Mystery Bird: Juvenile Green Heron, Ardeola virescens

Now, see, that is more what I typically see. I have no idea how your photographers get these wonderful shots of birds exposed. Anyway, it's a green heron. At least, that's what it looks like to me.

Oh, field marks. Body shape. Big orange & black bill. Yellow eye mask. Near water, where it fishes. And it's shy, obviously.

Kinda red beak for a night heron, though.

It's a juvenile, note the fuzz. My neighbors took this picture last Sunday, and saw it taken by a hawk on Monday. rb

I had thought juvi since bittern juvi's sometimes have redder beaks, but I looked at them in a couple of guides and didn't see that. But it makes sense.

What kind of hawk?

I'm not sure what kind of hawk, they didn't say. If I had to guess, it would be the Red-Shouldered. If they see this today, perhaps they can respond. rb

Looks like a young green heron to me, but I've only seen one of them before.

Looks like a young green heron to me, but I've only seen one of them before.

baby heron

I talked to the people who took the picture today, the hawk that got the heron had a banded tail, likely a Red-shouldered. They also told me there are still two baby herons. Yay! rb