Wellfleet Bay Sanctuary

Green Heron

The Green Heron is one of the smaller wading birds.  The Green Heron is very difficult to locate and observe.  It is darkly colored and about the size of crow.  It is mostly a solitary and secretive bird and most often found around dawn and dusk.  The Green Heron is found in saltwater and freshwater wetlands, marshes, ponds and streams with thick vegetation. Green Herons typically stand quietly and still in shallow water or perch upon branches to find and strike their prey.  They usually feed on small fish.  Green Herons have a tendency to fly away from a disturbance while making a loud squawking noise.

These images of a juvenile Green Heron show its brownish upperparts with white speckles on the wings.  They have heavily streaked chestnut brown and white underparts with distinctive yellow eyes.  They have greenish yellow legs and a thin straight yellow and blackish bill.  These close up images were captured with a handheld long lens near Hadley Harbor on Naushon Island from a kayak. Click here for more wading bird images.

According to Birds of New England by Petersen and Burrows, “Green Herons sometimes drop small debris, including twigs, vegetation and feathers, onto the water’s surface as a form of bait to attract fish within striking range.” This unique fishing method sets the Green Heron apart from all others!

Enjoy!

Craig Gibson
Woods Hole