BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Nycticorax nycticorax

English: Black-crowned Night Heron.
German: Nachtreiher.
French: Bihoreau gris.

Clasificación/Clasification

Order: Pelecaniformes.
Family: Ardeidae.

Longitud/Length

58-65 cm

Envergadura/Wingspan

90-100 cm

Aves relacionadas/Similar species

There is no possible confusion with any other species in the Iberian Peninsula.

Sexo/Sexing

Both males and females have very similar plumage, making their differentiation impossible.

As a general rule, males have longer and more numerous ornamental feathers than females.

Edad/Ageing

It is possible to recognize 4 different ages:

Juvenile specimen: They have a general plumage in dark brown tones with light streaks. The ventral area is bathed in light brown tones with darker brown streaking. The bill is yellowish, and the eyes are yellow.

2nd-year specimen: With a design reminiscent of the adult specimen, but the black parts lack gloss. The sides of the neck are streaked with brown. The outer primaries and some of the inner secondaries are retained juveniles. The bill has a yellowish tinge, and the eyes are brown-red.

3rd-year specimen: Some individuals resemble adults but retain some juvenile outer primaries and middle secondaries.

Adult specimen: The upper parts are glossy black. They lack streaking on the sides of the neck. The bill is black, and the eyes are intensely reddish.

Muda/Moult

The Black-crowned Night Heron undergoes a complete postnuptial molt, which usually finishes in November. On the other hand, the post-juvenile molt is a partial process, limited to body feathers in their wintering areas.

Configuración del plumaje/Plumage configuration

Primaries: 10 per wing.
Secundaries: 17-18 per wing.
Rectrices: 12.

Observaciones/Remarks

Link: http://blascozumeta.com/

La obtención de este material ha sido posible gracias al permiso necesario de la Junta de Andalucía.

AUTORIZACIÓN DE LA DIRECCIÓN GENERAL DE MEDIO NATURAL, BIODIVERSIDAD Y ESPACIOS PROTEGIDOS DE LA CONSEJERÍA DE AGRICULTURA, GANADERÍA, PESCA Y DESARROLLO SOSTENIBLE DE LA JUNTA DE ANDALUCÍA, PARA LA CESIÓN DE MUESTRAS BIOLÓGICAS DE ESPECIES DE FAUNA (ARTÍCULO 9 DE LA LEY 8/2003, DE 28 DE OCTUBRE, DE LA FLORA Y LA FAUNA SILVESTRES).

Medidas/Measures

Biometría/Biometrics

Adult specimen:
Beak tip to pupil center: 103mm
Tarsus:

Adult specimen

1.- Left-wing primaries. 2.- Details of the inner vane of P1, P2, P3, P4, and P5. 3.- Details of the inner vane of P6, P7, P8, P9, and P10. 4.- Details of P9 and P10. 5.- Details of the inner vane of P4, P5, and P6. 6.- Left-wing primaries. 7.- Details of the shaft of the primaries. 8.- Details of the outer vane of the primaries. 9.- Details of the outer vane of P9 and P10. 10.- Details of the tip of the primaries. 11.- Details of the tip of the primaries. 12.- Details of the outer vane of the inner primaries. 13.- Secondaries (S17-S9). 14.- Secondaries (S8-S1). 15.- Details of the inner vane of S5, S4, S3, S2, and S1. 16.- Details of the inner vane of S17, S16, S15, S14, and S13. 17.- Left-wing secondaries and tertials. 18.- Details of the shaft of the secondaries. 19.- Details of the outer vane of the secondaries. 20.- Details of the tip of the secondaries. 21.- Details of the tip of the tertials. 22.- Details of the tertials. 23.- Right-wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 24.- Right-wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. 25.- Right-wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts. 26.- Details of the primary coverts. 27.- Details of the primary coverts. 28.- Details of the greater coverts. 29.- Right-wing primaries, secondaries, and tertials. Primary coverts + greater coverts + median coverts. 30.- Details of the median coverts. 31.- Right-wing primaries, secondaries, tertials. Primary coverts and secondary coverts (G, M, and L). Alulas. 32.- Details of the secondary coverts. 33.- Primary coverts. 34.- Greater coverts. 35.- Alulas. 36.- Tail feathers. 37.- Details of the inner vane of the tail feathers. 38.- Tail feathers. 39.- Details of the shaft of the tail feathers. 40.- Details of the outer vane of the tail feathers. 41.- Details of the tip of the tail feathers. 42.- Tail feathers + uppertail coverts. 43.- Details of the uppertail coverts. 44.- Uppertail coverts. 45.- Tail feathers + undertail coverts. 46.- Details of the undertail coverts. 47.- Undertail coverts. 48.- Assembly of the left scapula. 49.- Details of the left scapula. 50.- Feathers of the scapula. 51.- Infracoverts. 52.- Infracoverts. 53.- Assembly and feathers of the back. 54.- Feathers of the crown. 55.- Assembly of the ornamental feathers of the nape. 56.- Ornamental feathers of the nape. 57.- Details of an ornamental feather. 58.- Chest feathers.

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON

Medidas/Measures

Adult specimen

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