Photo: Steve Garvie from Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland / CC BY-SA 2.0 (Wikimedia Commons)
Black Heron
Egretta ardesiaca
Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Africa.
Found across 8 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.
The Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 324 g. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.
Conservation status
IUCN Red List (opens in a new tab)Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.
Where it fits
- Class Aves
- Order Pelecaniformes
- Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
- Genus Egretta
- Species ardesiaca
Quick facts
- Weight
- 324 g
- Diet
- Aquatic hunters
- Family
- Ardeidae
- Order
- Pelecaniformes
- Habitat
- Wetland, lake & coast
How to identify
Similar birds
Least Concern
Vulnerable
Vulnerable
Biology & behaviour
Diet
The Black Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Behaviour
A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.
Migration
The Black Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
The Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) is a member of the Ardeidae family, within the order Pelecaniformes. It occurs naturally across Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread s of the Sahara.
It is a large bird. Adults weighs around 324 g, with a wing length of about 24.5 cm and a tail of around 8.8 cm.
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
The species has a mapped global range of roughly 8.5 million km².
Songs & calls
Frequently asked questions
How big is the Black Heron?
The Black Heron is a large bird that weighs around 324 g.
Where does the Black Heron live?
The Black Heron is found across Africa with a range covering AF widespread s of the Sahara, where it is associated with wetlands, lakes and other open water.
What family does the Black Heron belong to?
The Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.
What does the Black Heron eat?
The Black Heron hunts aquatic prey such as fish and aquatic invertebrates.
Does the Black Heron migrate?
The Black Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.
Is the Black Heron endangered?
The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.
What sound does the Black Heron make?
1 real field recording of the Black Heron — including its call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.
How large is the Black Heron's range?
The Black Heron has a mapped global range of about 8.5 million km².
Conservation
Every bird benefits from bird-safe windows, native plants, and keeping cats indoors. Small changes at home add up to real protection.
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