This bird is commonly observed with its neck tucked, covered in an overall pale grayish appearance and a distinctive black cap and back. It belongs to a robust bird species.
The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized heron found in many regions of the world. These birds have a sturdy appearance, often appearing hunched over with their heads tucked into their shoulders, and this posture is frequently observed. They are most active during the evening and night when they emerge from their daytime roosts to forage in wetlands. Adult Black-crowned Night Herons feature a black crown and back, while the rest of their body is predominantly white or grey. They have striking red eyes and short yellow legs. Their wings are pale grey, and their underparts are white. In greeting and courtship displays, they showcase two or three long white plumes extending from the back of their heads.
Both male and female Juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons have a similar appearance, with males being slightly larger in size. These birds display a dull grey-brown plumage on their heads, wings, and backs, adorned with numerous pale spots. Their underparts are paler with streaks of brown, and they feature orange eyes and less vibrant yellowish-green legs.
These courageous creatures can be found breeding in almost every continent except Antarctica and Australia. In the Americas, their range spans from Washington to Quebec, along coastal Mexico, and into Central America and the Caribbean. During winter, they may even venture as far north as the New England states and Oregon. In the Old World, various subspecies inhabit regions from Japan to Europe, Africa, and India.
The natural habitat of rabbits is comprised of various environments such as swamps, rivers, lakes, salt marshes, lagoons, mudflats, mangroves, reed beds, bamboo groves, and other trees. The presence of aquatic and marginal vegetation is important for nesting and resting.
Black-crowned night herons are meat-eaters that primarily consume fish and other aquatic creatures such as frogs, tads, snakes, turtles, lizards, insect larvae, adult insects, spiders, crustaceans, mollusks, small rodents, bats, chicks, and the eggs of other bird species.
These birds are seemingly monogamous, with one male mating exclusively with one female. The male performs an elaborate courtship display, often conducted at night, which includes walking in a crouching position with the head lowered, bill clapping, wing flapping, singing, and dancing. Once the female accepts, the birds preen, touch, and clasp each other’s bills. The breeding season varies depending on the region, and they nest in diverse sites such as cliff ledges, reed beds, tall trees, bushes, or the ground. They lay 3-5 eggs, and some pairs can produce two broods per season. Incubation lasts about 21-22 days, and both parents participate in brooding. Chicks leave the nest after two weeks, staying nearby. By three weeks old, they can fly to treetops if disturbed, and by 6-7 weeks, they become proficient fliers and venture to feeding grounds. Sexual maturity is reached at 2-3 years. Colonies can be extensive, with as many as 5000-6000 pairs in Malaysia.
Black-crowned night herons are social birds that can be found throughout the year, often associating with other species. During winter, they roost together and migrate by flying at night and resting during the day. When foraging, they stand still at the water’s edge, waiting to ambush their prey, usually in the evening or early morning. These birds are known for engaging in bait fishing, using edible or inedible buoyant objects to lure or distract fish within striking range – a rare example of tool use among birds. During the day, they rest on trees or bushes, and when it’s cold, young herons leave their perches to huddle in the nest. They are territorial and defend their feeding and nesting territories. Their calls, resembling ‘qua,’ ‘quak,’ or ‘quark,’ are most frequently heard during flight or when perching.
Even though black-crowned night herons are commonly found and widespread, they are still vulnerable to localized threats like habitat loss, wetland degradation, petroleum and pesticide pollution, hunting, and disease. The estimate of their population varies from around 570,000 to 3,730,000 individuals worldwide. Despite this, they are only classified as a species of Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List, even though their numbers are currently decreasing.
