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Green Heron Butorides virescens Family: Ardeidae (Herons)  |
Description: The Green Heron is a stocky crow-sized bird that is relatively short-legged, usually has its neck tucked in so it appears to be short-necked and short-tailed. Their back and wings are slate green to slate blue. Their crown is black, their neck is chestnut with a white chin and a white center stripe, and their legs are orange-yellow. The juvenile heron, or one that is about a year old or less, will have a lot of whitish neck streaks. Males and females look the same. One birder claimed that the Heron's long sharp bill is intended to spear fish and water creatures. This raises the question as to how the heron can actually open its bill to eat the prey if the prey is, essentially, holding the bill shut. You'll be most likely to track down a wading green heron or two if you wait near a water source where a nearby thicket or tree offers some cover. They are rather secretive birds and avoid remaining in completely open areas. The little Green Heron will likely be wading, either motionless or strutting along the shallow water's edge as it is stalking its prey. One was observed perched on a post leaning down to snatch a fish with most of its body somehow balanced below its feet. They can dive underwater after prey. There was also a report of a green heron using a floating feather apparently much like a fishing lure to attract small fish. Nesting: Herons also have a daily mini-migration between their nocturnal roosting or nesting area and their daytime feeding grounds. A Green Heron nest is a shallow and flimsy platform of sticks in a tree. Green Heron pairs in general prefer privacy - however they have been known to nest in colonies of half a dozen nests. Range: (May - September) Breeds from Washington and Oregon through much of the southwestern states and from New Brunswick to southeastern North America, down to large portions of South America. Winters from the southern United States to South America.
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Size: 19 inches Diet: Fish, frogs Habitat: Both salt and fresh water habitats. Found more often in streams, ponds and swamps (wetlands invaded by shrubs and trees) than in marshes (open wetlands with weeds). Alarm Call: "Skyowk!" Normal Call: Harsh "keyou" |
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