Green Heron

A green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small, stocky heron found in freshwater wetlands across North America. It is known for its crouched posture, cryptic coloring, and unique tool-using behavior. 🐦

The green heron has a hunched, compact body with a glossy, dark greenish-blue back and a chestnut-colored neck and chest. It has a short crest on its head that it can raise. It has short, yellowish legs and a long, pointed beak.

Green herons are found near the edges of ponds, streams, and marshes. They are carnivores and their diet consists of a wide variety of aquatic animals, including small fish, frogs, and crustaceans.

The green heron is a master of stealth. It often hunts by perching on a low branch or the water's edge and waiting for prey to come near. It is one of the few birds known to use tools, often dropping small objects, like a feather or an insect, onto the water's surface to attract fish.