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 Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

Green Heron | Butorides virescens photo
Green Heron, Audubon Sabal Palm Sanctuary, Brownsville, Texas
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)




Green Heron | Butorides virescens photo
Green Heron, Varner Harbour, Salton Sea State Recreation Area, California
Photograph by Alan And Elaine Wilson. Some rights reserved.  (view image details)





GREEN HERON FACTS
Description
The Green Heron is a small heron. The wings are black with green or blue gloss. The head has greenish black crown. The face and neck are reddish brown. The chest is reddish brown with white steaks. Eyes are orange or yellow with a white stripe under the eye. The neck is fairly long but proportionately shorter than most other herons. The underside is gray. The legs are fairly long and yellow, more orange during the breeding season. Males and females are similar. Immatures have brown stripes on head and chest and brown back with buff colored spots.

Size
length 41cm - 46cm Wingspan 64cm - 68cm

Environment
swamps, creeks and streams, marshes, ponds, lake edges, marshes, ponds, pastures, coastal wetlands, mangrove swamps.

Food
Small fish, invertebrates, insects, frogs, and other small animals.

Breeding
Nest is a basket of sticks in small tree or shrub, usually over water. Nests in small colonies. Lays two to six pale green eggs.

Range
Breeds in south eastern Canada, eastern half of the United States through Central America. Winters in southern United States, Mexico down to northern parts of South America.

Classification
Class:Aves
Order:Ciconiiformes
Family:Ardeidae
Genus:Butorides
Species:virescens
Common Name:Green Heron








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