Green Heron Similar Species Comparison
Similar Species
Least Bittern
Adult male
Least Bitterns are smaller than Green Herons. They have straw-colored wings and neck unlike Green Herons, which have a green wings and a chestnut neck.
© Rey Clermont | Macaulay LibraryQuebec, June 16, 2012Similar Species
American Bittern
Adult/immature
American Bitterns are substantially larger and thicker-necked than Green Herons. They are more heavily streaked overall and lack the Green Heron’s dark cap.
© Tim Lenz | Macaulay LibraryNew Jersey, October 11, 2009Similar Species
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Adult (American)
Adult Black-crowned Night-Herons are pale below unlike the dark-bellied Green Heron.
© Jeff Timmons | Macaulay LibraryIndiana, July 23, 2017Similar Species
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Juvenile
Juvenile Black-crowned Night-Herons lack the chestnut-colored neck of Green Herons. Night-Herons also have a thicker bill than Green Herons.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryMassachusetts, August 19, 2016Similar Species
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Adult
Adult Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are larger with a thicker bill than Green Herons. They also have a white stripe on their cheek that Green Herons don't have.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, July 25, 2017Similar Species
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Juvenile
Juvenile Yellow-crowned Night-Herons lack the Green Heron's chestnut tones and are more heavily streaked below and spotted above than Green Herons.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, July 25, 2017Similar Species
Little Blue Heron
Adult
Little Blue Herons are taller and more slender than Green Herons with a longer neck.
© Etienne Artigau🦩 | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 06, 2017Main Species
Green Heron
Adult
Small and stocky with a daggerlike bill and a thick neck that is often drawn into their body. Adults have a deep green back and crown, and a chestnut neck and breast.
© Brad Imhoff | Macaulay LibraryOhio, August 06, 2020Juvenile
Small, compact heron. Juveniles are browner overall, with pale streaking on the neck and spots on the wings. Note dark cap.
© Evan Lipton | Macaulay LibraryRhode Island, August 11, 2017Juvenile
Usually hunts from shore rather than by wading like other herons. Juveniles have buffy spots and feather edging on the wings.
© Benjamin Clock | Macaulay LibraryNew York, September 09, 2011Not all videos have sound
Adult
Look rather ungainly in flight, often partially uncrooking their necks to giving them a front-heavy appearance.
© Sean Sime | Macaulay LibraryNew York, July 25, 2017Adult
The center of their neck is streaked, but the streaking can be hard to see as they frequently have their necks tucked in or they are crouched over making it difficult to see the center of the neck.
© Steve Altman | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, December 24, 2016Adult
Generally appears all dark, except in good light when the feathers shine with an almost iridescent green color.
© Patricia Verbovszky | Macaulay LibraryPennsylvania, September 06, 2016Juvenile
Juveniles are browner overall with more streaking on the neck than adults.
© Ian Davies | Macaulay LibraryPetén, May 11, 2017Juvenile
Crouches on sticks, branches, or the waters edge patiently stalking small fish or amphibians.
© Melissa James | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, May 12, 2018Habitat
Found along swamps, marshes, lakes, ponds, impoundments, and other wet habitats with dense vegetation to provide cover.
© Nick Dorian | Macaulay LibraryFlorida, March 17, 2017Rotate Your Device to Better Compare
Compare with Similar Species
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Species in This Family
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns(Order: Pelecaniformes, Family: Ardeidae)
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