Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Classification

Name(s)
Virginia
Origin
Came from a facility in Virginia in need of a permanent home after the exhibit she lived in was closed. She arrived at the Science Center at 19 years old in 2017. She can be identified by the metal band on her right leg.
Name(s)
Georgetown
Origin
Came from a facility in Georgetown County, South Carolina. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, the exhibit he lived in was closed and he needed a new permanent home. He came to the Science Center around 8 years old in 2019. He can be identified by the gold band on his left leg.

Why They’re Here
As human-raised birds, these herons could not be released into the wild. They now serve as ambassadors for their species.
How You Can Help
Reduce your use of pesticides and plastic waste, both of which impact the waterways and food sources that herons and other wetland birds rely on.

Black-crowned night heron eject their stomach contents when approached by any potential threat. This makes it easy for scientists to study the dietary habits of this bird species.
Black-crowned night heron are dormant during the day; they sit in trees near water in colonies of other birds – not always of the same species – and appear hunched over and motionless. At dusk and at night they are far more active, foraging for food and interacting with other individuals.
Black-crowned night heron are one of seven heron species that use the bait fishing technique. They lure prey by throwing objects into the water and then strike it as it approaches the buoyant object.

What do Black-crowned Night Herons look like?
Black-crowned night herons are medium-sized herons. They appear stocky and hunched over while they roost in trees during the day. They have gray and black plumages on their bodies and crown with long, white head plumes that become erect during courtship displays. Their legs are yellow and short and their eyes are bright red. Male and female night herons look generally the same, except males are slightly larger. Their bills are mostly black.
Where are Black-crowned Night Herons found?
Black-crowned night heron live among marches and shores of both freshwater and saltwater areas. They roost in trees, thickets, or on ground. They are usually found on islands or above water. Black-crowned night heron are found all over the world, with the exception of cold regions in Australia. In North America, they winter in Mexico and parts of the southern United States and breed throughout the United States.
What do Black-crowned Night Herons eat?
Black-crowned night heron eat mostly fish, but they will also feed on squid, crustaceans, insects, frogs, snakes, mollusks, and small rodents. They are also known to feed on eggs and young birds.