Green Herons (Butorides virescens) are small herons that are found throughout much of North and Central America. They are also known by several other common names, which can sometimes cause confusion about their identification. Some of the most frequently used common names for Green Herons include:
- Green-backed Heron
- Little Green Heron
- Green Bittern
- Poke
- Fly-up-the-creek
- American Green Heron
In addition to these common names used in English, Green Herons are known by names in other languages in parts of their range, such as “garcita verde” in Spanish. The wide variety of common names used for Green Herons reflects their wide distribution across the Americas, as well as confusion that has occurred over time about the taxonomy and identification of small heron species.
Origins and Meanings of the Common Names
Many of the common names for Green Herons directly describe some key identifying features, or allude to aspects of their biology or behavior:
Green Heron / Green-backed Heron
These names directly refer to the mostly green and blue-gray plumage of adult birds. The feathers on the head, neck, back, and parts of the wings have a greenish hue. The name “Green Heron” has been the most widespread and commonly adopted name used in field guides and ornithological literature for this species.
Little Green Heron
This name again highlights the green plumage, but also alludes to the relatively small size of Green Herons compared to other heron species in North America. They are one of the smallest herons, with a length of about 18 inches. This helps distinguish them from larger greenish herons like the Green Heron’s close relative, the Striated Heron.
Green Bittern
This name references the bittern, a group of heron species that have some notable differences from more typical herons in their ecology and behavior. Like other bittern species, Green Herons are highly camouflaged, secretive, and elusive as they forage in dense wetland vegetation. Their streaked plumage helps provide camouflage.
Poke
This name may refer to the feeding behavior of Green Herons, which often stand completely still in a hunched posture watching for prey. They then quickly stretch out their neck to “poke” and capture prey items. It may also simply refer to their habit of poking around densely vegetated wetland habitats.
Fly-up-the-creek
This vivid name refers to the strong flight of Green Herons, and their habit of flushing and flying rapidly upstream when alarmed before settling back down. The speed of their flight for such a small heron is notable.
American Green Heron
This name associates Green Herons specifically with North and Central America. This helps distinguish them from other greenish herons found in other regions globally, such as the widespread Striated Heron (Butorides striata). Adding “American” clarifies that this is the green heron native to the Americas.
Origins of the Scientific Name
The scientific naming of Green Herons has also gone through some changes that reflect the evolving understanding of small heron taxonomy and relationships.
Green Herons were originally classified in 1766 by Carl Linnaeus as Ardea virescens, with Ardea being the broad genus containing typical larger herons. The virescens portion of the name is Latin for greenish.
Later it was given its own genus as Butorides virescens, first by Baird in 1858. Butorides comes from Latin for “bittern” again nodding to some of their bittern-like habits.
For many decades Butorides virescens was the accepted scientific name. However, a 2021 review of heron evolutionary relationships proposed splitting Butorides back into multiple genera. Under this taxonomic update, Green Herons are now placed in the genus Procolon, as Procolon virescens.
So in summary, the scientific names for Green Herons have shifted from:
Ardea virescens –> Butorides virescens –> Procolon virescens
This illustrates how our understanding of taxonomy is continually being updated as new studies shed light on the evolutionary relationships between bird species. Regardless of genus, the virescens portion connecting Green Herons to their green plumage has remained constant.
Confusion with Related Heron Species
One of the reasons why Green Herons have accumulated so many different common names is because they were often confused with related heron species in the past. In particular, there has been confusion between Green Herons, Striated Herons, and the mangrove subspecies of Striated Herons in tropical Americas:
Striated Heron
The Striated Heron (Procolon striata) is closely related to Green Herons, and is found in wetlands throughout the warmer parts of the Old World. However, it is not found in the Americas. Historical confusion between the two species led to misapplication of the names “Striated Heron” and “Little Green Heron” for some time in North America.
Mangrove Heron
This refers to a subspecies of Striated Heron (Procolon striata bangsi) found along the coasts of Central and South America. Their ranges overlap with Green Herons, and the dark morph of Mangrove Heron can appear similar. Mangrove Heron was at times misnamed as the “Little Blue Heron”.
With modern field guides and taxonomic clarity, the identification and naming of Green Herons is now much more consistent throughout the Americas. However, the legacy of their convoluted naming history remains in the array of common names still used interchangeably today.
Regional Variations in Names
The common names used for Green Herons can vary somewhat across regions. Some examples of regional variations include:
Texas and Gulf Coast
In Texas and along the Gulf Coast, “Little Green” or “Little Blue” are still frequently used. “Little Blue” reflects confusion with the Mangrove Heron subspecies that was once called “Little Blue Heron” in the southern US.
Florida
In Florida, “Green Bittern” is a more common variant used, alongside “Green-backed Heron”. The bittern-like qualities are readily apparent in Florida’s dense mangroves.
Mid-Atlantic and Northeast
In these regions, “Green Heron” or “Green-backed Heron” are used most widely, matching the consensus name in field guides and ornithological literature.
Caribbean and Tropical Americas
Across the Caribbean and tropical Americas south through Central America, Spanish language names like “garcita verde” or “garcita azul” are widely used. Confusion may still occur here between Green Herons and the mangrove subspecies of Striated Herons.
British Columbia
In BC, “Green Bittern” is again a more common variant used instead of just “Green Heron”, matching usage in parts of the western U.S.
So in summary, while the core common names are widespread for Green Herons throughout their range, subtle regional variations still exist. But regardless of slight variations, fundamentally they all describe the same diminutive, greenish heron adorned in elegant yet cryptic plumage.
Conclusion
Green Herons are richly endowed with an array of common names accumulated over centuries of observations, taxonomic changes, and movements across a wide geographic distribution. The origins and meanings of names like Green Bittern, Little Green Heron, Fly-up-the-creek, and others provide glimpses into the unique ecology of the species. They highlight key aspects of appearance, habitat, and behavior that birdwatchers continue to appreciate today. Studying common names can enlighten both natural history and the occasionally confusing path of biological nomenclature. Green Herons show that a species scientific name may change with shifting taxonomic perspectives, but the vivid impressions conveyed by their descriptive common names remain constant. In local ponds or distant wetlands from Canada through Colombia, Green Herons by any name still flush rapidly at close approach, poke diligently for prey, and ultimately reveal their elegant green hues.