Green Heron

Green Heron

The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron. The Green Heron is one of the world’s few tool-using bird species.

From a distance, the Green Heron is a dark, stocky bird hunched on slender yellow legs at the water’s edge, often hidden behind a tangle of leaves. Seen up close, it is a striking bird with a velvet-green back, rich chestnut body, and a dark cap.

As you can see from the number of photographs, this is one of my favorite birds .I have never seen them use a tool, but I have seen videos online where they will put a piece of bread on the water to entice fish, then grab the fish.

2. An adult, waiting for dinner to swim by.

3. Two babies, awaiting mom th bring dinner!

4. On high alert,  waiting for mom.

5. There she is, feeding a fledgling!

6. They are cute with their little tuffs of feathers standing up on their heads!

7. A classic pose.

8. Adult coming down to watch for fish to pass by, they do not have webbed feet and so do not swim. I have seen them jump off of their perch into the water to get a fish, but they scramble back out and onto the branch as fast as they can.

9. Twins waiting for breakfast.

10. Check out the sprigs of feathers on top of the head of this youngster.

11. The toes have sharp nails on them.

12. An adult resting.

13. Two babies watching for mom to come with food.

14. When young, they are fuzzy all over!!

15. Hoping that was mom, but it was not, another bird landed above.

16. The adult neck is amazing, 
you would never guess that from the normal stance!

17. This juvenile still gets fed by mom.

18. This guy in the marina uses an old rope to get down to fish.

19. This juvenile has the right stance, but he is way too high!!

20. A baby.

21. Yellow bill, green patch around a yellow eye.

22. A the sun comes up, the fishing commences.

23. A beautiful shot.

24. Ready!

25. And the neck comes up when he is interested.

26. Ready for a feast!

27. Juvenile.

28. An adult and a juvenile.

29. Yellow beak and eye.

30. Hey mom, I can stretch just like you can!

31. The green patch seems to have gone on this older one.

32. Alert.

33. Waiting.

34. Mom is here, food time!!

35. Feeding one as another looks on.

36. Junior

37. Detail

38. Contemplating my navel.

39. OK, what is this? 
Baby opening wide so mom will fill it up???

40. OK, got an itch. 

41. Cloak and dagger time? 

42. Another portrait. 

43. Another portrait.

44. Someone passed by.

45. Close up.

46. Waiting for breakfast.

47. Who are you?

48. OK, move on, I want to catch breakfast.

49. Little guy

50. Fishing

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64. 11-6-2020
65. A little Green fishing.
66. Something scared this Little Green!
67. Preening
68. Poised
69. Detail of strike.
70. Breakfast.
71. Another strike as he holds into the line!
72. He holds on but gets his fish!!
73. Two is company.