The scientific name 'nycticorax' means 'night raven' and refers
to this species nocturnal habits and harsh crow-like call. They
are ranked among the unclean birds, its Hebrew name is 'anaphah'
and indicates that the bird so named is remarkable for its angry
disposition. Herons are wading birds, peculiarly irritable and
remarkable for their voracity. The subspecies N. n. hoactli
breeds in North America and winters in Mexico, the southern
United States, Central America and the West Indies.
There have been two Black-crowned Night Herons reported from S.
Gloucestershire;
1986: (1)
On May 2nd an adult was seen near the R. Avon in the Keynsham/
Hanham area. It was present until May 5th when it was seen to
fly off in the evening in near darkness.
1971: (1)
On November 19th at the ICI Chemical Works on Severnside an
immature was found inside a building and taken into care. It was
ringed and subsequently released at Chew Valley Lake on November
28th where it remained until December 19th. It was considered by
some at the time to have been the North American form 'hoactli'.
This occurrence constitutes the first report of this species for
S. Gloucestershire.