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One of the most
exciting birds to watch at Kaelepulu Pond
is the Black Crowned Night Heron
(Nycticorax nycticorax hoactli), or in
Hawaiian, 'auku'u. It looks like it is
hunched over with its head usually tucked
down into its shoulders. The 'auku'u are
long necked, long winged, and long legged
birds.
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When fully grown, they
are 23- 26 inches tall with a wingspan of
43- 45 inches wide. The Night Herons have
a glossy greenish black coloring on top of
their heads, on their back, and their
feathers. The forehead, throat, sides of
head, and under parts are white. Its call
is a short, hoarse "quok." The 'auku'u has
sharp eyesight. The herons
can be a threat because
they can feed on the young of other
colonial-nesting waterbirds.
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The Night Heron is
nocturnal, and it inhabits the marshes,
ponds, streams, lagoons, swamps, lakes,
rivers, exposed reefs, and tide pools. It
lives on all the main islands except
Lanai.
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