- any of several thick-billed, crepuscular or nocturnal herons of the genus Nycticorax and related genera, as N. nycticorax(black-crowned night heron, or squawk ), of the Old and New Worlds, and Nyctanassa violacea(yellow-crowned night heron ), of the Americas.
- any nocturnal heron of the genus Nycticorax and related genera, having short legs and neck, a heavy body, and a short heavy bill
