Black-crowned Night Heron vs Forest Bittern

Nycticorax nycticorax compared with Zonerodius heliosylus

Side-by-Side Comparison

Attribute Black-crowned Night Heron Forest Bittern
Scientific Name Nycticorax nycticorax Zonerodius heliosylus
Order Pelecaniformes Pelecaniformes
Family Ardeidae Ardeidae
Conservation Status Least Concern Near Threatened
Length
Wingspan 57.1 cm (22.5 in) 60.6 cm (23.9 in)
Weight 779.425 g (27.49 oz) 802.0 g (28.29 oz)
Diet -- --
Clutch Size 1-8 --
Population Trend

Habitat Comparison

Shared Habitats

Black-crowned Night Heron only

Forest Bittern only

Conservation Status

Least Concern

Black-crowned Night Heron

Near Threatened

Forest Bittern

About These Birds

Black-crowned Night Heron

The Black-crowned Night Heron is a stocky, medium-sized heron with a distinctive black crown and back, grey wings, and white underparts, found on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. It inhabits a wide range of wetlands including marshes, swamps, rivers, and coastal areas, feeding nocturnally on fish, frogs, invertebrates, and small mammals. It nests colonially in trees or shrubs near water.

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