Green Heron (Butorides virescens) photos by Larry Jordan
Back at my friend Norm’s house for the sixth season in a row! These are the first Green Heron (Butorides virescens) photos of the season for me and I am trying to document this pair’s breeding behavior from the beginning.
There seems to be a wrinkle in the process this year, with a third heron in the mix (pictured above, click on photos for full sized image). We are calling this third bird the “interloper.”
The bonded pair seem to watch the interloper when he or she shows up, until it gets to rambunctious, then they chase it off. We’re not sure exactly what the relationship is between the pair and the interloper but today Norm told me that it was back after being gone for a few days.
Here are the bonded pair with their crests up. Green Herons will raise that glossy, dark green cap when they are alarmed or agitated.
As they calm down, they look more relaxed and stop flicking their tail too.
Here they are reconstructing their nest, although they were more interested in the interloper the day I was there.
As the interloper looks on.
Check out those feet! Then go check out World Bird Wednesday!
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This is a great series of images. I have yet to add that bird to my list, though we do get them here. There is still little open fresh water, but I’m watching and waiting for the ice to go……..and THEN my little pretties!
Nice! Between your yard and your friends..no need to go anywhere else.:)
Robin~You guys are still frozen solid up there:)
Always interesting to watch and be able to capture this type of behaviour Larry.
I saw a couple of male Mandarins trying to split up a paired couple earlier this week … without sucess.
Great close ups Larry. It doesn’t get much better!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.
Very interesting photos – especially the ones with the crests up. A photo record of these through the season will be great.
Lovely images of beautiful birds.
Thanks for sharing.
Awesome post and photos of the Green Heron, Larry! The Green Heron is one of my favorites. Glad to see they arer returning.
Lovely shots of this bird..Ive never seen it with the crest up like that…SUPER!
Digging the photos and video. These guys are my favorite herons. I love it when they sit at the tops of trees and let out their loud calls.
They have a bit of the look of the Squacco Herons.
But these guys have an even more beautiful plumage!
Looking forward to the developing story on the couple & the Interloper 🙂
Perfect. What a wonderful little soap opera!
I too, will be waiting for the next installment.
Seriously Larry, how can you get this close to Green herons? If these first showings are any indication you will get a great documentary out of this!
Their return to you has coincided with the return of the Night Herons here. You have some great pictures there.
Those are amazing images of the Green Heron!
…really interesting post, Larry! You’ll have to keep us up to date with the interloper’s status!
Great series, Larry! And those feet are made to hold and grab. I took a picture once of a GH with the crest up: a juvenile who had just caught a frog and didn’t know what to do with it!
Nice capture of them in their agitated vs. relaxed state, especially through the trees. I have a difficult time with that and the focusing.
Really great captures, they are such beautiful birds!
Beautiful! I still haven’t seen one of these incredible looking birds. Must keep looking. Great post.
Larry, Your photos and video are not only entertaining but also educational.