Gorsachius

Taxobox
name = " Gorsachius "

---

image_width = 225px
image caption = Nankeen Night Heron
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Aves
ordo = Ciconiiformes
familia = Ardeidae
genus = " Gorsachius "
genus_authority = Bonaparte, 1855
subdivision_ranks = species
subdivision = "see text"

"Gorsachius" is a genus of night herons. These are medium-sized, largely nocturnal herons which are migratory outside the tropical parts of their ranges.

Adults are short-necked and stout herons; they typically have a dark crown and back with the remainder of the body white or grey, and short legs. Young birds are brown, flecked with white and grey, and are quite similar to each other in the extant.

Night herons nest 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.

They stand 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.

pecies in taxonomic order

* Nankeen Night Heron or Rufous Night Heron, "Gorsachius caledonicus" or "Nycticorax caledonicus"
* White-eared Night Heron, "Gorsachius magnificus"
* Japanese Night Heron, "Gorsachius goisagi"
* Malayan Night Heron, "Gorsachius melanolophus"