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Nyctanassa violacea
also called the American Night Heron or squawk, is a fairly small heron, similar in appearance to the Black-crowned Night Heron. Adults are about 61 cm long and weigh 625 g. They have a white crown and back with the remainder of the body grayish, red eyes and short yellow legs. They have a white stripe below the eye. Juveniles resemble young Black-crowned Night-Herons, being mainly brown flecked with white or gray.
It is found throughout a large part of the Americas, especially (but not exclusively) in warmer coastal regions. In warmer locations, some are permanent residents; others migrate to Central America and the West Indies. They may occasionally wander north to the lower Great Lakes or Ontario after the breeding season.
A related heron, the Bermuda Night Heron, was endemic to Bermuda, but became extinct following human colonization.
Spotted on Apr 7, 2012
Submitted on Apr 11, 2012
