Second winter Black-crowned Night Heron – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning at Farmington Bay I found and photographed a second winter Black-crowned Night Heron at the edge of the frozen marsh. I was delighted for two reasons, it is the first time I have photographed a Black-crowned Night Heron in Second Basic Plumage in Utah and because I haven’t been seeing as many of these herons as I used to see.
This isn’t an adult Black-crowned Night Heron, it isn’t a juvenile either, it is an immature or sub-adult bird.
Black-crowned Night Heron in its second winter – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1/1250, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Unlike some birds who molt into adult plumage within a year of hatching Black-crowned Night Herons do not get their adult plumage until after their second winter.
This immature Black-crowned Night Heron still shows some streaking on its chest and it has a short occipital plume. It also has a dark but not black cap and shows some retained juvenile primary and secondary feathers that are brown instead of gray.
Immature Black-crowned Night Heron in its first winter – Nikon D300, f7.1, 1/500, ISO 250, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
The photo above shows a first winter, immature Black-crowned Night Heron standing on ice near the same spot as the heron in the first two photos. It is in its juvenile plumage which is brown and streaky.
The degree of difference in the juvenile plumage sometimes misleads new birders and bird photographers into thinking that this is a separate species from the adult Black-crowned Herons. The most frequent misidentification I see is people thinking that juvenile Black-crowned Night Herons are American Bitterns.
This young bird was photographed on January 4, 2013.
Adult Black-crowned Night Heron in winter – Nikon D300, f6.3, 1/1000, ISO 250, +0.7 EV, Nikkor 200-400mm VR with 1.4x TC at 400mm, natural light
This photo of an adult Black-crowned Night Heron was taken on January 7, 2013 in the same area of Farmington Bay as the three previous photos during a snowstorm. The crown and back are darker than is seen in the second winter bird, the occipital plume not visible in this image was longer and there was no streaking on the breast of this adult.
I enjoy photographing Black-crowned Night Herons any time I see them in all kinds of weather conditions. I just wish I saw them as frequently as I used to.
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my Black-crowned Night Heron photos plus facts and information about this species.
Wow! I love the eye contact and, of course, the background and colors are terrific. Thanks Mia.
These birds go through quite the metamorphoses as they get their adult plumage. Thank you for such wonderful images of the various stages.
Mia, thank you for your many black crown night heron photos! As part of a black crown night heron survey, we realized that these herons’ legs turn red during the breeding cycle. Some of your photos have these red legs. This knowledge helped us find and count these herons when their nests were in dense yellowish foliage. …a red toe sticking out here or a bit of a white plume over there.
Beautiful series of photos and explanation of coloration. I remember when Black crowned night herons were as abundant as Great Blue herons here at our preserves. I wonder what happened to them? All our preserves have gone through great changes in the last 5 or so years. Seems like the wetlands went from a state of neglect to being over manipulated. I wonder if any state biologists ever do studies?
April, I believe it is the cows that are being allowed to graze. These night herons nest both in trees and on the ground and I think our ground nesting birds, including these herons, Short-eared Owls, Northern Harriers and more are declining because the cattle trample on the nests.
See this post: https://www.onthewingphotography.com/wings/2019/10/25/reasons-why-we-may-be-seeing-fewer-northern-harriers-at-farmington-bay/
Thank you for the beauty and the education.
I wish you saw them as often as you used to as well.
Nice! Thanks for sharing.