Description: The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is one of the least common and least observed of North American waders. Active during the day, and at night, the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron can be identified at a distance in dim light by its bold white facial stripe.

The Yellow-Crowned Night is a stocky heron, measuring about 20 inches in length. It has a yellow crown, black face, white, oval-shaped facial marking, and reddish eyes. During breeding season, it has a long, yellow plume extending from the back of the head. Its bill is dark and thick. Its body is gray with black and white feathers on the wings and back. The legs are yellow. Males and females are identical. The immature Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is streaky brown.

Diet: Crustaceans, crayfish, fish, eels, frogs, reptiles, insects.

Range: The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron breeds throughout much of the eastern United States (except the Appalachian Mountains), but is decidedly rare in much of that range. Highest breeding densities occur in along the Gulf coast, Florida, and along the south Atlantic coast. It also breeds along the coasts of Mexico, the Caribbean islands, Central America, and the north and east coasts of South America.

Habitat: Wooded swamps, freshwater and saltwater marshes.

Status: The Yellow-Crowned Night Heron is uncommon and certainly less common than the Black-Crowned Night Heron.