Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
Embed This Widget
Add the script tag and a data attribute to embed this widget.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<div data-birdfyi="bird" data-slug="ardea-melanocephala"></div>Embed via iframe for maximum compatibility.
<iframe src="https://birdfyi.com/iframe/bird/ardea-melanocephala/" width="420" height="400" frameborder="0" style="border:0;border-radius:10px;max-width:100%" loading="lazy"></iframe>Paste this URL in WordPress, Medium, or any oEmbed-compatible platform.
https://birdfyi.com/bird/ardea-melanocephala/Add a dynamic SVG badge to your README or docs.
[](https://birdfyi.com/bird/ardea-melanocephala/)Use the native HTML custom element.
<script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/birdfyi-embed@1/dist/embed.min.js" defer></script>
<birdfyi-bird slug="ardea-melanocephala"></birdfyi-bird>The Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a bird species in the family Ardeidae (herons & egrets), within the order Pelecaniformes (pelicans & herons). Recorded measurements include a wingspan of 78.3 cm and a weight of 1.4 kg. The IUCN Red List classifies it as Least Concern.
On this page
About
The Black-headed Heron is a large, stately heron with a black crown and hindneck, gray body plumage, and a contrasting white throat and foreneck. It is widespread across sub-Saharan Africa, inhabiting grasslands, marshes, cultivated land, and open country—often far from water compared to other herons. It feeds on insects, frogs, rodents, and small birds, standing motionless or stalking prey on foot.
Physical Description
| Measurement | Value | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Wingspan | 78.3 cm | 30.8 in |
| Weight | 1355.0 g | 47.80 oz |
Habitat & Range
Conservation Status
Behavior & Breeding
Nesting
Incubation: 23-27 days. Fledging: 40-55 days.
Clutch Size
2-6
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes (Pelicans & Herons) |
| Family | Ardeidae (Herons & Egrets) |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Species | Ardea melanocephala |
Distribution
Black-headed Heron has been recorded in 1 countries.
countries highlighted
External Databases
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Black-headed Heron endangered?
How does the Black-headed Heron nest?
How big is the Black-headed Heron?
What order and family does the Black-headed Heron belong to?
Similar Birds
Other species in the Ardeidae family