Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

        Today's featured feathered friend is the Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron.  These wading birds stalk their prey along the water's edge, mainly at night, hence their name.  They can be found along coastlines in Central and South America.  In the summer they breed in the swamps of the southern United States.  After their breeding season is completed, they expand their range to Texas in the west, to near the Great Lakes in the north and to southern New England in the east.

        Yellow-Crowned Night-Herons are medium-sized stocky herons with short, deep-based bills, red eyes and yellow legs.  Males and females are similar in appearance with light gray underparts, darker gray backs and wings with pale gray margins.  Their black heads are "egg-shaped" with a yellow crown stripe and white cheek stripes.  During breeding season they grow long white plumes on their hind crowns.  Immature birds are brownish-gray with whitish streaks on the face, neck and breast, with spotting on the back and wings.  The average Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron is 24 inches long, weighs about 22 ounces and has a wingspan of nearly four feet.

        This species is perhaps the most "secretive" of the Heron family.  Although they are year-round Florida residents we don't see them often.  When we do spot them, they tend to be very still, making them pretty easy to photograph.  Enjoy our favorite photos of the Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron.....tweet.....tweet!!

Close-up face shot.
(Taken 11/18/12, Blind Pass Beach Park

on Manasota Key, near Englewood FL)

Adult Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
(Taken 11/18/12, Blind Pass Beach Park
on Manasota Key, near Englewood FL)

Adult Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
(Taken 11/14/12, Blackburn Point, near Osprey FL)

Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron
(Taken 4/24/12, J. N. Ding Darling National
Wildlife Refuge, Sanibel Island FL)

Adult with breeding plumes visible.
(Taken 4/29/14, The Celery Fields, Sarasota FL)