Looking for the legacy site? Click here

Black-crowned Night-Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax


Long Legged Waders

Black-crowned Night-Heron thumbnail
Length: 25 in. (67 cm )

With a range that covers most of the world, this peculiar heron is quite successful. It can be found in marshy areas, swamps, pond edges, lakes, mangroves, agricultural fields and moist grassy areas. It feeds on fish, mice, frogs, and salamanders, but it also frequently raids nests of other herons, ibis and terns to eat nestlings. Its own nest is a large, bulky affair constructed of twigs and sticks and placed in reeds, low trees or shrubs near the water\'s edge. Often the nests are built in small but loose colonies. Mainly active at dusk and night, most of the daylight hours are spent roosting quietly in a tree or in low aquatic vegetation.

The four-digit banding code is BCNH.


You may need to edit author's name to meet the style formats, which are in most cases "Last name, First name."
https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/black-crowned-night-heron

Bibliographic details:

  • Article: Black-crowned Night-Heron
  • Author(s): Dr. Biology
  • Publisher: Arizona State University School of Life Sciences Ask A Biologist
  • Site name: ASU - Ask A Biologist
  • Date published: 13 Jul, 2017
  • Date accessed:
  • Link: https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/black-crowned-night-heron

APA Style

Dr. Biology. (Thu, 07/13/2017 - 15:36). Black-crowned Night-Heron. ASU - Ask A Biologist. Retrieved from https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/black-crowned-night-heron

American Psychological Association. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/10/

Chicago Manual of Style

Dr. Biology. "Black-crowned Night-Heron". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/black-crowned-night-heron

MLA 2017 Style

Dr. Biology. "Black-crowned Night-Heron". ASU - Ask A Biologist. 13 Jul 2017. ASU - Ask A Biologist, Web. https://askabiologist.asu.edu/activities/bird/black-crowned-night-heron

Modern Language Association, 7th Ed. For more info, see http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/08/
How are humans different from other animals?

Be Part of
Ask A Biologist

By volunteering, or simply sending us feedback on the site. Scientists, teachers, writers, illustrators, and translators are all important to the program. If you are interested in helping with the website we have a Volunteers page to get the process started.

Donate icon  Contribute

Share this page