Juvenile Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
Florida, USA
The yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is one of two species of night heron in the genus Nyctanassa. The genus name Nycticorax derives from the Greek for "night raven" and refers to the largely nocturnal feeding habits of this group of birds.
It takes about three years for yellow-crowned night herons to acquire the full physical appearance of adults. Adults have a slate-gray body with a black head, white cheek patches, and a creamy-yellow crown that gives them their name. During breeding season, they develop long, white plumes on their head. Young herons are mottled brown and white, generally with an all-black bill. It can be difficult to tell juveniles from the similar-looking black-crowned night heron.
Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.
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