Birds of North Carolina - their Distribution and Abundance

Scientific Name:	Common Name:		Family (Alpha):

ARDEIDAE Members:

Yellow-crowned Night Heron 146

General Comments

Though the Yellow-crowned Night Heron can be somewhat nocturnal, it frequently forages during the day. However, it is our least numerous breeding heron/egret, with breeding habits, habitats, and especially locations still not well understood. Although a few pairs nest with other waders on coastal islands, most breed in small groups (probably two to five pairs) in remote swamps, though a few colonies are present in the middle of Piedmont cities! As with the Green Heron, nearly all birds leave the state in fall, and it is rarely seen in winter. Yellow-crowns prefer to forage in freshwater areas near swamps and thickets, often on crayfishes; however, they also feed on crabs in salt or brackish channels and shallow waters.

NOTE: In 2024, the AOS removed the hyphen between the words "Night" and "Heron" in this species' name and in the Black-crowned Night Heron.

Breeding Status

Breeder

NC BRC List

Definitive

State Status

U.S. Status

Definitive

State Rank

S2B

Global Rank

Coastal Plain

Summer resident and transient. Generally uncommon along most of the coast, but fairly common at least locally along the southern coast (Brunswick and New Hanover); also uncommon in the Tidewater zone; mostly mid-Apr to mid-Oct; very rare into Dec or early Jan. The only known record of a wintering bird was an adult seen along the US 64 causeway between Manteo and Nags Head, 28 Dec 2013 - 28 Feb 2014; the bird remained through the entire following winter (2014-15), as well. However, some reports from CBC's, typically immatures, likely represent mis-identified immature Black-crowned Night-Herons. Farther inland, a rare and poorly-known breeder and migrant. Nests sparingly along the Roanoke River, and probably also blackwater rivers such as the Northeast Cape Fear. An unusual report was one seen in the Gulf Stream out of Hatteras, 21 Jul 2011 (Chat 75:156). Peak counts:

Piedmont

Transient, post-breeding visitor, and sparse breeder. Rare and local throughout, and no records for many counties; mainly from late Apr to late Sep. Nests in small colonies in a few cities -- Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Chapel Hill, and Durham; however, there are few nesting reports from the region away from cities! Two nests (with an excellent nine juveniles) were found in Ephesus Park (Orange) on 18 Jun 2023, and three nests found there in May 2024. A nest with adults found near Cramerton (Gaston) in May 2016 is slightly farther west than other nesting records. Another confirmed nesting was reported from Catawba College Ecological Preserve (Rowan) in 2025. Away from cities, most frequent as a post-breeding visitor at mudflats and beaver ponds. Only one winter report, an adult at Winston-Salem, 1-7 Jan 1998. Peak counts: 14 adults (plus 12 young), Charlotte, 20-31 May 2002.

Mountain

Transient. Very rare to rare, and only in the lower mountains, mostly from Henderson; nearly all records from Apr and mid-July into Aug. There were five reports in summer 2024, each from different counties -- Buncombe, Clay, Haywood, Henderson, and Transylvania. An adult near Hot Springs (Madison) on 10 Jun 2007 was quite unusual, as was an immature along Hooper Lane in Henderson on 19 Jul 2014. Also notable was an adult photographed at a creek near Robbinsville (Graham) on 25 Sep 2025. Peak counts: 2, immatures at Beaver Lake (Buncombe), 14 Jul 2021; one, on many dates.

Finding Tips

Areas where they can be seen somewhat regularly are the Twin Lakes ponds on the mainland part of Sunset Beach and the Ocracoke area. A few parks in Piedmont cites have breeding birds where they can be seen with some regularity (see above). One does not have to be at these sites near dawn or dusk.