Yellow-Crowned Night Heron
203. Nyctanassa violacea. 23 inches.
The head of this species is adorned with three long, rounded white plumes; in life these plumes are rarely separated, but are nested together so that they appear to be as one. On the back they also have long lanceolate gray plumes; crown and a comet shaped patch under the eye of a yellowish white. As dusk approaches, these birds start out from their roosting places, and, with slow, measured flaps, wing their way to their feeding grounds, which are fresh water bogs, their food consisting of insects, frogs, snails and small fish.