We classify the heron family together with the stork and ibis families into a larger group of birds that we call the marsh birds (Ciconiiformes). The common characteristic of all herons is that during flight they fold their long neck into an S-shaped form, and between their toes they do not have webbing. The latter is also characteristic of the other marsh birds. Herons are extremely patient birds, as they can stand motionless for hours in shallow water or at the edge of reed beds. They wait for some smaller animals to swim by or approach, with which they feed, and then they rapidly snap out their long neck and, with incredible precision, catch the unsuspecting animal in their pointed beak.
At Lake Cerknica to date eight species of herons have been observed. The most common among them is the grey heron (Ardea cinerea), which can be observed year-round and nests in the vicinity of the lake as well. Among the probable breeders of this area are also the bittern (Botaurus stellaris) and the little bittern (Ixobrychus minutus). Other species mainly stop at the lake on their migratory routes. The largest and surely the most elegant among them is the great egret (Egretta alba). This species also winters at Lake Cerknica and, when the lake is frozen, goes to hunt along the Cerknščica stream. The lake during migratory periods also hosts the night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), the squacco heron (Ardeola ralloides), the little egret (Egretta garzetta) and the purple heron (Ardea purpurea).
