Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus, 1758)
NT
NIGHE
1040
Family: Pelecaniformes > Ardeidae
With a wide breeding range that extends across much of Eurasia, this is a scarce visitor. While wild birds are typically seen in either April/May or October/November, free-flying birds from collections may also be encountered.
Young Black-crowned Night-Herons often disgorge their stomach contents when disturbed. This habit makes it easy to study their diet.
Select a topic for more facts and statistics about the Night Heron
SEASONALITY
BTO RECORDS
Identification
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Browse training coursesStatus and Trends
Population size and trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO surveys and atlases with data collected by BTO volunteers.
CONSERVATION STATUS
This species can be found on the following statutory and conservation listings and schedules.
| Species of European Conservation Concern | Least Concern |
| IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (global) |
Least Concern 
|
| Schedule 1 license required (to disturb) | No |
| Birds Directive Annex 1 | No |
POPULATION SIZE
We have no population estimates for this scarce species.
| BOU Category | A |
|
First Record
|
London, 1782 |
DISTRIBUTION
This scarce visitor is too rarely reported to map distribution.
-
Britain and Ireland Breeding Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore. -
Britain and Ireland Winter Distribution 2008-2011.
More from the Atlas Mapstore.
Occupied 10-km squares in UK
| No. occupied in winter | 5 |
| % occupied in winter | 0.2 |
European Distribution Map
DISTRIBUTION CHANGE
This scarce visitor is too rarely reported to map distribution change.
| % change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11) | --16.7% |
Movement
Information about movement and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.
RINGING RECOVERIES
View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report.
Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland
Biology
Lifecycle and body size information about Night Heron, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.
PRODUCTIVITY & NESTING
Sample sizes are too small to report Productivity and Nesting statistics for this species.
BIOMETRICS
Sample sizes are too small to report Biometrics for this species.
Feather measurements and photos on featherbase
CODES & CLASSIFICATION
|
Field Codes
|
2-letter: NT | 5-letter code: NIGHE | Euring: 1040 |
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Links to more studies from ConservationEvidence.com
- Relocation of a large black-crowned night heron colony in southern California
- Technical measures to protect fish ponds and fish farms against the heron Ardea cinerea
- Effectiveness of barriers, pyrotechnics, flashing lights, and Scarey Man® for deterring heron predation on fish
Read more studies about Night Heron on Conservation Evidence >
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