Bird of the Week – Black-headed heron
The Zulu name is unokilonki and in Afrikaans, die swartkopreiger.
A common resident in Africa, South of the Sahara and Madagascar and found throughout Southern Africa.
These herons are solitary when feeding, either standing and waiting for prey or stalking slowly.
They roost colonially in trees reed-beds and on islands up to 30km from feeding grounds.
Its food preference include frogs, crabs, insects, rodents, birds, reptiles, worms, spiders, scorpions, snails, golden moles and snakes up to the size of puff adders.
Its call is various croaks, squawks, growls and gurgles, and flight is slow with about 143 wingbeats per minute.
The breeding season is July until January.
They build a nest in trees, reeds and cliff edges, comprising of a large platform of sticks and lined with finer plant material, wool and hair.
Two to four pale blue oval shaped eggs are laid, the incubation is 23 to 27 days and the nestling flies at about 40 to 55 days. They are independent at 60 days.
The Zulu name is unokilonki and in Afrikaans, die swartkopreiger.
