Tongue Out

Eye Reflection

I was fortunate to be sitting on the bank of the Myakka River when this Green Heron (Butorides virescens) flew in. After assessing me keenly for a few moments, it stalked out to the end of the logjam and settled into hunting position. I waited for awhile, hoping for an action shot, but apparently, I lack the patience of a heron. Fifteen fruitless minutes later, I carefully extricated myself and wished the bird happy fishing.

In certain postures, like when the neck is stretched out, it is possible to confuse this heron with a bittern at first glance (especially with juveniles). Their binomial actually references that similarity, butor is Middle English for bittern, while “oides” means resembling in Greek. Bitterns are nowhere near as colorful, though.

Didn’t the sun highlight this heron’s beautiful plumage nicely?