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Herons (Ardeidae)

Yellow-crowned Night-heron (Nycticorax violaceus) - HBW 1, p. 419

French: Bihoreau violacé German: Krabbenreiher Spanish: Martinete Coronado

Taxonomy: Ardea violacea Linnaeus, 1758, Carolina.
Often placed in monospecific genus Nyctanassa, for instance on skeletal grounds; this separation from rest of night herons supported by work using DNA DNA hybridization. Races cayennensis and gravirostris sometimes absorbed within violacea and bancrofti respectively. Six subspecies usually recognized.

Subspecies and Distribution:

  • violaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) - C & E USA, E Mexico to Honduras.
  • cayennensis (Gmelin, 1789) - Colombia to NE & E Brazil.
  • bancrofti (Huey, 1927) - Baja California to El Salvador, W Indies.

     See all 6 subspecies
  • violaceus (Linnaeus, 1758) - C & E USA, E Mexico to Honduras.
  • cayennensis (Gmelin, 1789) - Colombia to NE & E Brazil.
  • bancrofti (Huey, 1927) - Baja California to El Salvador, W Indies.
  • gravirostris (van Rossem, 1943) - Socorro I (W Mexico).
  • calignis (Wetmore, 1946) - Panama to Peru.
  • pauper P. L. Sclater & Salvin, 1870 - Galapagos Is.
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