Creature Feature: rufous night heron

The rufous night heron (Nycticorax caledonicus) is more often heard rather than seen, but never fear! In El Nido, it’s most easily seen along Lagen’s seaside cliffs, where it builds stick nests in the trees growing on the sides of the cliffs.

Despite its name, the rufous night heron is active at dusk, not at night. It’s a crepuscular bird, feeding on fish, amphibians, insects, and crustaceans at dusk while roosting in trees during the day. Night herons breed in loose colonies and are nomadic in response to rainfall.