Black-headed Heron
Black-headed HeronBlack-headed HeronBlack-headed HeronBlack-headed Heron

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Least ConcernNear ThreatenedVulnerableEndangeredCritically Endangered
5–10% · With luck
overall probability at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
14 Verified records at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park
January Best month highest sighting rate
☀️ Diurnal When it's active during daytime hours (6am–6pm)

The black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) is a wading bird of the heron family Ardeidae, common throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. It is mainly resident, but some west African birds move further north in the rainy season. This species usually breeds in the wet season in colonies in trees, reedbeds or cliffs. It builds a bulky stick nest and lays 2–4 eggs. It often feeds in shallow water, spearing fish or frogs with its long, sharp bill. It also hunts well away from water, taking large insects, small mammals, and birds. Wikipedia →

5–10% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Heron sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Closest Relatives at Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park

Great Egret
LC Endemic

Great Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea alba

Insufficient data
Grey Heron
LC

Grey Heron

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Ardea cinerea

Insufficient data
intermediate egret

intermediate egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Egretta intermedia

Insufficient data
Cattle Egret
LC

Cattle Egret

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bubulcus ibis

Insufficient data
Hamerkop
LC

Hamerkop

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Scopus umbretta

Insufficient data
African Sacred Ibis
LC

African Sacred Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Insufficient data

📅 Monthly Probability

10–20
Jan
5–10
Feb
5–10
Mar
<5
Apr
5–10
May
<5
Jun
<5
Jul
5–10
Aug
<5
Sep
5–10
Oct
<5
Nov
<5
Dec

☀️ When They're Spotted

Most active during daytime hours (6am–6pm) · across all parks (global)

☀️Diurnal
☀️🌙🌙12am6am12pm6pm12am

Global Distribution

Where this species is recorded worldwide. Restricted to human observations from 2019 onwards — the same kind of record and the same period the probabilities on this page are built from, so collar-tracking studies, camera-trap arrays and museum specimens are excluded. Around Santa Rosa that removes 5,924 GPS fixes from a handful of tagged jaguars.

where this species is recorded (GBIF density — it tracks where observers go, not how likely a sighting is)  ·  parks where it occurs — tap a pin for the sighting probability there

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Probability
1 Nairobi National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
50–60%
2 Arusha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
3 Ngorongoro Conservation Area 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
4 Serengeti National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
40–50%
5 Lake Nakuru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
40–50%
6 Addo Elephant National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
40–50%
7 South Luangwa National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
30–40%
8 Amboseli National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
9 Masai Mara National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
30–40%
10 Akagera National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
30–40%
11 Tarangire National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
30–40%
12 Queen Elizabeth National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
20–30%
13 Samburu National Reserve 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
14 Murchison Falls National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
20–30%
15 Mikumi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
20–30%
16 Aberdare National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
17 Tsavo East National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
20–30%
18 Lake Mburo National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
20–30%
19 Lower Zambezi National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
20–30%
20 Mana Pools National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
20–30%
21 Liwonde National Park 🇲🇼 Malawi
20–30%
22 Virunga National Park 🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of the Congo
20–30%
23 Selous Game Reserve 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
24 Kibale National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
25 Hwange National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
10–20%
26 Volcanoes National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
10–20%
27 Garden Route National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
28 Lake Manyara National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
29 Meru National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
30 iSimangaliso Wetland Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
31 Etosha National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
10–20%
32 Niokolo-Koba National Park 🇸🇳 Senegal
10–20%
33 Pilanesberg National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
10–20%
34 Mkomazi National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
10–20%
35 Tsavo West National Park 🇰🇪 Kenya
10–20%
36 Kafue National Park 🇿🇲 Zambia
10–20%
37 Kidepo Valley National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
10–20%
38 Ruaha National Park 🇹🇿 Tanzania
5–10%
39 Table Mountain National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
40 Chobe National Park 🇧🇼 Botswana
5–10%
41 Gonarezhou National Park 🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
5–10%
42 Bwindi Impenetrable National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
43 Semuliki National Park 🇺🇬 Uganda
5–10%
44 Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
45 Kruger National Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
5–10%
46 Gorongosa National Park 🇲🇿 Mozambique
<5%
47 Nyungwe National Park 🇷🇼 Rwanda
<5%
48 Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park 🇿🇦 South Africa
<5%
49 Moremi Game Reserve 🇧🇼 Botswana
<5%
50 Namib-Naukluft National Park 🇳🇦 Namibia
<5%
51 Awash National Park 🇪🇹 Ethiopia
Insufficient data

Quick answers

What are the chances of seeing a Black-headed Heron in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

About 5% of wildlife watchers report a Black-headed Heron sighting in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, based on 14 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

When is the best time to see Black-headed Heron in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park?

January has the highest sighting rate for Black-headed Heron in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in our monthly data.

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