# Yellow-crowned Night Heron (*Nyctanassa violacea*) The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is a beautiful bird with a striking yellow crown. It loves to hunt for food at night and can often be seen near water looking for tasty crabs and frogs. - **Category:** [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/bird) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 99 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Yellow-crowned Night Heron](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Nycticorax_violaceus_%28at_beach%29.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ianaré Sévi, CC BY 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Nycticorax_violaceus_%28at_beach%29.jpg) ## Appearance The Yellow-crowned Night Heron has a stocky, grey body with a distinctive black head marked by a white cheek patch and a pale yellow crown. Its piercing red eyes stand out against its dark plumage, and it has sturdy yellow legs. Unlike other herons, it has a shorter, thicker bill perfect for its diet. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Aves - **Order:** Pelecaniformes - **Family:** Ardeidae - **Genus:** Nyctanassa ## Interesting facts - Baby herons are born with fluffy brown feathers, not grey! - Some Yellow-crowns travel thousands of kilometers each year! - Their scientific name, Nyctanassa, means 'night queen'! - They use their sturdy bill to flip over rocks looking for food! ## Special abilities - **Night Vision Ninja:** Yellow-crowned Night Herons can see in very low light because of their specialized large red eyes, that helps them hunt at night. - **Crab Cracker:** Yellow-crowned Night Herons have a strong, pointed bill and powerful neck muscles that helps them catch and crack open tough crab shells. - **Stealthy Stalker:** Yellow-crowned Night Herons can stand incredibly still for long periods because of their patient hunting style, that helps them ambush unsuspecting prey. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 55-70 cm - **Wingspan:** 100-112 cm - **Weight:** 0.5-0.8 kg - **Lifespan:** 10-15 years - **Speed:** 40 km/h - **Clutch Size:** 3-5 - **Incubation:** 21-25 days - **Migration Distance:** 2000 km ## Diet & Feeding These herons mostly munch on tasty crabs and other crunchy critters found near water. - **Primary Foods:** crabs, crayfish, shrimp, small fish, frogs, insects - **Foraging Method:** Ambush ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** [Blue Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-crab) (*Callinectes sapidus*) — A primary food source in coastal habitats. - **Eats:** Red Swamp Crayfish (*Procambarus clarkii*) — Often hunted in freshwater marshes and ditches. - **Eaten by:** [American Alligator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-alligator) (*Alligator mississippiensis*) — Juveniles and eggs are prey for alligators. - **Eaten by:** [Red-tailed Hawk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-tailed-hawk) (*Buteo jamaicensis*) — Can sometimes prey on adult herons or fledglings. ## Traits - [Feathered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/feathered): Feathered describes animals, primarily birds, possessing a covering of feathers. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Ambush Predator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ambush-predator): An ambush predator hunts by patiently waiting and concealing itself, then launching a sudden attack when unsuspecting prey comes within range. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. ## Collections - [Birds](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/birds) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Always watch birds from a distance and don’t try to touch them. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Yellow-crowned Night Heron? Compare the silhouette, bill shape, tail length, wing bars and markings around the eyes. The same small brown bird at your feeder can look quite different in breeding plumage, winter plumage or its first year. Bird Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Yellow-crowned Night Heron? 55-70 cm ### What is Yellow-crowned Night Heron's wingspan? 100-112 cm ### How much does Yellow-crowned Night Heron weigh? 0.5-0.8 kg ### How long does Yellow-crowned Night Heron live? 10-15 years ### How fast can Yellow-crowned Night Heron move? 40 km/h ### What does Yellow-crowned Night Heron eat? These herons mostly munch on tasty crabs and other crunchy critters found near water. ### Where is Yellow-crowned Night Heron usually found? Wetlands ## Where to spot - [Awbury Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/awbury-arboretum) — Pennsylvania, US · Botanical Garden - [Broadmoor](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/broadmoor) — Louisiana, US · Neighborhood - [Charleston Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/charleston-historic-district) — South Carolina, US · Historic District - [Coindre Hall Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/coindre-hall-park) — New York, US · Park - [Compo–Owenoke Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/compo-owenoke-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Conestee Nature Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conestee-nature-preserve) — South Carolina, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Yellow-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/yellow-crowned-night-heron) ## More Birds - [Black-crowned Night Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-crowned-night-heron) (*Nycticorax nycticorax*) - [Anna's Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/annas-hummingbird) (*Calypte anna*) - [Great Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-egret) (*Ardea alba*) - [Blue Jay](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-jay) (*Cyanocitta cristata*) --- Source: [Yellow-crowned Night Heron: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/yellow-crowned-night-heron)