Nyctanassa

Nyctanassa
Yellow-crowned night heron (N. violacea)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Aves
Order:	Pelecaniformes
Family:	Ardeidae
Genus:	Nyctanassa Stejneger, 1887
Species
N. carcinocatactes (extinct) N. violacea

Nyctanassa is a genus of night herons from the Americas, especially (but not exclusively) warmer coastal regions. They were formerly included in the genus Nycticorax, but today all major authorities recognize them as different.

The name comes from Ancient Greek words for "night" and "lady" or "queen", referring to the yellow-crowned night heron's nocturnal activity and its beauty.

Species

• Bermuda night heron, Nyctanassa carcinocatactes (extinct)
• Yellow-crowned night heron, Nyctanassa violacea

References

• "Check-list of North American Birds". American Ornithologists' Union. 1998–2006. Archived from the original on 2007-07-23. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
• Holloway, Joel Ellis (2003). Dictionary of Birds of the United States: Scientific and Common Names. Timber Press. p. 134. ISBN 0-88192-600-0. 
• "The Internet Bird Collection". Handbook of the Birds of the World. Retrieved 2007-07-29. 
• Peterson, Alan P. (Editor). 1999. Zoological Nomenclature Resource (Zoonomen). Accessed 2007-7-29.
• Remsen, J. V., Jr., C. D. Cadena, A. Jaramillo, M. Nores, J. F. Pacheco, M. B. Robbins, T. S. Schulenberg, F. G. Stiles, D. F. Stotz, and K. J. Zimmer. [Version 2007-07-29.] A classification of the bird species of South America. American Ornithologists' Union. Accessed 2007-04-10.