| Noun | 1. | genus Ardea - type genus of the Ardeidae: large New and Old World heronsbird genus - a genus of birds Ardeidae, family Ardeidae - herons; egrets; night herons; bitterns Ardea herodius, great blue heron - large American heron having bluish-grey plumage Ardea occidentalis, great white heron - large white heron of Florida and the Florida Keys |