huáng xiǎo-lù 'yellow small heron' 水骆驼 (水駱駝) shuǐ luòtuo 'water camel' (FS) 苇漂 (葦漂) wěi-piāo 'reed floater' 小老等 (小老等) xiǎo lǎo-děng 'small always-wait' (FS) ヨシゴイ (葦五位) yoshi goi 'reed bittern' 덤불해오라기 deombul-haeoragi 'thicket bittern' Chim Cò lửa lùn 'dwarf fire stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Chim Cò lùn xám 'grey dwarf stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') (13)   Ixobrychus eurhythmus Shrenck's bittern Schrenck's little bittern 紫背苇鳽 (紫背葦鳽) zǐ-bèi wěi-yán 'purple back reed bittern' (秋小鹭) 秋小鷺 qiū xiǎo-lù 'autumn small heron' 水骆驼 (水駱駝) shuǐ luòtuo 'water camel' (FS) 秋鳽 (秋鳽) qiū yán 'autumn bittern' (FS) オオヨシゴイ (大葦五位) ō yoshi goi 'large reed bittern' 큰덤불해오라기 keun-deombul-haeoragi 'large thicket bittern' Chim Cò nâu 'brown stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Chim Cò lùn nâu 'brown dwarf stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') (13) Бөртөт одойбух börtöt odoi-bukh 'spotted dwarfbull' Former official: Бөртөт дэглий börtöt deglii 'spotted heron' Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Cinnamon bittern Chestnut bittern 栗苇鳽 (栗葦鳽) lì wěi-yán 'chestnut reed bittern' (栗小鹭) 栗小鷺 lì xiǎo-lù 'chestnut small heron' 独春鸟 (獨春鳥) dú-chūn-niǎo 'solitary spring bird' (FS) 黄鹤 (黃鶴) huáng-hè 'yellow crane' 小水骆驼 (小水駱駝) xiǎo shuǐ luòtuo 'small water camel' (FS) 葭鳽 (葭鳽) jiā yán 'reed bittern' (FS) リュウキュウヨシゴイ (琉球葦五位) ryūkyū yoshi goi 'Ryukyu reed bittern' 열대붉은해오라기 yeoldae-bulgeun-haeoragi 'tropical red bittern' Chim Cò lửa 'fire stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Chim Cò lùn hung 'reddish dwarf stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') (13)   Dupetor                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Dupetor flavicollis Ixobrychus flavicollis Black bittern Yellow-necked bittern 黑苇鳽 (黑葦鳽) hēi wěi-yán 'black reed bittern' (1, 2, 4, 5) or 黑鳽 (黑鳽) hēi yán 'black bittern' (3. Alternative in 1) (栗小鹭) 栗小鷺 huáng-jǐng hēi-lù 'yellow-necked black heron' 乌鹭 (烏鷺) wū lù 'dark heron' (FS) 黑长脚鹭鸶 (黑長腳鷺鷥) hēi cháng-jiǎo lùsī 'black long-legged heron' (FS) 黄颈黑鹭 (黃頸黑鷺) huáng-jǐng hēi-lù 'yellow-necked black heron' (FS) タカサゴクロサギ (高砂黒鷺) takasago kuro-sagi 'Taiwan black heron' 검은해오라기 geomeun-haeoragi 'black bittern' Chim Cò hương 'perfume stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Chim Cò đen 'black stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') (13) Note

ARDEINAE SCIENTIFIC & ENGLISH CHINESE EAST SOUTH NORTH Gorsachius                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Gorsachius magnificus Nycticorax magnificus White-eared night heron White-eared night-heron Magnificent night heron Chinese night heron 海南鳽 (海南鳽) hǎinán yán 'Hainan bittern' or 海南夜鳽 (海南夜鳽) hǎinán yè-yán 'Hainan night-bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5)   海南虎斑鳽 (海南虎斑鳽) hǎinán hǔ-bān yán 'Hainan tiger-striped bittern' (6, 7) (FS) ハイナンミゾゴイ (海南溝五位) Hainan mizo-goi 'Hainan ditch-bittern'   Chim Vạc hoa 'flowery vạc bird' (onomat.)   Gorsachius goisagi Nycticorax goisagi Japanese night heron Japanese night-heron Brown night heron 栗头鳽 (栗頭鳽) lì-tóu yán 'chestnut-headed bittern' (2, 4) 栗鳽 (栗鳽) lì yán 'chestnut bittern' (1, 3, 5) or 栗夜鳽 (栗夜鳽) lì yè-yán 'chestnut night-bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5) (麻鹭) 麻鷺 má-lù 'flax-heron' 栗头虎斑鳽 (栗頭虎斑鳽) lì-tóu hǔ-bān yán 'chestnut-headed tiger-striped bittern' (6, 7) ミゾゴイ (溝五位) mizo-goi 'ditch-bittern' 붉은해오라기 bulgeun-haeoragi 'red bittern'     Gorsachius melanolophus Nycticorax melanolophus Malaysian night heron Malayan night-heron Malay night heron Tiger bittern 黑冠鳽 (黑冠鳽) hēi-guān yán 'black-crested bittern' or 黑冠夜鳽 (黑冠夜鳽) hēi-guān yè-yán 'black-crested night-bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5) (黑冠麻鹭) 黑冠麻鷺 hēi-guān má-lù 'black-crested flax-heron' 黑冠虎斑鳽 (黑冠虎斑鳽) hēi-guān hǔ-bān yán 'black-crested tiger-striped bittern' (6, 7) ズグロミゾゴイ (頭黒溝五位) zu-guro mizo-goi 'black-headed ditch-bittern' 검은댕기붉은해오라기 geomeun-daenggi-bulgeun-haeoragi 'black-ribboned red bittern' Chim Cò tôm 'shrimp stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') or Chim Vạc rừng 'forest vạc bird' (onomat.)   Nycticorax                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Nycticorax nycticorax Black-crowned night heron Black-crowned night-heron Night heron 夜鹭 (夜鷺) yè lù 'night heron' (夜鹭) 夜鷺 yè lù 'night heron' 水洼子 (水窪子) shuǐ wāzi 'water depression' (FS) 灰洼子 (灰窪子) huī wāzi 'grey depression' (FS) 星斑 (星斑) xīng bān 'star stripes' 星鳽 (星鳽) xīng yán 'star bittern' (FS) 苍鳽 (蒼鳽) xīng yán 'darkblue bittern' (FS) 夜鹤 (夜鶴) yè hè 'night crane' 夜游鹤 (夜遊鶴) yè yóu hè 'night wandering crane' ゴイサギ (五位鷺) goi sagi 'bittern heron' 해오라기 haeoragi 'bittern' Chim Vạc 'vạc bird' (onomat.) Ногоовор зашин nogoovor zashiŋ 'greenish zashin' Former official: Ногоовор дэглий nogoovor deglii 'greenish heron' Butorides                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Butorides striata Butorides striatus Ardeola striata Striated heron or Little heron Green-backed heron Little green heron 绿鹭 (綠鷺) lǜ lù 'green heron' (1, 2, 3, 4) 小绿鹭 (小綠鷺) xiǎo lǜ lù 'little green heron' (5) (绿蓑鹭) 綠蓑鷺 lǜ suō lù 'green raincoat heron' 鹭鸶 (鷺鷥) lù-sī 'heron' 打鱼郎 (打魚郎) dǎ-yú-láng 'fisherman' ササゴイ (笹五位) sasa goi 'bamboo bittern' 검은댕기해오라기 geomeun-daenggi-haeoragi 'black-ribboned bittern' Chim Cò xanh 'blue/green stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Ногоон дэглэй nogooŋ deglei 'green heron (variant)' Ardeola                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Ardeola bacchus Chinese pond heron Chinese pond-heron 池鹭 (池鷺) chí-lù 'pond heron' (池鹭) 池鷺 chí-lù 'pond heron' 中国池鹭 (中國池鷺) zhōngguó chí-lù 'Chinese pond heron' 红头鹭鸶 (紅頭鷺鷥) hóng-tóu lù-sī 'red-headed heron' (FS) 䴔䴖 (鵁鶄) jiāoqīng 'pondheron' 交胪 (交臚) jiāolú 'jiaolu' (meaning unclear) 茭鸡 (茭雞) jiāo-jī 'dry grass (fodder) fowl/chicken' 红毛鹭 (紅毛鷺) hóng-máo lù 'red hair heron' (FS) 沙鹭 (沙鷺) shā lù 'sand heron' (FS) 沼鹭 (沼鷺) zháo lù 'swamp heron' (FS) 花窑子 (花窯子) huā yáozi 'flowery pit' (FS) 花洼子 (花窪子) huā wāzi 'flowery depression' 花鹅 (花鵝) huā é 'flowery goose' 穿背心 (穿背心) chuān bèixīn 'wear singlet / vest' 田螺鹭 (田螺鷺) tián-luó lù 'paddy-snail heron' (FS) 田牛拧沼鹭 (田牛擰沼鷺) tián niú nìng zhǎo lù 'paddy ox twist swamp heron (?)' 紫邬头 (紫鄔頭) zǐ wū tóu 'purple wu head (?)' アカガシラサギ (赤頭鷺) aka-gashira sagi 'red-headed heron' 흰날개해오라기 huin-nalgae-haeoragi 'white-winged bittern' Chim Cò bợ 'bo stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Цагаан дэвлээ tsagaaŋ devlee 'white heron (variant)' Former official: Цагаан сахлаг дэглий tsagaaŋ sakhlag deglii 'white heavily-feathered heron' Bubulcus                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Bubulcus ibis Egretta ibis Cattle egret Buff-backed heron 牛背鹭 (牛背鷺) niú-bèi lù 'ox-back heron' (黄头鹭) 黃頭鷺 huáng-tóu lù 'yellow-headed heron' 放牛郎 (放牛郎) fàng niú láng 'herdsman' (FS) 红头鹭 (紅頭鷺) hóng-tóu lù 'red-headed heron' 红头官 (紅頭官) hóng-tóu guān 'red-headed official' 黄头鹭鸶 (黃頭鷺鷥) huáng-tóu lùsī 'yellow-headed heron' 黄毛鹭 (黃毛鷺) huáng-máo lù 'yellow-haired heron' 家畜鹭鸶 (家畜鷺鷥) jiāchù lùsī 'domestic livestock heron' 畜鹭 (畜鷺) chù-lù 'livestock heron' (FS) 尼鹭 (尼鷺) ní-lù 'nun heron' アマサギ (亜麻鷺) ama-sagi 'flax-heron' 황로 hwang-no 'yellow heron' (Sino-Korean 黃鷺) Chim Cò ruồi 'fly stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') or Chim Cò ma 'cow stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') (Alternative in 13) Хотны дэгэл khotni degel 'khotni heron (variant)' Ardea                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Ardea cinerea Grey heron 苍鹭 (蒼鷺) cāng-lù 'darkblue heron' (苍鹭) 蒼鷺 cāng-lù 'darkblue heron' 青庄 (青莊) qīng-zhuāng 'green fields' (FS) 老等 (老等) lǎo-děng 'always-wait' (FS) 灰鹳 (灰鸛) huī-guàn 'grey stork' 灰鹭 (灰鷺) huī-lù 'grey heron' (FS) 灰鹭鸶 (灰鷺鷥) huī-lùsī 'grey heron' (FS) 捞鱼鹳 (撈魚鸛) lāo-yú guàn 'scoop-fish stork' (FS) アオサギ (青鷺) ao-sagi 'blue/green heron' 왜가리 waegari 'heron' Chim Diệc xám 'grey heron (bird)' Хөх дэглий khökh deglii 'darkblue heron' Ardea insignis Ardea imperialis Imperial Heron White-bellied Heron 白腹鹭 (白腹鷺) bái-fù lù 'white-bellied heron'     シロハラサギ (白腹鷺) shiro-hara-sagi 'white-bellied heron' (Wikipedia)       Ardea purpurea Purple heron 草鹭 (草鷺) cǎo-lù 'grass heron' (紫鹭) 紫鷺 zǐ-lù 'purple heron' 长脖老等 (長脖老等) cháng-bó lǎo-děng 'long-necked always-wait' (FS) 花洼子 (花窪子) huā wāzi 'flowery depression' 花窑马 (花窯馬) huā yáo-mǎ 'flowery porcelain horse' or 'flowery pit horse' (meaning not clear) (FS) ムラサキサギ (紫鷺) murasaki-sagi 'purple heron' 붉은왜가리 bulgeun-waegari 'red heron' Chim Diệc lửa 'fire heron (bird)' Зээрд дэглий zeerd deglii 'chestnutbrown heron' Ardea alba Egretta alba Casmerodius albus Great egret Great white heron 大白鹭 (大白鷺) dà bái-lù 'large white heron' (大白鹭) 大白鷺 dà bái-lù 'large white heron' 白长脚鹭鸶 (白長腳鷺鷥) bái cháng-jiǎo lùsī 'white long-legged heron' (FS) 白庄 (白莊) bái-zhuāng 'white fields' 冬庄 (冬莊) dōng-zhuāng 'winter fields' (FS) 公子 (公子) gōngzi 'prince' 风漂公子 (風漂公子) fēng piāo gōngzi 'wind float prince' (FS) 白洼 (白窪) bái-wā 'white depression' 白洼子 (白窪子) bái-wāzi 'white depression' 雪客 (雪客) xuě-kè 'snowy guest' (FS) 白老冠 (白老冠) bái lǎo guān 'white old crest' (FS) ダイサギ (大鷺) dai-sagi 'large heron' 대대백로 dae-dae-baeng-no 'large large white heron' (Sino-Korean) or 대백로 dae-baeng-no 'large white heron' Taxonomy Chim Cò ngàng lớn 'large ngang stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Цасч дэглээ tsasch deglee 'snowy heron (variant)' Former official: Цасч дэглий tsasch deglii 'snowy heron' Egretta                 Latin English Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Japanese Korean Vietnamese Mongolian Egretta intermedia Ardea intermedia Mesophyox intermedia Intermediate egret Plumed egret Lesser egret Yellow-billed Egret 中白鹭 (中白鷺) zhōng bái-lù 'medium white heron' (中白鹭) 中白鷺 zhōng bái-lù 'medium white heron' 舂锄 (舂鋤) chōng-chú 'pounding hoe' (also Ardea garzetta below) 春锄 (春鋤) chūn-chú 'spring hoe' (FS) (also Ardea garzetta below) チュウサギ (中鷺) chū-sagi 'medium heron' 중백로 jung-baeng-no 'medium white heron' (Sino-Korean 中白鷺) Chim Cò ngàng nhỏ 'small ngang stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis')   Egretta picata Ardea picata Pied heron 白颈黑鹭 (白頸黑鷺) bái-jǐng hēi-lù 'white-necked black heron' (2, 4) 斑鹭 (斑鷺) bān lù 'striped heron' (5) 白颈斑鹭 (白頸斑鷺) bái-jǐng bān lù 'white-necked striped heron' (3) Note (白颈黑鹭) 白頸黑鷺 bái-jǐng hēi-lù 'white-necked black heron'   ムナジロクロサギ (胸白黒鷺) muna-jiro kuro-sagi 'white-breasted black heron'       Egretta novaehollandiae Ardea novaehollandiae White-faced heron White-faced egret 白脸鹭 (白臉鷺) bái-liǎn lù 'white-faced heron' (2, 4, 5) Note (白脸鹭) 白臉鷺 bái-liǎn lù 'white-faced heron' 白面鹭 (白面鷺) bái-miàn lù 'white-faced heron' カオジロサギ (顔白鷺) kao-jiro sagi 'white-faced heron'       Egretta garzetta Little egret 白鹭 (白鷺) bái-lù 'white heron' (小白鹭) 小白鷺 xiǎo bái-lù 'little white heron' 小白鹭 (小白鷺) xiǎo bái-lù 'little white heron' (7) (FS) 鹭鸶 (鷺鷥) lùsī 'heron' 白鹭鸶 (白鷺鷥) bái lùsī 'white heron' (FS) 极小白鹭 (極小白鷺) jí xiǎo bái-lù 'extremely small white heron' 一杯鹭 (一杯鷺) yī bēi lù 'one cup heron' 舂锄 (舂鋤) chōng-chú 'pounding hoe' (also Ardea intermedia above) 春锄 (春鋤) chūn-chú 'spring hoe' (FS) (also Ardea intermedia above) 白鸟 (白鳥) bái-niǎo 'white bird' (FS) 丝琴 (絲琴) sī-qín 'silk harp' 雪客 (雪客) xuě-kè 'snowy guest' 白鹤 (白鶴) bái-hè 'white crane' (FS) コサギ (小鷺) ko-sagi 'small heron' 쇠백로 soe-baeng-no 'small white heron' (Sino-Korean) Chim Cò trắng 'white stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Name Хурган дэглээ khurgaŋ deglee 'lamb heron (variant)' Former official: Хурган цагаан дэглий khurgaŋ tsagaaŋ deglii 'lamb white heron' Egretta sacra Pacific reef-egret or Eastern reef-egret Reef heron Eastern reef heron Reef egret 岩鹭 (岩鷺) yán-lù 'rock heron' (岩鹭) 岩鷺 yán-lù 'rock heron'   クロサギ (黒鷺) kuro-sagi 'black heron' 흑로 heung-no 'black heron' (partially Sino-Korean) Chim Cò đen 'black stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis') Chim Diệc đen 'black heron (bird)' (13) Name   Egretta eulophotes Chinese egret Swinhoe's egret 黄嘴白鹭 (黄嘴白鷺) huáng-zuǐ bái-lù 'yellow-billed white heron' (唐白鹭) 唐白鷺 táng bái-lù 'Chinese white heron' 白老等 (白老等) bái -lǎo-děng 'white always wait' (FS) カラシラサギ (唐白鷺) kara shira-sagi 'Chinese white heron' 노랑부리백로 norang-buri-baeng-no 'yellow-billed white heron' (partially Sino-Korean) Chim Cò trắng Trung Quốc 'Chinese white stork (bird)' (cò='stork/heron/ibis')

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