Want to know where and when to find Black-headed Heron? opspoor shows recent sightings across South Africa's parks and when each species is usually active.
About the Black-headed Heron
A large grey heron of sub-Saharan Africa, told from the Grey Heron by its solid black crown, hindneck and bill. Unlike most herons it hunts well away from water, stalking grassland and open veld for insects, rodents and small birds as readily as it spears fish and frogs in the shallows. Usually solitary outside the breeding season, when it nests colonially in tall trees.
How to identify the Black-headed Heron
Black cap, hindneck and heavy bill separate it from the paler-headed Grey Heron; grey above, whitish below, with striking white underwing coverts visible in flight and a retracted neck in flight like all herons.
Did you know?
It readily hunts far from water, stalking through dry grassland for insects and rodents, a habit unusual among herons, which typically stay close to wetlands.
Also known as: Heron, Swartkopreier
Parks where you can see the Black-headed Heron
Recent Black-headed Heron sightings
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Planning a South Africa safari? opspoor's community logs sightings like these in parks across the country, and the app works with no signal, so a dead zone deep in the bush never costs you a sighting.