What Kind Of Birds Are These?

I bought a terracotta water jug, that has two birds in flight on the sides. I ruled out pelicans, and think they may be egrets. What do you think?

 

Very possibly egrets or herons, though they might be cranes or storks.

 

They look like Herons to me.

 

These could be egrets, it does appear to be this type of bird. Another bird that crossed my mind when I looked at this was a seagull. Its certainly not a peligan that's for sure, so we can rule that type of bird out. Maybe it could be a heron as well, I don't know for sure.

 

We don't see these birds up North, but I am calling them Herons! Thanks to all!

 

While the birds on the vase do resemble herons and egrets, which are all of the same family, I think they are more likely to be storks or cranes. In traditional art those birds have been used for centuries as being symbolic of constancy and other virtues. Cranes usually appear in eastern art and storks are more common in western art.

 

Thanks, Ruth, That is very interesting! Too bad the question is carved in stone.
Crane

Black Stork

 

Big birds.

 

Cranes are revered in Japan, so if the jug or the design is Japanese, they are probably cranes.

 

Storks.

(image is from http://www.totally-free-images.com/stork/stork.html 10/9/2015.)

 

…or it could be a combination of species in the spirit of "artistic license". Or if it was a bad artist it could be a bluebird . Are there any markings on the bottom of the water jug? Some markings give away the country it was created in. It's a cool jug. Any idea how old it is?

 

My thought at first was swans.. who have not eaten very well, looking kinda slim..lol