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Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a striking bird known for its distinctive red eyes and black crown, thriving in wetlands across the globe except in Australia and polar regions. Renowned for its twilight hunting habits, this heron captivates birdwatchers and wildlife enthusiasts alike with its unique appearance and behavior.

Parc nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies - 2020-06-07
Location: Parc nature de la Pointe-aux-Prairies
Date: 2020-06-07
Camera: NIKON Z6
Lens: NIKKOR 300mm
Settings: f5.6 • 1/1250 • ISO 100
Focal Length: 420mm
Parc des Rapides - 2017-10-21
Location: Parc des Rapides
Date: 2017-10-21
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1600 • ISO 1000
Focal Length: 600mm
Moulin Légaré - 2017-09-02
Location: Moulin Légaré
Date: 2017-09-02
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 250
Focal Length: 600mm
Moulin Légaré - 2017-09-02
Location: Moulin Légaré
Date: 2017-09-02
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 280
Focal Length: 600mm
Moulin Légaré - 2017-09-02
Location: Moulin Légaré
Date: 2017-09-02
Camera: NIKON D500
Lens: TAMRON 150-600mm
Settings: f/6.3 • 1/1250 • ISO 320
Focal Length: 600mm
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Common Names

🇨🇦Black-crowned Night Heron
🇫🇷Bihoreau gris
🇩🇪Nachtreiher
🇲🇽Martinete común

Taxonomy

OrderPelecaniformes
FamilyArdeidae

Characteristics

Length58–66cm
Weight520-700g
Wingspan105–118cm
Clutch Size3-5 eggs
Incubation24-26 days
Fledging6-7 weeks
Sexual Maturity2-3 years

Explore More

📖 Wikipedia Page: For more information about this species.

Identification and Whereabouts

Look for the distinctive black cap, white body, and striking red eyes. Juvenile birds are brownish, with darker areas that will eventually turn to dark grey, yet they already possess the characteristic red eyes.

I first observed Black-crowned Night Herons in St. Eustache. Rapids Park Lachine is another location where they are frequently seen, often concealed within trees near the water where they prefer to fish. For photography enthusiasts, St. Eustache offers better opportunities as the herons tend to come quite close.

Location Spring Summer Autumn Winter
Parc Angrignon - x - -
Parc de la Frayère - x - -
Parc des Rapides - x - -
Parc Nature Pointe aux Prairies x - - -

"x" indicates the species was observed, while "-" indicates no observation. Lack of observation doesn't necessarily imply that the species is absent. Data is derived from our park visit journals.

Captured Moments

Videos are hosted on YouTube. Click on a thumbnail to watch it.

All content on this page — including photos, videos, and field audio recordings — was created by Karl-Heinz Müller, a Montréal-based wildlife filmmaker, sound recordist, and photographer. Founder of MUUUH and Québec Sauvage, he has spent over a decade documenting Canada’s natural habitats through immersive soundscapes and wildlife films. Learn more about Karl-Heinz

Last updated: 2025-10-24