Green Herons have always been confounding birds, at least around these parts. And by these parts we mean these posts—the posts of Two-Fisted Birdwatcher.
Cranky posts, sometimes, but always appreciative of two things: the world of birds and readers like you who spend a moment here. Seeing an interesting bird is cool, yet it’s cooler if we share that moment.
But back to the confounding-ness of Green Herons. First reason, and nothing new to readers of this old website, it’s not really a “green” heron. If you can find green, you’re doing pretty good. So that’s part of it.
Also, this bird barely qualifies as a “heron.” Herons are tall, long-necked, graceful, long-legged stately birds that display themselves openly on shorelines and while wading. Plus, they’re especially regal on the wind. Their wingspan makes eagles jealous.
By contrast, a Green Heron could well be called a Green Slouch.
It does slouch. Would that be a better name? Ah, let it be. The poor guy has enough problems in the name department. But “slouch” is kinda catchy. Could be a whole new category of birds.
The Blue-bellied Slouch, the Western Slouch, the Ring-billed Slouch…okay, not our job. Let the taxonomists take it from here. But back to today’s confoundedness…
Our Green Heron is expected to sneak in the reeds, blend into scrubby shorelines and not call attention to itself—they’re hard to find. So it’s really out of character in the photo here.
It’s on a backyard deck railing overlooking a small lake. And instead of hunching over and lurking like a slouch in the shallows, it’s stretching its neck in open air and bright sun. NOT Green Heron behavior.
On top of that, it’s looking at US.
We’re supposed to be spying on it, identifying a cool, somewhat shy shorebird. But instead—it’s identifying us. Looking our way with that unexpected white eye ring!
Maybe it should be called the White-eyed Heron. Forget “Green,” go with that. Confounding. But fun.
a Heron that is watching the sky above for you, that slouch must consider you a friend