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Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax), Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park, 2015.

The black-crowned night heron, also called auku'u in Hawaiian, isn't a typical heron in appearance. It has a relatively stocky body with a shorter bill, legs and neck compared to other herons. Its resting posture is normally somewhat hunched but when hunting an auku'u will extend its neck and look more similar to other wading birds. Adults are light-gray with a neat black back and black crown (as in the photo). Immatures are brown with large white spots on the wings and blurry streaks on the underparts. The bill also changes color from yellow and black in youth to a solid black in adulthood.

U.S. National Park Service

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Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, Code: KAHO

National Park Service Facebook Photos

Title: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
URL: https://www.facebook.com/KalokoHonokohauNPS/?fref=ts

20150528

05/28/2015

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Organization: Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
Address: 73-4786 Kanalani St. #14, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

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