Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Identification & Behavior: ~59 cm (23.2 in). The Black-crowned Night-Heron is mostly light gray with shades of buffy. It has a solid black cap and extensive black back. Juveniles are brown with pale streaks and bicolored (greenish and black) bill. The very similar juveniles Yellow-crowned Night-Heron have a thicker and solid dark bill. Also, see Boat-billed Heron.

Status: The Black-crowned Night-Heron is widespread and generally common to uncommon at the edges of coastal, Andean and Amazonian bodies of water. It is a nocturnal heron that day-roosts in loose colonies near the water. It also occurs in Co, Ec, Br, Bo, and Ch.

Name in Spanish: Huaco Común.

Sub-species: Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli) Gmelin, JF, 1789.

Meaning of Name:  Nycticorax: L. nycticoracis=  unknown bird, probably an owl.

See more of the Family Ardeidae