Night heron

Night heron
Night heron
Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genera

3, see text.

The night herons are medium-sized herons in the genera Nycticorax, Nyctanassa and Gorsachius. The genus name Nycticorax derives from the Greek for “night raven” and refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds, and the croaking crow-like call of the best known species, the Black-crowned Night Heron.

In Europe, Night Heron is often used to refer to the Black-crowned Night Heron, since it is the only member of the genus in that continent.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax

Adults are short-necked, short-legged and stout herons with a primarily brown or grey plumage, and, in most, a black crown. Young birds are brown, flecked with white. At least some of the extinct Mascarenes taxa appear to have retained this juvenile plumage in adult birds.

Night herons nest alone or in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reedbeds. 3-8 eggs are laid.

Night herons stand still at the water's edge, and wait to ambush prey, mainly at night. They primarily eat small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, and small mammals. During the day they rest in trees or bushes.

There are seven extant species. The genus Nycticorax has suffered more than any other ciconiiform genus from extinction, mainly because of their capability to colonize small, predator-free oceanic islands, and a tendency to evolve towards flightlessness.

Genera

Gallery


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Night heron — Night Night (n[imac]t), n. [OE. night, niht, AS. neaht, niht; akin to D. nacht, OS. & OHG. naht, G. nacht, Icel. n[=o]tt, Sw. natt, Dan. nat, Goth. nahts, Lith. naktis, Russ. noche, W. nos, Ir. nochd, L. nox, noctis, Gr. ny x, nykto s, Skr. nakta …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • night heron — n. any of several herons most active at night or twilight …   English World dictionary

  • night heron — noun nocturnal or crepuscular herons • Syn: ↑night raven • Hypernyms: ↑heron • Hyponyms: ↑black crowned night heron, ↑Nycticorax nycticorax, ↑yellow crowned night heron, ↑ …   Useful english dictionary

  • night heron — any of several thick billed, crepuscular or nocturnal herons of the genus Nycticorax and related genera, as N. nycticorax (black crowned night heron), of the Old and New Worlds, and Nyctanassa violacea (yellow crowned night heron), of America.… …   Universalium

  • night heron — /ˈnaɪt hɛrən / (say nuyt heruhn) noun any of certain thick billed herons of crepuscular or nocturnal habits, of the genus Nycticorax and allied genera, as the nankeen night heron, Nycticorax caledonicus …  

  • Night Heron — naktikovis statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Nycticorax Nycticorax angl. Night Heron vok. Nachtreiher …   Paukščių anatomijos terminai

  • night-heron — naktikoviai statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Nycticorax angl. night heron vok. Nachtreiher, m rus. кваква, f pranc. bihoreau, m ryšiai: platesnis terminas – naktikoviai siauresnis terminas – baltašonis naktikovis… …   Paukščių pavadinimų žodynas

  • night heron — night′ her on n. orn any of several stocky herons that are most active at night • Etymology: 1775–85 …   From formal English to slang

  • night heron — noun a small short necked heron that is active mainly at night. [Genus Nycticorax: several species.] …   English new terms dictionary

  • night heron — n. nocturnal heron that has short legs and a thick beak …   English contemporary dictionary

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