64 
CICONIIFORMES 
Distribution. North and South America, formerly bred as far north as New Jersey 
and Illinois. Only accidental in Canada. There are a few records for Nova Scotia and 
the Lower Great Lakes. 
201. Green Heron, fly-up-the-creek. le h£ron vert. Butorides virescens. 
L,’17. Smallest of the common herons. Back lustrous 
grey-green with short, plume-like feathers draping over 
the wings. Face, sides of neck, and throat, as well as 
the underparts, rich chestnut. Head has a black cap 
lengthened into a small crest. 
Distinctions. The above description may seem to 
resemble the last species, but the evident green sheen 
of back, absence of neck plumes, smaller size, and 
heavier build, prevent serious confusion. This is, 
moreover, a common species within its range and the 
one most likely to be met with in the Great Lakes 
region. Any comparable species is very rare. 
Field Marks. Size and general coloration. 
Nesting. Solitary and not in communities, in 
flimsy and open nest of sticks in bushes or trees, usually 
over water. 
Distribution. Moderately common in southern 
Ontario, but rare or absent to the east or west. Breeds 
wherever found in Canada. 
SUBSPECIES. The Green Heron is subspecifically divided, but the type form. 
Eastern Green Heron (le Heron vert de l’Est), is the only one that occurs in Canada. 
The Green Herons are not as prone to frequent open water as is the Great 
Blue Heron, nor grassy marshes like the bittern. Alder thickets in drowned 
land, the bushy edges of quiet bayous, back waters of slack streams, and 
beaver meadows are their preferred habitat. They are more solitary than 
the other herons at nesting time and though several pairs may occupy 
a peculiarly favoured locality it is community of interest that draws them 
together and not sociability. 
Economic Status. The food of the Green Heron consists of crawfish, 
insects, frogs, and small fish. An accusation has been brought against 
it that it is harmful to certain fish, but as the bird is small and compara- 
tively scarce and as its usual still water habitat does not bring it in contact 
with many valuable species, it cannot be regarded as a serious menace. 
202. Black-crowned Night Heron, qua-bird. squawk, le heron de nuit a 
uouronne noire (le Heron Bihoreau). Nydicorax nycticorax. L, 24. Plate III B. Adult: 
body in soft white and pale grey; cap and back black with greenish reflections. Two, 
long (often coherent), white, pencil-like plumes falling back from head. Juvenile: light 
brownish, heavily striped with light cream above, below, and on neck and head. Yearling: 
light fawn colour on back, lightening, however, to nearly white below and on throat; 
without stripes except vague ones on head. 
Distinctions. About the size of an American Bittern, the adult is too distinctly 
marked to be confused with anything else. The striped young bird, however, is somewhat 
similar to the Bittern, but never shows decided yellow colours, and the back and wing 
coverts are coarsely marked with white instead of being very finely vermiculated with 
minute specks of various colours. The intermediate plumage is in solid masses without 
any detail on the back. 
Field Marks. About the size of an American Bittern. Black and pearl grey colour of 
adult and brownish appearance of juvenile lacking any yellow tendency. The w r ing quills 
are slightly if any darker than the back instead of being black as in the bittern. This species 
often alights in trees or bushes, which the bittern never does. 
Nesting. Often in communities with Great Blue Herons, either in trees or on the 
ground in the marsh. 
Figure 104 
Little Green Heron; 
