As you walk along a pond or river trail, it’s common to see and hear evidence of animals nearby — water rings where a fish just jumped, bird calls, animal tracks and the rustling of leaves.
Some animals blend in with their environment so well we might be looking at one and not even know! This is often the case for a short, sneaky bird hanging around in tall grasses: the green heron.
Seeing green?
You might have seen green herons and not even known it! They are masters of disguise, blending in perfectly with cattails growing along rivers and around ponds. It is more common to see them after humans scare them away from their hunting spot.
If you didn’t know the species name, you might be a little surprised by the appearance of this bird. Their feathers are not vibrant green like a parrot or even as bright as leaves on a tree. From a distance, they might even look like shadows, making you second guess if you see one. Up close, their back is a deep green or almost iridescent gray with chestnut plumage on their chest and neck. What stands out on green herons is not their feathers but their bright yellow eyes and feet.
Luring in lunch
Like their larger family members, green herons stand perfectly still and slowly stalk their food along the shores of rivers, marshes, ponds, lakes and wetlands. What’s on the menu? Mainly small fish such as minnows, sunfish, catfish and carp but also aquatic insects, crayfish, snails, amphibians and reptiles. When they spot food, the herons’ normally scrunched necks extend to almost cartoon-like lengths to grab dinner. Just like a snapping turtle!
To help with hunting, these herons do something scientists refer to as “bait-fishing.” If that sounds similar to the way humans fish, you’re right! Green herons use prey, such as small insects or other objects like twigs, to lure fish closer to the surface and within reach. This is necessary because green herons stay in shallow water with thick vegetation, leaving the deeper waters for larger birds, such as the great blue heron or great egret.
A tree house
Imagine the perfect treehouse. What does it look like? Perhaps it has a large trunk to support it. Some branches to hide it. A cozy size for you and a few friends. And maybe high enough that you can put a swing next to it.
That’s exactly what herons are thinking ... except when you can fly there is no need for a swing.
Words to know
Iridescent: Showing luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles.
Rookery: A breeding colony of nests, typically high up in trees.
Rustle: To make a soft, muffled sound.
Vibrant: Bright and striking.
Male herons select the perfect spot for a nest, often on the forked branches of a tree or a bush. While they like to be by the water, the perfect spot will about 30 feet or more high with some overhanging branches to hide the nest from predators. Once the spot is located and the nest is started, the female continues the work.
Green herons have learned to work smarter not harder when it comes to crafting their homes. They will sometimes move into an old nest belonging to a black-crowned night heron or an egret. Even if they don’t use the whole nest, they might repurpose sticks from old nests into their new home.
Not only is nest building a team effort, but so is raising a family. These dinner plate-sized nests will hold three to five blue-green eggs. After 20 days, these eggs hatch, producing nestlings that mom and dad will take turns feeding. You won’t find these young birds in rookeries with large groups of other herons or egrets, though. Green herons tend to nest by themselves or with very small groups of other green herons.
Warm weather birds
Green herons are migrants, often flying through Illinois and spending the summers here. Beginning in August, these crow-sized birds will start flying down to their winter homes — anywhere from Florida to the northern countries of South America. Starting in April, they will return and start building their summer homes.
As you walk along rivers and ponds, stick your neck out and see if you can spot a green heron. Better yet, bring some binoculars!
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