Night-Herons

Yellow-crowned Night Herons

 Adult

Turn the volume up full blast and listen to the adult's calling

Unlike other night herons, it is active during the day as well as at night; usually 3 hours before high tide and 3 hours after.

Juveniles have small spots on their wings and a solid, dark bill with a somewhat blunt tip.

This species shows up several times in the fossil record, and the earliest recorded fossil in 2-2.5 million years old (from Sarasota, FL). 

Occasionally, they will prey on small turtles; their stomach secretes an acid capable of dissolving the shells.

Black-crowned Night-Herons

 On the Falkland Islands

Adults nest in groups that often include other species, including herons, egrets and ibises.

The adults are very handsome indeed.

Preening those delicate feathers

With a pinfish lunch

Juveniles have large triangular spots on their wings and a two-toned bill that is somewhat pointed.

A breeding Black-crowned will brood any chick placed in its nest.  These herons apparently don't distinguish between their own offspring and nestlings from other parents.

Young Black-crowneds leave the nest at the age of one month but can't actually fly until they're about 6 weeks old.  They move through the mangroves on foot, joining up in foraging flocks at night.

The range of the Black-crowneds is much larger than that of the Yellow-crowneds.