Details

Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax

The short neck of the Black-crowned Night-Heron is usually tucked in, giving the bird a stocky appearance. This heron is not as frequently seen as other herons because, as the name implies, it is most active at dusk and at night, feeding in the same areas that other heron species frequent during the day. This is the most widespread heron in the world, breeding across most of the United States, including Hawaii, and on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. In winter, in North America, northern breeding birds migrate to the southern United States and southward. The Black-crowned Night-Heron is a fairly common nesting species in East and Middle Tennessee, and rare in the West.

Description: This medium-sized, short-necked, stocky heron is black on the top of the head and back, has gray wings, a white belly, and a thick black bill as an adult. Immature birds (July-January) are brown with white spots on the wings, broad, indistinct streaks on the underparts, and a mostly yellow bill. Full adult plumage is not acquired until the second spring. Males and females look similar but the female is slightly smaller.
Length: 25" (height)
Wingspan: 44"
Weight: 1.9 lbs.

Similar Species:

• Immature Yellow-crowned Night-Herons look similar to immature Black-crown Night-Herons but have an all-black bill, smaller wing spots, and longer legs.
• American Bitterns are brown streaked, but lack white spots on the wings.

Habitat: In Tennessee, Black-crowned Night-Herons are found in wooded swamps and around lakes, ponds, and reservoirs.

Diet: Aquatic invertebrates, fish, amphibians, lizards, snakes, rodents, bird eggs.

Nesting and reproduction: Black-crowned Night-Herons typically begin nesting before all other herons except Great Blue Herons, returning to colony sites in late winter.

Clutch Size: Range from 1 to 5 eggs, with 3 to 5 most common.

Incubation: Both parents incubate for 24 to 26 days.

Fledging: Both male and female feed the young regurgitated food. At the age of 4 weeks, the young climb on branches around the nest, and begin to fly at about 5 weeks. The young will follow the adults to foraging areas and beg for food for another few weeks.

Nest: The male brings sticks to the female who builds a platform nest among tree branches. They will frequently refurbish old nests.

Status in Tennessee: In East and Middle Tennessee, the Black-crowned Night-Heron is a fairly common summer breeder. In West Tennessee, they nest in a few scattered colonies. The Black-crowned Night-Heron is an uncommon but regular wintering bird in Tennessee, and is usually found near nesting colonies. In West Tennessee, it nests in colonies with large numbers of other herons and egrets. In Middle and East Tennessee, colonies often contain only Black-crowned Night-Herons. Colonies are usually in wooded swamps or upland woodland within 10 miles of a river or lake.

The Black-crowned Night-Heron was listed as In Need of Management in 1976.

Dynamic map of Black-crowned Night Heron eBird observations in Tennessee

Fun Facts:

• Young Black-crowned Night-Herons, like many species of heron, often disgorge their stomach contents when disturbed. This habit makes it easy to study its diet.

Obsolete English Names: American night heron, Qua-bird

Best places to see in Tennessee: Not as easily seen as most herons because it is most active at dusk and at night. One regular place to find this bird is on Drakes Creek on Old Hickory Lake.

For more information:

Sources:

Davis, W. E., Jr. 1993. Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax). The Birds of North America, No. 74 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, and The American Ornithologists' Union, Washington, D.C.

Nicholson, C. P. 1997. Atlas of Breeding Birds of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Robinson J. C. 1990. An Annotated Checklist of the Birds of Tennessee. Univ. Tennessee Press, Knoxville.

Sibley, D. A. 2000. The Sibley Guide to Birds. A. A. Knopf, New York, NY.