Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Status:
Common resident and uncommon migrant. Exterminated by early settlers, this heron was reintroduced from Florida in 1976 and began breeding in 1978.
Local Habitat:
Feeds by night and day along all coastal habitat: dunes and beaches; rocks and cliffs; tidal flats and mangroves; golf courses and lawns.
Habits:
Not wholly nocturnal as often seen during the day, especially in breeding season from March to June. Very approachable. Lays 3 or 4 eggs in a large twig nest. Fledglings leave the nest in July and August.
Commonly Seen:
Spittal Pond, Stokes Point Nature Reserve
