Black-headed Heron
Ardea melanocephala
Observed on a farm in Kamwenge, Uganda. December 2012.
Black-headed Herons often hunt for prey in fields devoted to pasture or farming. They are large, about 85cm tall on long, dark, slender legs. The large bill is gray and very sturdy for spearing amphibians, small mammals, reptiles, large insects and fish - i.e. the Black-headed Heron is an oportunistic predator. These birds are common and widespread through much of Africa south of the Sahara, including Kenya.
Ardeidae -- Heron and Egret Family
Books:
- Birds of Kenya and Northern Tanzania by Zimmerman et al.
- Birds of East Africa by Stevenson and Fanshawe