Ardeidae / サギ科 (Sagi ka)

鹭科 Lù kē * 鷺科 Lù kē * 왜가리과 Waegari-gwa

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Comments and corrections welcome.

In Japanese, the larger herons are called サギ sagi, written with the same character as Chinese: . Egrets are popularly called シラサギ shira-sagi (白鷺) 'white herons', but the official names don't reflect this.

Bitterns and small (short-necked) herons are known as ゴイ goi. Members of the genus Ixobrychus are known as ヨシゴイ yoshi-goi ('reed goi') and members of the genus Gorsachius (herons) are known as ミゾゴイ mizo-goi ('ditch goi').

The word ゴイ goi is written 五位, meaning 'fifth rank'. There is a quaint story behind the odd choice of characters. According to the story, the Emperor Daigo once asked his retainers to capture one of the birds. The bird was docile and easily caught, and as a reward the Emperor is said to have conferred on it the title of 'fifth rank' (五位 goi) in the court aristocracy.

In Japanese haiku, the Grey heron or 青鷺 ao-sagi is a season word for summer.

Shirasagi-jō or 'White Heron Castle' is a popular name for Himeji Castle.

Species names

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BOTAURINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
JAPANESE
CHINESE
KOREAN
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Botaurus              
Botaurus stellaris
link to photolink to photo
Eurasian bittern
Great bittern

Bittern
Common bittern
Butor étoilé
Rohrdommel,
Große Rohrdommel
Выпь,
Большая выль
サンカノゴイ
(三家五位)
sanka no goi
'mountain-house bittern'
  大麻
dà má-yán
'large flax bittern'
大麻鷺
dà má-lù
'large flax heron'
蒲鸡 (蒲雞)
pú jī
'sedge fowl'
大水骆驼 (大水駱駝)
dà shuǐ luòtuo
'large water camel'
알락해오라기
allak-haeoragi
'speckled bittern'
Ixobrychus              
Ixobrychus sinensis
link to photo
Yellow bittern
Chinese little bittern
Blongios de Chine
Chinadommel
Китайская выпь
ヨシゴイ
(葦五位)
yoshi goi
'reed bittern'
  黄斑苇 (黃斑葦鳽)
huáng-bān wěi-yán
'yellow-striped reed bittern' (2, 4)
黄苇 (黃葦鳽)
huáng wěi-yán
'yellow reed bittern' (1, 3, 5)
黃小鷺
huáng xiǎo-lù
'yellow small heron'
水骆驼 (水駱駝)
shuǐ luòtuo
'water camel'
苇漂 (葦漂)
wěi-piāo
'reed floater'
덤불해오라기
deombul-haeoragi
'thicket bittern'
Ixobrychus eurhythmus
link to photo
Shrenck's bittern
Schrenck's little bittern
Blongios de Schrenck
Mandschurendommel
Амурский болчок,
Выль
オオヨシゴイ
(大葦五位)
ō yoshi goi
'large reed bittern'
  紫背苇 (紫背葦鳽)
zǐ-bèi wěi-yán
'purple back reed bittern'
秋小鷺
qiū xiǎo-lù
'autumn small heron'
  큰덤불해오라기
keun-deombul-haeoragi
'large thicket bittern'
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus
link to photolink to photo
Cinnamon bittern
Chestnut bittern
Blongios cannelle
Zimtdommel
Волчок охристый
リュウキュウヨシゴイ
(琉球葦五位)
Ryūkyū yoshi goi
'Ryukyu reed bittern'
  栗苇 (栗葦鳽)
lì wěi-yán
'chestnut reed bittern'
栗小鷺
lì xiǎo-lù
'chestnut small heron'
独春鸟 (獨春鳥)
dú-chūn-niǎo
'solitary spring bird'
黄鹤 (黃鶴)
huáng-hè
'yellow crane'
小水骆驼 (小水駱駝)
xiǎo shuǐ luòtuo
'small water camel'
열대붉은해오라기
yeoldae-bulgeun-haeoragi
'tropical red bittern'
Dupetor              
Dupetor flavicollis
Ixobrychus flavicollis
link to photo
Black bittern
Yellow-necked bittern
Blongios à cou jaune
Schwarzdommel,
Malaiendommel
Волчок азиатско-австралийский мангровый
タカサゴクロサギ
(高砂黒鷺)
Takasago kuro-sagi
'Taiwan black heron'
  黑苇 (黑葦鳽)
hēi wěi-yán
'black reed bittern' (1, 2, 4, 5)

hēi yán
'black bittern' (3. Alternative in 1)
黃頸黑鷺
huáng-jǐng hēi-lù
'yellow-necked black heron'
乌鹭 (烏鷺)
wū lù
'dark heron'
검은해오라기
geomeun-haeoragi
'black bittern'
 
ARDEINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN
JAPANESE
CHINESE
KOREAN
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Gorsachius              
Gorsachius goisagi
Nycticorax goisagi
link to photo
Japanese night heron
Japanese night-heron
Brown night heron
Bihoreau goisagi
Rotscheitelreiher
Выпь японская
ミゾゴイ
(溝五位)
mizo goi
'ditch bittern'
  栗头 (栗頭鳽)
lì-tóu yán
'chestnut headed bittern' (2, 4)
(栗鳽)
lì yán
'chestnut bittern' (1, 3, 5)
or
栗夜 (栗夜鳽)
lì yè yán
'chestnut night bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5)
麻鷺
má-lù
'flax heron'
栗头虎斑 (栗頭虎斑鳽)
lì-tóu hǔ-bān yán
'chestnut headed tiger-stripe bittern' (6, 7)
붉은해오라기
bulgeun-haeoragi
'red bittern'
Gorsachius melanolophus
Nycticorax melanolophus
link to photolink to photo
Malaysian night heron
Malayan night-heron

Malay night heron
Tiger bittern
Bihoreau malais
Wellenreiher
Малайская Ночная Выпь
ズグロミゾゴイ
(頭黒溝五位)
zu-guro mizo goi
'black-headed ditch bittern'
  黑冠
hēi-guàn yán
'black crown bittern'
or
黑冠夜
hēi-guàn yè yán
'black crested night bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5)
黑冠麻鷺
hēi-guàn má-lù
'black-crested flax heron'
黑冠虎斑
hēi-guàn hǔ-bān yán
'black crested tiger-stripe bittern' (6, 7)
검은댕기붉은해오라기
geomeun-daenggi-bulgeun-haeoragi
'black ribbon red bittern'
Nycticorax              
Nycticorax nycticorax
link to photolink to photo
Black-crowned night heron
Black-crowned night-heron
Night heron
Bihoreau gris
Nachtreiher
Кваква,
Обыкновенная кваква,
Ночная цапля
ゴイサギ
(五位鷺)
goi sagi
'bittern heron'
セグロゴイ
(背黒五位)
se-guro goi
'black-backed bittern' (adult)
ホシゴイ
(星五位)
hoshi goi
'star bittern' (juvenile)
夜鹭 (夜鷺)
yè lù
'night heron'
夜鷺
yè lù
'night heron'
水洼子 (水窪子)
shuǐ wāzi
'water depression'
灰洼子 (灰窪子)
huī wāzi
'grey depression'
星斑
xīng bān
'star stripe, star speckles'

xīng yán
'star bittern'
夜鹤 (夜鶴)
yè hè
'night crane'
夜游鹤 (夜遊鶴)
yè yóu hè
'night wandering crane'
해오라기
haeoragi
'bittern'
Butorides              
Butorides striata
Butorides striatus
Ardeola striata
link to photo
Striated heron
or
Little heron
Green-backed heron
Little green heron
Héron strié
Mangrovereiher
Кваква зеленая
ササゴイ
(笹五位)
sasa goi
'bamboo bittern'
  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)
綠蓑鷺
lǜ suō lù
'green raincoat heron'
  검은댕기해오라기
geomeun-daenggi-haeoragi
'black ribboned bittern'
Ardeola              
Ardeola bacchus
link to photo
Chinese pond heron
Chinese pond-heron
Crabier chinois
Bacchusreiher
Цапля белокрылая прудовая
アカガシラサギ
(赤頭鷺)
aka-gashira sagi
'red-headed heron'
  池鹭 (池鷺)
chí-lù
'pond heron'
池鷺
chí-lù
'pond heron'
中国池鹭 (中國池鷺)
Zhōngguó chí-lù
'Chinese pond heron'
䴔䴖 (鵁鶄)
jiāoqīng
'jiaoqing'
交胪 (交臚)
jiāolú
'jiaolu (meaning unclear) '
茭鸡 (茭雞)
jiāo-jī
'dry grass (fodder) fowl'
红毛鹭 (紅毛鷺)
hóng-máo lù
'red hair heron'
沙鹭 (沙鷺)
shā lù
'sand heron'
花洼子 (花窪子)
huā wāzi
'flowery depression'
花鹅 (花鵝)
huā é
'flowery goose'
穿背心
chuān bèixīn
'wear singlet / vest'
田螺鹭 (田螺鷺)
tián-luó lù
'paddy snail heron'
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 (?)'
흰날개해오라기
huin-nalgae-haeoragi
'white-winged bittern'
Bubulcus              
Bubulcus ibis
Egretta ibis
link to photo
Cattle egret
Buff-backed heron
Héron garde-boeufs
Kuhreiher
Египетская цапля
アマサギ
(亜麻鷺)
ama-sagi
'flax heron'
  牛背鹭 (牛背鷺)
niú-bèi lù
'ox-back heron'
黃頭鷺
huáng-tóu lù
'yellow-headed heron'
放牛郎
fàng niú láng
'herdsman'
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'
尼鹭 (尼鷺)
ní-lù
'nun heron'
황로
hwang-no
'yellow heron' (Sino-Korean 黃鷺)
Ardea              
Ardea cinerea
link to photo
Grey heron
Héron cendré
Graureiher,
Fischreiher
Серая цапля
アオサギ
(青鷺)
ao-sagi
'blue heron'
  苍鹭 (蒼鷺)
cāng-lù
'dark-blue heron'
蒼鷺
cāng-lù
'dark-blue heron'
青庄 (青莊)
qīng-zhuāng
'blue fields?'
老等
lǎo-děng
'always wait'
长脖老等 (長脖老等)
cháng-bó lǎo-děng
'long-necked always wait'
灰鹳 (灰鸛)
huī-guàn
'grey stork'
灰鹭 (灰鷺)
huī-lù
'grey heron'
왜가리
waegari
'heron'
Ardea purpurea
link to photolink to photo
Purple heron
Héron pourpré
Purpurreiher
Рыжая цапля
ムラサキサギ
(紫鷺)
murasaki-sagi
'purple heron'
  草鹭 (草鷺)
cǎo-lù
'grass heron'
紫鷺
zǐ-lù
'purple heron'
花洼子 (花窪子)
huā wāzi
'flowery depression'
붉은왜가리
bulgeun-waegari
'red heron'
Ardea alba
Egretta alba
Casmerodius albus
link to photo
Great egret
Great white heron
Grande Aigrette
Silberreiher
Белая цапля
ダイサギ
(大鷺)
dai-sagi
'large heron'
シラサギ
(白鷺)
shira-sagi
'white heron' (popular name)
大白鹭 (大白鷺)
dà bái-lù
'large white heron'
大白鷺
dà bái-lù
'large white heron'
白庄 (白莊)
bái-zhuāng
'white fields ?'
公子
gōngzi
'prince'
风枥公子 (風櫪公子)
fēnglì gōngzi
'wind oak (?) prince'
白洼 (白窪)
bái-wā
'white depression'
白洼子 (白窪子)
bái-wāzi
'white depression'
대대백로
dae-dae-baeng-no
'large large white heron' (Sino-Korean 大大白鷺)
or
대백로
dae-baeng-no
'large white heron' (Sino-Korean 大白鷺)
|Note|
Latin
Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru
Japanese
Other J
Chinese
Chinese (Taiwan)
Other Ch
Korean
Egretta              
Egretta intermedia
Ardea intermedia
Mesophyox intermedia
link to photolink to photo
Intermediate egret
Plumed egret
Lesser egret
Héron intermédiaire
Mittelreiher
Средняя белая цапля
チュウサギ
(中鷺)
chū-sagi
'medium heron'
シラサギ
(白鷺)
shira-sagi
'white heron' (popular name)
中白鹭 (中白鷺)
zhōng bái-lù
'medium white heron'
中白鷺
zhōng bái-lù
'medium white heron'
舂锄 (舂鋤)
chōng-chú
'pounding hoe'
중백로
jung-baeng-no
'medium white heron' (Sino-Korean 中白鷺)
Egretta garzetta
link to photolink to photo
Little egret
Aigrette garzette
Seidenreiher
Малая белая цапля,
Чепуранужда
コサギ
(小鷺)
ko-sagi
'small heron'
ミノシラサギ
(蓑白鷺)
mino shira-sagi
'caped white heron'
シラサギ
(白鷺)
shira-sagi
'white heron' Also used for Ardea alba and A. intermedia (above)
白鹭 (白鷺)
bái-lù
'white heron'
小白鷺
xiǎo bái-lù
'little white heron'
小白鹭 (小白鷺)
xiǎo bái-lù
'little white heron' (7)
鹭鸶 (鷺鷥)
lùsī
'heron'
白鹭鸶 (白鷺鷥)
bái lùsī
'white heron'
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)
白鸟 (白鳥)
bái-niǎo
'white bird'
丝琴 (絲琴)
sī-qín
'silk harp'
雪客 (雪客)
xuě-kè
'snowy guest'
白鹤 (白鶴)
bái-hè
'white crane'
쇠백로
soe-baeng-no
'small white heron' (Sino-Korean 小白鷺)
Egretta sacra
link to photo
Pacific reef-egret
or
Eastern reef-egret
Reef heron
Eastern reef heron
Reef egret
Aigrette sacrée
Riffreiher
Цапля тихоокеанская рифовая
クロサギ
(黒鷺)
kuro-sagi
'black heron'
  岩鹭 (岩鷺)
yán-lù
'rock heron'
岩鷺
yán-lù
'rock heron'
  흑로
heung-no
'black heron' (partially Sino-Korean)
Egretta eulophotes Chinese egret
Swinhoe's egret
Aigrette de Chine
Schneereiher
Желтоклювая цапля
カラシラサギ
(唐白鷺)
kara shira-sagi
'Chinese white heron'
  黄嘴白鹭 (黄嘴白鷺)
huáng-zuǐ bái-lù
'yellow billed white heron'
唐白鷺
táng bái-lù
'Chinese white heron'
  노랑부리백로
norang-buri-baeng-no
'yellow-billed white heron' (partially Sino-Korean)
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