Dean M. Chriss
Photography
Yellow Crowned Night Heron, South Florida
(Click image to enlarge)
With a length of about about 24" (61 cm) and a wingspan of about 44 inches, the
yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a small
heron. Juveniles look nothing like the adult shown here, being mainly
brown flecked with white or gray. Yellow-crowned night herons are found
throughout a large part of the Americas, especially in warmer coastal
regions. In warmer locations some are permanent residents while 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.
This image shows an adult yellow-crowned night heron in early
morning light, wandering through mangrove roots at low tide in search of breakfast.
Wading birds are often most active at low tide because the shallow water
gives them access to more food, and nearly all birds are most active in
the mornings and evenings. The best possible time for viewing is when
low tide occurs during the first or last hours of daylight, as was the
case when this image was captured.