Black-crowned Night Heron

Adults have a black crown and back, pale gray wings, whitish underparts, red eyes, and two or more long white head plumes. Juveniles are brown with pale spotting above and heavy streaking below.

Occurs on every continent except Antarctica and Australia. In North America it breeds locally across much of the continent, with northern birds moving south for winter.

Freshwater and salt marshes, ponds, lake edges, rivers, mangroves, estuaries, islands, and wooded wetland margins.

Fish, amphibians, crustaceans, insects, small mammals, young birds, and other available aquatic or shoreline prey.