Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Summary 3
The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron (16.1-18.1 inches long) of North and Central America. The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey 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 grey above, and white on the belly. The COSA lies the path of the Green Heron's migration, so they may be spotted in the COSA from March to May and September to October
Sources and Credits
- (c) Mary Keim, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://www.flickr.com/photos/38514062@N03/38345677864/
- (c) Isidro Vila Verde, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/86585370@N00/3887664093
- Adapted by dirstine from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butorides_virescens
