Black-crowned Night-heron Bird Facts (Nycticorax…

The Black-crowned Night-heron boasts a striking contrast of colours. Adults have a black crown and back, grey wings, and white underparts. Their eyes are a vivid red, complemented by a stout black bill and distinctive yellow legs.

Juveniles differ significantly, displaying brown plumage streaked with white. During the breeding season, adults develop long white plumes extending from the back of the head, adding to their elegant appearance.

Males are females are alike in appearance, with females being slightly smaller.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Woodland habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Garden habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron can be found in Wetland habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron can be found in Coastal habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron can be found in Urban habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Farmland habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Grassland habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Desert habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Tundra habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Rainforest habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Mountain habitats.

The Black-crowned Night-heron is not typically found in Savanna habitats.

Black-crowned Night-herons inhabit a wide range of wetland habitats, including freshwater and saltwater marshes, mangrove swamps, and the edges of lakes and ponds. They are found on every continent except Antarctica and Australia.

In North America, they breed across much of the United States and southern Canada, with year-round populations in coastal areas. European populations are more scattered, with a notable presence in wetlands across the continent, including parts of the UK.

This map gives you a rough idea of where you might spot a Black-crowned Night-heron. The coloured areas show countries where these birds have been seen.

A few things to keep in mind:

Birds might not be everywhere in the coloured areas, for example, they may be present around the coast of that country
Where birds live can change with seasons and available food
This map is quite simple - it doesn't show exact locations

We're working on making our maps even better! Soon, we hope to show you:

More detailed maps for bigger countries, including state and region
How birds move around during different seasons

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize British Virgin Islands Costa Rica Guadeloupe Guam Micronesia Northern Mariana Islands Palau US Virgin Islands

Species that pass through the area during migration

Cyprus Palestine

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Bird Attributes Explained

Our bird attributes system rates various aspects of a bird's capabilities on a scale of 0-100, based on data from field observations, scientific studies, and expert knowledge.

Attribute Categories:

Agility: Manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.
Strength: Physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.
Adaptability: Ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.
Aggressiveness: Territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.
Endurance: Stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

Understanding the Ratings:

0-20: Very Low
21-40: Low
41-60: Average
61-80: High
81-100: Very High

Remember, these attributes are relative to other bird species and don't necessarily indicate superiority.

Agility

Reflects the bird's manoeuvrability, speed, and grace in flight or movement.

The Black-crowned Night-heron demonstrates considerable agility in its precise hunting technique, striking at prey with lightning-fast precision. Its ability to navigate through wetland environments and perch in trees also suggests good manoeuvrability.

Strength

Indicates the bird's physical power, often correlating with size and hunting abilities.

While not exceptionally strong for its size, this heron possesses a robust build and a stout bill capable of catching and handling a variety of prey, including fish and small mammals. Its strength is sufficient for its lifestyle but not remarkable among birds of similar size.

Adaptability

Represents the bird's ability to thrive in various environments or changing conditions.

Black-crowned Night-herons show impressive adaptability, thriving in diverse aquatic habitats worldwide, from freshwater to saltwater environments. Their ability to live in urban areas and use tools to attract fish demonstrates significant adaptive capabilities.

Aggressiveness

Measures the bird's territorial behaviour and assertiveness, particularly during breeding seasons.

These herons are not particularly aggressive birds. They tend to be more passive, often standing motionless for long periods. However, they may display some aggression during breeding season or when defending nesting sites, hence the moderate score.

Endurance

Reflects the bird's stamina, often seen in migration patterns or foraging behaviours.

The Black-crowned Night-heron's endurance is noteworthy, as evidenced by its ability to stand motionless for extended periods while hunting and its capacity for long-distance migration in some populations. However, it's not known for exceptional feats of endurance compared to some other migratory birds.

Black-crowned Night-herons are opportunistic feeders, primarily consuming fish, amphibians, and aquatic invertebrates. They also eat small mammals, birds, and eggs.

Their hunting strategy involves standing still or walking slowly in shallow water, quickly striking to catch prey with their strong bills.

Black-crowned Night-herons are primarily nocturnal, becoming active at dusk. They often stand motionless at the water's edge, waiting to strike at prey with lightning-fast precision.

During the day, they roost in groups in trees near water, sometimes forming mixed colonies with other heron species.

The Black-crowned Night-heron's most distinctive call is a loud, harsh 'quok' or 'wok', often heard at dusk or during the night.

During courtship, they produce a variety of softer sounds, including grunts, groans, and clucks. Juveniles make a persistent 'kek-kek-kek' when begging for food.

Black-crowned Night-herons typically breed in colonies, often with other heron species. Pair formation begins in spring, with males performing elaborate courtship displays involving stretching their necks and raising their plumes.

Nests are platform-like structures made of sticks, usually built in trees or dense shrubs near water. Females lay 3-5 pale blue-green eggs per clutch.

Both parents incubate the eggs for about 24-26 days. Chicks fledge at approximately 6-7 weeks but may return to the nest for several more weeks to be fed by their parents.

The Black-crowned Night-heron typically lives for 3 to 15 years, with a maximum recorded lifespan of 21.1 years.

Like all birds, lifespan can be affected by factors including predation, habitat quality, disease, and access to food sources.

While globally listed as Least Concern, Black-crowned Night-herons face localised threats from habitat loss and water pollution.

Conservation efforts focus on protecting wetlands and improving water quality in urban and suburban areas where these adaptable birds often reside.

Look for them near water bodies at dusk or dawn
Listen for their distinctive 'quok' call
Check dense foliage near wetlands for roosting birds
In urban areas, search near park ponds or canals
Use a spotlight at night to observe their foraging behavior

Adult Black-crowned Night-herons have few natural predators, but eggs and chicks are vulnerable to raccoons, snakes, and large birds of prey such as hawks and owls.

Black-crowned Night-herons have special light-sensitive cells in their eyes that enhance their night vision.
They are one of the most widespread heron species globally, found on five continents.
These herons sometimes use tools, dropping bait on the water's surface to attract fish.

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