BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

864*            BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON               Nycticorax nycticorax  

USA            17

The black-crowned night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North and South America. In Australasia it is replaced by the closely related Nankeen night heron (N. caledonicus), with which it has hybridised in the area of contact.

NANKEEN NIGHT HERON

 

Photographed at Upokongaro, North Island, New Zealand, February 2024

(*198)                 NANKEEN NIGHT HERON                 Nycticorax caledonicus

NEW ZEALAND                    135

Very rare native. Found on the margins of freshwater wetlands or tidal lagoons. Vagrant until it started breeding on Whangaanui River in 1990s. Breeds October to March.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Subspecies nycticorax, March 2017

(*   864)               BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON                   Nycticorax nycticorax

SRI LANKA              93

found in marshes, mangroves, and other vegetation at edges of rivers, tanks and lagoons, and tree-covered islands. 58-65 cm. fairly common breeding resident throughout the lowlands up to the lower hills, occasionally in higher hills.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON

Photographed in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 2017

(* 864)                 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON                   Nycticorax nycticorax

NEPAL              98

Found in ponds, lakes and tanks. 58-65 cm. Locally common summer visitor and resident.

MALAYSIAN NIGHT HERON

960               MALAYSIAN NIGHT HERON              Gorsachius melanolophus

AUSTRALIA (Christmas Island)             692

Also known as Malayan Night Heron or Tiger Bittern. 48 cm; wingspan 86 cm. Found in forests, streams, and marshes.  Range: India, Sri Lanka, Brunei, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Japan; vagrant in Christmas Island and Palau.

Christmas Island, January 2023