Scientific Name:
Nycticorax nycticorax
Description
Stocky heron with its neck usually tucked in. Adults are pale-grayish, with a black on its head and back with wispy long, white head plumes. Adults have red eyes, juveniles yellow eyes. Young birds are brown.
Behaviors
These birds are most active at night or dusk. They are common in wetlands across North America, nesting colonially. They eat many kinds of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine animals such as leeches, insects, rodents, snakes, lizards, crayfish, crabs, and fish.
Fun Facts
The male advertises for a mate with displays the involve bowing and raising the long plume on its head. Both the male and the female incubate the eggs and brood the chicks.
Nature Topics
Photo by Kim Forsberg
Photo by Sara Courtneidge
Photo by Jack Harmer
Photo by Susan Lambert
Black-crowned Night Heron relies on
Sun
Water
Nutrients