Black-crowned Night-Heron – Inner city Houston,Texas Nycticox nycticox June – Texas L=25”...... WS=44”...... WT=1.9 lb Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Black-crowned Night-Herons feed on a variety of aquatic organisms, especially fish. They prefer shallow vegetated creeks, ponds, marshes and wetlands and, as their name implies, they prefer to feed at night. However, they do extend their feeding period into daylight hours when raising their young which occurs simultaneously with short days in North America. The bird pictured here was feeding during mid-morning and was found far from its normal habitat.
Green Heron – Foraging Butorides virescens April – Texas L=18” ...... WS=26” ...... WT=7 oz Order: Ciconiiformes (Herons, Ibises, Storks, New World Vultures, Allies) Family: Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, Bitterns) Green Herons are shy birds that inhabit wetland thickets over a broad range in North America. When foraging they will stalk prey while moving slowly through the water or wait patiently on branches over the water. They are one of the few birds that use tools or bait, such as twigs or leaves, to attract prey. Young Green Herons are dependent on their parents for an estimated 30 days. During this time they stay near the nest hopping or flying from branch to branch and practicing foraging.
