Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
What it is
The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where it is replaced by the closely related rufous night heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact).
Where and when to find it
- Habitat
- You can find them near freshwater and saltwater edges across most of the United States, especially near ponds, marshes, and coastlines.
- How to find it
- Look for them resting quietly during the day in trees or dense bushes near water. They become active at dusk.
- Best time of day
- Dusk and nighttime are when they are most active. You might see them at dawn too.
How it lives
- What it eats
- Small fish, frogs, insects, crayfish, small mammals.
- What eats it
- Large birds of prey, raccoons, alligators (in some areas).
Worth knowing
- They are mostly active at night, which is unusual for a heron.
- Their call sounds like a 'quok' or 'woc' sound.
- Young herons look very different from adults, with brown streaky feathers.
- Those bright red eyes really help them see in the dim light.
- They sometimes stand very still for a long time, waiting patiently for prey.
- Baby night herons are very fuzzy and look quite adorable.
Why it matters
These herons help control populations of small fish and amphibians in wetland areas. They are part of a healthy aquatic food web.