Perch Supply
Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)

Green Heron

Butorides virescens. Fish, frogs and insects stalked from the water's edge.

Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)Green HeronButorides virescens
Scientific name
Butorides virescens
Length
16.1–18.1 in
Weight
8.5–7.6 oz
Nest
Loose stick platform in a shrub or tree over water
Entrance hole
Does not use nest boxes
Clutch
2–6 eggs
Incubation
19–21 days
Broods
1–2 per season

Identification

  • Small, stocky, dark heron
  • Chestnut neck and greenish-black cap
  • Bright yellow-orange legs

Voice

An explosive 'skeow' when flushed.

Diet and feeding

Fish, frogs and insects stalked from the water's edge.

What do green herons eat? · Best feeder for green herons

Green Herons by state and province

RegionStatusNesting
AlabamaSummer breederMarch–July
ArizonaSummer breederMarch–July
ArkansasSummer breederApril–July
CaliforniaYear-round residentMarch–July
ConnecticutSummer breederApril–July
DelawareSummer breederApril–July
FloridaYear-round residentMarch–July
GeorgiaSummer breederMarch–July
IllinoisSummer breederApril–July
IndianaSummer breederApril–July
IowaSummer breederApril–July
KansasSummer breederApril–July
KentuckySummer breederApril–July
LouisianaYear-round residentMarch–July
MaineSummer breederMay–July
MarylandSummer breederApril–July
MassachusettsSummer breederApril–July
MichiganSummer breederApril–July
MinnesotaSummer breederMay–July
MississippiSummer breederMarch–July
MissouriSummer breederApril–July
NebraskaSummer breederApril–July
New BrunswickSummer breederMay–July
New HampshireSummer breederMay–July
New JerseySummer breederApril–July
New MexicoSummer breederApril–July
New YorkSummer breederApril–July
North CarolinaSummer breederApril–July
North DakotaSummer breederMay–July
Nova ScotiaSummer breederMay–July
OhioSummer breederApril–July
OklahomaSummer breederApril–July
OntarioSummer breederMay–July
OregonSummer breederApril–July
PennsylvaniaSummer breederApril–July
QuebecSummer breederMay–July
Rhode IslandSummer breederApril–July
South CarolinaSummer breederMarch–July
South DakotaSummer breederApril–July
TennesseeSummer breederApril–July
TexasYear-round residentMarch–July
VermontSummer breederMay–July
VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
WashingtonSummer breederApril–July
West VirginiaSummer breederApril–July
WisconsinSummer breederMay–July

Frequently asked

What do green herons eat?

Fish, frogs and insects stalked from the water's edge. At feeders: none — a fish-bearing pond is the draw.

How big is a Green Heron?

16.1–18.1 in long and 8.5–7.6 oz.

Do green herons use birdhouses?

No. Loose stick platform in a shrub or tree over water.

Sources

  1. Green Heron — All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  2. Green Heron life history — Cornell Lab of Ornithology
  3. Green Heron — Audubon Guide to North American Birds

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.