The Green Heron is a small, stocky, and often secretive heron that can be found in Oregon's diverse wetland habitats. They are known for their excellent camouflage and their clever use of "bait" to lure fish. When it comes to distinguishing between males and females, it's generally quite difficult in the field as they exhibit minimal sexual dimorphism in their plumage.

General Appearance (Adults, Both Sexes):
Size and Shape: They are relatively small herons, roughly the size of an American Crow, with a compact body, short legs, and a thick neck that they often keep drawn in, giving them a hunched appearance. They have a stout, dagger-like bill.
Plumage:
Crown and Back: A key feature is their glossy, dark, iridescent greenish-black cap (crest) and back. This "green" often appears dull bluish or simply dark depending on the lighting. They can raise the feathers on their crown into a short crest.
Neck and Breast: The neck and breast are a rich chestnut or deep reddish-brown.
Wings: The wings are dark grayish-green, often with pale edgings that give them a somewhat scaly appearance.
White Stripe: They have a distinctive thin, white stripe that runs down the center of their throat, and often a few small white spots on the wings.
Eyes: Their eyes are typically bright yellow, though they can appear orange in some lighting or individuals.
Bill: Their bill is dark, often black on the upper mandible and yellowish at the base of the lower mandible.
Legs and Feet: Their legs and feet are typically yellow or yellow-orange. During the breeding season, these can become a brighter, more vibrant orange.

Sexual Dimorphism (Subtle Differences):
Size: The most consistent difference is that males are generally slightly larger and heavier than females, and may have a slightly longer bill. However, this difference is often too subtle to use for identification in the field unless you are observing a known pair side-by-side. There's significant overlap in individual sizes.
Behavior and Vocalization (Breeding Season): During the breeding season (typically late spring to early summer in Oregon, around May-July), the male will often give a distinctive, loud "skow" or "kyow" call, especially when disturbed or defending territory. Both sexes participate in incubation and chick rearing. Males are typically the ones performing courtship displays.

Juvenile Green Herons:
Juvenile Green Herons are browner overall than adults, with heavy pale streaking on their neck and breast, and prominent pale spots on their wing coverts. Their legs and bill are typically duller. They lack the strong, rich chestnut and glossy green of the adults.

Habitat and Behavior in Oregon:
Green Herons are a regular migrant and summer resident throughout western and south-central Oregon, though they can be quite secretive. They prefer quiet streams and shaded riverbanks, marshes, wetlands, and ponds, lakes with dense vegetation, estuaries and wooded shores.

They are often solitary and tend to forage in shallow water near dense vegetation, making them difficult to spot. They hunt by standing motionless or slowly stalking prey (mostly small fish, but also amphibians, insects, and crustaceans) from the water's edge. A fascinating behavior is their use of "bait," where they drop small objects like feathers or twigs onto the water's surface to attract fish within striking distance. When disturbed, they often fly off with a characteristic "skyow" call, often partially uncrooking their necks, giving them a front-heavy appearance.