green heron (Butorides virescens)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONFIRMATION STATUS: Confirmed.

 

IDENTIFICATION:

• Length: 14 inches Wingspan: 25 inches

• Sexes similar

• small, short-legged and short-necked heron

• Yellow legs

• Tucks neck in close to body in flight and often at rest, rarely extend-             ing it

• Black cap

• Blue-gray back and wings

Adult:

• Chestnut neck

• White chin

• White stripe down center of neck

Immature:

• Reddish-brown and white streaks on head and neck

• Extensive white spots on wing coverts

Similar species:

No similar species. Least bittern is much smaller with buff head and neck
and buff patches on wing coverts.

 

LIFE HISTORY

Migration Status: N/A
Breeding Habitat: Wetland-open water
Nest Location: N/A
Nest Type: N/A
Clutch Size: 4-5
Length of Incubation: 21-25 days
Days to Fledge: 34-35
Number of Broods: 1, occasionally 2
Diet: Mostly aquatic invertebrates; lesser quantities of fish

 

SKY MEADOWS DISTRIBUTION/SEASONAL OCCURRENCE

 

Relative abundance and seasonal occurrence are indicated in red below.

 

Relative abundance
     C - Common: Likely to be present in good numbers in appropriate habitat and season.
     U - Uncommon: May be present in appropriate habitat and season, often in low
            numbers.
     O - Occassional: Found in appropriate habitat perhaps only a few times per season,
            sometimes low numbers.
     R - Rare: May not be recorded every year.
     Acc - Accidental: Recorded once or twice, may not be expected again for a long time.

 

Seasonal Occurrence
      Sp - Spring: March, April, May O
      Su - Summer: June, July, August U
      Fall: September, October, November O

      Winter: December, January, February

 

 

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