Habitat and Geography
GEOGRAPHY: The green heron is a
common and wide spread species. They can be found from Nova Scotia to
the West Indies, Central America, and even as far south as northern
South America. According to the
International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) the green
heron falls into the Least Concern category and is not expected to
qualify for a threatened category in the near future.
In the summer months, the green heron can be found in across much of the
continental United States. They are found in the eastern states and
spread as far west as North Dakota and the Great Plains.
Some green herons are year-round residents of costal California,
southern Arizona, southern Texas, Florida, and South Carolina.
Most populations, however, are migratory and can be found in the eastern
United States during the breeding season. After breeding they disperse
southward, where they will winter in the southern states, Mexico, and
throughout parts of Central America.
HABITAT: Green herons are
classified as wading birds, and as such they share traits with egrets,
ibises, spoonbills, storks, and other herons that make them experts in
acquiring food from shallow waters.
Green Herons are found near any variety of water sources including
swamps, creeks, streams, marshes, ponds, lake edges, and even pastures.
Interestingly, they are able to inhabit both fresh and salt water
habitats equally well.
They breed and nest in thickets that larger heron species are unable to
penetrate. This usually means the under canopy of foliage in cedar or
maple trees near the water.