Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-crowned Night HeronBlack-crowned Night HeronBlack-crowned Night HeronBlack-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic

LCLeast ConcernNTVUENCR
Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
at São Paulo

In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%

1,904 Verified sightings at São Paulo
22,864 In all 139 parks From 2019 to 2026
April Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Black-crowned Night Heron

The black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America. In Australasia it is replaced by the closely related Nankeen night heron (N. caledonicus), with which it has hybridised in the area of contact.

The black-crowned night heron was formally described by the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758 in the tenth edition of his Systema Naturae. He placed it with herons, cranes and egrets in the genus Ardea and coined the binomial name Ardea nycticorax, based on specimens from southern Europe. It is now placed in the genus Nycticorax that was described in 1817 by the English naturalist Thomas Forster for this species. The epithet nycticorax is from Ancient Greek and combines nux, nuktos meaning "night" and korax meaning "raven". The word was used by authors such as Aristotle and Hesychius of Miletus for a "bird of ill omen", perhaps an owl. The word was used by the Swiss naturalist Conrad Gessner in 1555 and then by subsequent authors for a black-crowned... Wikipedia →

Sounds

Flight call0:12

Belgium · 2026

© Thijs Calu · XC1181689 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Call0:17

France · 2026

© Thierry THOMAS · XC1179261 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Recording0:30

France · 2026

© Julien Bottinelli · XC1179241 · CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Parque Estadual Encontro das Águas 🇧🇷 Brazil
~60%
2 Keoladeo National Park 🇮🇳 India
~60%
3 Channel Islands National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~50%
4 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
~40%
5 Big Cypress National Preserve 🇺🇸 United States
~40%
6 El Vizcaíno Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~40%
7 Iberá National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~30%
8 Palo Verde National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~30%
9 Doñana National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~30%
10 Hortobágy National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~30%
11 Lago de Yojoa 🇭🇳 Honduras
~30%
12 Yala National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~30%
13 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~30%
14 Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary 🇲🇾 Malaysia
~30%
15 Ciénaga de Zapata 🇨🇺 Cuba
~20%
16 Ranthambore National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
17 Kiskunság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~20%
18 Ría Lagartos Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~20%
19 Caroni Swamp 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
~20%
20 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
~20%
21 Sundarbans National Park 🇮🇳 India
~20%
22 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
~20%
23 Camargue 🇫🇷 France
~20%
24 Los Haitises National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~20%
25 Lauca National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
~10%
26 De Hoop Nature Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
~10%
27 Everglades National Park 🇺🇸 United States
~10%
28 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
29 Carara National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
~10%
30 Cerro Azul Meámbar National Park 🇭🇳 Honduras
~10%
31 Bahía de Loreto National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
32 Fertő-Hanság National Park 🇭🇺 Hungary
~10%
33 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
~10%
34 Udawalawe National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
35 Península Valdés 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
36 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
~10%
37 Monfragüe National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
38 Tierra del Fuego National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
39 Iguaçu National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
40 Cat Tien National Park 🇻🇳 Vietnam
~10%
41 Machalilla National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
~10%
42 Tijuca National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
~10%
43 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
~10%
44 Way Kambas National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
~10%
45 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
46 El Impenetrable National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
47 Ankarafantsika National Park 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~10%
48 Celestún Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
49 Iguazú National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
50 Chitwan National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
~10%
51 Wilpattu National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
~10%
52 Berenty Reserve 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~10%
53 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
54 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
~10%
55 Satpura National Park 🇮🇳 India
~10%
56 Cañón del Sumidero National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
~10%
57 Manu National Park 🇵🇪 Peru
~10%
58 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
~10%
59 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
~10%
60 Jaragua National Park 🇩🇴 Dominican Republic
~10%
61 Nahuel Huapi National Park 🇦🇷 Argentina
~10%
62 Main Ridge Forest Reserve 🇹🇹 Trinidad and Tobago
<5%
63 Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
64 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
65 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
66 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
67 West Coast National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
68 Death Valley National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
69 Tangkoko Nature Reserve 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
70 Yasuní National Park 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
71 Minneriya National Park 🇱🇰 Sri Lanka
<5%
72 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
73 Cuyabeno Wildlife Reserve 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
74 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
75 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
76 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
77 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
78 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
79 Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park 🇨🇱 Chile
<5%
80 Parque Natural Metropolitano 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
81 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
82 Serra dos Órgãos National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
83 Kaeng Krachan National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
84 Henri Pittier National Park 🇻🇪 Venezuela
<5%
85 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
<5%
86 Amacayacu National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
87 Bali Barat National Park 🇮🇩 Indonesia
<5%
88 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
89 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
90 Anavilhanas National Park 🇧🇷 Brazil
<5%
91 Gobi Gurvansaikhan National Park 🇲🇳 Mongolia
<5%
92 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
93 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
94 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
95 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
<5%
96 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
<5%
97 Royal Bardia National Park 🇳🇵 Nepal
<5%
98 Nagarhole National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
99 Bandipur National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
100 Sierra de la Macarena National Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
101 Manuel Antonio National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
102 Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
103 Kaziranga National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
104 Manas National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
105 Big Bend National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
106 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
107 Doi Inthanon National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
108 Tayrona National Natural Park 🇨🇴 Colombia
<5%
109 uMkhuze Game Reserve 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
110 Khao Yai National Park 🇹🇭 Thailand
<5%
111 Ostional Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
112 Redwood National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
113 Bandhavgarh National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
114 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
115 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
<5%
116 Tortuguero National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
117 Saguaro National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
118 Cahuita National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
119 Point Pelee National Park 🇨🇦 Canada
<5%
120 Białowieża National Park 🇵🇱 Poland
<5%
121 Gandoca-Manzanillo Wildlife Refuge 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
122 Congaree National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
123 Padre Island National Seashore 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
124 Las Baulas Marine National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
125 Chagres National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
126 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
<5%
127 Kanha National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
128 Tambopata National Reserve 🇵🇪 Peru
<5%
129 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
<5%
130 Cumbres de Monterrey National Park 🇲🇽 Mexico
<5%
131 Periyar National Park 🇮🇳 India
<5%
132 Tikal National Park 🇬🇹 Guatemala
<5%
133 Soberanía National Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
134 Bastimentos Island National Marine Park 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
135 La Amistad International Park (Panama) 🇵🇦 Panama
<5%
136 Rocky Mountain National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%
137 Galápagos Islands 🇪🇨 Ecuador
<5%
138 Arenal Volcano National Park 🇨🇷 Costa Rica
<5%
139 Acadia National Park 🇺🇸 United States
<5%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Antananarivo 🇲🇬 Madagascar
~80%
2 Ningbo 🇨🇳 China
~70%
3 Riyadh 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia
~60%
4 Taichung 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~60%
5 Jinhua 🇨🇳 China
~60%
6 Shanghai 🇨🇳 China
~60%
7 Taipei 🇹🇼 Taiwan
~50%
8 Nanchang 🇨🇳 China
~50%
9 Hajipur 🇮🇳 India
~50%
10 Chengdu 🇨🇳 China
~50%

Zoos & Centres Where Found

# Zoo / Centre Country
1 Pairi Daiza 🇧🇪 Belgium In captivity
2 Prague Zoo 🇨🇿 Czechia In captivity
3 ZooParc de Beauval 🇫🇷 France In captivity
4 Leipzig Zoological Garden 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
5 Natura Artis Magistra 🇳🇱 Netherlands In captivity
6 Parque das Aves 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
7 Barcelona Zoo 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
8 Réserve africaine de Sigean 🇫🇷 France In captivity
9 Abilene Zoological Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
10 Aquarium de Lyon 🇫🇷 France In captivity
11 Ecomuseum Zoo 🇨🇦 Canada In captivity
12 San Diego Zoo Safari Park 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
13 Beijing Wildlife Park 🇨🇳 China In captivity
14 Taipei Zoo 🇹🇼 Taiwan In captivity
15 Living Desert Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
16 Bronx Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
17 Zoológico de Brasília 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
18 Parc animalier de Sainte-Croix 🇫🇷 France In captivity
19 Squam Lakes Natural Science Center 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
20 Sedgwick County Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
21 Nanjing Hongshan Forest Zoo 🇨🇳 China In captivity
22 Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
23 São Paulo Zoo 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
24 Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park 🇮🇳 India In captivity
25 Chongqing Zoo 🇨🇳 China In captivity
26 Mysore Zoo 🇮🇳 India In captivity
27 Kyiv Zoo 🇺🇦 Ukraine In captivity
28 Saint Louis Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
29 Caldwell Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
30 Terra Natura Benidorm 🇪🇸 Spain In captivity
31 Woodland Park Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
32 Wrocław Zoological Garden 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
33 San Francisco Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
34 Temaikén 🇦🇷 Argentina In captivity
35 Parque Zoobotânico Getúlio Vargas 🇧🇷 Brazil In captivity
36 National Zoo of Malaysia 🇲🇾 Malaysia In captivity
37 Zoologischer Garten Leipzig 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
38 Oregon Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
39 Heimat-Tierpark Olderdissen 🇩🇪 Germany In captivity
40 Zoológico la pastroa 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity
41 Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
42 Zoo Opole 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity
43 Lok Kawi Wildlife Park 🇲🇾 Malaysia In captivity
44 Jijamata Udyaan 🇮🇳 India In captivity
45 Cameron Park Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
46 Saigon Zoo and Botanical Gardens 🇻🇳 Vietnam In captivity
47 Chapultepec Zoo 🇲🇽 Mexico In captivity
48 Honolulu Zoo 🇺🇸 United States In captivity
49 Sapporo Maruyama Zoo 🇯🇵 Japan In captivity
50 Łódź Zoo 🇵🇱 Poland In captivity

Closest Relatives at São Paulo

Great Egret
LC

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

Daily sighting probability ~30% · Possible
Snowy Egret
LC

Snowy Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta thula

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Striated Heron
LC

Striated Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Butorides striata

Daily sighting probability ~20% · Possible
Cocoi Heron
LC

Cocoi Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cocoi

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Rufescent Tiger Heron
LC

Rufescent Tiger Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Tigrisoma lineatum

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Whistling Heron
LC

Whistling Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Syrigma sibilatrix

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Little Blue Heron
LC

Little Blue Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta caerulea

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Bare-faced Ibis
LC

Bare-faced Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Phimosus infuscatus

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Green Ibis
LC

Green Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Mesembrinibis cayennensis

Daily sighting probability ~10% · With luck
Roseate Spoonbill
LC

Roseate Spoonbill

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Platalea ajaja

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
Buff-necked Ibis
LC

Buff-necked Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Theristicus caudatus

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Black-crowned Night Heron in São Paulo?

With luck

About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-crowned Night Heron sighting in São Paulo on a given day, based on 1,904 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 45th most-seen of the 353 birds we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Black-crowned Night Heron in São Paulo?

February, April, June–July, October and December

In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Black-crowned Night Heron in São Paulo on a given day, against about 10% in January, March, May, August–September and November, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Black-crowned Night Heron?

Between 4 and 7 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Black-crowned Night Heron sightings with a recorded time, and about 8 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is São Paulo the best place to see a Black-crowned Night Heron?

92nd of 249

Of the 249 cities where we can rate Black-crowned Night Heron sightings, São Paulo ranks 92nd at about 10%. The best odds are in Antananarivo (Madagascar, about 80%), Ningbo (China, about 70%) and Riyadh (Saudi Arabia, about 60%).

Which relatives of the Black-crowned Night Heron live in São Paulo?

Same family: Ardeidae

The closest relatives of the Black-crowned Night Heron that you can see in São Paulo (family Ardeidae, Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns) are Great Egret (about 30%), Snowy Egret (about 20%) and Striated Heron (about 20%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Black-crowned Night Heron sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Black-crowned Night Heron is recorded against all the birds logged in São Paulo (1,904 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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