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Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Birds Around Las Vegas, Wildlife Around Las Vegas
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron, breeding adult

General Description: Black-crowned Night-Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) are medium-sized herons. They are light gray overall, with dark gray on the wings, black on the back, and black on the top of the head. The eye is red. Both sexes have yellow-green legs. In breeding season, they get two white, thread-like plumes on the back of the head, and the legs turn pink.

Adults Black-crowned Night-Herons are uniquely patterned in our area, but immature Night-Herons might be confused with American Bitterns. Both are brown with streaky backs and underparts and pale-spotted wings, but American Bitterns have black on the neck. Immature Night Herons acquire adult plumage in their third year.

Taxonomy: Pelecaniformes, Ardeidae

Favored Habitat: Ponds with shallow edges and marshes.

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron juvenile

Where to Find: Neighborhood ponds, parks (e.g., Lorenzi Park and Sunset Park), and the Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. To find them in more natural habitat, visit the Pahranagat Valley or the Overton Wildlife Management Area.

Comments:

Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Breeding adult: note plumes on back of head
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Breeding adult: note plumes on back of head; Dunedin, Florida
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Non-breeding adult: note no plumes on back of head
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
BCNH in a cottonwood tree, Tassi Spring, Arizona
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Juvenile at Sunset Park, Urban Las Vegas
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron landing
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Landing (note head plume swinging off to the side)
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron in flight
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
In flight with sunset colors, Shark Valley, Florida
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron; note white breeding plume
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Adult
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron on nest
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Heron in the reeds
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Black-crowned Night-Herons can habituate to humans

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 240708

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