Green Heron

green Heron

 (Butoridesvirescens)

Photographed in the wild,

Marco Island, Florida    Mar 2012

Dominican Republic     Sep 2016

Green Herons are stocky birds with relatively short, orange legs compared to other herons. Overall length is 16-18 inches long. Sexes are similarly colored but females are smaller, duller, and lighter. The adults have a greenish black cap and back and dark colored bills. The wings are green and blue cast with gray under parts.

Green Heron breeding range covers most of central and eastern United States. They winter around the Gulf of Mexico where there is suitable habitat for feeding. Western coastal populations are smaller but they are expanding their breeding and wintering range.

Green Heron migrate north in late winter or early spring usually at night and in flocks. They arrive earlier than other Herons and researchers speculate that this is possible because Green Herons will feed in twilight and this provides a longer feeding time period in the short days of early spring.

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