Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Status Rare visitant. The first record was of one killed on Cape Sable Island in March 1902 and purchased in the Boston market (Kennard 1902). Up to 1960 there were only a dozen records and it is still among the less common of the "southern" herons. Since 1960 sightings included 1 in March, 3 in April, 3 in May, 11 in July, 27 in August, 11 in September, 9 in October and 1 in November. The earliest landed on CSS Dawson 600 km east of Halifax on 30 March 1984; the latest was on Sable Island on 4 November 1968.

Description Length: 56-71 cm. Adults: Crown and broad streak on sides of head white, stained with rusty or yellow tinge; rest of head black. Remainder of plumage dark gray, back streaked with black. Legs greenish. Eyes orange. Immatures: Similar to Black-crowned Night-Heron of same age but darker and more finely streaked and spotted. No rusty wash on outer flight feathers. Bill stouter and legs longer. Tarsus longer than middle toe and claw.

Range Breeds from Massachusetts, Ohio, Kansas and Baja California south to the West Indies, Brazil and Peru.

Remarks It is difficult to distinguish this bird from the Black-crowned Night-Heron when both are in immature plumage, but the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has less prominent white spotting, a thicker neck, a stouter all-dark bill, darker flight feathers and in flight its legs extend well beyond its tail. It is said to be less nocturnal in feeding habits than the preceding species.