Yellow-crowned Night Heron

Description:

Common Names: Yellow-crowned Night Heron, American Night Heron, Squawk, Cap-cap. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is a small heron, about 2 feet long when mature. They are classified as nocturnal, but are often seen during daylight hours searching for food. They mainly eat aquatic animals including crustaceans, frogs, aquatic insects & small fish.

Habitat:

Range: Most of North America, especially in warmer coastal regions. They are permanent residents in warmer climates, otherwise they migrate to Central America & the West Indies. Wetlands, mangroves, swamps, lakes, rivers, island coasts.

Notes:

The heron in this spotting is most likely a young adult, as the markings are still somewhat dusky and the feathers are tinged with brown which will become gray in adulthood. Spotted in a Red Mangrove forest.