|
| [Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note |
Edited: Not a young Black-crowned Night Heron as originally posted, actually this is a young Green Heron, Butorides virescens. I didn't do quite enough homework before ID'ing this originally, assumed it was a young Black-crowned Night Heron largely because there were many adults around, and I didn't see any adult Green Herons.
I used a 2X extender on my 170-500mm lens, zoomed all the way out, so it was shot with the equivalent of a 1,500mm lens when the factor for my APS-sized camera sensor is added in, and I got a little bit of blur even though the camera was on a very sturdy tripod. I needed a higher shutter speed, which I will use next time, light permitting. I'm still learning how to use this lens and I'm finding that it demands one to use excellent technique, otherwise, the results are not the best.
According to the All About Birds site at Cornell:
A small, stocky wading bird, the Green Heron is common in wet spots across much of North America. It can be difficult to see as it stands motionless waiting for small fish to approach within striking range, but it frequently announces its presence by its loud squawking.
Cool Facts
* The Green Heron is one of the few tool-using birds. It commonly drops bait onto the surface of the water and grabs the small fish that are attracted. It uses a variety of baits and lures, including crusts of bread, insects, earthworms, twigs, or feathers.
* The Green Heron is part of a complex of small herons that sometimes are considered one species. When lumped, they are called Green-backed Heron. When split, they are the Green Heron, the widespread Striated Heron, and the Galapagos Heron.
* As is typical for many herons, the Green Heron tends to wander after the breeding season is over. Most wanderers probably seek more favorable foraging areas and do not travel far. But,occasionally some go farther, with individuals going as far as England and France.
Description
* Size: 41-46 cm (16-18 in)
* Wingspan: 64-68 cm (25-27 in)
* Weight: 240 g (8.47 ounces)
* Small, dark heron.
* Long yellowish legs.
* Long, dark, pointed bill.
* Long neck often kept pulled in tight to body.
* Legs and neck long, but shorter than most herons.
Greenish black cap on head. Wings blackish with greenish or bluish gloss. Neck rufous. Underparts gray. Wing feathers edged in buff. Legs yellow or yellowish orange; glossy orange during breeding. Slight crest can be raised on back of head. Eyes orange or yellow.
Sex Differences
Sexes similar, but female slightly smaller, duller, and lighter.
Immature
Striped brownish on neck and chest. Back brownish with buffy spots.
Similar Species
* In flight resembles a crow, but the wing beats are slower, the bunched neck gives it a slightly different shape, and it is reddish on the neck.
* American Bittern is larger, more robust, more golden brown and lighter, and lacks the dark cap.
* Least Bittern is smaller, slimmer, has a large pale patch in the wing, and is pale below.
* Juvenile night-herons are larger and more robust with thicker bills.
Sound
Flight or alarm call an explosive "skeow." Also make series of "kuk-kuk-kuk-kuk" notes.
»listen to songs of this species
top
Summer Range
Breeds from southern Canada through Central America, avoiding the higher and drier areas of the continent.
Winter Range
Winters from the southern United States southward.
Habitat
* Breeds in swampy thickets. Forages in swamps, along creeks and streams, in marshes, ponds, lake edges, salt marshes, ponds and pastures.
* Winters mostly in coastal areas, especially mangrove swamps.
Food
Small fish, invertebrates, insects, frogs, and other small animals.
Behavior
Foraging
Stands still next to water and grabs small fish with explosive dart of head and neck. One of the few birds that uses bait to attract fish, it drops such things as bread crusts, insects, and twigs onto the water.
Reproduction
Nest Type
Nest a basket of sticks, placed in small tree or shrub, usually over water. Nests in small, loose colonies.
Egg Description
Pale green.
Clutch Size
2-6 eggs.
Condition at Hatching
Helpless, but eyes open and covered in grayish down.
top
Conservation Status
Common and widespread. Populations difficult to census accurately, but appear stable.
Other Names
Heron vert (French)
Garcita verde (Spanish)
Green-backed Heron (English) |
mariki, jusninasirun, boreocypriensis, marmottelolo has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekNature members may rate photo notes. |
|
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 289 W: 1 N: 424]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-n-g.gif){kind=small}
![Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 4160 W: 160 N: 5611]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/g-g-g.gif)
(15016)![Silver Note Writer [C: 8 W: 0 N: 29]](http://i1.treknature.com/misc/n-n-s.gif){kind=small}