Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Introduction

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.

Key Stats

Status

Rare

Weight

650g

Seasonality

<1%

BTO Records

5k records

Population and distribution stats for:

No data

No current data

No current data

No data

No current data

-16.7% contraction

Status and Trends

Population size, trends and patterns of distribution based on BTO and partnership surveys and atlasses with data collected by BTO volunteers.

Conservation Status

Open Close

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 Licence required (to disturb)*

Birds Directive Annex 1

* A guide only. Check details with the original legislation, especially those marked with an asterisk. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Size

Open Close

BOU Category

Source

First Record*

London, 1782

* First documented occurrence. Most species undoubtedly occurred before this. See About Birdfacts for more information.

Population Change

Open Close

Small numbers of Night Heron are seen on migration in the UK on an annual basis, typically concentrated in the south of England [White & Kehoe 2024], but these will be outnumbered by records of free-flying birds of captive origin. The first confirmed breeding of Night Heron in the UK took place in Somerset in 2017 and the species is now considered to be a colonising breeder [Eaton & the Rare Breeding Birds Panel 2023a]. The species is suspected to be decreasing across Europe [BirdLife International 2021].

Distribution

Open Close

This scarce visitor is too rarely reported to map distribution.

Occupied 10-km squares in UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007 and indicate how widespread a species is.

No. occupied in winter

% occupied in winter

0.2%

Bird Atlas distribution maps show where bird species breed or winter in Britain and Ireland. For breeding maps, larger dots indicate higher certainty the species bred in that area.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

Click the map to enlarge,
or view it on Bird Atlas Mapstore.

To view and download up-to-date distribution information aggregated from across BTO and partnership surveys and schemes, see our data holdings on the NBN Atlas.

European Distribution Map

European Breeding Bird Atlas 2

Distribution Change

Open Close

This scarce visitor is too rarely reported to map distribution change.

Change in occupied 10-km squares in the UK

These figures come from Bird Atlas 2007-11 and indicate by how much occupied areas have expanded or contracted over recent decades.

% change in range in winter (1981–84 to 2007–11)

-16.7 %

Seasonality

Open Close

This species has been too rarely reported to BirdTrack during 2011–22 to properly assess seasonality.

Movement

Information about Night Heron movements and migration based on online bird portals (e.g. BirdTrack), Ringing schemes and tracking studies.

Britain & Ireland movement

Open Close

View a summary of recoveries in the Online Ringing Report

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

Dots show the foreign destinations of birds ringed in Britain & Ireland, and the origins of birds ringed overseas that were subsequently recaptured, resighted or found dead in Britain & Ireland. Dot colours indicate the time of year that the species was present at the location.

Winter (Nov-Feb)
Spring (Mar-Apr)
Summer (May-Jul)
Autumn (Aug-Oct)

Foreign locations of birds ringed or recovered in Britain & Ireland

European movements

Open Close

EuroBirdPortal uses birdwatcher's records, such as those logged in BirdTrack to map the flows of birds as they arrive and depart Europe. See maps for this species here.

The Eurasian-African Migration Atlas shows movements of individual birds ringed or recovered in Europe. See maps for this species here.

Biology

Lifecycle and body size information for Night Heron, including statistics on nesting, eggs and lifespan based on BTO ringing and nest recording data.

Survival and Longevity

Open Close

Survival is shown as the proportion of birds surviving from one year to the next and is derived from bird ringing data. It can also be used to estimate how long birds typically live.

View number ringed each year in the Online Ringing Report.

Classification, names and codes

Taxonomy, names and species codes for Night Heron

Classification and Codes

Open Close

Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Scientific name: Nycticorax nycticorax
Authority: Linnaeus, 1758

BTO 2-letter code: NT
BTO 5-letter code: NIGHE
Euring code number: 1040

Alternate species names

Open Close

Catalan: martinet de nit comú
Czech: kvakoš nocní
Danish: Nathejre
Dutch: Kwak
Estonian: ööhaigur
Finnish: yöhaikara
French: Bihoreau gris

German: Nachtreiher
Hungarian: bakcsó
Icelandic: Nátthegri
Irish: Corr Oíche
Italian: Nitticora
Latvian: nakts garnis
Lithuanian: paprastasis naktikovis
Norwegian: Natthegre

Polish: slepowron (zwyczajny)
Portuguese: socó-dorminhoco / goraz
Slovak: chavkoš nocný
Slovenian: kvakac
Spanish: Martinete común
Swedish: natthäger
Welsh: Crëyr Nos

More Evidence

More evidence from Conservation Evidence.com

Partners

Birdfacts is based on data collected by volunteers participating in surveys that are organised and funded by BTO, RSPB, Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, JNCC and other partners.

BTO

Esmée Fairbairn Foundation

JNCC

RSPB

Find a Species

Search by common or scientific name

Or view the alphabetical list of UK bird species