Black Heron vs Ascension Night-heron
Egretta ardesiaca compared with Nycticorax olsoni
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Attribute | Black Heron | Ascension Night-heron |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Egretta ardesiaca | Nycticorax olsoni |
| Order | Pelecaniformes | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae | Ardeidae |
| Conservation Status | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
| Length | — | — |
| Wingspan | 49.0 cm (19.3 in) | — |
| Weight | 330.0 g (11.64 oz) | 624.57 g (22.03 oz) |
| Diet | -- | -- |
| Clutch Size | 2-4 | -- |
| Population Trend | — | — |
Habitat Comparison
Conservation Status
Black Heron
Ascension Night-heron
About These Birds
Black Heron
The Black Heron is a medium-sized, all-black heron famous for its unique canopy-feeding technique, in which it spreads its wings like an umbrella over the water to create shade and attract fish. It inhabits shallow freshwater lakes, marshes, and flooded grasslands across sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It feeds primarily on small fish and aquatic invertebrates attracted to the shade created by its distinctive wing canopy.
Ascension Night-heron
The Ascension Night-heron was a flightless heron known from subfossil remains on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. Weighing an estimated 624g, it was likely driven to extinction by human activity and introduced predators. It is currently listed as Not Evaluated by conservation assessments.