An advantage of having a pond behind our house is that I can spend ample time observing the wildlife that comes here, and there is plenty to learn from them!
I am featuring the Green Heron (Butorides virescens) this week. This small bird, about the size of a crow or mallard, proves to be nearly elusive in this environment. They are master of shallow waters and are secretive and solitary birds. They love to hide behind leaves. They exhibit a beautiful mixture of brown, gray, green, red, white, and yellow colors. They can be found throughout North America, sometimes in the Caribbean, and as far as Hawaii. All About Birds also reports that some Green Herons have been seen as far as England and France. Their size ranges from 16 to 22 inches (41 to 56 cm). They tend to keep their necks tucked in their bodies, unlike other herons. Their closest relatives are the Striated Heron and the Galapagos Heron. Once, when I was in Brazil, I saw a Striated Heron (you can see the resemblance here).
An interesting trait of a green heron is when it feels threatened or spooked, it raises its crest, as in the photo here. It was very far from me, but this heron might have heard my camera’s shutter click moments before I caught this image.
All About Birds mentioned a unique characteristic of this heron. It is “one of the world’s few tool-using bird species.” By that, it means these herons create “fishing lures with bread crusts, insects, and feathers, dropping them on the surface of the water to entice small fish.”
I gathered information about the Green Heron in Audubon.org and AllAboutBirds.org. Both sites offer recordings of the various calls made by these herons.
That is the story behind the shots. If you liked this post, you might also be interested in others featuring Bird of the Week, Green Heron, Teravista, Texas, and Wildlife. Until the next time, keep clicking and capturing the beauty your eyes find.
For I.J. Khanewala’s Birds of the Week Invitation CXVIII.
Discover more from Through Brazilian Eyes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Steve Schwartzman
Only twice have I observed a green heron in my part of northwest Austin. White herons are much more common here.
Egidio Leitao
I’m lucky to see blue herons, yellow-crowned night herons, great egrets, and green herons right from our backyard deck. The green herons can be harder to spot because they blend in with the grass and are also much smaller.
Amy
It very pretty! Love these photos. Nice to have a pond behind your house.
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Amy. We love having this pond. I can sit on the deck for hours just watching the wildlife.
Nicole Sara
Amazing photos, and bird! 🙂
Egidio Leitao
Thank you, Nicole.
Anne Sandler
Excellent photos of this green heron. I don’t see many at our wildlife areas, so I enjoyed your images.
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Anne. This year, I’ve noticed green herons more often. They tend to be elusive and often hide well.
shoreacres
This heron’s quite common in the marinas where I work. They enjoy fishing from the dock lines, and strutting down the docks. They do tend to be solitary, and if another egret or heron moves into their space, they head off to another location.
Egidio Leitao
That sounds like their standard behavior. That is why in a previous post, I was surprised to see an egret and a heron just a few feet apart. This particular green heron hides well along the shore grass. Here at the pond, we see white egrets, green herons, and yellow-crowned night herons mostly.
Terri Webster Schrandt
What a beautiful bird, Egidio, and how nice to stalk them from your place!
Egidio Leitao
Thanks, Terri. Stalking is the proper words indeed. I stay on the deck and try not to disturb their behavior.
Vicki
Great photos of a beautiful bird. I’m rather partial to herons and it’s always interesting to see the different species on the other side of the world.
I think if I lived in your house, I’d spend all day watching the birdlife on the pond and never get any chores or errands done, let along drive to other nature reserves or parks.
Egidio Leitao
Vicki, that was my intention when I picked this particular heron. It’s native to the Americas. If it were not for the summer heat that is coming up fast, I’d stay on the deck longer to watch the water wildlife. Thanks for writing.