South Dakota · Summer breeder

Green Herons in South Dakota

When green herons are present in South Dakota, when they nest, which native South Dakota plants feed them, and how to host them in a USDA 3b–5b yard.

Herons and egrets (Ardeidae)Green HeronButorides virescens

Status in South Dakota: Summer breeder
Nesting window: April–July
Broods: 1–2 per season
Hardiness zones: USDA 3b–5b

When to expect green herons in South Dakota

Green Herons are summer residents in South Dakota, arriving shortly before nesting begins in April and leaving after the young are independent.

Continental, with prairie east of the Missouri River and the forested Black Hills in the west.

Nesting in South Dakota

Across South Dakota, green herons typically nest from April–July. Plan around that window: March for setup, July for clean-out.

Warm summers with thunderstorms; the Black Hills host western mountain birds.

Green Herons don't use nest boxes. Keep dense native shrubs and trees such as bur oak, black cherry, american elderberry for nest sites.
Delay heavy pruning of shrubs until after July.

Native South Dakota plants that attract green herons

Of the regional native plants we track for South Dakota, these 8 provide food or cover green herons use:

Bur oak

Quercus macrocarpa · Tree

Drought-hardy prairie oak with large acorns and a heavy insect load.

Black cherry

Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and one of the top caterpillar host trees.

American elderberry

Sambucus canadensis · Shrub

Late-summer berry clusters taken by over 40 bird species.

New England aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae · Perennial

Late nectar for insects and fall seed for sparrows.

Tall goldenrod

Solidago altissima · Perennial

Insect-rich in fall and seed in winter.

Sugar maple

Acer saccharum · Tree

Hosts hundreds of caterpillar species; spring flowers draw early insects.

Chokecherry

Prunus virginiana · Shrub

Dark summer fruit and heavy caterpillar load.

Common hackberry

Celtis occidentalis · Tree

Sweet dry fruit on the branch all winter.

Feeding green herons through the South Dakota year

Top foods: None — a fish-bearing pond is the draw.
In South Dakota's summer: offer water and insect foods; natural food is abundant.

Full diet breakdown for green herons · Best feeder for green herons

Frequently asked

Are green herons in South Dakota year-round?

No. Green Herons are summer breeders in South Dakota and leave for the winter.

When do green herons nest in South Dakota?

Nesting in South Dakota typically runs April–July, with 1–2 per season. Clutches are 2–6 eggs, incubated for 19–21 days.

What native plants attract green herons in South Dakota?

Bur oak, Black cherry, American elderberry, New England aster, Tall goldenrod, Sugar maple, Chokecherry, Common hackberry are native plants in South Dakota that provide food or cover for green herons.

Other backyard birds in South Dakota

Northern Cardinal Eastern Bluebird Black-capped Chickadee Purple Martin Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker American Goldfinch White-breasted Nuthatch House Wren House Finch Ruby-throated Hummingbird Mourning Dove American Robin Dark-eyed Junco Song Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Red-bellied Woodpecker Northern Flicker Red-headed Woodpecker Red-breasted Nuthatch Common Grackle Red-winged Blackbird Baltimore Oriole Orchard Oriole Rose-breasted Grosbeak Evening Grosbeak Pine Siskin Common Redpoll Indigo Bunting Gray Catbird Brown Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Tree Swallow Barn Swallow Eastern Phoebe Chimney Swift Eastern Screech-Owl Great Crested Flycatcher Eastern Kingbird American Tree Sparrow House Sparrow European Starling Steller's Jay Black-billed Magpie Canada Jay Mountain Chickadee Pygmy Nuthatch Spotted Towhee Mountain Bluebird Say's Phoebe White-crowned Sparrow Violet-green Swallow Black-headed Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Bullock's Oriole Eurasian Collared-Dove American Crow Common Raven Cooper's Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Barred Owl Great Horned Owl American Kestrel Wood Duck Wild Turkey Northern Bobwhite Mallard Great Blue Heron Belted Kingfisher Eastern Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Golden-crowned Kinglet Red Crossbill Field Sparrow Gray Catbird Western Tanager Lark Sparrow Hooded Merganser Yellow Warbler Common Yellowthroat American Redstart Ovenbird Yellow-breasted Chat Red-eyed Vireo Warbling Vireo Eastern Wood-Pewee Least Flycatcher Western Kingbird Cliff Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Common Nighthawk Eastern Whip-poor-will Canada Goose American Coot Killdeer Spotted Sandpiper American Woodcock Great Egret Black-crowned Night Heron Turkey Vulture Osprey Bald Eagle Red-shouldered Hawk Merlin Peregrine Falcon Northern Saw-whet Owl Barn Owl Burrowing Owl Savannah Sparrow Harris's Sparrow Vesper Sparrow Snow Bunting Lapland Longspur Horned Lark Dickcissel Blue Grosbeak Common Redpoll Hoary Redpoll White-winged Crossbill Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Yellow-billed Cuckoo Bobolink Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Rock Pigeon

Sources

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.