Perch Supply
Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax. Fish, frogs and crustaceans, hunted mainly after dark.

Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax
Scientific name
Nycticorax nycticorax
Length
22.8–26 in
Weight
25.6–35.8 oz
Nest
Stick nest in trees or reeds, in colonies
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
3–5 eggs
Incubation
21–26 days
Broods
1 per season

Identification

  • Stocky grey heron with a black crown and back
  • Thick bill and short legs
  • Big red eyes

Voice

A barking 'wok' given in flight at night.

Diet and feeding

Fish, frogs and crustaceans, hunted mainly after dark.

What do black-crowned night herons eat? · Best feeder for black-crowned night herons

Black-crowned Night Herons by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaYear-round residentFebruary–July
AlbertaSummer breederApril–July
ArizonaSummer breederFebruary–July
ArkansasYear-round residentMarch–July
CaliforniaYear-round residentFebruary–July
ColoradoSummer breederMarch–July
ConnecticutSummer breederMarch–July
DelawareSummer breederMarch–July
FloridaYear-round residentFebruary–July
GeorgiaYear-round residentFebruary–July
IdahoSummer breederMarch–July
IllinoisSummer breederMarch–July
IndianaSummer breederMarch–July
IowaSummer breederMarch–July
KansasSummer breederMarch–July
KentuckyYear-round residentMarch–July
LouisianaYear-round residentFebruary–July
MaineSummer breederApril–July
ManitobaSummer breederApril–July
MarylandSummer breederMarch–July
MassachusettsSummer breederMarch–July
MichiganSummer breederMarch–July
MinnesotaSummer breederApril–July
MississippiYear-round residentFebruary–July
MissouriSummer breederMarch–July
MontanaSummer breederApril–July
NebraskaSummer breederMarch–July
NevadaSummer breederMarch–July
New HampshireSummer breederApril–July
New JerseySummer breederMarch–July
New MexicoSummer breederMarch–July
New YorkSummer breederMarch–July
North CarolinaYear-round residentMarch–July
North DakotaSummer breederApril–July
OhioSummer breederMarch–July
OklahomaSummer breederMarch–July
OntarioSummer breederApril–July
OregonYear-round residentMarch–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederMarch–July
QuebecSummer breederApril–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederMarch–July
SaskatchewanSummer breederApril–July
South CarolinaYear-round residentFebruary–July
South DakotaSummer breederMarch–July
TennesseeYear-round residentMarch–July
TexasYear-round residentFebruary–July
UtahSummer breederMarch–July
VermontSummer breederApril–July
VirginiaSummer breederMarch–July
WashingtonYear-round residentMarch–July
West VirginiaSummer breederMarch–July
WisconsinSummer breederApril–July
WyomingSummer breederApril–July

Frequently asked

What do black-crowned night herons eat?

Fish, frogs and crustaceans, hunted mainly after dark. At feeders: none — night-hunts ponds and wetlands.

How big is a Black-crowned Night Heron?

22.8–26 in long and 25.6–35.8 oz.

Do black-crowned night herons use birdhouses?

No. Stick nest in trees or reeds, in colonies.

Sources

  1. Black-crowned Night Heron — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Black-crowned Night Heron life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Black-crowned Night Heron — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.