Ardeidae
サギ科
sagi ka

General names

Information is based on dictionaries and other sources. Species list may not be current. Korean glosses are only tentative. Comments and corrections welcome.

In Japanese, the larger herons are called サギ sagi, written with the same character as Chinese: 鷺. 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'. It is possible that the characters are a 'folk etymology' unrelated to the real etymology. There is, in fact, a quaint story to explain the 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.

Cultural:

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 Botaurus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Botaurus stellaris 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) 알락해오라기 allak-haeoragi 'speckled bittern' Ixobrychus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Ixobrychus sinensis 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) 덤불해오라기 deombul-haeoragi 'thicket bittern' Ixobrychus eurhythmus 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) 큰덤불해오라기 keun-deombul-haeoragi 'large thicket bittern' Ixobrychus cinnamomeus 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) 열대붉은해오라기 yeoldae-bulgeun-haeoragi 'tropical red bittern' Dupetor               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Dupetor flavicollis Ixobrychus flavicollis 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'   黑苇鳽 (黑葦鳽) hēi wěi-yán 'black reed bittern' (1, 2, 4, 5) 黑鳽 (黑鳽) hēi yán 'black bittern' (3. Alternative in 1) (黄颈黑鹭) 黃頸黑鷺 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) 검은해오라기 geomeun-haeoragi 'black bittern'

ARDEINAE SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN JAPANESE CHINESE KOREAN Gorsachius               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Gorsachius goisagi Nycticorax goisagi 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) 붉은해오라기 bulgeun-haeoragi 'red bittern' Gorsachius melanolophus Nycticorax melanolophus 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) 검은댕기붉은해오라기 geomeun-daenggi-bulgeun-haeoragi 'black-ribboned red bittern' Nycticorax               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Nycticorax nycticorax 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' 해오라기 haeoragi 'bittern' Butorides               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Butorides striata Butorides striatus Ardeola striata 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) (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' 검은댕기해오라기 geomeun-daenggi-haeoragi 'black-ribboned bittern' Ardeola               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Ardeola bacchus 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 (?)' 흰날개해오라기 huin-nalgae-haeoragi 'white-winged bittern' Bubulcus               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Bubulcus ibis Egretta ibis 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' (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' 황로 hwang-no 'yellow heron' (Sino-Korean 黃鷺) Ardea               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Ardea cinerea Grey heron Héron cendré Graureiher, Fischreiher Серая цапля アオサギ (青鷺) ao-sagi 'blue 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) 왜가리 waegari 'heron' Ardea purpurea 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) 붉은왜가리 bulgeun-waegari 'red heron' Ardea alba Egretta alba Casmerodius albus 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-footed 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) 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) Taxonomy Egretta               Latin Eng, Fr, Ger, Ru Japanese Other J Chinese Chinese (Taiwan) Other Ch Korean Egretta intermedia Ardea intermedia Mesophyox intermedia 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) 중백로 jung-baeng-no 'medium white heron' (Sino-Korean 中白鷺) Egretta garzetta 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 'straw-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) 쇠백로 soe-baeng-no 'small white heron' (Sino-Korean 小白鷺) Egretta sacra 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' (岩鹭) 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' (唐白鹭) 唐白鷺 táng bái-lù 'Chinese white heron' 白老等 (白老等) bái -lǎo-děng 'white always wait' (FS) 노랑부리백로 norang-buri-baeng-no 'yellow-billed white heron' (partially Sino-Korean)

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