Yellow-crowned Night-heron
A species of Nyctanassa Night-herons Scientific name : Nyctanassa violacea Genus : Nyctanassa Night-herons
Yellow-crowned Night-heron, A species of Nyctanassa Night-herons
Botanical name: Nyctanassa violacea
Genus: Nyctanassa Night-herons
Photo By William H. Majoros , used under CC-BY-SA-4.0 /Cropped and compressed from original 
Description
A stockier, more compact version of the heron, the yellow-crowned Night-heron is recognizable by its thick neck and blocky head. Look for its gray undersides and orange-yellow legs, which become brighter when they become adults. They primarily eat crustaceans like crabs and crayfish, which they stalk in shallow water, hunched forward and alone.
Size
56 - 71 cm
Life Expectancy
6 years
Nest Placement
Tree
Clutch Size
2 - 6 eggs
Number of Broods
24 - 25 days
Nestling Period
30 - 43 days
Feeding Habits
Yellow-crowned Night-heron's diet is mainly crustaceans, particularly crabs and crayfish, supplemented by a variety of other prey such as fish, insects, worms, small reptiles, birds, and mammals. It forages day and night, using a slow, stealthy approach to lunge at and dismantle or swallow its prey whole, influenced by geographic location.
Habitat
Yellow-crowned Night-heron primarily inhabits wetland environments such as marshes, wooded swamps, mangroves, tidal marshes, and lakeshores. These birds favor areas with abundant crustaceans, particularly within southeast United States. Preferring coastal regions like barrier islands and lowlands, they also nest inland up to regions like Ohio and Minnesota. Foraging habitats extend to shallow creeks, rivers, ponds, and even human-modified landscapes on occasion. Post-breeding, many disperse northward and westward, while others remain in suitable coastal climates conducive to year-round crab activity.
Nest Behavior
The male yellow-crowned Night-heron selects the nest site, and the pair may start several before finishing one. They build it together, with the male providing initial materials. Both sexes gather and place sticks during the 10-day construction. They nest alone or in colonies, sometimes reusing or refurbishing old nests annually.
Nest Characteristics
Yellow-crowned Night-heron builds nests typically in trees near water, up to 60 feet high, or on lower vegetation. In areas with less vegetation, they may use rock ledges. Their nest is a stick platform over 4 feet with a central hollow, occasionally lined with leaves, vines, or moss.
Dite type
Aquatic invertebrate eater
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Migration Overview
The yellow-crowned night heron is found exclusively in the Americas, and its distribution depends closely on food (mainly crustaceans) availability. 
General Info
Feeding Habits
Bird food type
Behavior
Yellow-crowned Night-heron typically exhibit a deliberate foraging style, moving with calculated steps while hunched over in search of prey. During courtship, their aerial performances are coupled with a distinctive neck-stretching gesture, often reciprocated by the female, showcasing their extensive shoulder plumes. These birds establish socially monogamous pairs, occasionally renewing bonds annually. While nesting in proximity to others, they fiercely defend their territory through aggressive posturing and vocalizations. Sibling rivalry is intense, with older offspring demonstrating aggression towards their younger counterparts, sometimes with fatal outcomes. Post-breeding season, juvenile yellow-crowned Night-heron engage in a northward or westward exodus, eventually settling into winter habitats.
Distribution Area
The yellow-crowned night heron is found exclusively in the Americas, and its distribution depends closely on food (mainly crustaceans) availability.
Species Status
The yellow-crowned night heron is generally not considered a threatened species, as the population size is very large, its range is wide and it has a stable trend. Its status with the IUCN is of Least Concern, meaning no conservation action is required across the species’ range.
Scientific Classification
Phylum
Chordates Class
Birds Order
Pelicans and Relatives Family
Herons Genus
Nyctanassa Night-herons Species
Yellow-crowned Night-heron 
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