Butor étoilé
The generic name "Botaurus" was given by English naturalist James Francis Stephens, and is derived from Medieval Latin , "bittern", constructed from the Middle English name for the Eurasian bittern, . Pliny gave a fanciful derivation from (ox) and (bull), because the bittern's call resembles the bellowing of a bull. The species name "lentiginosus" is Latin for "freckled", from "lentigo" (freckle), and refers to the speckled plumage.