Black-crowned Night Heron

Коренастая коротконогая цапля, телосложением похожая на выпь, заметно меньше ее, немного крупнее вороны. Взрослые птицы окрашены очень характерно в сочетания белого, серого и черного. В брачное время у взрослых на затылке изящное украшение из трех длинных тонких белых перьев. В полете наиболее характерные элементы окраски - однотонно светло-серые крылья, черные спина и шапочка, снизу выглядят издали однотонно светло-серыми. Ноги весной малиново-красные, к осени - желтые. Самцы и самки окрашены сходно. Молодые сверху бурые, со светлыми пестринами, снизу грязно-белые, с бурыми продольными штрихами. Годовалые птицы сверху серые, снизу серовато-белые, окраска довольно равномерная, со слабо выраженной опестренностью. В двухлетнем возрасте окраска в общем как у взрослых, но тусклая, черные элементы заменены серыми, косиц на затылке нет. Вес 370-800 г, длина 58-65, крыло 27.8-30.8, размах 105-112 см.

Common breeding migrant. Inhabits rivers and lakes with tree and shrub vegetation growing right in the water or on islands; both in plains and foothills. Occasionally nests on waters with only reed-beds. In spring appears in end March – early April, but sometimes only in mid-April. It migrates singly or in small flocks, regularly calling in flight. Migration finishes in early – mid-May. Breeding begins in mid-April – May. Usually nests in colonies often together with Cormorants and Grey Herons, less often in independent groups. Nests are located on bushes and trees (Asiatic Poplar, Willow, Russian Olive, Elm) at 5-10 m above the ground, usually lower than nests of other birds, very rare nests located among the reeds. Both partners build nest from the dry twigs or reed stems, nest cup is baldly lined with dry grass. Clutch of 2-5, more often 4 eggs, is found in end April – mid-June. Incubation lasts 21-22 days. Re-nesting after loss of first clutch observed even in second half of July. Nestlings hatch in early May, both parents feed them. Flying juveniles (at age about one month old) sometimes seen in the end May (on Syrdarya river at Chinaz), but usually in June – July. Dispersal begins in August, the intensive autumn migration is in September, and the last birds recorded in the end of October.