Immature Night Heron - Yellow?
How do you tell a yellow from black when immature? I caught a couple today at Ding Darling, here is one that was quite close (and about the only moment in 15 minutes of watching he looked awake). I'm guessing yellow.
D300, 200-400 F4 @ f5.6 @ 400mm, 1/1000th
Also comments welcome on the shot.
Oh... here is the other. I think the greenish beak may make this a black crowned? But they sure looked similar (they were not particularly near each other by the way).
Top looks like Yellow and bottom is Black.
Differences:
Bill:
Yellow-crowned is dark and thick. Black-crowned is heavy, more pointed and yellowish.
Plumage:
Yellow-crowned with tiny white spots and thin white edges on coverts. Black-crowned with large white spots on coverts.
Agree. Top image is Yellow-crowned, lower is Black-crowned. Dark bill colour of Yellow-crowned sets it apart from yellowish bill of Black-crowned. Images also show nicely other differences in the look of the head.
I agree upper yellow and lower black. I think Blacks have shorter legs.
Another vote for Yellow-crowned on the top and Black-crowned on the bottom.
In addition to the good reasons above, something that jumps out at me is that Yellow-crowned seems to have a look like the bill was pushed a bit too hard into its face. Add in a less massive head, larger eye, and what seems like a stronger brow over the eye and you get very different look to the face. While it's not a very technical description, they almost look annoyed to me.
Maybe not technical but very memorable. :oOriginally Posted by Paul Guris
Thanks everyone, have corrected my gallery, it is nice to get them labeled right. And eventually I may be able to tell for sure myself.
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