Black-crowned Night Heron

The reason the stocky Black-Crowned Night Heron looks so funny, is that it is usually found with its neck pulled in. Its neck and legs are much shorter than other herons. It has a black crown, black on its back, and its wings are bluish-gray. There are 2-3 long thin white plumbs that extend back from the back of the head. It has a slightly down-curved, thick, dark bill. The area of skin around the bill (called lores) are bluish-green; and it has yellow legs and feet. During high breeding, the plumbs can reach up to one foot long and the lores and legs turn a pinkish color. The male is larger than female and has a deeper voice. It will take 3 years for the Black-Crowned Night Heron to reach full maturity. A juvenile has yellow-orange eyes, yellow-green legs and a dark brown plumage with cream colored spots and streaks. Its belly is streaked brown and white. Immature heron are mostly brown overall with a darker head. The second year brings plumage more like the adult plumage; it will be browner with a dark cap and back and brown wings and neck.

http://www.birdinginformation.com/birds/herons-bitterns-egrets/black-cr…