Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

Identification & Behavior: ~59.5 cm (23.4 in). The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is gray with mottled/streaked back and wings. It has a distinctive head color pattern with a yellow crown and bold pale streaks on the sides of the head. It is distinguished from the Black-crowned Night-Heron by the yellow crown, the pale streaks on the side of the head, and the mottled/streaked back. Juveniles are rather similar to those of Black-crowned Night-Heron but have a solid dark and thicker bill than the latter.

Status: The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is uncommon in the mangrove forests of extreme northwest Peru, in the Department of Tumbes. This Night-Heron has been spreading south in the last decade or so and now it breeds as far south as Villa Marshes in Lima. It also occurs in Co, Ec, and Br.

Name in Spanish: Huaco de Corona Amarilla.

Sub-species: Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea caliginis) Wetmore, 1946.

Meaning of Name: Nyctanassa: Gr. Nux= night and anassa= queen, lady. violacea: L. viola= with violet, violet.

See more of the Family Ardeidae