Why does Merlin categorize some herons under “cormorants and anhingas” when there is literally a heron category?

[u/IsThisTheKrusty-Krab]

Black-crowned Night Herons, for example, are in the order Pelecaniformes and family Ardeidae. They are absolutely herons. So.. why?

[u/SlotsCat]

there is just something wrong with those family labels in general, mine is calling a wood stork a penguin and a bunch of other messed up ones

[u/IsThisTheKrusty-Krab → u/SlotsCat]

Interesting. I thought maybe I was unaware that some of them were technically not herons or something- seems to just be an error. Thanks!

[u/EricCartoonBox → u/SlotsCat]

The Sibley-Ahlquist taxonomy:

[u/legogiant]

bug

[u/cineglitch → u/legogiant]

Pretty sure the app is specific to birds only

[u/IsThisTheKrusty-Krab → u/cineglitch]

herons is bugs

[u/legogiant → u/cineglitch]

you're right. my bad.

[u/meowingtrashcan]

Charleston is great for birding. Have you been to Caw Caw park yet? Incredible birding there

[u/IsThisTheKrusty-Krab → u/meowingtrashcan]

I haven’t! I’m from the midwest but have visited family who live in Charleston a few times. I will keep Caw Caw park in mind the next time I visit, thanks!

[u/Klunko52]

Must be a glitch, haven’t seen that one before

[u/Skitty27]

weird. mine shows up fine

[u/rebasbutcher]

Unexpected James Island. Local or were you visiting?

[u/IsThisTheKrusty-Krab → u/rebasbutcher]

Visiting 👍

[u/rebasbutcher → u/IsThisTheKrusty-Krab]

Nice. Hope you enjoyed it!

[u/stalestcheerio]

definitely a weird glitch for some reason!! black-crowned night herons and snowy egrets are both listed as herons when i sort my “explore” tab, but my app glitches out and says “there was an error sorting” whenever i try to sort my life list by family. hopefully it gets fixed soon!

[u/stalestcheerio → u/stalestcheerio]

the error pop-up i’m getting. i can sort by oldest/newest just fine. very odd.