Black Crowned Night Heron (juvenile)

At sunset, when most herons are flying toward their roosting places, the black-crowned herons are leaving the trees where they have spent the day scattering over the marshes to feed. By foraging at night, these birds avoid competition with other herons. Probably the most abundant heron in the world, the black-crowned night heron nests on every continent except Australia, where its place is taken by a closely related species.