John Chan / Juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea)predating a twig, learning stalking and hunting skills, Southern California, USA, July.

Tui De Roy / Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa / Nyctanassa violacea) portrait. Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, June.

Tim Laman / Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) standing on lava rock. Santiago Island, Galapagos

John Shaw / Striated heron (Butorides striata) standing on giant Amazon waterlily leaf (Victoria amazonica). Porto Jofre, Pantanal, Brazil. September.

Shane P. White / Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) in defensive posture, Castara Beach, Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

Shane P. White / Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) in defensive posture, Castara Beach, Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

John Chan / Juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) catching a Striped shore crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes), Southern California, USA, July.

John Chan / Juvenile Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) catching a Striped shore crab (Pachygrapsus crassipes), Southern California, USA, July.

Lynn M. Stone / Dunes and vegetative cover along Tampa Bay with tracks of Yellow-crowned night heron (Nyctanassa violacea) a predator of Ghost Crabs (Ocypodinae) that live in dune burrows), Muillet Key, St. Petersbur...

Tui De Roy / Yellow-crowned night herons (Nyctanasa violacea) adult and juvenile, Puerto Egas, Santiago Island, Galapagos

Tui De Roy / Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) parent with chicks in nest, Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

Tui De Roy / Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) parent with chicks in nest, Academy Bay, Santa Cruz Island, Galapagos Islands, Ecuador