The green heron can extend its neck a surprisingly long way as it lunges to capture its prey.

Description: The green heron is a stocky crow-sized heron. On adults, the wings and back are green mixed with blue-gray. The upper breast, sides of neck, and head are chestnut with a dark blue-green crown that can be raised to a crest when alarmed. In poor lighting, green herons may simply look dark. Young are more heavily streaked on neck and chest and duller and grayer on back. On being disturbed and when flying, its loud sharp call note resembles the harsh sound made by closing rusty scissors — skowp! Similar species: Least bitterns have paler necks, buff and chestnut patches on their inner wings, and dark on the outer half of their wings. They are about two-thirds the size of the green heron, which lacks the light wing patches. American bitterns are larger, buff and brown, and lack a dark cap. Black-crowned and yellow-crowned night-herons are larger, grayer, and have thicker, shorter bills than green herons Common Name Synonym