Least ConcernCommonOmnivoreWetlandPlatform nestLarge · 1.1 kg
About the Black-headed Heron
The black-headed heron is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season.
Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where it lives
Regular rangeRare visitor
South Africa
Kenya
Tanzania
Uganda
Zimbabwe
Gambia
Zambia
Rwanda
Nigeria
Namibia
Mozambique
Eswatini
Ethiopia
Botswana
Malawi
Senegal
Ghana
Lesotho
Congo - Kinshasa
Chad
Angola
Cameroon
Guinea-Bissau
Benin
Burkina Faso
South Sudan
Sudan
Guinea
Central African Republic
Somalia
Niger
Congo - Brazzaville
Burundi
Mauritania
Mali
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Sierra Leone
Eritrea
Togo
Saudi Arabia
Côte d’Ivoire
Liberia
Oman
Djibouti
Recorded as a rare visitor in France, São Tomé & Príncipe, Mayotte, Yemen.
When to see it
JFMAMJJASOND
Peak activity in November · a resident species across most of its range
Easily confused with
Cocoi HeronArdea cocoiThe cocoi heron is the largest of the South American heron species and measures 95–130 cm (37.5–51 in) in length, although body sizes vary regionally; with southern individuals probably being the largest.
White-necked HeronArdea pacificaThe white-necked heron is a large, diurnal, long-legged waterbird.
Goliath HeronArdea goliathIt is the world's largest living heron (though the extinct Bennu heron was larger).
Learn the Black-headed Heron for real
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