Ardeidae
Họ Diệc

General names

The following is based on analysis of dictionaries and other sources. Thai names are currently being revised. Comments and corrections are welcome.

Note on Vietnamese naming: With the exception of ducks and chickens, it is normal for Vietnamese bird names to include the word Chim meaning 'bird', even where not indicated in the tables. All bird and animal names can be preceded by the classifier con, which is used for living creatures.

The Vietnamese name for the larger herons is Chim diệc. The Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is called Chim vạc, reflecting its cry, and several similar-looking smaller herons and bitterns are also called by this name.

However, the most common name for the egrets, herons, and bitterns is Chim 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:

Nguyen, Le & Phillipps change this slightly by assigning all Ixobrychus to Cò lùn ('dwarf stork/heron'). 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 (snipe) 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 its 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 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.)

Chữ Nôm

The characters used for ardeids in the now obsolete Chữ Nôm characters include:

Name	Chữ Nôm Images from the Vietnamese Nôm Preservation Foundation dictionary. (Errors are the sole responsibility of the author of this site)
Cò	, , , , ,
Diệc	,
Vạc	, , ,

Species names

ABOUT THIS TABLE (Hover cursor to see)

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 vac'   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-yaaŋ daeeŋ yày 'large red heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Danau 'lake heron bird'   Ixobrychus                 Ixobrychus sinensis Yellow bittern Chinese little bittern Blongios de Chine Cò lửa lùn 'dwarf flame stork/heron' Cò lùn xám 'grey dwarf stork/heron' (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-yaaŋ-fai tʰam-ma-daa 'black-headed fire heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Kuning 'yellow heron bird' Bambangan Kuning 'yellow bambangan (wild mango?)' Ixobrychus eurhythmus Shrenck's bittern Schrenck's little bittern Blongios mandchou Cò nâu 'brown stork/heron' Cò lùn nâu 'brown dwarf stork/heron' (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-yaaŋ-fai hŭa-tʰaw 'grey-headed fire heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Gelam 'bittern heron bird' Bambangan Coklat 'brown bambangan (wild mango?)' Ixobrychus cinnamomeus Cinnamon bittern Chestnut bittern Blongios cannelle Cò lửa 'flame stork/heron' Cò lùn hung 'reddish dwarf stork/heron' (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-yaaŋ-fai tʰam-ma-daa 'common fire heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Bendang 'paddy-field heron bird' Bambangan Merah 'red bambangan (wild mango?)' Dupetor                 Dupetor flavicollis Ixobrychus flavicollis Black bittern Yellow-necked bittern Blongios à cou jaune Cò hương 'perfume stork/heron' Cò đen 'black stork/heron' (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-yaaŋ dam 'black heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Hitam 'black heron bird' 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 stork/heron' 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-yaaŋ laay-sĕua 'tiger-striped heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Rimau 'tiger heron bird' Burung Pucung Harimau 'tiger heron bird' 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-kʰwàeek 'kʰwàeek bird' (onomat.) Burung Pucung Kuak 'croaking heron bird' 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 'blue/green stork/heron'   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-yaaŋ kʰĭaw 'green heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Keladi 'taro ? heron bird' Kokokan Laut 'sea kokokan' Ardeola                 Ardeola bacchus Chinese pond heron Chinese pond-heron Crabier chinois Cò bợ 'bo stork/heron' Cò luồng 'stream stork/heron' 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-yaaŋ-kròaak pʰan ciin 'Chinese species noisy heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Cina 'Chinese heron bird' Blekok Cina 'Chinese blekok' Ardeola speciosa Javan pond heron Javan pond-heron Javanese pond heron Crabier malais Cò bợ Java 'Javanese bo stork/heron'   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 noisy heron (bird)' Burung Pucung Jawa 'Javanese heron bird' Blekok Sawah 'paddy-field blekok' Bubulcus                 Bubulcus ibis Egretta ibis Cattle egret Buff-backed heron Héron garde-boeufs Cò ruồi 'fly stork/heron' Cò ma 'cow stork/heron' (Alternative in 13) Cò trâu 'buffalo stork/heron' 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-yaaŋ kʰwaay 'water-buffalo heron (bird)' Burung Bangau Kerbau 'water-buffalo heron bird' 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-krà-săa nuan 'pale stork (bird)' Burung Pucung Seriap 'heron heron bird' 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 krà-săa yày 'large stork (bird)' Burung Pucung Lembu 'cattle heron bird' 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 krà-săa daeeŋ 'red stork (bird)' Burung Pucung Serandau 'serandau heron bird' Cangak Merah 'red heron' Ardea alba Egretta alba Casmerodius albus Great egret Great white heron Grande Aigrette Cò ngàng lớn 'large ngang stork/heron'   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-yaaŋ tʰoon yày 'large tʰoon heron (bird)' Burung Bangau Besar 'large stork/heron bird' 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 ngang stork/heron'   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-yaaŋ tʰoon nóaay 'little tʰoon heron (bird)' Burung Bangau Kendi 'jug stork/heron bird' Kuntul Perak 'silver egret' Egretta garzetta Little egret Aigrette garzette Cò trắng 'white stork/heron' Note Cò ngàng 'ngang stork/heron' 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-yaaŋ pia 'tufted (back of head) heron (bird)' Burung Bangau Kecil 'small stork/heron bird' 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 stork/heron' 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-yaaŋ tʰa-lee 'sea heron (bird)' Burung Bangau Batu 'rock stork/heron bird' Kuntul Karang 'coral egret' Egretta eulophotes Chinese egret Swinhoe's egret Aigrette de Chine Cò trắng Trung Quốc 'Chinese white stork/heron'   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-yaaŋ ciin 'Chinese heron (bird)' Burung Bangau Cina 'Chinese stork/heron bird' Kuntul Cina 'Chinese egret' Latin English/French Vietnamese Other V Chinese Japanese Thai Malay Indonesian

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