Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
At a Glance
More solitary and often more secretive than the Black-crowned Night-Heron, the Yellow-crowned is still quite common in parts of the southeast. Particularly in coastal regions, often feeds by day as well as by night. Its stout bill seems to be an adaptation for feeding on hard-shelled crustaceans -- it is called 'crab-eater' in some locales. The species was introduced into Bermuda in a successful attempt to bring land crabs under control there.
All bird guide text and rangemaps adapted from Lives of North American Birds by Kenn Kaufman© 1996, used by permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Category
Herons, Egrets, Bitterns, Long-legged Waders
IUCN Status
Least Concern
Habitat
Coasts and Shorelines, Freshwater Wetlands, Lakes, Ponds, and Rivers, Saltwater Wetlands
Region
California, Eastern Canada, Florida, Great Lakes, Mid Atlantic, New England, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Southeast, Southwest, Texas, Western Canada
Behavior
Direct Flight
Population
400.000
Range & Identification
Migration & Range Maps
May be permanent resident in southern Florida, but in most of United States range it is far less common in winter than in summer. Withdraws from most of northern and inland breeding range in winter, some migrants going as far south as Panama and Lesser Antilles. In late summer, a few wander far to north. Strays from western Mexico reach southwestern United States.
Description
22-27" (56-69 cm). W. 3'8 (1.1 m). Adult all gray, with black and white face pattern (pale yellow on crown not usually obvious). Juvenile very similar to young Black-crowned Night-Heron but has longer legs, thicker all-black bill, often a grayer look with smaller pale spots above. In flight, feet extend much farther past tip of tail.
Size
About the size of a Heron, About the size of a Mallard or Herring Gull
Color
Black, Brown, Gray, White, Yellow
Wing Shape
Broad, Fingered, Long
Tail Shape
Short
Songs and Calls
A loud quawk! that is higher pitched than that of Black-crowned Night-Heron.
Call Pattern
Flat, Simple
Call Type
Croak/Quack, Raucous, Scream
Habitat
Cypress swamps, mangroves, bayous, streams. Commonly occurs in shallow tidal waters, also along lowland rivers, where trees or other heavy cover nearby. Seldom in open marshes. Nests in mangrove or cypress swamps, riverside groves, thickets near water. Sometimes nests in trees within suburbs or cities.
Sign up for Audubon's newsletter to learn more about birds like the Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Behavior
Eggs
4-5, sometimes 2-8. Pale blue-green. Incubation is by both sexes, 21-25 days.
Young
Both parents feed young. Age at first flight unknown.
Feeding Behavior
Forages by walking slowly on land or in shallow water, or standing still waiting for prey to approach. Feeds at dusk and at night, but also commonly by day. Feeding schedule near coast probably influenced by tides.
Diet
Includes many crustaceans. More of a specialist than most herons. Feeds heavily on crustaceans, mainly crabs and crayfish, especially in coastal areas. Also some mollusks, frogs, insects, fish. On inland waters, diet may be more varied.
Nesting
Breeding behavior not well known. Often nests in isolated pairs or in very small groups, especially in northern part of range. Where common, nests in colonies, sometimes mixed with Black-crowned Night-Herons or other waders. Displays include stretching the neck upward with bill pointing skyward, crouching with all plumes erected, and giving a loud call. Pairs greet each other by raising crest, calling, touching bills, nibbling at each other's feathers. Nest: Site is usually in tree 30-40' above ground, but sometimes very close to ground or water in thickets, mangroves. Nest is a platform of sticks, lined with finer twigs and sometimes leaves.
Conservation
Conservation Status
Apparently stable. In recent decades has expanded breeding range northward in some areas.
Climate Threats Facing the Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Choose a temperature scenario below to see which threats will affect this species as warming increases. The same climate change-driven threats that put birds at risk will affect other wildlife and people, too.