Heron (Heb. ‘anâfâh). Bird of the Ardeidae family, wader with long neck and legs, long and conical beak and soft plumage. It feeds on fish and reptiles that it finds along the riverbanks and in shallow lagoons. The largest members of the family reach up to 1.25 m in length. Some of them are abundant in the Jordan Valley and on the coast of Palestine. However, it is not clear what specific species is represented by ‘anâfâh, and “heron” is a conjectural translation. Driver suggests the cormorant. The bird is mentioned only 2 times in the Pentateuch, in the parallel lists of unclean animals (Lev 11:19; Deu 14:18). Bib.: Driver, PEQ 87 (1955):20.
Source: Evangelical Bible Dictionary
Wading bird, large, with a robust and pointed beak. It likes to live in rivers, lakes and ponds, feeding mainly on fish and small animals. Not fit to eat (Lev 11:19; Deu 14:18). Scientific name: Egretta sp. and Ardea sp.. †¢Bible animals.
Source: Christian Bible Dictionary
Bird that the Mosaic law prohibited to eat. (Le 11:13, 19; De 14:12, 18) There are those who believe that the Hebrew name was derived from a root meaning “to gasp” or possibly “to snort,” perhaps in anger. Others, however, believe that the word is more related to the Hebrew term ´af, “nose”, perhaps alluding to the heron’s beak. Since in the Bible the expression “the heron according to its kind” (“in its several species”) is used in the Bible, the Hebrew name could well include the various varieties of the heron family, such as the heron itself, the egret and the common bittern. All of these birds have stout, pointed bills, and some are notable for the distinctive, raucous sound they make when disturbed or excited.
The birds of this family are long-legged and frequent swamps, estuaries and lagoons. Its neck is long and thin, and the legs, long and bare, are extraordinarily fine; their feet are characterized by the length of their toes and by the presence of a peculiarly long rear toe. They feed on fish, frogs, small crustaceans or smaller reptiles, which they capture, either walking with a ceremonious step through the water near the shore, or remaining static, while they wait for a small fish to pass by unawares to capture it, sticking their sharp beak with a swift movement of the neck. In its slow and majestic flight thanks to the spread of its wings, it keeps its legs stretched back and arches its neck, bending it in such a way that its head rests between its shoulders. In this they differ from the crane and the ibis, birds that keep both their necks and legs stretched out in flight.
In Palestine there are several species: the gray heron (Ardea cinerea), the imperial heron (Ardea purpurea) and the goliath heron (Ardea goliath); the latter reaches up to 1.5 m. of length. Herons are found around the Sea of Galilee, the banks of the Jordan, the torrential Kishon Valley, in marshy areas, and on the Mediterranean coast.
The egret is among the most graceful and beautiful birds of the heron family and usually has albugineous plumage. They are common in Palestine, and their average length is between 50 and 90 cm. The cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) maintains a symbiotic relationship with cattle, and can sometimes be observed on the animal’s rump feeding on insects and parasites.
The bittern is a stockier variety, somewhat darker brown in color than the heron, and is also found in the swampy regions of Palestine. The bittern (Botaurus stellaris) measures about 75 cm. long and has a homochromatic plumage, with dark yellow upperparts, densely streaked with black, and lighter shaded underparts, but also streaked with dark reddish brown. This coloration perfectly matches the color of the reeds, which allows it to adopt a mimetic position when it is in danger, with its elongated body and its neck and beak turned upwards, and in an absolutely immobile state, with which it achieves camouflage. suitable. The little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus) is also found in Palestine. Another notable characteristic of the bittern is the hoarse call it emits, as well as the deep song that comes out of its throat when it expels air and contorts its head and neck at the same time with violent movements.
Source: Dictionary of the Bible
birds in the bible