Prakruti Parichay
ArdeidaeNycticorax

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

58–65 cmVery Large
Beak
—
Feet
—
Crest
No crest

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Stocky, with thick neck. Adult has black crown and mantle contrasting with grey wings and whitish underparts. Juvenile boldly streaked and spotted. Immature has unstreaked brown mantle/scapulars. Nocturnal and crepuscular except when feeding young. Usually spends the day sitting hunched in a densely foliaged tree. Most often seen at dusk, flying singly or in small groups from its daytime roost. Mainly forages singly, sometimes in a loose group. Ponds, tanks, lakes, streams. mangroves, estuaries, tidal creeks and coastal lagoons.

Colour

BlackGreyWhiteBrown
Average size
61.5 cm
Habitat
Ponds, tanks, lakes, streams. mangroves, estuaries, tidal creeks and coastal lagoons.
Behaviour
Widespread resident, unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent., Nocturnal and crepuscular except when feeding young. Usually spends the day sitting hunched in a densely foliaged tree. Most often seen at dusk, flying singly or in small groups from its daytime roost. Mainly forages singly, sometimes in a loose group.

About this bird

Widespread resident; unrecorded in parts of NW and NE subcontinent. Stocky, with thick neck. Adult has black crown and mantle contrasting with grey wings and whitish underparts. Juvenile boldly streaked and spotted. Immature has unstreaked brown mantle/scapulars. Nocturnal and crepuscular except when feeding young. Usually spends the day sitting hunched in a densely foliaged tree. Most often seen at dusk, flying singly or in small groups from its daytime roost. Mainly forages singly, sometimes in a loose group. Ponds, tanks, lakes, streams. mangroves, estuaries, tidal creeks and coastal lagoons.

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Black-crowned Night Heron is bigger than Long-legged Buzzard but smaller than Black Kite.

This bird

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

58–65 cm