NIGHT HERON

The night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax nycticorax) more or less resembles the paddy bird or pond heron in size and appearance, but has a stouter bill. It is found throughout India, Burma and Sri Lanka, commonly in all the better-watered tracts, both inland and along the seacoast. They feed mostly at night and during the evening and morning twilight. Their food consists of fishes, frogs, aquatic insects, dragonflies, etc. The breeding season ranges from April to September. Their nest is composed of twigs placed in trees gregariously and their nesting colonies may extend to several adjacent trees.