Green Heron
NameGreen Heron
Common NameGreen Heron
Scientific NameButorides virescens
FamilyArdeidae
Wingspan (cm)66
Length (cm)44
Weight (g)240
Plumage DetailsThis heron features a dark, iridescent greenish-blue cap and back, with a rich rufous (chestnut) neck and breast. Its wings are dark green with lighter, yellowish-edged feathers, and it has bright yellow legs and eyes. The bill is dark with a yellowish lower mandible.
Vocalization / CallIts most common call is a sharp, explosive 'skeow' or 'kyow', often given when flushed or in flight. It may also produce a series of softer 'kuk-kuk-kuk' notes.
Primary Dietcarnivore
Primary Habitatswetland
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Geographic RangeBreeds across eastern and central North America, extending into Central America and the Caribbean. Winters primarily in coastal areas of the southern U.S., Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
Identifying FeaturesSmall size for a heron, Dark iridescent cap and back, Rufous neck and breast, Yellow legs and eyes, Long, pointed dark bill, Often seen in a hunched posture
Description
The Green Heron is a small, stocky heron often found hunched on branches or shorelines near water. It is known for its clever use of tools, dropping bait onto the water to attract fish, and its distinctive neck-stretching display.
