Black-crowned Night Heron
About the Black-crowned Night Heron in Singapore
Last updated 29 May 2026
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Black-crowned Night Herons (Nycticorax nycticorax) are typically seen at dawn and dusk, being a primarily crepuscular and nocturnal species.
They are an uncommon resident species in Singapore. Juveniles are noticeably different from adults, with brown, streaky plumage and yellow eyes.
Identifying features
Check out some identifying features of the Black-crowned Night Heron!
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The Black-crowned Night Heron is mainly grey-white, being more grey on the wings while the chest and underparts are more white. Like its name suggests, it has a black crown, along with red irises and yellow legs.
Unlike the adults which have solid colouration, juveniles have white spots and streaked heads and underparts. Juveniles also have yellow eyes instead of the red of adults.
Interested to learn more about how to identify Herons? Check out our simple guide on identifying Herons!
Habitat and ecology
The Black-crowned Night Heron is most active at dawn and dusk and are usually sighted around any suitable water bodies such as mangroves, marshes, and near urban water bodies in our parks and gardens.
Join us at Heron Watch!
Enjoy birdwatching, or interested to learn more about herons? Join us for Heron Watch to collect valuable data about herons, egrets and bitterns which contributes to their conservation.
Learn more about the Black-crowned Night Heron
Curious about the Black-crowned Night Heron? Here are some interesting articles you can read to learn more about them.
