The Black-crowned Night Heron is a medium-sized heron with a distinctive appearance. Adults have a black crown and back, contrasted by a white or light gray body. Their eyes are strikingly red, and they have a stout, black bill. Juveniles look quite different, with brown streaked plumage and orange eyes.
These herons are primarily nocturnal, foraging for food at dusk and during the night. They feed on a variety of aquatic prey, including fish, crustaceans, and insects. Their hunting technique involves standing still or slowly walking in shallow water to ambush prey.
Black-crowned Night Herons are found in a variety of wetland habitats across the globe, including marshes, lakes, and rivers. They are highly adaptable and can even be found in urban areas with suitable water sources. During the breeding season, they nest in colonies, often with other heron species, in trees or shrubs near water.
Imagine a bird, not confined by national boundaries or familiar landscapes, but a feathered citizen of the world. This is the essence of a cosmopolitan bird species – one that transcends geographic limitations and thrives in a vast tapestry of habitats across... Read more »
