Everglades Birding Tour: Night Herons

There are two species of Night Herons found in Everglades National Park - the Black and Yellow Crowned - These birds are fairly similar from my perspective -except in appearance. Both are often seen standing still at the water's edge, waiting to ambush prey, mainly at night or early morning. They primarily eat crustaceans - crabs and shrimp in Everglades National Park - but I've seen the black catch and eat small fish as well - the yellow probably do too. They also will eat frogs, sirens and insects as well. During the day they can be seen perched and resting in mangroves or on other trees. The juveniles are much less dramatically colored - and camoflauge nicely in the trees, or on mudflats and rocks along the shore.

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