Black-crowned Night-heron Bird Facts (Nycticorax…

Visual Identification

Appearance

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.

Size

Length

58cm to 65cm

Wingspan

110cm to 120cm

Weight

727g to 1.014kg

Colours

Males and females have similar plumage

Primary Colour

Black Grey White

Secondary Colour

Green

Beak Colour

Black

Leg Colour

Yellow

Habitat and Distribution

Habitats

Woodland

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

Garden

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

Wetland

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

Coastal

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

Urban

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

Farmland

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

Grassland

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

Desert

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

Tundra

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

Rainforest

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

Mountain

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

Savanna

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

Distribution

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.

Elevation Range

Up to 4,800 meters

Climate zones

Temperate, Subtropical, Tropical

Distribution Map

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

Resident

Breeding

Non-breeding

Passage

Vagrant

Distribution by Region

Species that can be found in the area throughout the year

Algeria Angola Anguilla Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Aruba Azerbaijan Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belgium Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Congo Côte D'Ivoire Cuba Curaçao Czech Republic Democratic Republic of the Congo Dominica Dominican Republic East Timor (Timor-Leste) Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Eswatini Ethiopia Falkland Islands France French Guiana Gabon Gambia Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guyana Haiti Honduras India Indonesia Iran Iraq Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jordan Kenya Kuwait Laos Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Mali Malta Martinique Mauritania Mexico Moldova Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nepal Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Oman Pakistan Panama Paraguay Peru Philippines Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Romania Russia Rwanda Saint Barthelemy Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Saudi Arabia Serbia Sierra Leone Singapore Somalia South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Syria Taiwan Thailand The Bahamas Togo Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turks and Caicos Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates Venezuela Vietnam Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe

Species that are present in the area during their breeding season

Afghanistan Albania Armenia Austria Belarus Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Croatia Georgia Germany Guinea-Bissau Hong Kong Hungary Kazakhstan Netherlands Poland Senegal Slovakia Slovenia South Africa Switzerland Tajikistan Tanzania Turkmenistan United States of America Uruguay Uzbekistan

Species that are present in the area outside their breeding season

Belize British Virgin Islands Costa Rica Guadeloupe Micronesia US Virgin Islands

Species that pass through the area during migration

Cyprus Palestine

Species that appear infrequently (rare) and unpredictably outside their normal range

Australia Cape Verde Denmark Djibouti Faroe Islands Finland Gibraltar Greenland Iceland Ireland Kyrgyzstan Libya Liechtenstein Luxembourg Maldives Mongolia Norway Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Saint Pierre and Miquelon Sao Tome and Principe Seychelles South Korea Sweden The United Kingdom

Behaviour and Ecology

Bird Attributes

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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.

Hover over the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Tap the icon next to each attribute for more information.

Agility 75

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 60

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 85

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 40

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 70

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.

Diet

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.

Behaviour

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.

Vocalisation

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.

Nesting & Breeding

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.

Conservation and Status

Global Conservation Status

Least Concern ^[1]

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.

Population Data

Global Population Estimate

570,000 - 3,730,000 mature individuals ^[2]

Global Population Trend

^[3]

Trend data may be uncertain or fluctuating

Additional Information

Quick Facts

Other names:

Night Heron, Qua Bird

Family:

Ardeidae

Average Lifespan

3 to 15 years

Max Lifespan

21.1 years ^[4]

Predators

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.

Did You Know?

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.

References

1 3
website: BirdLife International. 2019. Nycticorax nycticorax (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T22697211A155515762.
View source
2
report, 2015: Wetlands International
4
website, 2000: Carey and Judge, Longevity Records: Life Spans of Mammals, Birds, Amphibians, Reptiles, and Fish
View source