Yellow Crowned Night Heron

This juvenile yellow crowned heron came for a visit and a drink from the pool.

It’s been so hot of late and this juvenile, yellow crowned night heron has been visiting the pool at Harbour Club Villas to cool off and to get a drink. Juvenile night-herons have different plumage from the adults. The juvenile is grayish-brown overall with thin spotting on the back and upperwings. This heron is a year round breeding resident in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The adults look quite different and are dark gray over all, with black on the face and a large, white ear patch. The crown is also white. In breeding season, they get white, thread-like plumes on the back of the head and long, plumes of feathers on the back.

The adult night heron has a thread like plume on the back of its head

Yellow-crowned night herons acquire adult plumage by two years of age. It makes a living catching crabs and especially likes land crabs, and will even dig into their burrows to catch them. Although primarily nocturnal it does sometimes hunt in the day, and can be found quietly stalking through the dry bush looking for a meal. They’ve been seen eating cockroaches too.

He didn't like me approaching him and kept making warning noises.

Juvenile night heron with gorgeous brownish grey spotted feathering

 

Piercing yellow-orange eye

Preening yellow crowned night heron sitting on the pool fence at Harbour Club Villas.

looks pretty fierce here as he gets ready to fly off.

 

Love the long plumes from the back of his head.

Our guests at Harbour Club Villas are frequently surprised by both Green Herons and Yellow Crowned Night Herons as they fly in to drink water from the pool. It’s lovely to see and watch them as they squawk and make their presence known. It’s almost like the pool belongs to them and how dare these non flying creatures be allowed to lounge around at will!!

 

Happy bird watching……….the Turks and Caicos Islands has many species of birds and this is just one of them.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

 

 

 

 

Injured juvenile heron

An injured juvenile heron at Harbour Club Villas

An injured juvenile heron at Harbour Club Villas

Barry found this injured juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron wandering around at the back of our villas at Harbour Club. His wing was definitely broken and the poor thing was unable to fly.

Every time we tried to approach it, it would run away.

Every time we tried to approach it, it would run away.

We tried to corner him and catch him but he was too fast and scurried away into the bushes. Nature will take its course I’m sure as it was unable to fly.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Night Heron

Night Heron on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Last night we had a late night visitor at Harbour Club Villas.......this Yellow-crowned Night Heron surprised our guests.

This heron is frequently seen in the Turks and Caicos Islands and its main food is land crabs. I think the one at the villas roosts in one of our neem trees as he has surprised us several times. On one of my trips out to Blue Hills it was low tide and I spotted a Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Apparently they will go into the sea at low tide in search of marine crabs.
Low tide at Blue Hills shows a night heron searching for something to eat.

Low tide at Blue Hills shows a night heron searching for something to eat.

The Yellow-crowned Night Heron is usually grey with prominent black and white head. It is primarily nocturnal but as you can see from the photo, they will come out during the day and stalk their prey. 
Close up of a night heron.............the tide was out and he was probably looking for crabs.

Close up of a night heron.............the tide was out and he was probably looking for crabs.

On your next visit to Provo, keep your eyes open as you are sure to see a variety of birds.  Birdwatching is great in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Marta