Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Silhouette: Andy Wilson · PhyloPic
- KingdomAnimalia (Animals)
- PhylumChordata (Chordates)
- ClassAves (Birds)
- OrderPelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, Ibises, and Allies)
- FamilyArdeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
- GenusButorides (Green-backed Herons)
- SpeciesButorides virescens (Green Heron)
About the Green Heron
The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron of North and Central America. Butorides is from Middle English butor "bittern" and Ancient Greek -oides, "resembling", and virescens is Latin for "greenish". It was long considered conspecific with its sister species the striated heron (Butorides striata); when treated together, they were called "green-backed heron".
The green heron is a relatively small heron; adult body length is about 44 cm (17 in). The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, an iridescent greenish back and wings that are gray-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a pair or more of white lines down the front, gray underparts and short yellow legs. The bill is dark with a long, sharp point. Female adults tend to be smaller than males, and have duller and lighter plumage, particularly in the breeding season. Juveniles are duller, with the head sides, neck and underparts streaked brown and white, tan-splotched back and wing coverts, and greenish-yellow legs and bill. Hatchlings are covered in down feathers, light gray above, and white on the belly.
The green heron's call is a loud... Wikipedia →
Closest Relatives at Coiba National Park
Bare-throated Tiger Heron
Tigrisoma mexicanum
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
Global Distribution
Warmer areas are where this animal is recorded most often.
Parks Where Found
Quick answers
What are the chances of seeing a Green Heron in Coiba National Park?
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Green Heron sighting in Coiba National Park, based on 16 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
When is the best time to see Green Heron in Coiba National Park?
July has the highest sighting rate for Green Heron in Coiba National Park in our monthly data.