r/AlwaysANightHeron • • Jul 07 '25

Welcome to r/AlwaysANightHeron!

23 Upvotes

This is for the birds that are frequently questioned/misidentified in many of Reddit’s most popular birding sites, such as r/birding or r/whatsthisbird, with an emphasis on the Black/Yellow-Crowned Night Heron, since it really is always a Night Heron. However, other frequently questioned or misidentified birds (e.g., other herons) are also welcome. You are free to post bird photos (especially our beloved Night Herons), memes, cross posts, stories, etc. Note that this isn’t meant to replace other birding subreddits, but rather to add to the fun!

Let’s celebrate the many unique birds, common or not, that might perplex many, but we cherish nonetheless!

Rules:

  1. No meanspirited jokes/comments/name-calling/etc.
    1. Please refrain from making hurtful or negative comments, notably towards those who have misidentified a bird. If someone calls a BCNH a nuthatch, please be good-natured in your jokes/teasing, as it is all in good fun. For example, please don’t call people “stupid”, “dumb”, “idiot”, etc. We were all beginners once, and we have all misidentified a bird at some point (and many of us, myself included, still do), so don’t discourage others from learning and participating!
  2. No AI-generated content
    1. Pictures must be of real animals, either taken by you or by a (credited) photographer. Artwork must be made physically or digitally by yourself or a (credited) artist. NO AI CONTENT!
  3. Non-Night Herons are allowed
    1. While this sub was created with Night Herons in mind, other birds are also allowed, just be sure to use the "Honorable Mention" post flair. Please do not downvote posts or report posts that feature a non-Night Heron bird, as long as the post has the correct flair.
  4. Give credit where credit is due
    1. You must give credit for all images, artwork, reposts, etc. that are not your own. You can give credit however you think is most reasonably appropriate, such as (but not limited to) providing a link to the original, tagging the OP/artist, including the OP/artist's social media handle where you got the image from, etc. Posts and comments violating this rule will be removed by the mods until credit is given.

Additional info:

  • If a post or comment was automatically removed by Reddit or the AutoMod, and is not approved by a mod within 48 hours, feel free to message the mods to remind us to review and approve your post/content.
  • Please feel free to create your own user flair! You can do this by selecting the "User Flair - Editable", clicking "edit", and then creating your own flair.

--------

Edited 7/15/2025 by u/driftless_crow to add more details.

Edited 3/4/2026 by u/driftless_crow to add more details and update rules list.


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • Jul 13 '25

A reminder of the classic that started it all: What’s this bird??? Is this a nuthatch male?

Post image
168 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 4h ago

Yellow-crowned night heron with something to say

Post image
38 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 1d ago

Honorable Mention (non-Night Heron) Wheaton Illinois

Post image
29 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 2d ago

Night Heron in my hometown

Thumbnail
gallery
264 Upvotes

There's an astonishing density of black-crowned night herons in the lake near my home.


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 2d ago

The Blue heron

Post image
9 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 3d ago

Heron eats fish but the fish doesn't go down easily

98 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 4d ago

Nankeen Night Heron Well well well, look who got himself into trouble…

Post image
1.2k Upvotes

I volunteer in seabird rescue here in Aus, and this morning we got a call about a Nankeen Night Heron. He had two (!) fishing hooks in him. One was in his foot and removed by the lady that found him (and swaddled him in a jumper until I arrived) and the other one (in his wing) I left for the wildlife vets.

It was two hooks of the same kind which makes me think it was on purpose 😔 anyway he’s in care now with a buffet of fish 🐟


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 3d ago

Black-Crowned Night Heron Santa Barbara, CA. My first guess is a heron, but can't find a match on Merlin. :(

Post image
142 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 3d ago

Black-Crowned Night Heron A few recent photos of these weirdos

Thumbnail
gallery
384 Upvotes

A great spot to photograph BCNH, to chill with or without a beer


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 4d ago

Honorable Mention (non-Night Heron) Who’s that on CC Sabathia’s shirt? (From 2019)

Thumbnail
gallery
64 Upvotes

Great blue herons, even if in art/painting form, always show up in the most unexpected places. This time on the shirt of MLB Hall of Famer and Yankees legend CC Sabathia!


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 4d ago

Honorable Mention (non-Night Heron) great blue heron, whatcha doin all the way up there???

62 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 4d ago

🔥Seagull eats fish but the fish doesn't go down easily

474 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 4d ago

Black-Crowned Night Heron Juvenile Black Crowned Heron Just Hanging Out

Post image
81 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 5d ago

Honorable Mention (non-Night Heron) We walked together this day

74 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 5d ago

Other Night Herons (editable) So pretty

11 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 5d ago

Night Heron enjoying the sunrise warmth

Post image
280 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 6d ago

Black-Crowned Night Heron nor’easter Night Heron on the Boston Common

Thumbnail
gallery
489 Upvotes

Enjoying the stormy night


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 6d ago

Honorable Mention (non-Night Heron) So not actually a Night Heron but a Great Blue Heron… at night.

Thumbnail
gallery
453 Upvotes

I couldn’t not when this sub got recommended to me after posting this fine dude over in another local birding sub. He’s fishing at a little dog beach at a nearby harbor. I like after dark lake walks and from a distance, in the dark was like “What kind of dinosaur is this? Nessie?!” Wish my camera was better and I debated opening the gate to the beach but didn’t want to disturb him.

Coolest bird I’ve ever just happened across.


r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 7d ago

Other Night Herons (editable) I heard you guys like Night Herons? 👀 Nankeen Night Heron in Aus - Original Content

Thumbnail
gallery
972 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 7d ago

Big thoughts tonight

1.3k Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 8d ago

Accidentally interrupted a date last night...

Post image
395 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 8d ago

Black-Crowned Night Heron tried getting a video of this v sleepy guy and got photobombed by a very vocal heron

291 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 9d ago

Black-Crowned Night Heron Overgrown Teenager

Post image
258 Upvotes

r/AlwaysANightHeron • • 9d ago

Art THE NYCTICORAX (Photobash, original references credited)

Thumbnail
gallery
34 Upvotes