Species BirdsYellow-crowned Night-Heron

Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Nyctanassa violacea

CommonBird
Illustration of Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea)

The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is a medium-sized heron of coastal areas and inland wetlands, distinguished from the Black-crowned Night-Heron by its black-and-white head pattern with a yellow-buff crown. It specializes in catching crustaceans, particularly crayfish, which its heavy bill is adapted to crush. It is more diurnal than the Black-crowned.

Habitat
Coastal marshes, mangroves, swamps, and stream banks
Diet
Crayfish, crabs, and aquatic invertebrates
How common
Common

Best time to see a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

The best time to see a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is April–July, when about 64% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 59,181 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D

Not certain it is a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron? What bird is this? walks through what to check first and the lookalikes that catch people out.

Recent Yellow-crowned Night-Heron sightings near you

Live, research-grade observations from iNaturalist. Allow location to center the map on you.

Spot a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron? Identify it instantly.

Point Huck at any plant, bird, or animal for an instant ID, its rarity, and a live map of where it is being seen near you.

Get Huck

Get an alert when a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is spotted

Pick a park, state, or city and we’ll email you when one turns up there. One check a day, only when there’s something new.

Free. Unsubscribe from any email. See our Privacy Policy.

Love birds? Get Huck field notes

Spotting tips, new species, and the best of what people are finding in the wild - straight to your inbox.

By subscribing you agree to receive Huck emails. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. See our Privacy Policy.

More birds

Yellow-eyed Junco
Yellow-eyed Junco
Junco phaeonotus
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Yellow-faced Grassquit
Tiaris olivaceus
Yellow-footed Gull
Yellow-footed Gull
Larus livens
Yellow-green Vireo
Yellow-green Vireo
Vireo flavoviridis
Yellow-headed Amazon
Yellow-headed Amazon
Amazona oratrix
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Yellow-headed Caracara
Yellow-headed Caracara
Daptrius chimachima
Yellow-naped Amazon
Yellow-naped Amazon
Amazona auropalliata