Green Heron, Butorides virescens
The green hue that gives these birds their common English name is subtle and
iridescent, appearing only in certain lights, as above; more often the "green" wing
feathers appear gray with a bluish hue.
Above and below, head-on views.
Carrying nesting material.
Above, a Green Heron shows the full extension of its neck, capturing a dragonfly out of the air; below, a few seconds later, the bird holding the insect with the neck mostly contracted.
Above, plunging for prey in Costa Rica. The green hue on the upper wing
feathers are especially visible in this picture; this photo shows that the crown
feathers are also iridescent green, though they appear black or dark gray except
when in direct sunlight, as here. Below, a bird poised to plunge.
A Green Heron taking off from its perch on a wire.
Above and below, juvenile Green Herons.
Above, an adult interacts with two recently fledged offspring, who are begging to be fed; the three birds are close to the nest. That nest is shown along with all of the four offspring in the next two pictures below; and more pictures of this bird family during its nesting period in Spring 2016 can be seen here.
The four nestlings as they began to climb out of the nest along the branch leading up and to the left; they all made it out, and exercised their wings before returning to the nest, certifying their status as not merely nestlings but branchlings!