17 February, 2012

Mystery Bird?

This fine-looking bird was sitting along side the path through the mangroves behind our cabana that leads to Black Creek.  It let me approach quite close before it flew into the mangrove roots.










By size, shape, neck length, and habitat, it keys out to be a green heron.  But it is the wrong color and has a darker beak than green herons usually have.  After much searching, the most likely ID is a dark form of green, striated, or green-backed heron.  Some sources lump all those 3 into one species, Butorides striatus.  I hope to see and photograph this individual again during different seasons.  Any insights into the ID will be greatly appreciated!

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8 comments:

  1. Can't help with the ID Wilma; other than a Heron of some sort. lol
    A fine looking bird though, and you got some great captures of it.

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    1. thanks, Keith. The shots could have been sharper, but there's always next time ...

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  2. Great set of photos of it, whatever it is.

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    1. Thank you, John. I am pretty sure it is a dark form of green heron.

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  3. I looked on the Cornell Ornithology site Wilma and it looks like a Green Heron from what I read.

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    1. Hi Roy -
      the Cornell site is one of my favorites; always excellent information there.
      Wilma

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  4. Wonderful images Wilma but like Keith I can't help.
    It's not a bird we see over here..

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    1. Thanks, Andrew. Too bad you don't have green herons; they are a treat to see. But you do get striated herons, don't you?

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