Black Heron

ID tip

Text from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

When to see the Black Heron

One bar for each month. Filled bars are the 10 months with records; pale bars are months with none. The wide bar is November, the month with the most records.

Where to see the Black Heron

The map shades 35 countries with regular records, and 4 more in a lighter tone where the bird turns up only as a stray. Everything unshaded has no records. Countries are listed below the map.

Recorded as a rare visitor in Italy, Greece, Mali, Oman.

About the Black Heron

The black heron, also known as the black egret, is an African heron. It uses its wings to form a canopy when fishing.

Text adapted from Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Easily confused with

Pied HeronEgretta picataIt is a small heron, 43–55 cm (17–22 in) long, with dark slaty wings, body, and crested head, with a white throat and neck. Chinese EgretEgretta eulophotesThe Chinese egret averages 68 cm in height. Slaty EgretEgretta vinaceigulaUntil 1971, the slaty egret and more widespread black egret Egretta ardesiaca were thought to be colour morphs of the same species but the slaty egret shows consistent features which separate it from the black egret.

Side by side: Black Heron vs Reddish Egret · Black Heron vs Pacific Reef Heron · Black Heron vs Western Reef Heron · Black Heron vs Capped Heron · Black Heron vs Pied Heron · Black Heron vs Chinese Egret