Night heron
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.