Black‑crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
This photo of a Night Heron was taken in Malaysia. The species is a medium-sized, stocky heron (about 60 cm) with a black crown and back, grey wings, white underside, and striking red eyes. It has a strong black bill, yellowish-green legs, and mainly hunts at night or during twilight along calm waters such as mangroves, lakes, or marshes.
The species is distributed worldwide. In Malaysia it is usually resident year-round and often occurs in larger colonies, making encounters more frequent. In Europe it is mostly migratory, locally distributed, and often noticeably more wary, especially in breeding areas or quiet wetlands. This makes it harder to approach and typically requires more patience and careful fieldcraft for successful wildlife photography.
Black‑crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)
This photo of a Night Heron was taken in Malaysia. The species is a medium-sized, stocky heron (about 60 cm) with a black crown and back, grey wings, white underside, and striking red eyes. It has a strong black bill, yellowish-green legs, and mainly hunts at night or during twilight along calm waters such as mangroves, lakes, or marshes.
The species is distributed worldwide. In Malaysia it is usually resident year-round and often occurs in larger colonies, making encounters more frequent. In Europe it is mostly migratory, locally distributed, and often noticeably more wary, especially in breeding areas or quiet wetlands. This makes it harder to approach and typically requires more patience and careful fieldcraft for successful wildlife photography.