Falklands 'Quark'. Black-crowned Night Herons are easily recognised by their distinctive blue/ black heads with two long white plumes. They are resident breeders in the Falklands. Length: 36 - 38 cm (21 - 22 inches) Quarks are widely distributed along coasts where rock pools and coastal shallows allow it to take small fish, aquatic larvae and insects at low tides. They often breed in small colonies in company with rock shags on low cliffs where there are plants or a bit of tussac. They will breed in settlements in trees.

Widespread in the Americas, Eurasia and Africa. Race N. n. cyanocephalus is found only in the Falkland Islands and is smaller and darker than N. n. obscurus of Southern South America and Tierra del Fuego.

Sources include: Falkland Islands State of the Environment Report 2008 Otley H, Munro G, Clausen A, Ingham B. A Field Guide to the Wildlife of The Falkland Islands and South Georgia - Ian J Strange, Guide to Birds of the Falkland Islands- Robin W. Woods.

Photographic credits: Robert Maddocks, Dilys & Alan Waton

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