Herons (Ardeidae)
Green-backed Heron (Butorides striatus) - HBW 1, p. 417
French: Héron vert
German: Mangrovereiher
Spanish: Garcita Verdosa
Other common names: Green Heron (virescens); Striated Heron (striatus); Lava/Galapagos Heron (sundevalli); Little (Green) Heron (Asia); Red/Mangrove Heron, Red Mangrove-bittern (rogersi)
Taxonomy: Ardea striata Linnaeus, 1758, Surinam.
Sometimes placed in genus Ardeola. Races virescens and sundevalli often raised to full species; form patens of C Panama intermediate between virescens and striatus, might be result of hybridization. Thirty subspecies commonly recognized.
Subspecies and Distribution:
- anthonyi (Mearns, 1895) - W USA, N Baja California.
- frazari (Brewster, 1888) - S Baja California.
- virescens (Linnaeus, 1758) - C USA and E Canada to Panama and Caribbean.
- anthonyi (Mearns, 1895) - W USA, N Baja California.
- frazari (Brewster, 1888) - S Baja California.
- virescens (Linnaeus, 1758) - C USA and E Canada to Panama and Caribbean.
- bahamensis (Brewster, 1888) - Bahamas.
- striatus (Linnaeus, 1758) - E Panama and all S America S to N Chile and N Argentina.
- sundevalli (Reichenow, 1877) - Galapagos.
- atricapillus (Afzelius, 1804) - Africa S of Sahara and islands in Gulf of Guinea.
- rutenbergi (Hartlaub, 1880) - Madagascar.
- brevipes (Ehrenberg, 1833) - Red Sea and N Somalia.
- crawfordi Nicoll, 1906 - Aldabra and Amirante Is.
- rhizophorae Salomonsen, 1934 - Comoros Is.
- degens Hartert, 1920 - Seychelles.
- albolimbatus Reichenow, 1900 - Diego Garcia, Chagos and Maldive Is.
- chloriceps (Bonaparte, 1855) - Indian Subcontinent, Laccadives, Sri Lanka.
- javanicus (Horsfield, 1821) - Burma and Thailand S to Greater Sundas; Reunion, Mauritius and Rodrigues.
- amurensis (Schrenck, 1860) - Manchuria E to Sakhalin, S to Shantung and Korea, Japan, Ryukyu and Bonin Is.
- actophilus Oberholser, 1912 - E China to N Viet Nam and N Burma.
- spodiogaster Sharpe, 1894 - Andomans, Nicobars and islands off W Sumatra.
- carcinophilus Oberholser, 1924 - Taiwan, Philippines and Sulawesi.
- steini Mayr, 1943 - Lesser Sundas.
- moluccarum Hartert, 1920 - Moluccas.
- papuensis Mayr, 1940 - NW New Guinea and Aru Is.
- idenburgi Rand, 1941 - NC New Guinea.
- rogersi Mathews, 1911 - NW Western Australia.
- cinereus Mayr, 1943 - NE Western Australia.
- stagnatilis (Gould, 1848) - NC Australia.
- littleri Mathews, 1912 - SC New Guinea, NE Queensland.
- macrorhynchus (Gould, 1848) - E Queensland, New Caledonia, Loyalty Is.
- solomonensis Mayr, 1940 - Melanesia from New Hanover to W Fiji.
- patruelis (Peale, 1848) - Tahiti, Society Is.
- Least Concern Enlarge map
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A view of a juvenile standing at the water's edge, on the lookout for prey. Locality Amsterdam, North Holland Province, Netherlands
Pieter de Groot Boersma 15 May 2006 4 years ago 26 sec 4 -
A juvenile quickly catching a small fish and then showing comfort behaviour. Locality Amsterdam, North Holland Province, Netherlands
Pieter de Groot Boersma 15 May 2006 4 years ago 44 sec 4 -
A juvenile moving through the vegetation besides a small ditch. Locality Amsterdam, North Holland Province, Netherlands
Pieter de Groot Boersma 15 May 2006 4 years ago 31 sec 4 -
A juvenile standing still on a rock Locality San Cristobal, Galapagos Islands (ssp sundevalli)
Peter van Dam 2 June 2005 5 years ago 16 sec 4 -
A bird near the water, catching a fish Locality Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Assateague Island, Virginia, USA (United States) (ssp virescens)
Robert Schaefer 11 September 2005 6 years ago 28 sec 4 -
A bird near the water, looking for fish Locality Lima Department, Peru (ssp striatus)
Stefan Behrens 2004 6 years ago 24 sec 4 -
A bird immobile, looking for fish Locality Lima Department, Peru (ssp striatus)
Stefan Behrens 2004 6 years ago 28 sec 4 -
A bird near the water and walking away Locality Lima Department, Peru (ssp striatus)
Stefan Behrens 2004 6 years ago 14 sec 4 -
An immature besides a river, changing its position and seen from different angles Locality Khao Yai National Park, North Eastern Thailand, Thailand (ssp javanicus)
Josep del Hoyo 19 November 2004 6 years ago 39 sec 4 -
An adult at the edge of a pond and flying away Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 29 sec 4 -
An adult calling Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 39 sec 4 -
An adult fishing Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 17 sec 4 -
A bird on a palm leaf Locality Colombia (ssp striatus)
ProAves 2006 6 years ago 13 sec 4 -
A bird walking on rocks, near the sea Locality Playa de Cocos, San Blas, Nayarit State, Mexico (Northern) (ssp virescens)
Eldert Groenewoud 26 February 2007 5 years ago 31 sec 3.9 -
A bird perched in a dead tree in a brackish lagoon. Locality Rio Lagartos, Yucatán State, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico (Southern) (ssp virescens)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 27 July 2005 5 years ago 29 sec 3.9 -
An adult entering the nest to incubate and then changing its position Locality Cuyabeno, Sucumbios Province, Ecuador (ssp striatus)
Yanayacu Biological Station 30 August 2003 6 years ago 50 sec 3.9 -
A bird immobile, looking for fish Locality Lima Department, Peru (ssp striatus)
Stefan Behrens 2004 6 years ago 28 sec 3.9 -
An adult using bread to bait fish Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 49 sec 3.9 -
One adult bird fishing Locality Rio Claro, São Paulo State, Brazil (ssp striatus)
Carlos Gussoni 1 February 2011 2 years ago 18 sec 3.8 -
A bird eating a big fish Locality Girardot, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia (ssp striatus)
Pere Sugranyes 31 August 1997 7 years ago 48 sec 3.8 -
A bird feeding on mosquitoes. Locality Cultuurtuin, Paramaribo, Paramaribo District, Suriname (ssp striatus)
Pieter de Groot Boersma 5 February 2011 1 year ago 25 sec 3.8 -
Profile view Locality Gamboa, Panama Province, Panama (ssp virescens)
Juan Sanabria 1 November 2010 2 years ago 22 sec 3.8 -
A bird fishing from the edge of the river. Locality Lorong Halus, Singapore (ssp javanicus)
Josep del Hoyo 1 November 2009 2 years ago 1 min 9 sec 3.8 -
A bird near the water, looking for fish Locality Lima Department, Peru (ssp striatus)
Stefan Behrens 2004 6 years ago 24 sec 3.8 -
An immature besides a river, motionless, trying not to be seen Locality Khao Yai National Park, North Eastern Thailand, Thailand (ssp javanicus)
Josep del Hoyo 19 November 2004 6 years ago 23 sec 3.8 -
An immature besides a river Locality Khao Yai National Park, North Eastern Thailand, Thailand (ssp javanicus)
Josep del Hoyo 19 November 2004 7 years ago 36 sec 3.8 -
An adult at the edge of a pond Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 23 sec 3.8 -
An adult on water lilies, calling Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 22 sec 3.8 -
bird looking around and walking away Locality Chaparrí Reserve, Lambayeque Department, Peru (ssp striatus)
Daniêl Jimenez 17 November 2012 10 weeks ago 26 sec 3.8 -
immature bird Locality Kololi, Western Division, The Gambia (ssp atricapillus)
Daniêl Jimenez 26 December 2011 1 year ago 49 sec 3.8 -
An adult on the ground. Locality Sippighat, South Andaman, Andaman Islands, Andaman and Nicobar (ssp spodiogaster)
Josep del Hoyo 14 December 2009 3 years ago 22 sec 3.8 -
A bird on a horizontal branch by the water's edge Locality Sani Lodge, Orellana Province, Ecuador (ssp striatus)
Josep del Hoyo 29 August 2007 5 years ago 35 sec 3.8 -
An adult standing on a rock and running away Locality Cayo Guillermo, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2004 7 years ago 23 sec 3.7 -
An adult Lava Heron standing on a rock and looking around, before turning around and flying off Locality Puerto Egas, Santiago, Galapagos Islands (ssp sundevalli)
Greg Baker 29 September 2004 8 weeks ago 33 sec 3.7 -
One adult bird Locality Rio Claro, São Paulo State, Brazil (ssp striatus)
Carlos Gussoni 1 February 2011 2 years ago 43 sec 3.7 -
An adult feeding at Panic bird hide near Skukuza Locality Kruger National Park, South Africa (ssp atricapillus)
Ghislain Gosse 15 October 2006 2 years ago 21 sec 3.7 -
Moving quietly on the rocky beach Locality Yanbu, Al Madinah Province, Saudi Arabia (ssp brevipes)
mansorea 21 June 2012 44 weeks ago 1 min 9 sec 3.6 -
A bird perched motionless looking at a prey Locality Girardot, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia (ssp striatus)
Pere Sugranyes 15 June 2010 2 years ago 21 sec 3.6 -
An adult bird on mud flats startled by a Sacred Kingfisher landing nearby. The bird fluffs up its feathers in response. Locality Terranora Broadwater, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp macrorynchus)
Nick Talbot 13 August 2009 3 years ago 23 sec 3.6 -
A bird moving in a tree, recorded from a boat Locality Sani Lodge, Orellana Province, Ecuador (ssp striatus)
Josep del Hoyo 29 August 2007 5 years ago 47 sec 3.6 -
Moving very slow Locality Buenaventura, Valle del Cauca Department, Colombia
mauricio rueda 1 year ago 32 sec 3.5 -
An adult stretching and shrinking the neck Locality Tortuguero, Limón Province, Costa Rica (ssp virescens)
Ferran Vaquero 23 August 2009 2 years ago 12 sec 3.5 -
A bird fishing at dusk Locality Borneo (ssp javanicus)
John Gregory 31 July 2004 5 years ago 18 sec 3.5 -
A bird on a branch, shaking its plumage Locality Nianing, Thiès Region, Senegal (ssp atricapillus)
Juan Sanabria 7 January 2007 6 years ago 41 sec 3.5 -
An adult Lava Heron foraging over tidal rocks Locality Puerto Egas, Santiago, Galapagos Islands (ssp sundevalli)
Greg Baker 29 September 2004 8 weeks ago 17 sec 3.4 -
A bird perched close to the water, resting. Locality Betikama, Guadalcanal Island, Guadalcanal Province, Solomon Islands (ssp solomonensis)
Josep del Hoyo 2 October 2010 2 years ago 24 sec 3.4 -
An adult on the shore, resting on its talons Locality Tangkoko National Park, North Sulawesi, Sulawesi (ssp carcinophilus)
Josep del Hoyo 7 August 2007 5 years ago 26 sec 3.4 -
A bird walking along a shore Locality Borneo (ssp javanicus)
John Gregory 31 July 2004 5 years ago 18 sec 3.4 -
A bird moving on a branch Locality Nianing, Thiès Region, Senegal (ssp atricapillus)
Juan Sanabria 7 January 2007 6 years ago 28 sec 3.4 -
A bird standing near the water. Locality Lorong Halus, Singapore (ssp javanicus)
Josep del Hoyo 1 November 2009 2 years ago 21 sec 3.3 -
A bird perched on an oyster lease. Locality Terranora Broadwater, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp macrorynchus)
Nick Talbot 20 August 2009 3 years ago 17 sec 3.3 -
A bird on the grass and then on a palm branch Locality Dorado, Puerto Rico (ssp virescens)
Juan Sanabria 31 July 2007 5 years ago 18 sec 3.3 -
A bird preening on a branch Locality Girardot, Cundinamarca Department, Colombia (ssp striatus)
Pere Sugranyes 2005 7 years ago 28 sec 3.3 -
A bird with an injured leg walking over water lilies Locality Zapata Peninsula, Matanzas Province, Cuba (ssp virescens)
Josep del Hoyo 2 August 2004 8 years ago 19 sec 3.3 -
An adult perching on a bamboo post. Locality Nusa Dua, Bali (Indonesia) (ssp steini)
Nick Talbot 23 April 2011 1 year ago 22 sec 3.3 -
A bird on the ground Locality Langkawi, Kedah, Peninsular Malaysia (ssp javanicus)
Juan Sanabria 1 August 2010 2 years ago 19 sec 3.3 -
A bird hunting on mud flats. Locality Terranora Broadwater, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp macrorynchhus)
Nick Talbot 13 August 2009 3 years ago 23 sec 3.3 -
Close-up of a bird perched on a mangrove. Locality Minjungbal Reserve, Tweed Heads, New South Wales, Australia (ssp macrorhynchus)
Nick Talbot 31 December 2010 2 years ago 35 sec 3.2 -
A bird with Egretta alba on the Lagoon Locality Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil (ssp striatus)
Jean-François Marzocchi 2 years ago 20 sec 3.2 -
An immature on a trunk Locality Nianing, Thiès Region, Senegal (ssp atricapillus)
Juan Sanabria 7 January 2007 6 years ago 44 sec 3.1
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