Black-crowned Night Heron

Common Name: Black-crowned Night Heron

Scientific Name: Nycticorax nycticorax

Range: This bird breeds throughout the United States, except for the Rocky Mountain regions, and spends its winters in the southern half of the U.S.

Habitat: Common but local in marshes, wooded swamps, forests along shallow rivers and streams, and mangroves. Found in fresh, brakish and salt water habitats. 

The Black-crowned Night Heron is active at night. It hunts by standing motionless for long periods of time then quickly thrusting its bill into the water to catch small fish.  

Birds of Oklahoma. Web. 22 Feb 2011.
      http://www.birdsofoklahoma.net/