RE: [SBB] Juvenile Heron

["Alvaro Jaramillo" <[[email protected]]>]

Tom

   The bird in your photos is an immature Black-crowned Night Heron. This is
one of those identifications in birding that with experience becomes easier
and easier, but it takes the comparative experience. Part of this is because
the major differences between these two immature herons are size and shape
and these are hard to get a handle of until you have seen the differences
with your very own eyes, hopefully in the same day. The Black-crowned is
substantially bigger, bulkier than a crow, while the Green Heron is quite
small, slightly smaller than a crow. They also differ in shape, with the
Green having a relatively longer neck, smaller and shorter tail, slimmer
body and much slimmer and longer bill. But if you are looking for specifics
on the plumage and pattern, here are a few features to look for:

1) Green Heron has a yellow bare patch in front of the eye which is bold and
contrasting; it also encircles the eye when you see them up close.
Black-crowned Night Heron has a dull greenish area that is not all that
prominent. 

2) Green Heron shows more yellow on the longer, thinner bill.

3) Green Heron has a contrasting dark cap. 

4) The streaks on the foreneck line up creating solid white lines going from
the upper neck to the breast. 

5) Green heron has a bright white and unstreaked belly, only the neck and
breast is streaked. 

6) Even the immature Green Herons have a green tone to the back. 

Here are some photos of immature Green Herons to compare with. 

http://www.camacdonald.com/birding/DesJardin/GreenHeron.htm
http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/nimages/ornith/gallery/HERONGR3.JPG
http://community.webshots.com/photo/49973702/49304683SiSlUY
http://www.wildportraits.com/MichaelBates/Wading%20Birds/wading.html

I hope this helps. 

Regards

Al

Alvaro Jaramillo
Biologist
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 247
Alviso, CA 95002
http://www.sfbbo.org
[[email protected]]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: south-bay-birds-bounces+chucao=[[email protected]]
> [mailto:south-bay-birds-bounces+chucao=[[email protected]]] 
> On Behalf Of Tom Merigan
> Sent: Saturday, July 09, 2005 6:44 PM
> To: [[email protected]]
> Subject: [SBB] Juvenile Heron
> 
> At Sunnyvale Water Pollution District where I and many others have 
> seen Green Herons--today I photographed this young bird standing alone 
> www.pbase.com/merigan/image/45959610
> and  www.pbase.com/mergan/image/45960142 . I think it is maybe a green 
> heron because of its stance,location,lack of other nearby similar 
> birds,lack of back spots and eye color.  But it also looks a like 
> juvenile Black-crowned heron as well. Has anybody else seen this bird 
> a few hundred feet from the entrance on the road closest to the plant 
> leading around the saltwater pond? Or can those with more knowledge of 
> exact field marks distinguishing juvenile Green from juvenile 
> Black-crowned herons help me make this call.  He cooperated by posing 
> well for my pics now I need help.  Tom Merigan
> 
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