Black-crowned Night Herons breed in colonies of stick nests usually built over water. These colonies may also include other birds such as other herons, egrets, and ibises. They usually pair for life and can lay 3-5 greenish-blue eggs.
These herons are the most widespread in the world, inhabiting freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water environments. They're also opportunistic feeders, eating fish, mussels, lizards, snakes, and much more.
They hunt by staying perfectly still, using a unique “bill vibrating” technique to mimic insects to lure fish.
You can find these incredible birds in our Driftless Aviary habitat outside near our Jim & Jean Gantz Otter Habitat.