Herons

About 70 species of long-legged waterbirds, including the egrets and bitterns. All share a modified sixth cervical vertebra that holds the neck in a kink and releases it to drive the bill forward, which is also why herons fly with the neck folded back rather than extended like storks or cranes. Most hunt by standing motionless or stalking slowly. Many carry powder down, used to work fish slime out of the plumage.