Field Marks: 25 in. A heavy-bodied heron with relatively short, thick legs and bill. Neck usually well hidden body contour. Roosts in groups in trees during day and usually forages at night, using large red eyes to see prey; sometimes feeds by day. Occurs in freshwater habitats, as well as mudflats and salt marshes. Flies with deep, steady wingbeats. Adults have glossy black crown and back; rest of upperparts, wings and tail medium gray, blending into whitish underparts; a few thin white plumes hang from the nape; white over base of robust, slightly downcurved black bill; rather short yellow legs and feet (red during courtship). Immature dark brown above, streaked with buff and white; heavily streaked brown on white below; legs and most of bill yellowish. Call a distinctive "quock", often heard at night.
Range: Breeds throughout much of s. Canada and the United States. Winters along coasts from Oregon and Massachusetts south to South America.