7-457: 4, see text Gorsachius is a genus of Old World night herons typically found near water in forested regions. These are medium-sized herons which are migratory in the colder parts of their ranges, but otherwise resident. They are the least known, most strictly nocturnal , smallest and overall rarest night herons. Three of the four species are found in East , South and South-east Asia , while
14-563: 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 Pelecaniformes genus from extinction , mainly because of their capability to colonize small, predator-free oceanic islands, and
21-399: Is the only member of the genus in that continent. 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
28-475: 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 , almost like a barking sound, 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
35-774: The genus Nycticorax , but today all major authorities recognize them as separate. In addition to the species listed below, the rufous or nankeen night heron has been placed in Gorsachius , but today all major authorities place it in Nycticorax . The four night herons in this genus are all monotypic . The white-backed night heron from sub-Saharan Africa and the white-eared night heron from China and Vietnam were previously placed in this genus, while they are now place in two monotypic genera. [REDACTED] [REDACTED] [REDACTED] Night heron The night herons are medium-sized herons , 58–65 cm, in
42-404: The last species, the white-backed night heron, is found in sub-Saharan Africa . The Japanese and Malayan night herons resemble each other, being relatively short-billed and overall brown with a dark line from the throat to the upper belly. The larger white-eared and white-backed night herons are darker, with distinctive white markings on the face and neck in the former, and an entirely black head in
49-502: The latter. Their behavior, especially that of the white-eared night heron, is relatively poorly known compared to that of other night herons, but they nest alone or in small groups, and a clutch of two to five eggs has been recorded. While generally nocturnal and crepuscular , they have been recorded feeding during the day in clouded weather. They are skulking, and known to feed on crabs, crustacean , fish, insects, frogs and other small animals. These night herons were formerly placed in
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