Green Heron Butorides virescens -Andy

 In field guides of the 1970s and1980s these birds were grouped with the Striated Heron of Central and South America and called the Green-backed Heron ( Butorides striates ).  However they were separated out again in the1990s.  The juvenile birds are heavilystreaked on the face, neck and breast. The adults are similar and have a dark greenish-black crown and the backand wings are an iridescent green mixed with grey-blue.  The back and sides of the adult’s neck isdeep chestnut.  The bill is mixed yellowand black and the legs are yellow.  Inbreeding plumage the bill will become all black and the legs will flush brightorange.  Overall, it is a small, stockyheron. 

Primarily found in eastern North American, Green Herons arealso found in the American southwest and along the Pacific coast.  The discovery of a Green Heron on a fieldtrip is often met with excitement and surprise since they tend to be a bitsecretive.  These birds are oftensolitary and can be found along the edges of ponds, marshes, sloughs, and slowmoving streams especially if there are grasses, shrubs and trees around.  They like to be close to cover and can often befound crouched in branches along or overhanging the water.  Scanning with binoculars along the edges ofwaterways can help a birder pick one out of dark areas.  They feed primarily on small fish, frogs,tadpoles, some crustaceans, and sometimes insects.  They are skillful fishers and are one of ourfew birds that use tools to forage.  Theywill drop a leaf, feather or other small object onto the surface of the wateras “bait” and then grab fish that come to investigate.

Green Herons migrate to the very south of the United Statesduring October, but there can be vagrants into the early winter.  They return to their Northwest breeding areain May.  The male initiates nest buildingwith twigs and once paired will bring material to the female.  Four to five pale blue-green eggs areincubated for about 20 days.  The firsteggs get a head start, resulting in asynchronous hatching and chicks ofdifferent sizes (Sibley, 2001).  Theparents provide food by regurgitating into the mouths of the young and often thesmallest chick is outcompeted and does not survive.  Unlike other herons whose populations aresuffering due to wetland drainage and urbanization, Green Herons have a stable populationand may be expanding their range in our area. They are colorful and unique and we are fortunate to have them as partof the Pacific Northwest avifauna. 

To hear the voice of the Green Heron follow this URL:   http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/32/overview/Green_Heron.aspx

(Photocredit:  Marc Hoffman.  References available on request, andy_mcc@hotmail.com ).