Which birds are shown in the picture?

The picture shows two great herons, referring to the generally large size of these birds, typically 80-100 cm (32-39 inches) or more in length. With more that 60 species, they are also known as the great egret or great white egret or great white heron.

Carl Linnaeus (1701-1778) named this genus 'Ardea albus' due to their large size. He was a Swedish botanist, zoologist, and physician who formalized binomial nomenclature, the modern system of naming organisms. He is known as the "father of modern taxonomy". Many of his writings were in Latin, still used today to classify plants and animals.

Herons make their home in wetlands where they prey on fish, frogs and other aquatic species. They are a powerful bird with large spear-like bills, long necks and long legs, which hunt by waiting motionless or stalking their prey in shallow water before seizing it with a sudden lunge. They are widespread throughout all continents except Antarctica, and are present in most habitats except the coldest extremes of the Arctic, extremely high mountains, and the driest deserts.

In Native American mythology, herons are symbols of good luck and patience in many tribes. On the Northwest coast, if a Native American fisherman sees a heron, it is a sign of a successful fishing trip.