# 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. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 155 - **Habitat:** Wetlands - **Also known as:** Night Heron ![Black-crowned Night Heron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Black-crowned_night_heron_in_PP_%2836399%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black-crowned_night_heron_in_PP_%2836399%29.jpg) ## Appearance 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. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Nycticorax ## Interesting facts - 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. ## Special abilities - **Night Sight:** Black-crowned Night Herons can see exceptionally well in low light, helping them hunt for fish and frogs after sunset. - **Stealth Stance:** This heron has incredible patience, standing perfectly still for long periods to ambush unsuspecting prey with a sudden lunge. - **Quick Strike:** Black-crowned Night Herons can strike with lightning speed from a still position, allowing them to snatch fast-moving aquatic food. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 58-65 cm - **Wingspan:** 90-112 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-1 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-21 years - **Speed:** 50 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 21-26 days - **Migration Distance:** 4000 km ## Diet & Feeding These opportunistic hunters mainly eat small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects from shallow water. - **Primary Foods:** Fish, Frogs, Crayfish, Aquatic insects, Mice, Small birds - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** [Mummichog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/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. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and don't try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-crowned Night Heron? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Black-crowned Night Heron? 58-65 cm ### What is Black-crowned Night Heron's wingspan? 90-112 cm ### How much does Black-crowned Night Heron weigh? 0.5-1 kg ### How long does Black-crowned Night Heron live? 10-21 years ### How fast can Black-crowned Night Heron move? 50 km/h ### What does Black-crowned Night Heron eat? These opportunistic hunters mainly eat small fish, amphibians, crustaceans, and insects from shallow water. ### Where is Black-crowned Night Heron usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Arden Park–East Boston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arden-park-east-boston-historic-district) — Michigan, US · Historic District - [Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Brett Woods Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brett-woods-open-space) — Connecticut, US · Park - [Broadmoor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadmoor) — Louisiana, US · Neighborhood - [Broadway-Armory Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadway-armory-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Brooklyn Botanic Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brooklyn-botanic-garden) — New York, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-crowned-night-heron) ## More Birds - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) - [Double-crested Cormorant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/double-crested-cormorant) (*Nannopterum auritum*) --- Source: [Black-crowned Night Heron: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron)