Small, dark heron with a blue-green back, rusty-colored neck and dark cap. And, like other herons, an agile neck is their most important foraging tool. Mar 11, 2018 - Discover the magic of the internet at Imgur, a community powered entertainment destination. They feed either alone or as a pair. They will retract their neck, holding their bill downwards aiming at a fish, take a few cautious steps and stab their prey with their bill. The Green Heron is a small wading bird with a long neck, green-black cap, short chestnut face (on sides) and neck, deep dark green upperparts and dark underparts, yellow to deep orange eyes and greenish-yellow legs. Populations extend north into British Columbia on the West Coast and into southern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia in the east. Usually in a crouched position, partly concealed in vegetation, waiting patiently for prey. Green Herons sometimes pay visits to ornamental fish ponds. Green Herons’ Versatile Necks. The female is similar to the male except smaller. Lift your spirits with funny jokes, trending memes, entertaining gifs, inspiring stories, viral videos, and so much more. They are territorial and do not tolerate intrusions. Green Herons are also distinctive in flight, with slow beats of their rounded wings making them look a bit like a tailless crow. The juvenile has a brown-and-white streaked neck, slight crest on its dark head, and prominently light-tipped wing coverts. The Green Heron is primarily a species of the eastern United States and the Pacific Coast. Yellow spectacle-shaped markings surround the eye and extend to the bridge of the bill. When perched or stalking, they tuck their neck into the contours of their body and appear quite small (see inset). And Green herons have a very interesting way of hunting for fish. Farther south, populations can be found through portions of Central America. Occasionally they will swim after prey. In flight, looks like an awkward crow with broad wings, neck tucked in, and legs extending just … Only when threatened or when striking prey is the true length of a Green Heron’s neck revealed. When threatened, alarmed or aggressive, Green herons raise their crest, hold their neck still and flutter their tail. The adult Green Heron has a dark rufous neck, gray belly, and dark, iridescent, greenish-blue back. Garcita Verde (Spanish) Héron vert (French) Backyard Tips . Most of the time Green Herons appear to be stout, compact herons. Other Names. They will find a perch over the water where they will place a twig, leaf, feather or insect on top of the water. Their habit of often briefly unfolding their neck during flight helps make them recognizable, too. The upper mandible of the bill is dark, and the legs are bright orange. They will then wait until a minnow comes to the water’s surface to investigate, at which point the heron elongates its neck to strike and catch the fish. A green heron's diet is varied, and includes insects, spiders, snails, crustaceans, frogs, and fish. This bird is 17-22" in length with a wingspan of 25-26".