night herons
Dusk-hunting marsh birds
Night herons are stocky, short-necked wading birds that feed primarily at dusk and through the night.
Unlike their long-legged heron relatives, they have a compact build and tend to stand motionless at water's edge waiting to ambush fish and frogs.
The black-crowned night heron is the most widespread species: We spotted a night heron hunting along the creek at twilight.
Light after sunset
- duskDimming after sundown
- moonlightReflected solar radiance, nocturnal
- darknessTotal absence of light
- nightfallOnset of darkness
gloaming · starlight · crepuscular · dawn · low-light · hunting · feeding · roosting
White wading bird
- bitternStocky marsh heron
- plumageBird's complete feather coat
- feathersBird's lightweight covering
- beakHorny avian mouthpart
wingspan · rookery · nesting · flock · waterfowl · migratory · flyway · ornithology
Inclined to conceal
- crypticObscure in meaning
- camouflagedVisually hidden by coloring
- hiddenKept out of sight
- stealthySecretly cautious in movement
inconspicuous · solitary · shy · reclusive · watchful · wary · silent · unobtrusive
twilight
Light after sunset
nightfall · gloaming · starlight · crepuscular · dawn · low-light · hunting · feeding · roosting · active
egret
White wading bird
beak · wingspan · rookery · nesting · flock · waterfowl · migratory · flyway · ornithology · birdwatching
secretive
Inclined to conceal
- crypticObscure in meaning
- camouflagedVisually hidden by coloring
- hiddenKept out of sight
stealthy · inconspicuous · solitary · shy · reclusive · watchful · wary · silent · unobtrusive · patient
stalking
Stealthy, persistent pursuit
- preyAnimal being hunted
- fishGilled aquatic vertebrate
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
frogs · invertebrates · ambush · patience · stealth · striking · wading · foraging · stillness · opportunistic
marsh
Grassy waterlogged lowland
shoreline · tidal · mudflat · delta · pond · riverbank · lagoon · creek · shallow · aquatic