Black-crowned Night Heron
I.U.C.N status
International Union for Conservation of Nature
LC
Least concern
NT
Near threatened
VU
Vulnerable
EN
Endangered
CR
Critically endangered
EW
Extinct in the wild
EX
Extinct
Identity card
Class :
Birds
Order :
Pelecaniformes
Family :
Ardeidae
Genus :
Nycticorax
Species :
nycticorax
Average size
65 cm / 105 to 112 cm (wingspan)
Weight
590 to 1,015 g
Longevity
21 years
Sexual maturity
2 years
Incubation
24 to 26 days
Clutch
3 to 5 eggs
Diet
Carnivore
Molluscs, crustaceans, insects, worms, ...
Did you know?
Male black-crowned night herons make the first move: they build a nest and then try to attract a female to it.
Its Latin genus name, Nycticorax, literally means “night raven”. A fitting name, as its hoarse call resembles that of a corvid.
This discreet heron often spends its days motionless in the trees before becoming more active at dusk.
Threats and conservation
Although not globally threatened, the Black-crowned Night Heron relies heavily on wetlands. Protecting marshes, ponds and reedbeds helps safeguard the species.