Herons (Ardeidae)

White-backed Night-heron (Nycticorax leuconotus) - HBW 1, p. 420

French: Bihoreau à dos blanc German: Weißrückenreiher Spanish: Martinete Encapuchado

Taxonomy: Ardea leuconotus Wagler, 1827, Senegambia.
Frequently placed in genus Gorsachius, but is apparently closer to N. nycticorax; formerly treated in separate genus Calherodius. Birds of South Africa occasionally differentiated in race natalensis. Monotypic.

Distribution: Scattered populations in Africa S of Sahara, from Senegal to N Angola, and through Zaire to Tanzania; S from Zambia and N Botswana to E South Africa.