>> GENERAL >>>>>
– medium-sized heron, considerably smaller and stubbier than Grey Heron
– nocturnal migrant, diurnal movements take place
– migrates singly or in flocks in (loose) formation
>> VISUAL ID >>>>>
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, 1CY
BIF0667, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– stout, medium-sized heron with rather short and strong bill
– upperside base colour of 1CY is uniform brown
– wing coverts and scapulars with white tips
– resembles Eurasian Bittern but note unbarred remiges and shorter legs
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, 1CY
BIF0668, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– typical posture in flight with ‚hanging‘ feet and bill tilted downwards
– body diffusely streaked
– in 1CY bill yellowish, iris yellow
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD
BIF0663, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– typical posture in flight with slightly down-tilted bill
– large orange eye, black bill in full BREED
– upperwing plain grey
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD
BIF0664, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– underwing coverts only slightly contrasting to somewhat darker grey remiges
– body lighter grey
– only toes protruding the tail
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD
BIF0665, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– wings held rather stiff
– flight with rather shallow wingbeats
– black cap and back
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD
BIF0666, 29/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– bill more decurved than in other herons
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD, 1CY
BIF2942, 29/08/2015, Mallorca, Spain, Martin Grimm
– during non-breeding season also AD with yellowish lower mandible
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD, 2CY
BIF0669, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– at distance underwing uniform dark contrasting to the lighter body
– in summer 2CY with retained juvenile feathers, iris already turned dark orange
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD, 2CY
BIF0670, 29/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– white tips to the greater and primary upperwing coverts but greyish lesser and median coverts enable aging as 2CY even at greater distance
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD, 2CY
BIF0671, 29/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
– note the stout appearance
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, AD
BIF0672, 30/06/2010, Kiskunsági, Hungary, Mathias Putze
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, 1CY
BIF0950, 23/10/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
>> ACOUSTIC ID >>>>>
– overview –
– detail –
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, JUV, calls in flight
BIF3583, 11/08/2021, Haselbacher Teiche, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail –
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, JUV, calls in flight
BIF3584, 11/08/2021, Haselbacher Teiche, Germany, Patrick Franke
– overview –
– detail –
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ssp., calls in flight
BIF3137, 12/11/2019, Shirvan NP, Azerbaijan, Georg Rüppel
– overview –
– detail –
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax ssp., calls in flight
BIF2904, 08/12/2018, Tsavo West NP, Kenya, Roland Neumann
– overview –
– detail –
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, calls in flight
BIF0945, 02/10/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
– gaps shortened –
Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax n. nycticorax, calls in flight
BIF0947, 23/09/2011, Besh Barmag, Azerbaijan, Michael Heiß
>> COMPARISON SPECIES >>>>>
Cattle Egret (v)
Squacco Heron (v) (a)
Little Egret (v)
Eurasian Bittern (v) (a)
Little Bittern (a)
#waterbird
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