ken nanney
07-08-2008, 08:51 PM
This will continue a discussion about night heron identification in an unrelated thread and have it more visible for future reference.
Black-crowned Night-Heron immature.
Main points:
1. Stout but sharply pointed bill.
2. Mostly yellowish lower mandible (can extend into the upper mandible, too).
3. Paler, less contrasting pattern on head. Smaller eyes.
4. Brown back with bolder white spots.
5. Bold white spots along the ends of the secondary coverts but no pale feather edgings on these coverts.
6. Shorter legs. Note the distance between the joint of the leg and the body.
7. In flight only part of foot projects beyond tail.
8. Tends to stand in the hunched "no-neck" Green Heron type posture. When it does stretch its neck it can been seen to be shorter and thicker than YCNH.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2650836307_05df1856cd_o.jpg
VCDB, 21 May 2008. Olympus E-500. AF Nikkor 300 f4 ED-IF.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron immature.
Main points:
1. Stout, more blunt bill.
2. Mostly dark gray to blackish bill (Can show a little pale greenish to yellowish or pale gray at the base of the bill. This throws me off sometimes as with the bird in the photo).
3. More contrasting pattern on head. Large eyes.
4. Darker, more grayish to slaty back with smaller, less conspicuous spotting.
5. Secondary coverts have small spots at ends and pale feather edgings.
6. Longer legs. Note the distance between the joint of the leg and the body. Legs tend to be yellower than BCNH.
7. In flight the entire foot projects beyond tail. Shows darker flight feathers in flight.
8. Tends to stand and walk in the the stretched-neck posture. Neck is longer and thinner than BCNH.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2650835823_ddc47f2553_o.jpg
VCDB, 4 July 2008. Olympus E-1. Nikkor 400mm f3.5 ED-IF
Thanks for looking and I hope this helps in your identification of immature night herons. I know I learned a couple of new things compiling this info.
Ken Nanney
Black-crowned Night-Heron immature.
Main points:
1. Stout but sharply pointed bill.
2. Mostly yellowish lower mandible (can extend into the upper mandible, too).
3. Paler, less contrasting pattern on head. Smaller eyes.
4. Brown back with bolder white spots.
5. Bold white spots along the ends of the secondary coverts but no pale feather edgings on these coverts.
6. Shorter legs. Note the distance between the joint of the leg and the body.
7. In flight only part of foot projects beyond tail.
8. Tends to stand in the hunched "no-neck" Green Heron type posture. When it does stretch its neck it can been seen to be shorter and thicker than YCNH.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3059/2650836307_05df1856cd_o.jpg
VCDB, 21 May 2008. Olympus E-500. AF Nikkor 300 f4 ED-IF.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron immature.
Main points:
1. Stout, more blunt bill.
2. Mostly dark gray to blackish bill (Can show a little pale greenish to yellowish or pale gray at the base of the bill. This throws me off sometimes as with the bird in the photo).
3. More contrasting pattern on head. Large eyes.
4. Darker, more grayish to slaty back with smaller, less conspicuous spotting.
5. Secondary coverts have small spots at ends and pale feather edgings.
6. Longer legs. Note the distance between the joint of the leg and the body. Legs tend to be yellower than BCNH.
7. In flight the entire foot projects beyond tail. Shows darker flight feathers in flight.
8. Tends to stand and walk in the the stretched-neck posture. Neck is longer and thinner than BCNH.
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2650835823_ddc47f2553_o.jpg
VCDB, 4 July 2008. Olympus E-1. Nikkor 400mm f3.5 ED-IF
Thanks for looking and I hope this helps in your identification of immature night herons. I know I learned a couple of new things compiling this info.
Ken Nanney