Black-Crowned Night Heron

Name: Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Height: 65 cm.

Weight: 800g.

Location: Wetlands around the globe, excluding Polar Regions.

Conservation status: Least Concern.

Diet: Fish, krill, crustaceans, frogs, insects, small mammals, and small birds.

Appearance: Black crown and back, white belly, white or yellow face, red eyes, yellow legs, and long white plumes on the back of the head.

How do Black-crowned Night Herons feed?

Black-crowned Night Herons stand still at the water's edge or in shallow waters to ambush prey.

They may attract fish by dipping their bill into the water and vibrating it rapidly, creating a disturbance that mimics prey movements.

Once prey is caught, they shake their head rapidly, similar to a dog, to stun or kill the prey. Being opportunistic feeders, they also consume carrion, various small animals, plant material, and even garbage at landfills.

Are Black-crowned Night Herons social?

These herons typically hunt alone but nest in colonies during the day. Colonies can have up to 12 nests in a single tree and have been known to last for over 50 years.

How fast do Black-crowned Night Herons fly?

Black-crowned Night Herons can reach flying speeds of up to 55 km per hour.

What are Black-crowned Night Heron mating rituals like?

These herons reach sexual maturity around three years old. They nest in colonies in trees or on the ground in predator-sheltered areas such as islands or reed beds.

Males attract females with a hissing call and physical displays like bowing and raising their long white plumes. The male begins building a nest and, upon finding a mate, continues bringing materials while the female constructs the nest.

Females lay between 3 to 8 eggs. Both parents incubate the eggs and care for the chicks, which leave the nest after about a month. Chicks cannot fly for a couple of weeks, so they walk through vegetation and join their flock at night when they hunt.

How long do Black-crowned Night Herons live?

In the wild, Black-crowned Night Herons can live up to 20 years.

How many Black-crowned Night Herons are there today?

There are no comprehensive studies on the populations of Black-crowned Night Herons, likely due to their nocturnal habits and daytime seclusion.

Do Black-crowned Night Herons have any natural predators?

Adult Black-crowned Night Herons have few natural predators thanks to their high nesting sites. However, young herons are vulnerable to ground predators before they can fly.

7 Bountiful Black-crowned Night Heron Facts

• Their name comes from their nocturnal hunting habits, resting during the day.
• Nycticorax translates to "night raven," referring to their night-time activities and crow-like calls.
• They are known by onomatopoeic names in various regions, such as "Quark" in the Falkland Islands and "Kwak" in the Netherlands.
• Black-crowned Night Herons are the most widespread species in the Heron family.
• Young herons will regurgitate stomach contents as a defense mechanism.
• They often nest with other bird species like Ibises and Egrets and can care for chicks from other species placed in their nests.
• Their nocturnal feeding habits may have evolved to reduce competition with other bird species.