# Black-headed Heron (*Ardea melanocephala*) The Black-headed Heron is a tall bird with a striking black head and long legs. They are often seen wading in water, searching for fish and frogs to eat. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Black-headed Heron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/2009-black-headed-heron.jpg&width=800) Photo: Yathin S Krishnappa, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2009-black-headed-heron.jpg) ## Appearance The Black-headed Heron is a large bird with a grey body and distinctive all-black head and nape. Its pale throat sharply contrasts with the dark head, and it has a long, dark grey bill and yellow eyes, making it visually distinct. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Ardea ## Interesting facts - Sometimes these clever herons will even steal food from other birds or animals! - Their nests can be found in huge colonies, sometimes with hundreds of other bird pairs! - They often rest on one leg, a trick that helps them conserve precious body heat! - Unlike many herons, they hunt insects and small animals in dry fields! ## Special abilities - **Stillness Hunter:** Black-headed Herons can stand incredibly still, allowing them to ambush prey with a lightning-fast strike. - **Ariel Acuity:** This heron has sharp eyesight that helps them spot small prey from high up in the air or on the ground. - **Effortless Soaring:** Black-headed Herons can soar on thermals for long periods, saving energy during travel and hunting. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 85-92 cm - **Wingspan:** 140-155 cm - **Weight:** 1-1.6 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 2-4 - **Incubation:** 23-26 days ## Diet & Feeding They mainly eat insects, small mammals, and fish caught with a quick strike from their bill. - **Primary Foods:** Insects, Small rodents, Amphibians, Fish, Small reptiles - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Nile Crocodile (*Crocodylus niloticus*) — Large reptiles sometimes prey on heron eggs and chicks. - **Hunts:** [House Mouse](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-mouse) (*Mus musculus*) — They skillfully stalk and capture rodents in open fields. - **Hunts:** [Migratory Locust](https://www.snappit.app/explore/migratory-locust) (*Locusta migratoria*) — They frequently eat large insects, helping control pest populations. - **Shelter:** [Squacco Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/squacco-heron) (*Ardeola ralloides*) — Often nests alongside other heron species in large colonies. ## 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. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch birds from a distance and do not try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Black-headed 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-headed Heron? 85-92 cm ### What is Black-headed Heron's wingspan? 140-155 cm ### How much does Black-headed Heron weigh? 1-1.6 kg ### How long does Black-headed Heron live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Black-headed Heron move? 40 km/h ### What does Black-headed Heron eat? They mainly eat insects, small mammals, and fish caught with a quick strike from their bill. ### Where is Black-headed Heron usually found? Wetlands ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [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*) --- Source: [Black-headed Heron: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-headed-heron)