Scientific Name: Nycticorax nycticorax. Order: CICONIIFORMES. Family: Bitterns, Herons and Egrets (Ardeidae)

Medium-sized, stocky heron with short neck and legs, black upperparts, gray wings, and white to pale gray underparts. Bill is stout and black, eyes are red, and legs are yellow. Sexes are similar. Breeding adult develops long white plumes on back of head. Juvenile has brown, white-streaked upperparts, white, brown-streaked underparts, and yellow-green legs.