Green Heron

(Butorides virescens)

Information
Photos
Slideshows
Videos
Sightings

Conservation • Description • Habitat • Ecology • Distribution • Taxonomy

Green Heron - Featured photo — Photo by John F

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List

LC - Least Concern

NatureServe

N5B, N5N - Secure Breeding and Nonbreeding
SNRB - Unranked Breeding

Minnesota

not listed

Description

Size

Total length: 15″ to 22″

Wingspan: 26″

Voice

Similar Species

Habitat

Marshes, lakes, and streams with dense shoreline vegetation

Ecology

Migration

April to September

Nesting

Diet

Distribution

Occurrence

Common migrant and breeder

Maps

The Minnesota Ornithologists’ Union All Seasons Species Occurrence Map

Taxonomy

Class

Aves (Birds)

Order

Pelecaniformes (Pelicans, Herons, and Allies)

Family

Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)

Subfamily

Ardeinae (Typical Herons and Egrets)

Genus

Butorides (Green-backed Herons)

Family

The family Ardeidae was formerly included in the order Ciconiiformes. Based on a phylogenomic study published in 2008, the family was transferred to the order Pelecaniformes.

Species

This species was formerly classified as Butorides striata virescens, a subspecies of the Green-backed Heron.

Subordinate Taxa

Bahama Green Heron (Butorides virescens bahamensis)

Frazar’s Green Heron (Butorides virescens frazari)

Green Heron (Butorides virescens maculata)

Eastern Green Heron (Butorides virescens virescens)

Western Green Heron (Butorides virescens anthonyi)

Synonyms

Ardea virescens

Ardeola virescens

Butorides striata virescens

Visitor Photos

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Kirk Nelson

Mike Boyko

Green Heron 29 — It was sitting at the pond in Crosstown West Park.

John F

Green Heron 28 — Sitting on a log in the Muskrat Pond

Margot Avey

Megan

Nancy Berg

Green Heron 13 — A green Heron walking along a branch along the Minnesota River in Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Wayne Rasmussen

Green Heron 08 — White Egrets are occasional visitors to Maplewood Hts Park even though the Blue Heron tries to protect his territory with ferocity.

Green Heron 01 — From a distance, the Green Heron is a dark, stocky bird hunched on slender yellow legs at the water’s edge, often hidden behind a tangle of leaves. Seen up close, it is a striking bird with a velvet-green back, rich chestnut body, and a dark cap often raised into a short crest. These small herons crouch patiently to surprise fish with a snatch of their daggerlike bill. They sometimes lure in fish using small items such as twigs or insects as bait.

— From Cornell Lab - All About Birds

Christa Rittberg

Green Heron 09 — Observed in White Bear Lake.

Elizabeth Daughton

Green Heron 07 — A green heron sits quietly.

Green Heron 06 — A green heron searches for fish and other food sources.

Shelley Taylor

Minnesota Seasons Photos

Slideshows

Green Heron
Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren

Green Heron
Ed McVicker

Green Heron
JMC Nature Photos

Visitor Videos

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Holly Potter

Green Heron 01
Published on Jun 24, 2018

About

Green Heron 02
Published on Jun 24, 2018

About

Green Heron 03
Published on Jun 24, 2018

About

Visitor Sightings

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Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com.
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Kirk Nelson
7/12/2025

Location: Lebanon Hills Regional Park

Kirk Nelson
9/1/2024

Location: Near Sucker Lake, Vadnais-Snail Lakes Regional Park

Mike Boyko
9/8/2023

Location: Burnsville, MN

It was sitting at the pond in Crosstown West Park.

John F
7/5/2023

Location: Richardson Nature Center, Bloomington

Sitting on a log in the Muskrat Pond

Gia DesLauriers
5/17/2023

Location: Chaska, MN

I believe I have two green herons who are building a nest in a tree in our yard.

Margot Avey
7/18/2022

Location: Westwood Nature Center, St Louis Park MN

Megan
7/16/2022

Location: Chaska, Minnesota

Nancy Berg
7/10/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

Bird lover
5/3/2021

Location: Woodbury, MN

Margot Avey
9/18/2020

Location: Westwood Nature Center

Zac Davenport
6/4/2020

Location: Savage, MN

Gerry Garcia
8/27/2019

Location: Hyland Lake Park Reserve

When I tried to get just a step closer, it flew away.

Norm & Peg Dibble
7/5/2019

Location: Maple Grove, MN

Green Heron, just a funny photo sitting next to our metal art crazy bird. Just noticed—he appears to be banded on right leg.

Lynn Rubey
6/19/2019

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

An Adult Green Heron with a tadpole in its mouth perched on a log in a pond in The Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge.

Lynn Rubey
9/8/2018

Location: Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge

A green Heron walking along a branch along the Minnesota River

Kirk Nelson
8/11/2018

Location: Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary

Holly Potter
6/21/2018

Location: Pine Mountain Lake, Backus, Minnesota

I believe it has a nest in the Rees nearby. I see it a couple of times daily sneaking into what looks like a nest made of dried reeds. Saw him or her catching fish a few times.

CH
6/9/2018