Black-crowned Night Heron look-alikes
Nycticorax nycticorax
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Open the appSeveral birds can be mistaken for the Black-crowned Night Heron. Compare the key differences below to confirm your sighting.
Birds to compare
Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Key differences
Adult Yellow-crowned Night Herons have a grey body, a black head with a white cheek patch, and a pale yellow crown. Their bill is heavier and darker. Juveniles are also mottled brown but have finer streaking and smaller, less distinct spots than juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons. Yellow-crowned Night Herons prefer brackish or saltwater habitats and are more active during the day.
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Key differences
Green Herons are much smaller, have a dark green-black cap, a chestnut neck, and greenish-black back and wings. They are typically diurnal and have a more hunched posture. Their call is a sharp 'skeow'.
Juvenile Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Key differences
Juvenile Little Blue Herons are entirely white, gradually acquiring patchy blue plumage as they mature. They lack the heavy brown streaking and spotting of juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons.
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