H.J. Ruiz – Avian101

Now that I’m working hard to have all my birds photographs organized in folders and files, while going through these I’ve bumped into many photos that most likely were downloaded to the hard drive but never viewed for some reason. It happens all the time when I need to empty my camera’s memory cards. Later I forget about some files.

I pulled some pictures of some juvenile Green Herons. The photos were shot in Florida sometime ago. It was my first time to see a Green Heron’s nest!

Here are some fact about these smart and shy birds.

The Green Heron is relatively small; adult body length is about  17 in. The neck is often pulled in tight against the body. Adults have a glossy, greenish-black cap, a greenish back and wings that are grey-black grading into green or blue, a chestnut neck with a white line down the front, grey 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 grey above, and white on the belly.[

Green herons are one of the few species of animal known to use tools. In particular, they commonly use bread crusts, insects, or other items as bait. The bait is dropped onto the surface of a body of water in order to lure fish. When a fish takes the bait, the green heron will then grab and eat the fish.

Next, some of the pictures I shot on that occasion. Enjoy!

Text and photographs © HJ Ruiz – Avian101