Black-Crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Aves › Pelecaniformes › Ardeidae › Nycticorax
Conservation status: least_concern
This medium-sized heron is notable for its black crown and back, and its diet is varied, including small fish, insects, amphibians, and refuse found at landfills.
How To Identify
They exhibit mostly dark gray to black plumage, which is highly contrasted by a prominent white patch visible on the crown and tail feathers.
Habitat
It inhabits wetlands including marshes, swamps, lakeshores, river valleys, and coastal areas with dense vegetation for roosting and nesting.
Behaviour
They are highly social birds that roost communally in trees during the day and become active hunters at dusk, using a patient sit-and-wait hunting strategy to ambush fish, frogs, and invertebrates.
Native Range
The black-crowned night heron is found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Africa Asia Europe and North and South America.
Did You Know?
Despite their name, Black-crowned Night Herons are not strictly nocturnal and often feed during the day, particularly in overcast conditions or when hungry. They have excellent night vision thanks to a high density of rod cells in their eyes.
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