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Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

The Black-crowned Night Heron is a unique bird that loves to hunt for fish and frogs at night. With its striking black crown and white body, it is a beautiful sight near water.

Hábitat: Wetlands

Aspecto

The Black-crowned Night Heron has a stout body, a distinct black cap and back, and grey wings. Its bright red eyes, white facial plumes (in breeding adults), and yellow legs make it easily recognizable. Juveniles are streaky brown for camouflage.

ReinoAnimaliaFiloChordataClaseAvesOrdenPelecaniformesFamiliaArdeidaeGéneroNycticorax

Black-crowned Night Heron

Categoría

Aves

Rareza

Common

Peligro

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Snaps

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Datos interesantes

A Black-crowned Night Heron can live over 20 years in the wild! Wow!

Hundreds of these herons often roost together, creating noisy "bird cities" in trees!

Juvenile herons are speckled brown, camouflaged perfectly among reeds and branches.

They make a unique, frog-like "quark!" sound, unlike most squawking herons.

Habilidades especiales

Black-crowned Night Herons can see exceptionally well in low light, helping them hunt for fish and frogs after sunset.

This heron has incredible patience, standing perfectly still for long periods to ambush unsuspecting prey with a sudden lunge.

Black-crowned Night Herons can strike with lightning speed from a still position, allowing them to snatch fast-moving aquatic food.

Medidas y detalles

Longitud: 58-65 cm
Envergadura: 90-112 cm
Peso: 0.5-1 kg
Esperanza de vida: 10-21 años
Top Speed: 50 km/h
Tamaño de la puesta: 3-5
Incubación: 21-26 días
Distancia de migración: 4000 km

Dieta y alimentación

These opportunistic hunters mainly eat small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects from shallow water.

Alimentos principales

Fish
Frogs
Crayfish
Aquatic insects
Mice
Small birds

Método de búsqueda

Ambush

Conexiones ecológicas

hunts

Mummichog

Fundulus heteroclitus

A common small fish in estuaries they actively prey upon.

hunts

Frog species

Lithobates sp.

These herons regularly prey on various species of frogs.

hunts

Red Swamp Crayfish

Procambarus clarkii

Crayfish are a frequent and important part of their diet.

eaten by

American Alligator

Alligator mississippiensis

Alligators are opportunistic predators of heron eggs and chicks.

eaten by

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

Opossums can raid nests, eating heron eggs and young chicks.

Rasgos

Con plumas

Describe a los animales, principalmente aves, que poseen una cubierta de plumas.

Solitario

Los animales solitarios viven solos durante la mayor parte de su vida y solo interactúan con otros para aparearse o cuidar de sus crías.

Piscívoro

Los organismos piscívoros son animales que subsisten principalmente de una dieta a base de peces.

Depredador de emboscada

Un depredador de emboscada caza esperando pacientemente y ocultándose, para luego lanzar un ataque repentino cuando una presa desprevenida se pone a su alcance.

Humedal

Este rasgo de hábitat identifica especies que se encuentran en humedales, que son áreas de tierra saturadas de agua, ya sea permanente o estacionalmente, e incluyen marismas, pantanos y ciénagas.