Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala Children & Vigors, 1826

Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala is a heron of Africa, widespread south of the Sahara. It is a member of the Ardeidae and was described by Children and Vigors in 1826. It is mainly resident, though some birds in west Africa move north in the rainy season. Breeding takes place in the wet season, with colonies set in trees, reedbeds or cliffs. The nest is a bulky structure of sticks, and the clutch contains 2–4 eggs. It is a large bird, with a slow flight and a retracted neck.

Order

Pelecaniformes

Family

Ardeidae — Herons, Bitterns

Breeding range

Africa: widespread s of the Sahara