Bird
Yellow-crowned Night-heron
Nyctanassa violacea
A summer resident that nests in Arkansas. Found in all 75 counties, across 10 habitats.
- Here
- Summer
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 75 counties
- Habitats
- 10

At a glance
- Group
- Birds
- Here
- Summer
- Nesting
- Nests here
- Range
- All 75 counties
- Habitats
- 10
- Habitat models
- Summer, Winter
Where it lives
The places its habitat model includes. It is not found everywhere a habitat occurs.
Habitats in Arkansas 10
Each habitat page lists the plants and wildlife also found there.

Disturbed and introduced wetlands
Wet ground taken over by weedy or introduced plants after disturbance, such as common reed, Chinese tallow or tamarisk stands; the upland counterpart is roadsides, fields and disturbed ground.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Forests on low ground beside rivers and streams that flood from time to time.
Open, herb-covered wetlands with fresh, non-tidal water.
Flat, poorly drained uplands and terraces with oaks, sweetgum and sometimes loblolly pine, wet in winter and dry in summer, but neither a floodplain nor a swamp.
Still water and its edges: ponds, lakes, millponds and reservoirs.
Places where groundwater keeps the soil or rock wet, such as seepage slopes and spring runs.
Streams, rivers and their banks
Flowing water and its banks, bars and rocky shoals.
Open, wet, grassy or sedgy ground that is not a bog.
Roadsides, fields and disturbed ground
Ground opened by people: roadsides, old fields, pastures, fencerows and lots.
Other habitats in its models (109)
Land cover, or classes with no habitat page in Arkansas. Those recorded in Arkansas first, the rest by region.
In Arkansas 1
- Lower Mississippi River Dune Woodland and Forest Summer and winter.
Elsewhere in the South (67)
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Interdunal Wetland Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Brownwater Stream Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Central Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Freshwater Marsh Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Embayed Region Tidal Salt and Brackish Marsh Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Indian River Lagoon Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Large Natural Lakeshore Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Peatland Pocosin Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Sea Island Beach Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Small Brownwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Beach Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Southern Wet Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Xeric River Dune Summer and winter.
- Central and South Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 500 m of water.
- Central Atlantic Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Summer and winter.
- Central Florida Herbaceous Pondshore Summer and winter.
- Central Florida Herbaceous Seep Summer and winter.
- Central Florida Pine Flatwoods Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Savanna and Wet Prairie Summer and winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Small Stream and River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Loblolly-Hardwood Flatwoods Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Tidal Wooded Swamp Summer and winter.
- East-Central Texas Plains Pine Forest and Woodland Summer, only within 500 m of water.
- East-Central Texas Plains Riparian Forest Summer.
- Florida Big Bend Fresh-Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- Florida Big Bend Salt-Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- Florida Panhandle Beach Vegetation Summer and winter.
- Floridian Highlands Freshwater Marsh Summer and winter.
- Louisiana Beach Summer and winter.
- Mississippi Delta Maritime Forest Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- Mississippi Sound Salt and Brackish Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- South Florida Bayhead Swamp Summer and winter.
- South Florida Cypress Dome Summer and winter.
- South Florida Dwarf Cypress Savanna Summer and winter.
- South Florida Everglades Sawgrass Marsh Summer and winter.
- South Florida Freshwater Slough and Gator Hole Summer and winter.
- South Florida Hardwood Hammock Summer and winter.
- South Florida Mangrove Swamp Summer and winter.
- South Florida Pine Flatwoods Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- South Florida Shell Hash Beach Summer and winter.
- South Florida Wet Marl Prairie Summer and winter.
- South-Central Interior / Upper Coastal Plain Wet Flatwoods Summer and winter.
- Southeast Florida Beach Summer and winter.
- Southeast Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Summer and winter.
- Southern and Central Appalachian Bog and Fen Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Blackwater River Floodplain Forest Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Herbaceous Seepage Bog Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Hydric Hammock Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Cypress Dome Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Seepage Swamp and Baygall Summer and winter.
- Southern Piedmont Small Floodplain and Riparian Forest Summer and winter.
- Southwest Florida Beach Summer and winter.
- Southwest Florida Coastal Strand and Maritime Hammock Summer and winter.
- Texas Coastal Bend Beach Summer and winter.
- Upper Texas Coast Beach Summer and winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Chenier and Upper Texas Coastal Fringe Forest and Woodland Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Large River Swamp Summer and winter.
- West Gulf Coastal Plain Wet Longleaf Pine Savanna and Flatwoods Winter.
Northeast (5)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Fresh and Oligohaline Tidal Marsh Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Northern Tidal Salt Marsh Summer and winter.
- North-Central Interior Wet Flatwoods Summer.
- Northeastern Interior Pine Barrens Summer, only within 500 m of water.
- Northern Atlantic Coastal Plain Basin Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest Summer and winter.
Midwest (1)
- North-Central Oak Barrens Summer, only within 500 m of water.
Land cover and other classes (35)
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Blackwater Stream Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Forested Wetland Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Clay-Based Carolina Bay Herbaceous Wetland Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Depression Pondshore Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Oak Dominated Modifier Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Nonriverine Swamp and Wet Hardwood Forest - Taxodium/Nyssa Modifier Summer and winter.
- Atlantic Coastal Plain Streamhead Seepage Swamp - Pocosin - and Baygall Summer and winter.
- Central Appalachian Riparian - Forest Modifier Summer.
- Developed, Low Intensity Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- Developed, Medium Intensity Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Jackson Plain Dry Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Large River Floodplain Forest - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Offsite Hardwood Modifier Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Open Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Near-Coast Pine Flatwoods - Scrub/Shrub Understory Modifier Summer and winter, only within 500 m of water.
- East Gulf Coastal Plain Southern Depression Pondshore Summer and winter.
- Eastern Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer.
- Gulf and Atlantic Coastal Plain Tidal Marsh Systems Summer and winter.
- Open Water (Aquaculture) Summer and winter.
- Open Water (Brackish/Salt) Summer and winter.
- South-Central Interior Large Floodplain - Herbaceous Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Bay/Gum Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Clethra Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Nupea Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Pine Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Coastal Plain Nonriverine Basin Swamp - Okefenokee Taxodium Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Piedmont Large Floodplain Forest - Forest Modifier Summer and winter.
- Southern Piedmont/Ridge and Valley Upland Depression Swamp Summer and winter.
- Tamaulipan Riparian Systems Summer.
- Unconsolidated Shore Summer and winter.
- Unconsolidated Shore (Beach/Dune) Summer and winter.
- Unconsolidated Shore (Lake/River/Pond) Summer and winter.
- Western Great Plains Depressional Wetland Systems Summer.
- Western Great Plains Floodplain Systems Summer.
Seasons in Arkansas
- Summer: nests here, in all 75 counties.
Also found in its main habitats
Its main habitats in Arkansas, by how much of its habitat model each one is, with the birds most characteristic of each and the plants that grow wild there. Shared habitat, not food.
Yellow-crowned Night-heron uses many habitats in Arkansas; these are its 3 most characteristic.
Floodplain and bottomland forests
Birds 77
- Bonaparte's GullChroicocephalus philadelphia
- Evening GrosbeakCoccothraustes vespertinus
- Lesser YellowlegsTringa flavipes
- Ruddy DuckOxyura jamaicensis
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Northern ParulaParula americana
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- Snowy OwlBubo scandiacus
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- Worm-eating WarblerHelmitheros vermivorum
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
Plants 313
- Elliott's BlueberryVaccinium elliottii
- Possumhaw HollyIlex decidua
- Cherrybark OakQuercus pagoda
- Swamp Chestnut OakQuercus michauxii
- Canada VioletViola canadensis
- Appalachian Orange ConeflowerRudbeckia fulgida var. umbrosa
- Shagbark HickoryCarya ovata
- Camphor PlucheaPluchea camphorata
- PondberryLindera melissifolia
- Smooth Hedge-nettleStachys tenuifolia
- Wolf's BluegrassPoa wolfii
- Spreading SedgeCarex laxiculmis
Swamps
Birds 63
- Blue-winged TealAnas discors
- DunlinCalidris alpina
- Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea
- RedheadAythya americana
- King RailRallus elegans
- Lapland LongspurCalcarius lapponicus
- Lesser ScaupAythya affinis
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
- Northern ParulaParula americana
- Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinica
- White IbisEudocimus albus
- American PipitAnthus rubescens
Plants 223
- Black Highbush BlueberryVaccinium fuscatum
- Smallflower BlueberryVaccinium virgatum
- InkberryIlex glabra
- Hoary AzaleaRhododendron canescens
- Small-flower ThoroughwortEupatorium semiserratum
- Carolina AshFraxinus caroliniana
- Dense-flower SmartweedPersicaria densiflora
- Swamp TupeloNyssa biflora
- Water HickoryCarya aquatica
- Bent SedgeCarex styloflexa
- Cypress-swamp SedgeCarex joorii
- Fringed SedgeCarex crinita
Hardwood and oak flatwoods
Birds 33
- Brown-headed NuthatchSitta pusilla
- Eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis
- Red-cockaded WoodpeckerPicoides borealis
- American CootFulica americana
- CanvasbackAythya valisineria
- Pine WarblerDendroica pinus
- Savannah SparrowPasserculus sandwichensis
- Black-bellied Whistling-DuckDendrocygna autumnalis
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla
- Loggerhead ShrikeLanius ludovicianus
- Prothonotary WarblerProtonotaria citrea
- Snowy EgretEgretta thula
Plants 15
- Inland MuhlyMuhlenbergia glabrifloris
- Barrens MilkweedAsclepias hirtella
- Rafinesque's SeedboxLudwigia hirtella
- Michigan LilyLilium michiganense
- Barbed Rattlesnake RootPrenanthes barbata
- Longs SedgeCarex longii
- Wolf's SpikerushEleocharis wolfii
- Bushs MuhlyMuhlenbergia bushii
- Nutmeg HickoryCarya myristiciformis
- Shellbark HickoryCarya laciniosa
- Dwarf PalmettoSabal minor
- Pin OakQuercus palustris
Sources
- USGS Gap Analysis Project habitat models (2001)
- USGS GAP winter habitat model for Yellow-crowned Night-heron
- USGS Gap Analysis Project range maps (2001), modeled by watershed; migratory gives no dates
- NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0), habitat names
- US Census TIGER/Line counties
- Names follow the USGS Gap Analysis Project (2001)























































