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Least Concern

Herons, Pelicans & Ibises

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) — Herons, Pelicans & Ibises of Africa.

Field guide · LocationsWhere to see this bird

Found across 6 guides in our atlas — open any for the full checklist, photos and what's around right now.

Regional checklists

Birds of Kenya Birds of Tanzania Birds of South Africa

By family

Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Kenya Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of Tanzania Herons, Egrets & Bitterns of South Africa

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The Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a member of the Ardeidae family found in Africa. Adults weigh 1.1 kg. The IUCN Red List lists it as Least Concern.

Conservation status

IUCN Red List

LC Least Concern

Widespread and abundant — not currently at risk.

Where it fits

Class Aves
Order Pelecaniformes
Family Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns
Genus Ardea
Species melanocephala

Where it lives

Widespread south of the Sahara

Africa

Quick facts

Weight: 1.1 kg
Diet: Omnivores
Family: Ardeidae
Order: Pelecaniformes
Habitat: Wetland, lake & coast

How to identify

Similar birds

Least Concern

Biology & behaviour

Diet

The Black-headed Heron is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Behaviour

A bird of wetlands, it forages mainly on the ground.

Migration

The Black-headed Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

The Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a species of bird in the Ardeidae family, part of the order Pelecaniformes. Its range spans Africa. Its distribution covers AF widespread s of the Sahara.

It is a very large bird. Adults weighs around 1.1 kg, with a wing length of about 39.1 cm and a tail of around 14.7 cm.

The IUCN Red List currently assesses it as Least Concern. That category covers species that remain widespread and reasonably abundant in the wild.

Its mapped global range covers an estimated 19.1 million km² — a very large global range.

Songs & calls

Black-headed Heron — Flight call

Recorded by Jonathan Onongo Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Frequently asked questions

How big is the Black-headed Heron?

The Black-headed Heron is a very large bird that weighs around 1.1 kg.

Where does the Black-headed Heron live?

The Black-headed 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-headed Heron belong to?

The Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) belongs to the Ardeidae family, in the order Pelecaniformes.

What does the Black-headed Heron eat?

The Black-headed Heron is a omnivore — it takes a broad, omnivorous diet of both plant and animal foods.

Does the Black-headed Heron migrate?

The Black-headed Heron is largely sedentary, staying within its range year-round rather than making regular long-distance migrations.

Is the Black-headed 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-headed Heron make?

1 real field recording of the Black-headed Heron — including its flight call — can be played in the Songs & calls section on this page, credited to the recordist who captured it.

How large is the Black-headed Heron's range?

The Black-headed Heron has a mapped global range of about 19.1 million km².