- Butorides virescens
Not to be confused with Butorides striatus from Africa, Asia, Australia and South America (see Taxonomy).
Identification
A very small heron
L. ca. 16½ in (42 cm)
Adult
Adults generally distinctive, but see the Striated Heron
- Grayish-green back
- Whitish or buff edging to wing-coverts
- Black cap
- 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
Virtually inseparable from Striated Heron, but overlap limited to E. Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and coastal N. Colombia and Venezuela.
- Brown
- Whitish-buff streaking on underparts, neck and head
- Spotting on wings
Distribution
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.
South America
Restricted to coastal N. Colombia and Venezuela. Also a few records from Ecuador, C. Colombia and Suriname. Northern birds are migratory and winter from California, the Gulf Coast and Florida southwards, main passage periods March-April and September-October.
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
The nominate race (virescens) is found in most of its North American range, Central America and the West Indies, anthonyi in the south-west USA and west Mexico, frazari in southern Baja California and bahamensis in the Bahamas.
It is commonly considered a subspecies of the Striated Heron.
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.
