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Glite Dictionary
Nyctanassa violacea

Nyctanassa violacea

9.9
A water bird with a yellow crown that is active at night and lives in marshes near the coast
  • noun
  • /nɪkˈtænəsə vaɪəˈleɪʃə/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Nyctanassa violacea
  • The Nyctanassa violacea is easily identified by its yellow-crowned head and striking appearance.

Examples

  • Researchers have observed that Nyctanassa violacea prefers coastal wetlands and marshes for nesting.

  • Birdwatchers love to see the Nyctanassa violacea feeding on crabs along the shoreline.

  • Because Nyctanassa violacea is mainly nocturnal, it often goes unnoticed by casual birdwatchers.

  • The Nyctanassa violacea is often seen near coastal areas.

  • Have you ever spotted a Nyctanassa violacea in the wild?

  • The Nyctanassa violacea is known for its distinctive yellow crown that makes it easy to identify.

  • Because the Nyctanassa violacea hunts primarily at night, it prefers habitats that offer camouflage.

Synonyms

yellow-crowned night heron
vsNyctanassa violacea
  • Specialized
9.1

A night-active wading bird with a yellow crown found in North America

is the scientific Latin name for the same species

Surface Forms

Nyctanassa violacea singular
Nyctanassa violaceas plural

Morphology

Nyctanassa + violacea

This is a scientific Latin binomial (genus + species) used as a taxonomic label rather than a compositional English phrase. Even if a learner recognised 'Nyctanassa' as a genus, the specific epithet 'violacea' is not a normal English word (and does not transparently yield the common name 'yellow-crowned night heron'), so the overall meaning (the particular species and its common-name traits) cannot be derived from the parts. Such technical names function as arbitrary labels for species and are opaque to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Nyctanassa violacea may come from old Greek parts nyct- ('night') and anassa ('queen') plus the Latin word violacea ('violet'). That image of a 'violet queen of the night' helps you remember the bird is mainly active at night and has a bright crown.