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==Identification== | ==Identification== | ||
| − | 61 cm. Grey body, | + | 61 cm. Grey body, Pale yellow crown, red eyes and short yellow legs, white stripe below the eye completely surrounded by black. Black feather centers produce a pattern on the wings. The bill has a specific shape, with the [[Topography#Beaks|culmen]] tapering down and the [[Topography#Beaks|mandible]] tapering up to the tip of the bill so that the bill overall is shaped like a chisel. Juveniles are mainly brown flecked with white or gray. |
| − | [[Image:Yellow Crowned Nighthern Immature.jpg|thumb| | + | |
| + | In flight will have strong legs protruding back beyond the short tail and the neck held in a compact S shape. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ====Similar species==== | ||
| + | [[Black-crowned Night-Heron]] and [[Boat-billed Heron]] are the most similar to both adults and juveniles, and the juvenile additionally has some similarities to [[American Bittern]]. Notice the shape of the bill of the Black-crowned Night-Heron which has lower edge of the mandible straight. | ||
| + | [[Image:Yellow Crowned Nighthern Immature.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Juvenile <br /> Photo by {{user|jonsund|jonsund}} <br /> Taken in Anastasia State Park, St. Augustine, [[Florida]]]] | ||
| + | |||
==Distribution== | ==Distribution== | ||
| − | North, Central and South America | + | North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. <br /> |
| + | [[North America]]: limited to eastern parts where breeding coastally from [[Maine]] to [[Florida]] and the along the Gulf Coast and inland from the [[Great Lakes]] to [[Colorado]] and [[Texas]].<br /> | ||
| + | [[Central America]]: Range continues along Gulf Coast of [[Mexico]] and along the Atlantic side south to [[Panama]] and also occurs along the Pacific coast from Baja California southwards. <br /> | ||
| + | [[South America]]: occurs in coastal areas from [[Colombia]] to Rio Grande do Sul, [[Brazil]] in the east, as well as south to northern [[Peru]] in the west and on the [[Galapagos Islands]]. <br /> | ||
| + | The [[Caribbean]]: Also occurs throughout the [[West Indies]] and has been reintroduced to [[Bermuda]]. | ||
| + | |||
Most northern birds move southwards after breeding to winter in the southern USA, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. | Most northern birds move southwards after breeding to winter in the southern USA, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. | ||
Vagrants recorded north to [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland]]. | Vagrants recorded north to [[Nova Scotia]] and [[Newfoundland]]. | ||
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==Habitat== | ==Habitat== | ||
| + | [[Image:Land_crab_after_night_heron.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Favorite food <br /> Photo by {{user|njlarsen|njlarsen}} <br />Cabrits National Park, [[Dominica]], July 2010]] | ||
Mainly coastal areas including rocky shores, mudflats and mangroves. Also inland on lakeshores and riverbanks. | Mainly coastal areas including rocky shores, mudflats and mangroves. Also inland on lakeshores and riverbanks. | ||
Breeding in swamps and marshes. | Breeding in swamps and marshes. | ||
==Behaviour== | ==Behaviour== | ||
| − | They often nest in colonies; the nests are platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs overhanging water. 3–5 pale blue-green eggs are laid. | + | They often nest in colonies; the nests are platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs, often near or overhanging water. 3–5 pale blue-green eggs are laid. |
| − | + | The degree to which they are active during day or dawn/dusk varies both geographically and with time of year; they are more likely to be encountered before dark when they have young in the nest. The diet includes crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, aquatic insects and small fish, but one favorite food is land crabs; their bills are shaped like chisels and used to hammer a hole in the back of the crab shell. | |
| + | ==References== | ||
| + | #{{Ref-Clements6thDec09}}#Birdforum member personal observations | ||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
{{GSearch|Nyctanassa+violacea}} | {{GSearch|Nyctanassa+violacea}} | ||
Revision as of 19:47, 7 August 2010
- Nyctanassa violacea
Identification
61 cm. Grey body, Pale yellow crown, red eyes and short yellow legs, white stripe below the eye completely surrounded by black. Black feather centers produce a pattern on the wings. The bill has a specific shape, with the culmen tapering down and the mandible tapering up to the tip of the bill so that the bill overall is shaped like a chisel. Juveniles are mainly brown flecked with white or gray.
In flight will have strong legs protruding back beyond the short tail and the neck held in a compact S shape.
Similar species
Black-crowned Night-Heron and Boat-billed Heron are the most similar to both adults and juveniles, and the juvenile additionally has some similarities to American Bittern. Notice the shape of the bill of the Black-crowned Night-Heron which has lower edge of the mandible straight.
Distribution
North, Central and South America and the Caribbean.
North America: limited to eastern parts where breeding coastally from Maine to Florida and the along the Gulf Coast and inland from the Great Lakes to Colorado and Texas.
Central America: Range continues along Gulf Coast of Mexico and along the Atlantic side south to Panama and also occurs along the Pacific coast from Baja California southwards.
South America: occurs in coastal areas from Colombia to Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil in the east, as well as south to northern Peru in the west and on the Galapagos Islands.
The Caribbean: Also occurs throughout the West Indies and has been reintroduced to Bermuda.
Most northern birds move southwards after breeding to winter in the southern USA, Mexico, Central America and the West Indies. Vagrants recorded north to Nova Scotia and Newfoundland.
Taxonomy
Six subspecies are recognised.
- North American and east Mexican birds belong to nominate race
- paler and larger-billed bancrofti occurs in western Baja California and the West Indies.
- gravirostris from Socorro is also large-billed and calignis of the Pacific coast from Panama to Peru has a large bill and darker grey upperparts.
- Remainder of South American range is occupied by cayennensis. Slender-billed with dark upperparts.
- pauper from the Galapagos Islands is small and dark.
Habitat
Mainly coastal areas including rocky shores, mudflats and mangroves. Also inland on lakeshores and riverbanks. Breeding in swamps and marshes.
Behaviour
They often nest in colonies; the nests are platforms of sticks in trees or shrubs, often near or overhanging water. 3–5 pale blue-green eggs are laid.
The degree to which they are active during day or dawn/dusk varies both geographically and with time of year; they are more likely to be encountered before dark when they have young in the nest. The diet includes crustaceans, molluscs, frogs, aquatic insects and small fish, but one favorite food is land crabs; their bills are shaped like chisels and used to hammer a hole in the back of the crab shell.
References
- Clements, JF. 2009. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. 6th ed., with updates to December 2009. Ithaca: Cornell Univ. Press. ISBN 978-0801445019.
- Birdforum member personal observations
External Links
