Scientific Name:
Nycticorax violaceus
Nest Type: Platform
Nest Location: Deciduous
trees, shrubs; 1-50', avg 30-40'
Clutch Size: 4-8;
avg. 4-5
Food: Aquatic invertebrates,
terrestrial insects, fish
Foraging Guild:
Stalk and strike, ground gleaner
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons
are regular but rare summer residents and migrants in Minnesota. The
species was first recorded breeding in Minnesota in 1955 in Houston
County. Since that time their range has expanded northward and westward
(Janssen 1987). Overall, the species is distributed from Minnesota and
Wisconsin south to Texas, along the Gulf coast, and along the Atlantic
coast as far north as Massachusetts.
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons
begin arriving in Minnesota from early April and continue into late
May (Janssen 1987). These herons breed along marshes, swamps, or lakes,
often in lowland forests, including second growth as well as mature
stands. Large, mature trees may be required for roosting (Ehrlich et
al. 1988). Nests are constructed singly or in small colonies, in either
mixed species or single species heronries. Clumped trees, shrubs and
even the ground is sometimes used as nesting substrate (Ehrlich et al.
1988).
Unlike Black-crowned Night-Herons,
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons often forage during the day, as well as
at night. Night-Herons also have heavier bills than other herons, allowing
them to take sturdier prey, such as crayfish and turtles. Throughout
most of their range they primarily feed in marine environments, specializing
on crustaceans. Other items in their diet include fish, leeches, insects,
snakes, frogs, mammals, and birds (Ehrlich et al. 1988).
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons
begin leaving the state in August for their wintering grounds in Central
and South America, and the Caribbean. This migration may continue into
late September (Ehrlich et al. 1988).
As with other herons, loss
of mature nesting trees along riparian areas will likely have negative
impacts upon this species. Protecting nesting sites in areas of possible
range expansion, as well as those presently populated, should be incorporated
into management plans. These herons, however, may be able to utilize
second growth in riparian areas, possibly reducing impacts of timber
harvesting.