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Birds of Zihuatanejo

CLASS AVES

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Chordates (Phylum Chordata)

-Vertebrates (Subphylum Vertebrata)

-Birds (Class Aves)

-Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies (Order Pelecaniformes)

-Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns (Family Ardeidae)

-Typical Herons and Egrets (Subfamily Ardeinae)

-Nycticorax Night-Herons (Genus Nycticorax)

-Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)


The Nycticorax nycticorax, or Black-crowned Night Heron, is a medium-sized heron that is widely distributed throughout the world. It can be found in wetlands, marshes, swamps, woodlands, and even urban areas. They feed on small fish, aquatic insects, crustaceans, and frogs. They are greyish-brown with a black crown, yellow eyes, and yellowish bill. During mating season, they build nests in trees and shrubs. They are solitary birds that are active during the night and early morning.

Black-crowned Night Heron - Juvenile

Nycticorax nycticorax

Diet

  • Primarily fish, frogs, crayfish, crabs, shrimp, aquatic insects, worms, and other aquatic invertebrates.

  • Also feeds on small mammals, reptiles, birds, eggs, and nestlings when the opportunity arises.

  • Hunts mainly at dusk and night, although it often feeds during the day in shaded areas or while raising young.

Range

  • One of the world's most widespread herons, found throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and parts of South America.

  • In Mexico, it occurs throughout the country, including the Zihuatanejo region, where it is a year-round resident, supplemented by winter migrants from farther north.

  • Inhabits marshes, mangroves, rivers, lakes, ponds, estuaries, coastal lagoons, mudflats, and other freshwater and coastal wetlands.

  • Often roosts communally in trees during the day.

Male / Female

  • Male: Black crown and back, pale grey wings, white to pale gray underparts, red eyes, stout black bill, and (during the breeding season) two or three long white plumes extending from the back of the head. Slightly larger than the female.

  • Female: Very similar in appearance but generally slightly smaller and with shorter breeding plumes.

  • Juveniles: Brown with heavy white spotting above and streaking below, lacking the striking black-and-grey adult plumage.

  • Sexes cannot be reliably distinguished in the field except by subtle size differences.

Size

  • Length: 58–65 cm (23–26 in)

  • Wingspan: 105–112 cm (41–44 in)

  • Weight: 700–1,100 g (1.5–2.4 lb)

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