Photo: Fernando Moraes
The Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) is a pelecaniform bird from the Ardeidae family. Also known as the “sleeper,” “matrião” (in some regions of the Amazon), “sabacu,” “tamatião,” and “taquiri” (Pará), and “mangrove heron”. This species measures 50 to 70 centimeters and weighs around 650 grams. It has a yellow or rust-colored forehead, with the side of the head being black and a white post-ocular spot. The feathers on the back and wings are black, edged in gray, while the rest of the plumage is gray and the legs are long and yellowish. The robust beak varies in size depending on the area of distribution: if it lives where prey is large, the beak will be large; otherwise, it will be slightly smaller.