Well-Hidden Night-Heron - Birds of Beaufort NC

While in Morehead City one afternoon, I visited the freshwater pond at Bryan Street Park.

The site, lying within a residential area, attracts a variety of birds as it’s connected to the wetlands surrounding Spooner’s Creek. Here’s a view from the edge of the pond on the Webb Street side.

Can you see the well-camouflaged creature among the tangled branches?

Zooming in for a closer view, this appears to be an immature Black-crowned Night Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax, snuggled within the tangled branches.

Although about full size, this juvenile lacks the bold coloration of an adult. Where’s the black crown? Having such muted colors and spotted plumage, however, provides an obvious advantage, keeping the bird well hidden in the vegetation.

The patterns of spotting and streaking help the bird blend in, and also the streaked bill…

Note the pale greenish legs that resemble sticks of vegetation…

Since it takes three years for Black-crowned Night Herons to fully mature, I would estimate that this juvenile is either one or two years old. During its third year, adult plumage will begin to form. It was old enough to be alone at the pond, although I expect there were others nearby, just out of sight in the dense vegetation. Like other herons, they are social birds who usually roost in groups.

Taking time out in the late afternoon for some preening and scratching, and stretching…

To see how this juvenile will look when mature, here’s an adult Black-Crowned Night Heron, photographed in August at Ft. Macon State Park. This is quite a transformation!

This juvenile heron remained in the exact same spot at the edge of the pond for a stretch of time. It was at least for two weeks in April when I visited on three different days.