<< Previous Next >>

Black-crowned Night Heron


Black-crowned Night Heron
Photo Information
Copyright: Peter van Zoest (PeterZ) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2013-09-22
Categories: Birds
Camera: Nikon D90, Sigma 135-400mm f/4.5-5.6 APO, Digital RAW
Exposure: f/9.0, 1/4000 seconds
Details: Tripod: Yes
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2014-08-30 7:01
Viewed: 2016
Points: 28
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Night Herons can be seen in many parts of the world. Similarly, this species, the Night Heron. Common in the Pantanal.

The Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax; Chinese: 夜鷺; pinyin: yèlù ) commonly abbreviated to just Night Heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, except in the coldest regions and Australasia (where replaced by the closely related Rufous Night Heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact).

Description
Adults are approximately 64 cm long and weigh 800 g. They have a black crown and back with the remainder of the body white or grey, red eyes, and short yellow legs. Young birds are brown, flecked with white and grey. These are short-necked and stout herons.

Distribution
The breeding habitat is fresh and salt-water wetlands throughout much of the world. The subspecies N. n. hoactli breeds in North and South America from Canada as far south as northern Argentina and Chile, N. n. obscurus in southernmost South America, N. n. falklandicus in the Falkland Islands, and the nominate race N. n. nycticorax in Europe, Asia and Africa. Black-crowned Night Herons nest in colonies on platforms of sticks in a group of trees, or on the ground in protected locations such as islands or reedbeds. Three to eight eggs are laid.

This heron is migratory in the northernmost part of its range, but otherwise resident (even in the cold Patagonia). The North American population winters in Mexico, the southern United States, Central America, and the West Indies, and the Old World birds winter in tropical Africa and southern Asia.

Behaviour
These birds stand still at the water's edge and wait to ambush prey, mainly at night or early morning. They primarily eat small fish, crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects, small mammals and small birds. During the day they rest in trees or bushes. N. n. hoactli is more gregarious outside the breeding season than the nominate race.

Etymology
The scientific name, Nycticorax, means "night raven", and refers to this species' nocturnal habits and harsh crow-like call.

Source: Wikipedia
Hotelcalifornia, oscarromulus, Alan_Kolnik, imageme, CeltickRanger has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekNature members may write critiques.
Discussions
None
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

hyallo Peter alweer een super goed genomen foto zo in de vlucht
goed van scherpte en super kleuren
bedankt weer
gr lou

Hello Peter,
It's very tough to capture a flying bird's picture.Very rare I try and get perfect shot.You have captured this Night Heron well.I like its eye.Nice sharpness with splendid light.
Thanks for sharing,
Regards and have a nice WE,
Srikumar

Ciao Peter, great capture of fantastic in-flight heron, perfect focus, fine details and splendid sharpness, very well done, my friend, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2014-08-30 9:08]

Hi Peter,another excellent in flight capture,perfect exposure and detail despite the fast mouvement,i like the wings position too.Have a nice evening and thanks,Luciano

Peter,
Your notes ... man, oh! MAN!!! GREAT STUFF!!!
Love your work.
Absolute dedication to this your hobby!!!
Once more: 10/10
Kind regards,
Mario.

This shows what must be the distinguishing feature of this bird well - the "black crown". Hard to take such a sharp image of a bird in flight - well done!

Hello Peter,
Lovely inflight catch,excellent focus and fine details.
Thanks for sharing,
Best regards.....Joy

Another superb Flying shot! Brilliant colours stunning details.

Roberto

Hi Peter, Super night heron in flight shot. Great details and sharpness. Thank for sharing
Anna

  • Great 
  • john1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 122 W: 0 N: 439] (3410)
  • [2014-09-01 9:43]

Hi Peter,

Excellent action shot Peter, great détails and sharpness.
Wonderful timing not evident with the birds in fly, perfect job.
Congratulations.
John vantighem

  • Great 
  • iti Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 577 W: 0 N: 650] (7939)
  • [2014-09-02 10:56]

Hi Peter,
Another great image of flying bird. Nice colours and sharpness details.
Again fantastic contrast against the blue background.
Regards Jiri.

  • Great 
  • tuslaw Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2754 W: 282 N: 4931] (19883)
  • [2014-09-02 18:49]

Hello Peter,
I haven't been able to capture this particular bird yet, so I am thrilled to see you were able to photographed one while inflight. Not an easy task anytime, but you make it look easy. Nicely framed while showing beautiful color and sharp focus. I love the bright red eye!!
Ron

EXCELLENT capture in the flight.The light on the head makes the red eye very clearly visible and good eye contact also.

Hello Peter

Sometimes the sun's light it does not help us
with doing shadows on the body of birds/animals
with took in photo, but here it gives a beautiful
effect with the wings and body's underparts in
shadow and with the head and eye in the light, TFS

Asbed

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF