You don’t have to go all the way to the Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador to see Yellow crowned night herons but I was thrilled to see this one because it was very close to me. Like all the animals in Galapagos the night herons are very tame. It was standing on the rough stone wharf in the harbor on San Cristobal island.  I almost didn’t see the heron as I waited to walk down the steps to the panga to take us back to our boat. 

The Juvenile Yellow Crowned Night Heron

The Panga

The wharf and harbor at San Cristobal

Night heron preening

Portrait of the Juvenile yellow crowned night heron