Black-crowned Night HeronBlack-crowned Night Heron -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 25 inches | Wingspan: 45 inches | Seasonality: Summer |
| ID Keys: Black cap and back, gray wings, red eyes, white underparts | ||
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa nycticorax
The Black-crowned is the Night Heron most likely to be seen in South Dakota. Less solitary than the Yellow-crowned Night Heron, they are often seen in large groups during the day, sitting motionless in trees or thickets. Black-crowned Night Herons are also more nocturnal of the two species, feeding primarily at night. A mature Black-crowned Night Heron is pictured to the right, while a juvenile is depicted at the bottom of the page.
Habitat: Wide variety of fresh and salt-water habitats.
Diet: Omnivorous, feeding on fish, crustaceans, insects, amphibians, small rodents, small reptiles, small birds, and occasionally plant material.
Nesting: June and July
Breeding Map: Breeding Bird Survey Map
Song: Black-crowned Night Heron Song.
Migrations: Summers throughout much of the U.S. and southern Canada. Winters along U.S. coasts, Mexico, and Central America.
Similar Species: Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Status: Expanding in both range and numbers after declining in the mid-20th century.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Black-crowned Night Heron
2) Cornell University's "All About Birds - Black-crowned Night Heron"
3) eNature.com: Black-crowned Night Heron
Photo Information: May 14th, 2004 -- Lake Preston -- Terry Sohl
Additional Photos: Click on the image chips or text links below for additional, higher-resolution Black-crowned Night Heron photos.
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| South Dakota Status: Common migrant and summer breeding resident in the northeast part of the state, uncommon migrant and breeder in the rest of the east. Rare migrant in the western part of the state. |
| Additional Black-crowned Night Heron photos | |||
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| Black-crowned Night Heron 1 | Black-crowned Night Heron 2 | Black-crowned Night Heron 3 | Black-crowned Night Heron 4 |
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| Black-crowned Night Heron 6 |
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Range Map Reference: NatureServe
Click here for other references used to compile this page
Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08
