The Black Heron is a dark heron found in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. In shallow water it may spread its wings like an umbrella while foraging for fish.
The sexes look alike, with black plumage, bill, and legs, and yellow eyes and feet.
It feeds mainly on fish in shallow water. It is known for spreading its wings over its head like an umbrella, then searching beneath the canopy and striking at prey.
It nests in colonies in trees over water, bushes, or reedbeds, sometimes with other herons, ibises, or cormorants. The nest is a platform of plant material, and clutches contain two to four eggs.
Juveniles are black like adults, but lack the adult plumes.
During courtship the feet become bright red, while the legs remain black.
An extinction-risk assessment has not been added yet.
In Ghana’s Central Region, Black Herons were dominant in wetlands and mangroves among six habitat types surveyed at 120 points. The six-month survey recorded 4,060 birds from 216 species.