Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Patient of the Week: Green Heron

Why is it a GREEN heron?

This young Green Heron was brought to us after being found alone on a golf course with a possible limp. Despite a thorough exam, our vet staff found no injuries or health issues. Ideally, this fledgling would have been returned immediately to their parents. We sent one of our staff members to the golf course to attempt to find the nest or rookery that this heron came from, sadly with no luck.

As this bird was still too young to be on its own, and we could not locate parents or nesting sites, keeping the baby at the Center was the best option. Thankfully this bird is doing well and has already been moved to an outdoor enclosure (photo 1) to continue growing up until they’re ready for release. And within just one day this youngster was eating fish on their own!

Green Herons, the hipsters of the bird world!

With their short legs and thick necks stylishly drawn up against their bodies, they seem perpetually stuck in “shrug” mode. But when alarmed, they use a classic rock & roll technique of intimidation: the mohawk.

While they may appear all dark from afar, they actually have a deep green back, a chestnut breast and neck, and dark gray wings. They have a shorter and stockier body compared to other herons, resembling the size of a crow.

Green Herons patiently wait at the water’s edge, hunting for fish and amphibians, and they prefer to stand on vegetation or solid ground rather than wading like larger herons. When in flight, their compact bodies may appear unusual, with their necks partially straightened, giving them a front-heavy appearance.

They’ve got the whole awkward yet charming routine down to a science.

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