night heron

[ nahyt her-uhn ]

noun

1. any of several thick-billed, crepuscular or nocturnal herons of the genus Nycticorax and related genera, as N. nycticorax black-crowned night heron, or squawk, of the Old and New Worlds, and Nyctanassa violacea yellow-crowned night heron, of the Americas.

night heron

noun

1. any nocturnal heron of the genus Nycticorax and related genera, having short legs and neck, a heavy body, and a short heavy bill

Word History and Origins

Origin of night heron¹

First recorded in 1775–85

Example Sentences

The breeding-habits of the Night-Heron have already been described in the account of the Ardea egretta.

From Project Gutenberg

By the margin of a pond that we passed a tall night-heron was standing on one leg.

From Project Gutenberg