Black-crowned Night Heron
Image: <a href="//commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Calibas" title="User:Calibas">Calibas</a> (CC BY-SA 3.0)
NameBlack-crowned Night Heron
Common NameBlack-crowned Night Heron
Scientific NameNycticorax nycticorax
FamilyArdeidae
Wingspan (cm)101
Length (cm)61.5
Weight (g)650
Plumage DetailsAdults have a glossy black cap and back, pale gray wings, and white underparts. They possess distinctive bright red eyes and a stout, dark bill. During breeding, two or three long white plumes extend from the back of the head.
Vocalization / CallKnown for its distinctive, loud, guttural 'kwok' or 'quawk' call, often given in flight, especially at dusk or during the night.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatswetlands, marshes, swamps, lakes, rivers, estuaries, coastal areas
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeWidely distributed across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Africa, inhabiting temperate and tropical regions globally.
Identifying Featuresblack cap, dark gray back, white underparts, bright red eyes, stout dark bill, nocturnal activity, stocky build
Description
A stocky, short-necked heron with striking red eyes, typically active at night. It often perches hunched over near water, waiting to ambush prey, and is found in a wide variety of wetland habitats.
