Gary Helm
Green Heron - Butorides virescens
The Green Heron, also called the Green-backed Heron is a year-round resident of Florida. Found in both fresh and saltwater marshes, ponds, lakes and rivers where it fishes by wading or standing motionless on a branch, log or aquatic plants close to the waters surface.
Green Herons are unique in that they will often drop insects, bits of twigs and other small objects onto the water surface to attract small fish which it then catches with a quick thrust of its beak.
Adult Green Herons have a body length of 19 inches with a wingspan up to 26 inches.
I found this one in my backyard (canal) in Polk County Florida.
Green Heron - Butorides virescens
The Green Heron, also called the Green-backed Heron is a year-round resident of Florida. Found in both fresh and saltwater marshes, ponds, lakes and rivers where it fishes by wading or standing motionless on a branch, log or aquatic plants close to the waters surface.
Green Herons are unique in that they will often drop insects, bits of twigs and other small objects onto the water surface to attract small fish which it then catches with a quick thrust of its beak.
Adult Green Herons have a body length of 19 inches with a wingspan up to 26 inches.
I found this one in my backyard (canal) in Polk County Florida.