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Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 44 inches Sexes similar Fairly small, stocky, short-legged and short-necked heron Bill medium-sized and pointed Tucks neck in close to body in flight and at rest, rarely extending it Adult: Red eyes, legs yellow Black bill Black crown and back White face, throat, foreneck, chest and belly Blue-gray wings Two long, white, filamentous plumes extending from back of head in alternate plumage Juvenile: Eyes yellowish to amber, legs dull greyish Yellow base to bill Brown head, neck, chest and belly streaked with buff and white Wings and back darker brown with large white spots at the tips of the feathers; spots especially large on the greater secondary coverts Immature: Acquires full adult plumage in its third year First year birds are similar to juvenile, but have less extensive spotting on upperwings and a dark cap Second year birds resemble the adult, but have a brown neck and wings contrasting with darker brown cap and back Similar species: Adults are unmistakable. Immatures can be separated from American Bittern by pale spotting on the upperwing, lack of black neck spot, different shape, stouter bills and more even upperwing coloration in flight. Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has smaller spots on greater secondary coverts, smaller spots on head and neck, thicker bill, and longer legs. Immature Black Crowns can show a variety of plumage characters so are best separated from immature Yellow-crowns by their smaller, thinner bill and shorter legs.
Heron with Gar
Green heron Butorides virescens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 25 inches Sexes similar Small, short-legged and short-necked heron Yellow legs Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extending it Black cap Blue-gray back and wings Adult: Chestnut neck White chin White stripe down center of neck Immature: Reddish-brown and white streaks on head and neck Extensive white spots on wing coverts Similar species: No similar species. Least Bittern is much smaller with buff head and neck and buff patches on wing coverts.
Shark Valley west trail behind main entrance. The best shooting is in the first 300ft. of the trail. Located about 20 miles west of the Florida Turnpike on Tamiami Trail (SW 8th Street). Everglades National Park (entrance fee). Opens at 8:30, get there early for parking. Best December thru March.
This Snowy Egret has a small fish in its mouth. Snowy egret (Egretta thula) Identification Tips: Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 38 inches Sexes similar Medium-sized long-legged wading bird Usually holds necks in "S" curve in flight Entirely white plumage Adult: Thin black bill and yellow facial skin Black legs with yellow feet Shaggy plumes on head, neck, and back in alternate plumage Immature: Yellow stripe up the back of the black legs ,and yellow feet With pale-based bill when they leave nest, becomes black during autumn Lacks shaggy head, neck and back plumes
Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax

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Identification Tips:
Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 44 inches
Sexes similar
Fairly small, stocky, short-legged and short-necked heron
Bill medium-sized and pointed
Tucks neck in close to body in flight and at rest, rarely extending it
Adult:

Red eyes, legs yellow
Black bill
Black crown and back
White face, throat, foreneck, chest and belly
Blue-gray wings
Two long, white, filamentous plumes extending from back of head in alternate plumage
Juvenile:

Eyes yellowish to amber, legs dull greyish
Yellow base to bill
Brown head, neck, chest and belly streaked with buff and white
Wings and back darker brown with large white spots at the tips of the feathers; spots especially large on the greater secondary coverts
Immature:

Acquires full adult plumage in its third year
First year birds are similar to juvenile, but have less extensive spotting on upperwings and a dark cap
Second year birds resemble the adult, but have a brown neck and wings contrasting with darker brown cap and back
Similar species:
Adults are unmistakable. Immatures can be separated from American Bittern by pale spotting on the upperwing, lack of black neck spot, different shape, stouter bills and more even upperwing coloration in flight. Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has smaller spots on greater secondary coverts, smaller spots on head and neck, thicker bill, and longer legs. Immature Black Crowns can show a variety of plumage characters so are best separated from immature Yellow-crowns by their smaller, thinner bill and shorter legs.
Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Identification Tips: Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 44 inches Sexes similar Fairly small, stocky, short-legged and short-necked heron Bill medium-sized and pointed Tucks neck in close to body in flight and at rest, rarely extending it Adult: Red eyes, legs yellow Black bill Black crown and back White face, throat, foreneck, chest and belly Blue-gray wings Two long, white, filamentous plumes extending from back of head in alternate plumage Juvenile: Eyes yellowish to amber, legs dull greyish Yellow base to bill Brown head, neck, chest and belly streaked with buff and white Wings and back darker brown with large white spots at the tips of the feathers; spots especially large on the greater secondary coverts Immature: Acquires full adult plumage in its third year First year birds are similar to juvenile, but have less extensive spotting on upperwings and a dark cap Second year birds resemble the adult, but have a brown neck and wings contrasting with darker brown cap and back Similar species: Adults are unmistakable. Immatures can be separated from American Bittern by pale spotting on the upperwing, lack of black neck spot, different shape, stouter bills and more even upperwing coloration in flight. Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has smaller spots on greater secondary coverts, smaller spots on head and neck, thicker bill, and longer legs. Immature Black Crowns can show a variety of plumage characters so are best separated from immature Yellow-crowns by their smaller, thinner bill and shorter legs.
Black-crowned night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax

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Identification Tips:
Length: 20 inches Wingspan: 44 inches
Sexes similar
Fairly small, stocky, short-legged and short-necked heron
Bill medium-sized and pointed
Tucks neck in close to body in flight and at rest, rarely extending it
Adult:

Red eyes, legs yellow
Black bill
Black crown and back
White face, throat, foreneck, chest and belly
Blue-gray wings
Two long, white, filamentous plumes extending from back of head in alternate plumage
Juvenile:

Eyes yellowish to amber, legs dull greyish
Yellow base to bill
Brown head, neck, chest and belly streaked with buff and white
Wings and back darker brown with large white spots at the tips of the feathers; spots especially large on the greater secondary coverts
Immature:

Acquires full adult plumage in its third year
First year birds are similar to juvenile, but have less extensive spotting on upperwings and a dark cap
Second year birds resemble the adult, but have a brown neck and wings contrasting with darker brown cap and back
Similar species:
Adults are unmistakable. Immatures can be separated from American Bittern by pale spotting on the upperwing, lack of black neck spot, different shape, stouter bills and more even upperwing coloration in flight. Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has smaller spots on greater secondary coverts, smaller spots on head and neck, thicker bill, and longer legs. Immature Black Crowns can show a variety of plumage characters so are best separated from immature Yellow-crowns by their smaller, thinner bill and shorter legs.
See photo in original gallery.
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