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Difference between revisions of "Green Heron" - BirdForum Opus

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;Butorides virescens
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[[Image:Green_Heron.jpg|thumb|550px|right|Photo © by {{user|GerryHerd|GerryHerd}}<br /> North-western [[Florida]], [[USA]],  June 2006]]
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[[Image:Green_Heron.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo by GerryHerd
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;[[: Category:Butorides|Butorides]] virescens
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NW Florida, USA.]]
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==Identification==
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==Range==
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A very small heron: L. ca. 16½ in (42 cm)<br />
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A very widespread bird that is split into different species by many authors. Breeds in North and South America, Africa, southern Asia and Australia.  
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'''Adult'''<br />
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Adults generally distinctive, but see the [[Striated Heron]]
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In North America breeds over much of the eastern half of the continent from extreme south-eastern Canada south to the Gulf Coast and also on the Californian coast. Occurs throughout Mexico, Central America and the West Indies and in South America as fas south as northern Argentina including the Galapagos Islands. Northern birds are migratory and winter from California, the Gulf Coast and Florida southwards, main passage periods March-April and September-October.  
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[[Image:20090823- MG 3868-Edit.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Juvenile<br />Photo © by {{user|jdlittle58|jdlittle58}}<br />Florence, [[Oregon]], August 2009]]
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*Grayish-green back
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Widespread in sub-Saharan Africa from Senegal east to Sudan, Ethiopia and Somalia and south to eastern South Africa. Also breeds on Madagascar and other Indian Ocean islands. Range also extends north on both coasts of the Red Sea to Sinai and occurs in increasing numbers in the Nile Valley.
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*Whitish or buff edging to wing-coverts
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*Dark greenish cap - this will occasionally be raised as a bushy crest
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Asian range extends from the Indian Subcontinent, the Lakshadweep and Maldive Islands and Sri Lanka east to China, Sakhalin and Japan and south to Indonesia. In Australasia breeds in New Guinea and many of the surrounding islands, on the Solomon and related islands and on the northern and eastern coasts of Australia.
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*White stripe runs from the chin to the central chest
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*Auriculars, neck and flanks are chestnut-brown
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Vagrants from North America have been recorded in the Western Palearctic: at least six times in the Azores and four in Britain; Cornwall in October 1889, East Yorkshire in November-December 1982, East Lothian in October 1987 and Lincolnshire in September 2001. In addition there was one present on Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands in August-September 1992. The first Icelandic record was of one shot in October 2001 and the first for France was in Morbihan in April 1994.  
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*Belly is paler and greyer
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*Yellowish legs (brighter when breeding)<br />
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'''Juveniles'''
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*Brown
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*Whitish-buff streaking on underparts, neck and head
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*Spotting on wings
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====Similar Species====
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Juveniles are virtually inseparable from [[Striated Heron]] while most adults can be identified with care (see identification essay linked to under External links). Overlap of the two species limited to eastern [[Panama]], [[Trinidad]] and [[Tobago]] and coastal northern [[Colombia]] and [[Venezuela]].
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==Distribution==
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[[Image:IMG 04211.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo © by {{user|Jim+Crosswell|Jim Crosswell}}<br />Malden Park, Windsor, [[Ontario]], August 2009]]
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====[[North America]]====
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[[File:Green_Heron_Head_IDI.jpg|thumb|350px|right|Photo &copy; by {{user|IDidiot|IDidiot}}<br />Central Gulf Coast, [[Florida]], [[USA]], 28 April 2021]]
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Breeds over much of the eastern half of the continent from extreme south-eastern [[Canada]] south to the Gulf Coast and also on the [[California]]n coast. Occurs throughout [[Mexico]], [[Central America]] and the [[West Indies]] and [[Aruba]], [[Bonaire]], and [[Curaçao]] and [[Tobago]] (most birds in [[Trinidad]] are Striated Heron).<br />
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Birds from the northernmost part of its range are migratory and winter from California, the Gulf Coast and [[Florida]] southwards. Main passage periods March-April and September-October.  
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====[[South America]]====
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Restricted to coastal N. Colombia and Venezuela. Also a few records from [[Ecuador]], C. [[Colombia]], and [[Suriname]].  
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====Vagrancy====
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Vagrants from North America have been recorded in the Western [[Palearctic]]: at least six times in the [[Azores]] and four in [[Britain]]; [[Cornwall]] in October 1889, East [[Yorkshire]] in November-December 1982, East Lothian in October 1987 and [[Lincolnshire]] in September 2001. In addition there was one present on [[Jersey]] and [[Guernsey]] in the [[Channel Islands]] in August-September 1992.
  
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The first [[Iceland]]ic record was of one shot in October 2001 and the first for [[France]] was in [[Golfe du Morbihan|Morbihan]] in April 1994.
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==Taxonomy==
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It has commonly been considered a subspecies of the [[Striated Heron]].
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====Subspecies====
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There are 4 subspecies<sup>[[#References|[1]]]</sup>:
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*''B. v. virescens'':
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:*Central [[US]] and eastern [[Canada]] to [[Panama]] and [[Caribbean]]
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*''B. v. bahamensis'':
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:*[[Bahamas]]
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*''B. v. anthonyi'':
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:*Western US and northern [[Baja California]]
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*''B. v. frazari'':
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:*Southern Baja California
 
==Habitat==
 
==Habitat==
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Occurs in a wide variety of habitats with North American birds found in swamps, wet woodlands, marshes and coastal lagoons but Red Sea birds are entirely marine, found along shorelines on reefs, lagoons, mudflats and mangroves. Galapagos birds occur on rocky lava shores.
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Occurs in a wide variety of habitats near water, incl. swamps, wet woodlands, marshes, coastal lagoons and mangrove. Generally common, but difficult to observe.
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==Behavior==
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==Subspieces==
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====Diet====
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About 30 races of this highly variable bird have been described, some of which are treated as full species by many authors. Most distinct perhaps is the all-dark Galapagos Heron. 
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Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, insects and other small animals.  
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====Breeding====
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===American races===
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Breeds alone or in small groups. Breeding-season varies. The typically 2-5 eggs are laid in a well-hidden nest placed low in trees, bushes or mangrove.  
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B. s. virescens is found over most of North American range and in Central America and the West Indies, anthonyi in the south-west USA and west Mexico, frazari in southern Baja California, bahamensis in the Bahamas, striatus from eastern Panama to Uruguay and northern Argentina and sundevalli in the Galapagos Islands.
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==References==
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#{{Ref-Clements6thAug17}}#[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=57122 Disucssion on racial identification]
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===African races===
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#[http://ttbsdc.ttfnc.org/SECB/records/idgreenstriatedheron.html An identification essay] comparing Green and Striated Herons
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B. s. brevipes is found on the Red Sea coasts south to Somalia, atricapillus from the rest of mainland Africa, rutenbergi from Madagascar, crawfordii on the Aldabra and Amirante Islands, rhizophorae in the Comoros, degens in the Seychelles.  
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{{ref}}
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===Asian races===
 
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B. s. chloriceps is found in India, Sri Lanka, albolimbatus on Diego Garcia, Chagos Archipelago and Maldives, javanicus on Reunion, Mauritius and Rodiguez, in Burma and Thailand south to the Greater Sundas, amurensis is found in north-east Asia and northern China, actophilus from southern China to northern Thailand, spodiogaster in Sipura and north Pagai, western Sumatra islands, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, carcinophilus on Taiwan, the Philippines and Sulawesi, steini in the Lesser Sundas, moluccarum on the Moluccas.  
 
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===Australasian races===
 
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papuensis occurs in coastal north New Guinea and islands, idenburgi in the interior of north New Guinea, rogersi in coastal Western Australia from Ashburton River to Shark Bay, cinerea from King Sound to De Grey River, Western Australia, stagnatilis from Melville Island to Groote Eylandt and the McArthur River, littleri in coastal north Queensland and southern New Guinea, macrorhynchus from southern Queensland to New South Wales and on New Caledonia and the Loyalty Isles, solomonensis in New Hanover, New Ireland, the Solomon Islands, Santa Cruz, the Torres Islands, Banks Islands, New Hebrides and western Fiji Islands and patruelis in Tahiti, Society Islands.
 
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==External Links==
 
==External Links==
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*[http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showgallery.php?si=Butorides+virescens&x=8&y=8&perpage=24&sort=1&cat=all&ppuser=&friendemail=email%40yourfriend.com&password= View more images of Green Heron in the gallery]
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{{GSearch|"Butorides virescens" {{!}} "Green Heron"}}
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[[Category:Birds]]
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{{GS-checked}}1
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<br />
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<br />
  
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*Disucssion on racial identification [[http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=57122]]
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[[Category:Birds]][[Category:Butorides]]

Revision as of 22:40, 15 April 2023

Photo © by GerryHerd
North-western Florida, USA, June 2006
Butorides virescens

Identification

A very small heron: L. ca. 16½ in (42 cm)
Adult
Adults generally distinctive, but see the Striated Heron

Juvenile
Photo © by jdlittle58
Florence, Oregon, August 2009
  • Grayish-green back
  • Whitish or buff edging to wing-coverts
  • Dark greenish cap - this will occasionally be raised as a bushy crest
  • White stripe runs from the chin to the central chest
  • Auriculars, neck and flanks are chestnut-brown
  • Belly is paler and greyer
  • Yellowish legs (brighter when breeding)

Juveniles

  • Brown
  • Whitish-buff streaking on underparts, neck and head
  • Spotting on wings

Similar Species

Juveniles are virtually inseparable from Striated Heron while most adults can be identified with care (see identification essay linked to under External links). Overlap of the two species limited to eastern Panama, Trinidad and Tobago and coastal northern Colombia and Venezuela.

Distribution

Photo © by Jim Crosswell
Malden Park, Windsor, Ontario, August 2009

North America

Photo © by IDidiot
Central Gulf Coast, Florida, USA, 28 April 2021

Breeds over much of the eastern half of the continent from extreme south-eastern Canada south to the Gulf Coast and also on the Californian coast. Occurs throughout Mexico, Central America and the West Indies and Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao and Tobago (most birds in Trinidad are Striated Heron).
Birds from the northernmost part of its range are migratory and winter from California, the Gulf Coast and Florida southwards. Main passage periods March-April and September-October.

South America

Restricted to coastal N. Colombia and Venezuela. Also a few records from Ecuador, C. Colombia, and Suriname.

Vagrancy

Vagrants from North America have been recorded in the Western Palearctic: at least six times in the Azores and four in Britain; Cornwall in October 1889, East Yorkshire in November-December 1982, East Lothian in October 1987 and Lincolnshire in September 2001. In addition there was one present on Jersey and Guernsey in the Channel Islands in August-September 1992.

The first Icelandic record was of one shot in October 2001 and the first for France was in Morbihan in April 1994.

Taxonomy

It has commonly been considered a subspecies of the Striated Heron.

Subspecies

There are 4 subspecies[1]:

  • B. v. virescens:
  • B. v. bahamensis:
  • B. v. anthonyi:
  • B. v. frazari:
  • Southern Baja California

Habitat

Occurs in a wide variety of habitats near water, incl. swamps, wet woodlands, marshes, coastal lagoons and mangrove. Generally common, but difficult to observe.

Behavior

Diet

Feeds on fishes, crustaceans, insects and other small animals.

Breeding

Breeds alone or in small groups. Breeding-season varies. The typically 2-5 eggs are laid in a well-hidden nest placed low in trees, bushes or mangrove.

References

  1. Clements, J. F., T. S. Schulenberg, M. J. Iliff, D. Roberson, T. A. Fredericks, B. L. Sullivan, and C. L. Wood. 2017. The eBird/Clements checklist of birds of the world: v2017, with updates to August 2017. Downloaded from http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/
  2. Disucssion on racial identification
  3. An identification essay comparing Green and Striated Herons

Recommended Citation

External Links

GSearch checked for 2020 platform.1

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