Black-crowned Night Heron

Description: 23-28" A medium-sized stocky, rather short-necked heron, with black crown, gray wings, white underparts, pale yellow legs (reddish in breeding season,) white plumes on back of crown in breeding season	Habitat: Common but local in marshes, wooded swamps, forests along shallow rivers and streams, and mangroves. Found in fresh, brackish and salt water habitats. Active at night. Hunts by standing motionless for long periods of time then quickly thrusting bill into water to catch small fish. Hunched posture.
Nesting: 3-5 pale blue-green eggs in a shallow saucer of sticks and reeds, occasionally in tall trees, nests in colonies	Range: breeds throughout US, except Rocky Mountain region, winters in southern half of US.
Voice: loud barking Kwok! or quack, often heard at dusk or at night, utters variety of croaks and harsh calls	Diet: Mainly fish, usually from within territory; also insects, eggs and young birds (especially terns, heron, ibis), small mammals, amphibians (especially in spring), other lower vertebrates. Young fed regurgitant, later mostly fish, unpredigested.

Notes: Flies with deep strokes and arched wings, head and back in a straight line, roosts in trees, during day attacked by "day" herons

When present in Oklahoma: Can be seen statewide in summer, most prevalent in central and north