green heron

bird

Also known as: Butorides virescens

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 16, 2026

Quick Summary

The green heron (Butorides virescens) is a small American heron with a greenish back, chestnut neck, and chest, and yellow legs. It is a type of heron, which are long-legged wading birds found worldwide, most commonly in tropical regions. Herons typically feed in shallow waters, catching aquatic animals like fish and frogs. They are known for their S-shaped neck and for flying with their legs trailing and neck held back. The green heron is noted for its unique hunting technique of dropping bait on the water's surface to attract fish.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

heron
The green heron (Butorides virescens), a small green and brown bird widespread in North America, is notable for its habit of dropping bait on the surface of the water in order to attract fish.
Read More
The green heron (Butorides virescens), a small green and brown bird widespread in North America, is notable for its habit of dropping bait on the surface of the water in order to attract fish.
Read More