Education | Conservation | Advocacy

Facebook Instagram Youtube

Manatee County

Audubon Society

Black-crowned Night Heron

Return to Bird Directory

Name

Black-crowned Night Heron

Scientific Name

(Nycticorax nycticorax)

Why they are special:
  • A secretive, stocky heron that comes to life in the evening hours.

  • Known for its striking black crown and back contrasted with pale underparts.

  • At Felts, spotting one roosting quietly in the daytime is always a treat.
Size and color:
  • A medium-sized heron, about 23–28 inches long with a wingspan of 45–48 inches.

  • Adults: gray wings, white underparts, black crown and back, with red eyes and yellow legs.

  • Juveniles: streaked brown overall, resembling bitterns, with orange eyes.
Seasonality in Florida:
  • Found year-round in Florida.

  • At Felts, they may be less visible in the day but emerge at dusk to forage.
Habitat:
  • Prefer wetlands, ponds, marshes, and mangrove edges.

  • Roost in trees and shrubs during the day, often near water.
Diet:
  • Feed on fish, crustaceans, frogs, insects, and small mammals, usually at dusk and night.

  • Hunt patiently, standing still at water’s edge before striking.
Behavior:
  • More nocturnal than most herons, often active at dawn, dusk, and night.

  • Roost communally in trees, sometimes with other herons.

  • Flight is strong and direct, with slow wingbeats.
Conservation notes:
  • Populations are stable in Florida but rely on healthy wetlands for feeding and roosting.

  • Sensitive to water pollution and habitat loss.
Best time to see:
  • Evenings or early mornings, when they leave their roosts to hunt.

  • During the day, look carefully in shaded trees at Felts for resting individuals.
Fun Fact:
  • Black-crowned Night Herons are one of the most widespread heron species in the world, found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
MANATEE COUNTY WEATHER

More Information

Click For More Information

Latest Articles