- Ardeidae - Họ Diệc -

General names

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Comments and corrections are welcome.

The Vietnamese name for the larger herons is Diệc. Several of the smaller herons (night herons) and bitterns, which resemble each other, are called Vạc.

However, the most common name for the egrets, herons, and bitterns is Cò. This is a general term that is not used exclusively for the Ardeidae; it is also used for the storks and ibises.

Naturalists assign names to the ardeids as follows:

Vietnamese name	Genera
Vạc (unmarked refers to Nycticorax nycticorax)	Great Bittern (Botaurus) Night Herons (Gorsachius, Nycticorax)
Diệc	Herons (Ardea)
Cò	Bitterns (Ixobrychus, Dupetor) Night Heron (Gorsachius -- alternative name) Herons (Butorides, Ardeola, Bubulcus) Egrets (Ardea, Egretta)

Nguyen, Le & Phillipps change this slightly by assigning all Ixobrychus to Cò lùn ('dwarf co'). They also assign Egretta sacra to Diệc rather than Cò.

Herons and bitterns are favourites for similes and folk expressions in Vietnamese. For example:

Mệt lử cò bợ 'exhausted (as a) Chinese pond-heron' = 'dog-tired, exhausted'

Làng cò bợ 'band of Chinese pond-herons' = 'drunkards'

Người như cò hương 'body like a black bittern' = 'skinny as a rake, thin as a lath'

Ốm như cò ma 'sick as a cattle egret' = 'sick as a dog, very ill'

Kêu như vạc 'cry like a night heron' = 'cry incessantly'

The Chinese have a proverb: 鷸蚌相争，漁人得利 yù bàng xiāng zhēng, yúrén dé lì. 'The yu and the clam struggle; the fisherman profits'. This derives from an old story of a snipe/sandpiper who put his bill inside the clam's shell in order to eat the clam. The clam countered by clamping his shell tightly onto the bird's bill. The two were locked in a battle that neither could win. Along came the fisherman and claimed them both. The moral of the story is obvious.

Vietnamese has borrowed this proverb, but substitutes the cò (heron or similar bird) for the snipe: Cò trai giữ nhau, ngư ông được lợi ('The heron and the mollusc hang on to each other, the fisherman gains the benefit'). (Vietnamese sometimes also substitutes a fight between a cockle and a clam, ngao sò.)

Species names

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BOTAURINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malay	Indonesian
Botaurus
Botaurus stellaris	Eurasian bittern Great bittern Bittern Common bittern Butor étoilé	Vạc rạ 'stubble va'		大麻鳽 dà má-yán 'large flax bittern' Taiwan: 大麻鷺 dà má-lù 'large flax heron'	サンカノゴイ (三家五位) sanka no goi 'mountain-house bittern'	นกยางแดงใหญ่ nók-yaang daeng yài 'large red bittern/egret'	Pucung Danau 'lake heron'
Ixobrychus
Ixobrychus sinensis	Yellow bittern Chinese little bittern Blongios de Chine	Cò lửa lùn 'dwarf flame co' Cò lùn xám 'grey dwarf co' (13)		黄斑苇鳽 huáng-bān wěi-yán 'yellow-striped reed bittern' (2, 4) 黄苇鳽 huáng wěi-yán 'yellow reed bittern' (1, 3, 5) Taiwan: 黃小鷺 huáng xiǎo-lù 'yellow small heron'	ヨシゴイ (葦五位) yoshi goi 'reed bittern'	นกยางไฟหัวดำ nók-yaang fai hŭa dam 'black-headed flame bittern/egret'	Pucung Kuning 'yellow heron'	Bambangan Kuning 'yellow bambangan (wild mango?)'
Ixobrychus eurhythmus	Shrenck's bittern Schrenck's little bittern Blongios mandchou	Cò nâu 'brown co' Cò lùn nâu 'brown dwarf co' (13)		紫背苇鳽 zǐ-bèi wěi-yán 'purple back reed bittern' Taiwan: 秋小鷺 qiū xiǎo-lù 'autumn small heron'	オオヨシゴイ (大葦五位) ō yoshi goi 'large reed bittern'	นกยางไฟหัวเทา nók-yaang fai hŭa tao 'grey-headed flame bittern/egret'	Pucung Gelam 'bittern heron'	Bambangan Coklat 'brown bambangan (wild mango?)'
Ixobrychus cinnamomeus	Cinnamon bittern Chestnut bittern Blongios cannelle	Cò lửa 'flame co' Cò lùn hung 'reddish dwarf co' (13)		栗苇鳽 lì wěi-yán 'chestnut reed bittern' Taiwan: 栗小鷺 lì xiǎo-lù 'chestnut small heron'	リュウキュウヨシゴイ (琉球葦五位) Ryūkyū yoshi goi 'Ryukyu reed bittern'	นกยางไฟธรรมดา nók-yaang fai tam-má-daa 'common flame bittern/egret'	Pucung Bendang 'paddy-field heron'	Bambangan Merah 'red bambangan (wild mango?)'
Dupetor
Dupetor flavicollis Ixobrychus flavicollis	Black bittern Yellow-necked bittern Blongios à cou jaune	Cò hương 'perfume co' Cò đen 'black co' (13) Note		黑苇鳽 hēi wěi-yán 'black reed bittern' (1, 2, 4, 5) 黑鳽 hēi yán 'black bittern' (3. Alternative in 1) Taiwan: 黃頸黑鷺 huáng-jǐng hēi-lù 'yellow-necked black heron'	タカサゴクロサギ (高砂黒鷺) Takasago kuro-sagi 'Taiwan black heron'	นกยางดำ nók-yaang dam 'black bittern/egret'	Pucung Hitam 'black heron'	Bambangan Hitam 'black bambangan (wild mango?)'

ARDEINAE
SCIENTIFIC & WESTERN		VIETNAMESE		EAST ASIAN		S. E. ASIAN
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malay	Indonesian
Gorsachius
Gorsachius magnificus Nycticorax magnificus	White-eared night heron White-eared night-heron Magnificent night heron Chinese night heron Bihoreau superbe	Vạc hoa 'flowery vac'		海南鳽 Hǎinán yán 'Hainan bittern' or 海南夜鳽 Hǎinán yè yán 'Hainan night bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5)	ハイナンミゾゴイ (海南溝五位) Hainan mizo goi 'Hainan ditch bittern'
Gorsachius melanolophus Nycticorax melanolophus	Malaysian night heron Malayan night-heron Malay night heron Tiger bittern Bihoreau malais	Cò tôm 'shrimp co' or Vạc rừng 'forest vac'		黑冠鳽 hēi-guàn yán 'black crown bittern' or 黑冠夜鳽 hēi-guàn yè yán 'black crested night bittern' (Alternative in 1, 5) Taiwan: 黑冠麻鷺 hēi-guàn má-lù 'black-crested flax heron'	ズグロミゾゴイ (頭黒溝五位) zu-guro mizo goi 'black-headed ditch bittern'	นกยางลายเสือ nók-yaang laai sĕua 'tiger-patterned bittern/egret'	Pucung Rimau 'tiger heron' Pucung Harimau 'tiger heron'	Kowak Melayu 'Malay kowak'
Nycticorax
Nycticorax nycticorax	Black-crowned night heron Black-crowned night-heron Night heron Bihoreau gris	Vạc 'vac'		夜鹭 yè lù 'night heron' Taiwan: 夜鷺 yè lù 'night heron'	ゴイサギ (五位鷺) goi sagi 'bittern heron'	นกแขวก nók-kwàek 'kwaek bird'	Pucung Kuak 'croaking heron'	Kowakmalam Abu 'ashy night kowak'
Butorides
Butorides striata Butorides striatus Ardeola striata	Striated heron or Little heron Green-backed heron Little green heron Héron strié	Cò xanh 'green co'		绿鹭 lǜ lù 'green heron' (1, 2, 3, 4) 小绿鹭 xiǎo lǜ lù 'little green heron' (5) Taiwan: 綠蓑鷺 lǜ suō lù 'green raincoat heron'	ササゴイ (笹五位) sasa goi 'bamboo bittern'	นกยางเขียว nók yaang kĭeow 'green bittern/egret'	Pucung Keladi 'taro ? heron'	Kokokan Laut 'sea kokokan'
Ardeola
Ardeola bacchus	Chinese pond heron Chinese pond-heron Crabier chinois	Cò bợ 'co bo'	Cò luồng 'stream co'	池鹭 chí-lù 'pond heron' Taiwan: 池鷺 chí-lù 'pond heron'	アカガシラサギ (赤頭鷺) aka-gashira sagi 'red-headed heron'	นกยางกรอกพันธุ์จีน nók-yaang-gròk pan jeen 'Chinese species grok-bittern/egret'	Pucung Cina 'Chinese heron'	Blekok Cina 'Chinese blekok'
Ardeola speciosa	Javan pond heron Javan pond-heron Javanese pond heron Crabier malais	Cò bợ Java 'Javanese co bo'		爪哇池鹭 Zhǎowā chí-lù 'Javanese pond heron' Taiwan: 爪哇池鷺 Zhǎowā chí-lù 'Javanese pond heron'	ジャワアカガシラサギ (ジャワ赤頭鷺) Jawa aka-gashira sagi 'Javanese red-headed heron'	นกยางกรอกพันธุ์ชวา nók-yaang-gròk pan chá-waa 'Javanese species grok-bittern/egret' (also นกยางกรอกชวา nók-yaang-gròk chá-waa 'Javanese grok-bittern/egret')	Pucung Jawa 'Javanese heron'	Blekok Sawah 'paddy-field blekok'
Bubulcus
Bubulcus ibis Egretta ibis	Cattle egret Buff-backed heron Héron garde-boeufs	Cò ruồi 'fly co' Cò ma 'cow co' (Alternative in 13)	Cò trâu 'buffalo co'	牛背鹭 niú-bèi lù 'ox-back heron' Taiwan: 黃頭鷺 huáng-tóu lù 'yellow-headed heron'	アマサギ (亜麻鷺) ama-sagi 'flax heron'	นกยางควาย nók-yaang kwaai 'kwaai bittern/egret'	Bangau Kerbau 'water-buffalo stork/heron'	Kuntul Kerbau 'water-buffalo egret'
Ardea
Ardea cinerea	Grey heron Héron cendré	Diệc xám 'grey heron'		苍鹭 cāng-lù 'dark-blue heron' Taiwan: 蒼鷺 cāng-lù 'dark-blue heron'	アオサギ (青鷺) ao-sagi 'blue heron'	นกกระสานวล nók-grà-săa nuan 'nuan stork' (also นกกระสานาก nók grà-săa nâak 'copper-alloy stork')	Pucung Seriap 'heron heron'	Cangak Abu 'ashy heron'
Ardea sumatrana	Great-billed heron Dusky-grey heron Héron typhon	Diệc Xumatra 'Sumatra heron'		大嘴鹭 dà-zuǐ lù 'large-billed heron' (4) 乌灰鹭 wū-huī lù 'black-grey heron' (5)	スマトラサギ (スマトラ鷺) Sumatora-sagi 'Sumatra heron'	นกกระสาใหญ่ nók grà-săa yài 'large stork'	Pucung Lembu 'cattle heron'	Cangak Laut 'sea heron'
Ardea purpurea	Purple heron Héron pourpré	Diệc lửa 'flame heron'		草鹭 cǎo-lù 'grass heron' Taiwan: 紫鷺 zǐ-lù 'purple heron'	ムラサキサギ (紫鷺) murasaki-sagi 'purple heron'	นกกระสาแดง nók-grà-săa daeng 'red stork'	Pucung Serandau 'serandau heron'	Cangak Merah 'red heron'
Ardea alba Egretta alba Casmerodius albus	Great egret Great white heron Grande Aigrette	Cò ngàng lớn 'large co ngang'		大白鹭 dà bái-lù 'large white heron' Taiwan: 大白鷺 dà bái-lù 'large white heron'	ダイサギ (大鷺) dai-sagi 'large heron'	นกยางโทนใหญ่ nók-yaang tohn yài 'large tohn bittern/egret'	Bangau Besar 'large stork/heron'	Cangak Besar 'large heron'
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malay	Indonesian
Egretta
Egretta intermedia Ardea intermedia Mesophyox intermedia	Intermediate egret Plumed egret Lesser egret Héron intermédiaire	Cò ngàng nhỏ 'small co ngang'		中白鹭 zhōng bái-lù 'medium white heron' Taiwan: 中白鷺 zhōng bái-lù 'medium white heron'	チュウサギ (中鷺) chū-sagi 'medium heron'	นกยางโทนน้อย nók-yaang tohn nói 'little tohn bittern/egret'	Bangau Kendi 'jug stork/heron'	Kuntul Perak 'silver egret'
Egretta garzetta	Little egret Aigrette garzette	Cò trắng 'white co' Cò ngàng nhỏ 'small co ngang' (13) Note	Cò ngàng 'co ngang'	白鹭 bái-lù 'white heron' Taiwan: 小白鷺 xiǎo bái-lù 'little white heron'	コサギ (小鷺) ko-sagi 'small heron'	นกยางเปีย nók-yaang bpia 'braided bittern/egret'	Bangau Kecil 'small stork/heron'	Kuntul Kecil 'small egret'
Egretta sacra	Pacific reef-egret or Eastern reef-egret Reef heron Eastern reef heron Reef egret Aigrette sacrée	Cò đen 'black co' Diệc đen 'black heron' (13) Note		岩鹭 yán-lù 'rock heron' Taiwan: 岩鷺 yán-lù 'rock heron'	クロサギ (黒鷺) kuro-sagi 'black heron'	นกยางทะเล nók-yaang tá-lay 'sea bittern/egret'	Bangau Batu 'slaty stork/heron'	Kuntul Karang 'coral egret'
Egretta eulophotes	Chinese egret Swinhoe's egret Aigrette de Chine	Cò trắng Trung Quốc 'Chinese white co'		黄嘴白鹭 huáng-zuǐ bái-lù 'yellow billed white heron' Taiwan: 唐白鷺 táng bái-lù 'Chinese white heron'	カラシラサギ (唐白鷺) kara shira-sagi 'Chinese white heron'	นกยางจีน nók-yaang jeen 'Chinese bittern/egret'	Bangau Cina 'Chinese stork/heron'	Kuntul Cina 'Chinese egret'
Latin	English/French	Vietnamese	Other V	Chinese	Japanese	Thai	Malay	Indonesian

Ardeidae / Họ Diệc

General names

Species names