Black-Crowned Night Herons are small, stocky herons. They are mostly white with light gray wings and a black back and nape (Gray back in 1st year Juvenile turning into Adult (Early Adult)). They have a black cap with two, tiny white plume feathers facing their back, usually not stood up coming from the back of their head. They also have a stout dark-gray bill, a red eye with a black pupil, green-yellow facial skin, and pinkish-yellow legs (leg color can be variable).

Night heron purring, but producing audible sound. The Heron was previously doing an elaborate head bobbing and wagging display while silently purring to no audience, except perhaps the videographer. The heron would suddenly raise their head, then wobbling it back and forth while purring and slowly lower it, and then raise their head again to continue the display.

Green Herons are similarly secretive to Night Herons, and prefer mostly the same habitat, but note the dark belly and wings of the Green Heron. They also lack crest tufts, and have a longer bill (proportion-wise). They are also much smaller.