Black-Crowned Night Heron

As the name implies, the black-crowned night heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, is among the late risers of the avian world. If the early bird is truly the one that gets the worm, then the night heron would be in trouble.

Toward evening, the black-crowned night heron leaves its roost to begin foraging, and continues to hunt until first light. The night-owl lifestyle allows it to find food at a time of day when there's little competition. On the menu: fish, shrimp, mussels, leaches, rodents, snakes, frogs, bird, eggs, carrion and garbage. Garbage.

The black-crowned is the most widespread heron in the world, with a range that spans five continents. In the western hemisphere, it can be found in the northern extremes of Canada to Cape Horn in South America. In places, it's a migratory bird; in others, including South Florida, it's a year-round resident. It's a common sight in and near wetlands and open water, perched in trees, stalking prey in shallows and mud flats or in flight.

It’s a stocky bird, with a short neck for a heron. They go about two feet long, with a wingspan of nearly four feet. The body is grayish, blue-black on top with long, white plumes. Juveniles are brownish gray.

 

I found this one along Peavine Road in Osceola County, Florida.

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