There are two species of herons that are nocturnal in Florida and are not as often seen as the other heron species. The two species are the Yellow-crowned Night Heron and the Black-crowned Night Heron. Both birds nest in trees, and their young can look very similar and be hard to distinguish between species.
The two birds look and act very different in the adult plumage. The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is a slimmer bird that tends to stand more upright. It has blue and yellow feathers on its head, with a yellow “mohawk” on the crown. This is the easiest way to determine the species. They are primarily found in the southeastern US and can be found throughout Florida.
The Black-crowned Night Heron has just that: a blackish-blue “mohawk” on top. The rest of the bird is white and gray, but their best ID characteristic is a more hunched-over profile. Both birds can be found during the day but are much more likely to be seen at night, sitting on docks or in open fields hunting prey! 