Night Heron - Black-Crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax, Nyctanassa

Code: TX/82

Dimensions:

Night Heron - Black-Crowned Night Heron - Nycticorax, Nyctanassa - Taxidermy Japanese Night Heron - TX/82

This is probably the best Vintage example of a night heron we have seen - of a Majestic Taxidermied Night Heron from the first half of the nineteen hundreds; early Mid century. This is a particularly fine example of the bird, which has been prepared and styled as a freestanding specimen - the preparation and finish shows a large degree of experience, professionalism and knowledge of the bird by the taxidermist who has styled the bird in a vigilant, hunting pose. The bird is mounted on a very plain, black base with a natural finish. We were told it had spent its early years in a small rural museum.

We were lucky enough to have one of these for a time living in our garden in France - until he had almost emptied our pond of its carp !! - then moved on.

The black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), or black-capped night heron, commonly shortened to just night heron in Eurasia, is a medium-sized heron found throughout a large part of the world, including parts of Europe, Asia, and North and South America. In Australasia it is replaced by the closely related 'nankeen' night heron, with which it has hybridized in the area of contact. 

Adults have a black crown and back with the remainder of the body white or grey, red eyes, and short yellow legs. They have pale grey wings and white under parts. Two or three long white plumes, erected in greeting and courtship displays, extend from the back of the head. The sexes are similar in appearance although the males are slightly larger. Black-crowned night herons do not fit the typical body form of the heron family. They are relatively stocky with shorter bills, legs, and necks than their more familiar cousins, the egrets and "day" herons. Their resting posture is normally somewhat hunched but when hunting they extend their necks and look more like other wading birds.

It is in very good contition other than one claw missing from its left foot ( see photo ) this count be worked on here should you wish.

Dimensions :- 510mm / 20” tall 360mm / 14" from beak to tail and  Bog Oak wooden base that is 175mm 7” wide. The bird and mount together weigh 0.4 kg or just under 1lb without any packaging.