192 



BIRDS OF AxMERICA 



GREEN HERON 



Butorides virescens virescens ( LiinucHs) 



A. O. U. Xumbcr 201 Sirf t olor I'late 2J 



- Little Green Heron ; (ireen liittern : 

 inches. Color 



Other Names.- 

 Fly-up-thc-creek. 



General Description. — Length. i8 

 aliove, dark green ; below, dark brown. 



Color. — .Adults: Crown (including a long soft 

 crest), lengthened feathers of back and shoulders, 

 lustrous dark green ; the back plumes with a glaucous 

 cast ; iving-coverts, green with well-defined tawny 

 edges ; neck, rich dark purplish-chestnut ; center of 

 throat, white with dusky streaks; below, dark brownish; 

 abdomen, streaked with white ; primaries, secondaries, 

 and tail, greenish-dusky; edge of wing, white; bill, 

 dusky-greenish, yellow at base below ; bare space around 

 eye, bluish-green; legs, yellow; iris, yellow. Young: 

 No crest; top of head, brown; sides of neck and body. 



brownish streaked with lighter ; throat and center line 

 of neck, white with dusky streaks; back, plain greenish- 

 brown ; wing-coverts and secondaries, with white edg- 

 ings and white tips ; under tail-coverts, grayish-white ; 

 bill, greenish with dusky ridge ; legs, pale greenish- 

 gray ; iris, yellow. 



Nest and Eggs. — Nest : Frequently in the woods 

 but usually near water; a frail platform of twigs in a 

 tree or bush. EcGS : 3 to 6, pale greenish. 



Distribution. — Eastern Xorth America ; breeds from 

 southern .South Dakota, northern Wisconsin, southern 

 Ontario, southern (Juebec, and Nova Scotia south to 

 the West Indies ; winters from the West Indies south- 

 ward, and rarely in southeastern United States: casual 

 in Colorado. 



Though a comparatively small Heron, the 

 Green Heron is perhap- the best known member 

 of his family in this coimtry, and probably most 

 people who see him dismiss him as a gawky, 

 awkward, and rather stupid bird with habits 

 which are not exactly tidy. This is because he 



is usually seen when he utters his harsh alarm 

 note and flops chunsily along to a nearby perch, 

 where he stretches his neck, jerks his tail, and 

 gazes around in a fuddle-headed manner. 



Those who really know the bird, however, 

 realize that when he is about his business of 



Photograph by R. W. Shufeldt 



GREEN HERON 



Perhaps he is the best known member of his family in this country 



