As a naturalist who documents and records across all taxonomic groups, my journey into nature observation began with birdwatching. In my view, birding is the most accessible activity for bringing observers together and fostering a dedicated community. Driven by the gathering of enthusiasts, birdwatching circles in different regions often develop their own unique subcultures, and various cities are no exception. Here in China, there is one particular bird species that has been wildly popular for less than five years, yet its level of mainstream breakout far surpasses that of any other native bird species in the country.
The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is one of the most common herons in China. Except for the relatively arid western regions like Xinjiang, Qinghai, Gansu, and Tibet, it is widely found in freshwater wetlands, rivers, and coastal mudflats. Interestingly, these are also the most densely populated areas of the country. As the most urba
n-adaptable waterbird, it frequently appears in bustling places like canals and park ponds. This high visibility has given it a huge reputation in China’s birdwatching community. Yet, having these advantages isn’t enough; to truly capture the public’s attention, the Black-crowned Night Heron still needs a catalyst.
Actually, this meme didn’t originate in China, but in Japan. In 2019, at the Heiwa Zoo Penguin House in Kagoshima City, a waterbird with its neck tucked in was caught trying to blend in with the penguins just to score some free fish. Even after being spotted by the zookeeper, it refused to leave and basically treated the zoo as its personal cafeteria. Its sneaky, comical behavior went viral, making it an overnight sensation. Because of its pale grayish-white belly and dark blue-gray back, people mistook it for a fake penguin. Around the exact same time, Chinese netizens using AI bird-identification apps kept getting their Black-crowned Night Herons misidentified as penguins. This only fueled the joke of calling the night heron a “penguin.” As the nickname spread, it eventually evolved into the ultimate meme: the “Chinese Rural Penguin” (or “Chinese Native Penguin”).
Being jokingly called a “penguin” was just the beginning of the Black-crowned Night Heron’s internet fame. As China’s birdwatching community continues to grow, a wave of fresh blood is entering the hobby. Beginners are usually drawn to waterbirds because they are relatively easy to photograph, and night herons frequently end up in their lenses. Because they are so common, they are always around—even when birders have no other rare species to show for their trip.
This high visibility also means people get to observe their daily habits more closely. For instance, night herons have a funny habit of “mimicking” other species. People soon realized there was a lot of meme potential here. Aside from the “penguin” look, night herons also grow two long, white breeding feathers that stand straight up on the back of their heads, resembling cockroach antennae. And just like that, the “Blue-backed Cockroach” meme was born. These are the two most famous “mimicry” memes associated with the night heron.
Beyond the two famous memes, there are also some rather gross jokes. People have enthusiastically made memes about the night heron’s defecation habits. Since waterbird droppings are typically a thick, white liquid, the night heron’s poop is often jokingly referred to as “hand sanitizer”… Because of this wide variety of memes, the night heron has spawned a massive subculture within the birdwatching community. As the very source and creator of this subculture, we respectfully refer to the night heron as “Master Night” (or “Night Master”).
“Master Night” is undoubtedly the biggest superstar in China’s birdwatching community. However, I’ve always been well aware that its range is not limited to Asia; it is also found in Europe, Africa, the Americas, and even as far south as the Falkland Islands. I’m curious, what are people’s impressions of this bird in your neck of the woods? Does your local birding community have any similar memes or subcultures?
I suppose its not far too common where I live, and it still remains a lifer, but I will keep this newfound meme in my mind when I see it.
