Black-Crowned Night Heron

The first Black-crowned Night Heron arrived with a serious wing and shoulder injury that occurred in the wild, leaving it unable to return to its natural habitat. It became part of the collection in 2016.

The second heron was born in captivity at the Salisbury Zoo on April 13, 2005. It was later transferred to CuriOdyssey in 2016.

Interesting Facts About Black-crowned Night Herons

Black-crowned Night Herons are highly skilled at a hunting technique often called “still fishing.” They can remain completely motionless for long periods while standing in shallow water, resting on pilings during high tide, or waiting on floating docks.

While patiently watching their surroundings, they wait for the right moment to strike. Once prey comes within reach, they quickly extend their sharp bills into the water to capture small fish.

The bird’s scientific name, Nycticorax, means “night raven.” This name refers to the heron’s habit of being active after dark and its call, which resembles the sound of a raven.

What Do Herons Eat?

Black-crowned Night Herons have a varied diet and feed on many different types of animals.

Their natural food sources include fish, aquatic insects and other invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals.

At CuriOdyssey, the herons receive a specially prepared diet that includes smelt, softened kibble, hard-boiled eggs, and mealworms.

How Long Do Herons Live?

In their natural environment, Black-crowned Night Herons usually live for about 5 to 10 years.

When cared for in captivity with proper nutrition and veterinary support, they can live much longer, commonly reaching 10 to 17 years.

Habitat and Distribution

Black-crowned Night Herons live in a variety of wetland environments, including freshwater areas and brackish marshes.

They have a very wide global distribution and can be found on most continents except Australia, as well as regions dominated by taiga forests and tundra.

In the Americas, their range extends from southern Canada through Central America and into South America.

Conservation Status

Black-crowned Night Herons are protected under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

Although they are not currently considered endangered, these protections help safeguard the species and support the conservation of their wetland habitats.