Black-crowned Night Herons – Mia McPherson's On The Wing Photography

Nycticorax nycticorax

Black-crowned Night Herons are short, stocky herons with thick necks and heavy, pointed black bills. Adults have soft gray plumage with a black back, red eyes and a black crown. Immature Black-crowned Night Herons are primarily brown with large white spots on the wings and blurry streaks on their underparts and have orange colored eyes.

Comparing Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night Herons

By Mia McPherson|2024-04-08T05:51:02-05:00January 22nd, 2013|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Bird ID, Black-crowned Night Herons, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Florida, Fort De Soto County Park, Utah, Yellow-crowned Night Herons|Tags: adult, bird ID, Black-crowned Night Heron, comparing, differences, heron, herons, Identifying Immature Night Herons, Identifying Night Herons, immature, juvenile, night heron, night herons, wading birds, Yellow-crowned Night Heron|

The adult Black-crowned and Yellow-crowned Night Herons aren't terribly difficult to tell apart though the juveniles can be more of a challenge.

Some fun with birds from yesterday

By Mia McPherson|2023-01-18T03:03:39-06:00January 19th, 2013|Categories: Antelope Island State Park, Barn Owls, Black-crowned Night Herons, Chukars, Davis County, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Great Blue Herons, Rough-legged Hawks, Utah|Tags: adult, Alectoris chukar, Ardea herodias, Barn Owl, birds of prey, Black-crowned Night Heron, Buteo lagopus, Chukar, Great Blue Heron, hawks, heron, herons, juvenile, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, owl, owls, raptors, Rough-legged Hawk, Tyto alba, upland game birds|

A wonderful fun-filled day with great companionship and plenty of birds. I can't ask for more.

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron – A Winter Treat

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-05T14:56:53-05:00January 6th, 2013|Categories: Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Farmington Bay Waterfowl Management Area, Utah|Tags: Black-crowned Night Heron, Davis County, heron, herons, ice, immature, juvenile, marsh, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, snow, Utah, wading birds, winter, young|

I've mentioned before that Great Blue Herons stay in the Salt Lake Valley over winter even though the temperatures get very cold and so do some of the Black-crowned Night Herons.

Black-crowned Night Heron fly by

By Mia McPherson|2021-05-05T14:54:09-05:00July 10th, 2012|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: adult, Black-crowned Night Heron, flight, fly by, flying, heron, herons, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, sky, wading bird|

I spent yesterday morning photographing at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge in Box Elder County, Utah. Black-crowned Night Herons seemed to be everywhere on the south side of the auto tour loop, both adults and hatch year birds.

Black-crowned Night Heron Lift Off

By Mia McPherson|2023-01-18T14:30:55-06:00May 16th, 2012|Categories: Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Box Elder County, Utah|Tags: adult, Black-crowned Night Heron, flight, flying, heron, herons, lift off, marsh, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, wading bird, water|

I was able to take a nice series of images of the Black-crowned Night Heron lift off and when the heron was in flight as it flew past me

Friday Photos ~ Feathers and Fur

By Mia McPherson|2023-10-02T19:03:44-05:00January 20th, 2012|Categories: American Kestrels, Antelope Island State Park, Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, Black-crowned Night Herons, Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area, Long-tailed Weasels, Pronghorn, Utah|Tags: American Kestrel, Antelope Flat, Antilocapra americana, Black-crowned Night Heron, Box Elder County, Davis County, Falco sparverius, falcon, falcons, heron, herons, kestrel, kestrels, Long-tailed Weasel, Mustela frenata, nature photography, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, Pronghorn, weasel, weasels, wildlife photography|

For today's Friday Photos I am mixing it up a bit and posting images of Pronghorns, a Black-crowned Night Heron, a Long-tailed Weasel and an American Kestrel. Please enjoy!

Black-crowned Night Heron portrait

By Mia McPherson|2023-01-18T14:32:13-06:00November 16th, 2010|Categories: Birds, Black-crowned Night Herons, Florida, Pinellas County|Tags: adult, bird ID, Black-crowned Night Heron, close up, heron, herons, night heron, night herons, Nycticorax nycticorax, portrait, rookery, wading bird, wading birds|

Since I moved to Utah I have never been able to get as close to Black-crowned Night Herons like I was able to approach this bird in Florida.