Details
Nycticorax nycticorax
Black-crowned night heron is a bird associated with freshwater habitats, coasts and urban edges. It is carnivorous and colonial or group-living. It remains widespread in parts of its range, but local habitat change still matters.
Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)
Its range is represented here by the Nearctic, the Neotropics and the Palearctic, where it uses freshwater habitats, coasts and urban edges. Mobile species may shift habitat use with season, breeding sites, or food availability.
Typical wingspan 105-112 cm, weight 700 g-1 kg. It has a feathered bird body plan, with proportions shaped by its habitat and mode of movement.
It is mostly active at night and colonial or group-living. Spacing, group size, and visibility can change with season, feeding conditions, and breeding activity.
It is carnivorous. Food choice and foraging style are tied to life in freshwater habitats, coasts and urban edges, so movements often follow available food resources.
During the breeding season it nests, incubates eggs, and feeds the young after hatching.
Recorded scientifically as Nycticorax nycticorax. It remains widespread in parts of its range, but local habitat change still matters. In this guide, size, habitat, and activity pattern are useful first clues for recognition.
