Green Heron

Green Heron

Butorides virescens

Description: 16-22" A dark, crow-sized heron, crown black, back and wings dark, gray-green or blue depending on lighting, neck chestnut colored, bill dark, legs bright orange, yellow facial skin,
center of throat and neck are white
Habitat: Common near streams, ponds, marshes, coastal wetlands, lake shores, wet woodlands, mangroves. Inhabits both fresh water and salt water marshes. Often seen perching in trees.  Roosts on or close to ground. Tends to feed during early morning and late afternoon.
Nesting: 3-6 pale blue or green eggs on sticks built in a tree or dense thicket, usually concealed, flat, may be lined or unlined Range: breeds in most of central and eastern US, winters from California south along Arizona, Texas adn along Atlantic coast
Voice: A sharp kyowk or skyow! Diet: Fish, insects, aquatic and terrestrial inverts, lower vertebrates. Mostly fish in late summer. Young fed solid regurgitant.
Notes: Solitary. Flight is rapid, when alarmed, flicks tail downward, stretches neck and raises crest, formerly "Little Green Heron," and "Green-backed Heron"
When present in Oklahoma: Can be seen statewide in summer, eastern section along Arkansas River in winter

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