Biology:Green heron

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Short description: Species of bird

Green heron
Temporal range: Pleistocene–present
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File:Green heron (Butorides virescens), South Padre Island, Texas, USA (cropped).jpg
A Green Heron perched near the Laguna Madre in South Padre Island,Texas.
File:Butorides virescens - Green Heron XC109391.mp3
Call
Scientific classification edit
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Ardeidae
Genus: Butorides
Species:
B. virescens
Binomial name
Butorides virescens
Range of B. virescens
  Breeding range
  Year-round range
  Wintering range
Synonyms

Ardea virescens Linnaeus, 1758
See text.

The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron of North and Central America. Butorides is from Middle English butor "bittern" and Ancient Greek -oides, "resembling", and virescens is Latin for "greenish".[2]

It was long considered conspecific with its sister species the striated heron (Butorides striata); when treated together, they were called "green-backed heron".

Description

File:Green heron bombay hook 6.19.23 DSC 9879.jpg
Front view showing the neck stripes
File:Green heron sheldon marsh nature preserve 5.13.23 DSC 2715-topaz-denoiseraw.jpg
The feathers on their wings and back are dark, with green iridescence

The green heron is a relatively small heron; adult body length is about 44 cm (17 in). The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, an iridescent greenish back and wings that are gray-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a pair or more of white lines down the front, gray underparts and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season. Juveniles are duller, with the head sides, neck and underparts streaked brown and white, tan-splotched back and wing coverts, and greenish-yellow legs and bill. Hatchlings are covered in down feathers, light gray above, and white on the belly.[3][4][5]

The green heron's call is a loud and sudden ; it also makes a series of more subdued kuk ourtship, the male gives a raah-rahh call wit noisy wingbeats and whoom-whoom-whoom calls in flight, and so -roo}} to the female before landing again. While sitting, an {{not a ourtship call is also given.[4][5] Measurements:[6]

  • Length: 41–46 cm (16–18 in)
  • Weight: 240 g (8.5 oz)
  • Wingspan: 64–68 cm (25–27 in)

Taxonomy

This species was formerly often included in B. striata,[3] which at that time was usually cited with an erroneous masculine spelling "striatus", though the genus name is feminine.[7]


The following four subspecies are generally accepted:[3][8][9]

Breeds from southeastern Canada to central and southern US east of the Rocky Mountains, south through Central America to central Panama and the Caribbean islands. Northern populations migratory, wintering from southernmost US to northern South America.
  • Butorides virescens bahamensis (Brewster, 1888)
Bahamas. Resident.
  • Butorides virescens anthonyi (Mearns, 1895)
Breeds in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains, south to northern Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Some resident, most migrate to western Mexico in winter.
  • Butorides virescens frazari (Brewster, 1888)
Southern Baja California Peninsula, Mexico. Resident.

A further subspecies B. v. maculata (Boddaert, 1783) is generally treated as a synonym of B. v. virescens,[8][9] but has been treated as distinct by some authors for Caribbean and Central American populations. The distinctness of this, the second taxon in this species to be described, is disputed. Some authors assemble the bulk of the mainland population in the nominate subspecies but treat the parapatric populations as distinct subspecies, while others place all resident populations in B. v. maculata and all migratory ones in B. v. virescens.{{citation needed|date=May 2026} In Trinidad and Tobago and in central Panama, green heron overlaps slightly in range with the closely related striated heron and hybridizes with it; hybrids are intermediate between the two species, generally grayer below than typical green herons.[10][11]

Birds of the nominate subspecies B. v. virescens are rare vagrants to western Europe; for example, a sighting in Pembrokeshire in 2018 was only the second recorded sighting in Wales.[12] Individuals from the Pacific coast of North America may similarly stray as far as Hawaii.[3][4][5]


Ecology

"Green heron" by John J. Audubon

The habitat and foraging area of the green heron includes riparian zones, wetlands, ponds, and lakes, as well as human-made canals and ditches.[13] Green herons do not exhibit a particular preference for diurnal or nocturnal foraging, often engaging in both.[13] Shore-living individuals adapt to the rhythm of the tides. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic arthropods, but may take any invertebrate or vertebrate prey they can catch, including such animals like leeches, earthworms, dragonflies, damselflies, waterbugs, grasshoppers, spiders,[14] crayfish,[15] prawns,[14] mice, other rodents, lizards, tadpoles and snakes.[15] Some of the many fish eaten are minnows, sunfish, catfish, perch, eels and, in urban areas, goldfish.[15] Green herons are intolerant of other birds (including conspecifics) when feeding, and are not seen to forage in groups. They typically stand still on shore or in shallow water or perch upon branches and await prey. They are able to hover briefly to catch prey.[3][4][5] Green herons have been observed using captured prey (e.g. mayflies) or other objects (bread, feathers) to "bait-fish", using a lure on the water's surface to attract fish.[16] This bait-fishing behavior is common among herons.[16]

The northern population moves to its breeding ranges during March and April; near the northernmost limit of the green heron's range, breeding is well underway by the end of May. The migration to the winter quarters starts in September; by late October, the birds are absent from regions where they do not stay all year. At least the northward migration has not currently adapted to global warming; birds appear in their breeding ranges at the same time they did 100 years ago.[3][5][17][18]

Individuals of non-migratory populations abandon their territories after breeding season to roam about the region. They may or may not return to the previous year's breeding location, depending on whether they found better habitat during these wanderings. In these populations, the breeding season is determined by rainfall and consequent prey availability.[3][4][5]

Green herons are seasonally monogamous. The pairs form in the breeding range, after an intense courtship display by the males, who select the nesting sites and fly in front of the female noisily and with puffed-up head and neck plumage. They nest in forest and swamp patches, over water or in plants near water. Nests are a platform of sticks, often in shrubs or trees, sometimes on the ground. Locations in trees are preferred, with some nests built up to 20 m (66 ft) off the ground although heights of several meters are more common. Rarely, large numbers of these birds congregate in heronries for nesting.[3][4][5]

The clutch is usually 2–6 pale green eggs,[4] which are laid in two-day intervals (though the second egg may be laid up to six days later than the first).[19] After the last egg has been laid, both parents incubate for about 19–21 days until hatching, and feed the young birds.[20] The frequency of feedings decreases as the offspring near fledging. The young sometimes start to leave the nest at 16 days of age, but are not fully fledged and able to fend for themselves until 30–35 days old. Sometimes, particularly in the tropical parts of its range, the green heron breeds twice a year.[3][4][5]

Tool use

Green herons are one of the few species of bird known to use tools. In particular, they commonly use bread crusts, insects, or other items as bait. The bait is dropped onto the surface of a body of water to lure fish. When a fish takes the bait, the green heron then grabs and eats the fish.[21]

  • Nestlings
    Nestlings
  • Subadult retaining some juvenile plumage
    Subadult retaining some juvenile plumage
  • Young adult B. v. virescens
    Young adult B. v. virescens
  • Breeding plumage, with neck retracted
    Breeding plumage, with neck retracted
  • Adult
    Adult
  • Adult
    Adult
  • Hunting in New York
    Hunting in New York
  • in Guatemala
    in Guatemala
  • Hunting with neck extended
    Hunting with neck extended
  • Juvenile, Glastonbury, CT USA
    Juvenile, Glastonbury, CT USA
  • Subadult in Minnesota
    Subadult in Minnesota
  • Adult in habitat, Chicago IL
    Adult in habitat, Chicago IL

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2022). "Butorides striata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2022. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T22728182A163804848.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/22728182/163804848. 
  2. ↑ Jobling, James A (2010). The Helm Dictionary of Scientific Bird Names. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 81, 402. ISBN 978-1-4081-2501-4. https://archive.org/details/Helm_Dictionary_of_Scientific_Bird_Names_by_James_A._Jobling. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 Jutglar, Francesc (1992): 33. Green-backed Heron. In: del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew & Sargatal, Jordi (eds.): Handbook of Birds of the World (Volume 1: Ostrich to Ducks): 417, plate 28. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. ISBN 84-87334-10-5
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Green Heron". http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/lifehistory. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 5.7 Dewey, T. & Butzbaugh, J. (2001): Animal Diversity Web: Butorides virescens. Retrieved 2008-FEB-12.
  6. ↑ "Green Heron Identification, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology" (in en). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/id. 
  7. ↑ David, Normand; Gosselin, Michel (2002). "The grammatical gender of avian genera". Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club (British Ornithologists' Club) v.122: 261. ISSN 0007-1595. https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/page/40416640. Retrieved 2026-05-11. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Ibises, spoonbills, herons, Hamerkop, Shoebill, pelicans – IOC World Bird List". 2026-04-13. https://www.worldbirdnames.org/new/bow/pelicans/. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 AviList Core Team (2025). "AviList: The Global Avian Checklist, v2025". doi:10.2173/avilist.v2025. http://www.avilist.org/checklist/v2025/. 
  10. ↑ "View of Variation and hybridization in the Green Heron (Butorides virescens) and Striated Heron (B. striata) in Trinidad and Tobago, with comments on species limits". https://jco.birdscaribbean.org/index.php/jco/article/view/271/187. 
  11. ↑ Hayes, Floyd E.; Weidemann, Douglas E.; Baumbach, Dustin S.; Tkachuck, Richard D.; Tkachuck, Cindy M. (2013-02-01). "Variation and hybridization in Green Heron (Butorides virescens) and Striated Heron (B. striata) in central Panama, with comments on species limits". p. 2–6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259868747_Variation_and_hybridization_in_Green_Heron_Butorides_virescens_and_Striated_Heron_B_striata_in_central_Panama_with_comments_on_species_limits. 
  12. ↑ "Rare green heron spotted in Llanmill, Pembrokeshire". BBC News. 30 April 2018. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-43947640. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Moore, Amanda A.; Green, M. Clay; Huffman, David G.; Simpson, Thomas R. (2016). "Green Herons (Butorides virescens) in an Urbanized Landscape: Does Recreational Disturbance Affect Foraging Behavior?". The American Midland Naturalist 176 (2): 222–233. doi:10.1674/0003-0031-176.2.222. 
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "Butorides virescens (Green Heron)". The Online Guide to the Animals of Trinidad and Tobago. University of the West Indies. https://sta.uwi.edu/fst/lifesciences/sites/default/files/lifesciences/images/Butorides_viridescens%20-%20Green%20Heron.pdf. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "Butorides virescens (Green heron)". https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Butorides_virescens/. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 Davis Jr., William E.; Zickefoose, Julie (1998). "Bait-fishing by Birds: A Fascinating Example of Tool Use". Bird Observer 26 (3): 139–143. 
  17. ↑ Henninger, W.F. (1906). "A preliminary list of the birds of Seneca County, Ohio". Wilson Bulletin 18 (2): 47–60. http://sora.unm.edu/sites/default/files/journals/wilson/v018n02/p0047-p0060.pdf. 
  18. ↑ Ohio Ornithological Society (2004): Annotated Ohio state checklist .
  19. ↑ Cornell Lab of Ornithology. "Green Heron". https://bna.birds.cornell.edu/bna/species/129/articles/breeding. 
  20. ↑ Seattle Audubon Society. "Green Heron". http://www.seattleaudubon.org/birdweb/bird_details.aspx?id=46. 
  21. ↑ "Green Heron Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology" (in en). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Green_Heron/overview. 

Wikidata ☰ Q498228 entry



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