Yellow-crowned Night Heron -- South Dakota Birds
| Length: 25 inches | Wingspan: 45 inches | Seasonality: Rare visitor |
| ID Keys: Black and white patterned face, gray body | ||
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Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is a rare visitor to South Dakota, as it is normally found in the southeastern United States. It is normally a secretive and solitary bird. Despite the name, it is also active and feeds during the day.
Habitat: Very seldom in open areas, prefers wooded rivers, lakes, and ponds.
Diet: Feeds heavily on crustaceans, especially crayfish in the interior of the country. Also will eat fish, insects, tadpoles, and frogs.
Breeding: Non-breeder in South Dakota.
Song: A hollow wack.
Migrations: Mainly summers in the southeastern United States. Winters along the coastlines, Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies.
Similar Species: Black-crowned Night Heron
Status: Expanding in both range and numbers.
Further Information: 1) USGS Patuxent Bird Identification InfoCenter, Yellow-crowned Night Heron
2) Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Yellow-crowned Night Heron
Photo Information: April 16th, 1996 -- OUT-OF-STATE PHOTOGRAPH -- Brazos Bend State Park, Texas -- Terry Sohl
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Please mail any comments/suggestions/additional links for this page to: Terry L. Sohl
This page was last edited on 02/03/08