Everything about The Black-crowned Night Heron totally explained
The
Black-crowned Night Heron (or just
Night Heron in Eurasia), (
Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized
heron.
Description
Adults are 64 cm long and weigh 800 g. They have a black crown and back with the remainder of the body white or grey, red eyes, and short yellow legs. Young birds are brown, flecked with white and grey. These are short-necked and stout herons.
Distribution
The breeding habitat is fresh and salt-water
wetlands throughout much of the world. The subspecies
N. n. hoactli breeds in
North and
South America from
Canada as far south as
Patagonia, and the nominate race
N. n. nycticorax in
Europe,
Asia and
Africa. Black-crowned Night Herons nest in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reedbeds. Three to eight
eggs are laid.
This heron is
migratory outside the tropical parts of its extensive range, where it's a permanent resident. The North American population winters in
Mexico, the southern
United States,
Central America, and the
West Indies, and the
Old World birds winter in tropical Africa and southern Asia.
Behaviour
These birds stand still at the water's edge and wait to ambush prey, mainly at night. They primarily eat small
fish,
crustaceans,
frogs, aquatic
insects, and small
mammals. During the day they rest in trees or bushes. The
New World race is more gregarious outside the breeding season than the nominate race.
They are often found nesting or roosting within cities in avenue trees on busy roads.
Etymology
The scientific name,
Nycticorax, means "night raven", and refers to this species' nocturnal habits and harsh
crow-like call.
In the
Falkland Islands, they're known as "quarks" which is an onomatopoeic term.
Further Information
Get more info on 'Black-crowned Night Heron'.
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