Night heron

Name

In Europe and the Western United States, night heron is often used to refer to the black-crowned night heron, since it is the only member of the genus in those regions. The black-crowned night heron was named the official bird of the city of Oakland, California.

Description

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.

Breeding

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.

Diet

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.

Taxonomy

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

Genera

• Nyctanassa
• Nycticorax
• Gorsachius
• Oroanassa

Distribution and habitat

Night herons are found on every continent except Antarctica. Night herons in Europe breed mainly in southern and southeastern Europe and migrate across the Sahara to winter in central and west Africa.

Gallery

File:Juvenile Night Heron at Abbotts Lagoon.jpg|Juvenile black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) at Point Reyes National Seashore, California File:Nankeen Night Heron Fremantle Harbour.jpg|Nankeen or rufous night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) at Fremantle Harbour, Western Australia File:Yellow crowned night heron Florida 2010.JPG|Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) in Florida File:NycticoraxMagnificaGronvold.jpg|White-eared night heron (Oroanassa magnifica) File:Japanese night heron (Gorsachius goisagi).jpg|Japanese night heron (Gorsachius goisagi) in Osaka, Japan File:Malayan Night-Heron - Taiwan S4E8695 (17320173361).jpg|Malayan night heron (Gorsachius melanolophus) in Taiwan

References

References

1. Jobling, James A.. (2010). "The Helm dictionary of scientific bird names : from aalge to zusii". Christopher Helm.
2. McDede @hollymcdede, Holly J.. (2019-07-27). "Recuperated Egrets and Herons Rescued from Oakland Tree Head Back to Nature {{!}} KQED".
3. RSPB Handbook of British Birds (2014). {{ISBN. 978-1-4729-0647-2.