Green Heron

Butorides virescens

Compact and richly colored with a dark green back, chestnut neck, and bright orange legs, the Green Heron is a resourceful hunter found across the Americas. It is one of the few birds known to use bait — dropping insects, bread, or feathers on the water surface to lure fish within striking range.

Fun Fact

Green Herons are one of the few tool-using birds — they drop insects, bread, or feathers onto the water surface to lure fish within striking range.

Attributes

TypeWading Bird

Habitatwetland, forest

SizeSmall

Dietfish

FlightStandard

Colorsgreen, brown

MigratoryYes

ContinentsNorth America

Nest Typeplatform

ConservationLeast Concern

Difficulty: medium