So last week’s puzzler was a Yellow-Crowned Night Heron–a bird commonly found at the edge of ponds, lakes, marshes, swamps, streamsides and other bodies of water, where it hunts fish, crayfish, frogs and other aquatic animals. I thought I would feature another bird commonly found in the same habitats as the Yellow-Crowned Night Heron. Chances are if you knew the last one, you will know this one too.
This handsome, yellow-eyed bird has the unusual habit of standing on a branch or in grass hanging out over water and dropping sticks and other objects into the water with the intent of luring fish, which it then snatches from the water with its dagger-like bill. This is amazing to watch! Who said animals don’t use tools?
Here are two photos:
Do you know the identity of this bird? Have you seen it in a body of water near you? If so, use the comment box below to offer your guess. All correct responses will be entered in a drawing to win a photo prize.
Have a wonderful weekend and see you again soon! (I will show you a video of this bird using a lure next weekend–it is an amazing display!)
Green Heron? I’ve seen them in a couple of small lakes.
Correct! It is a green heron. Thanks for reading!
Looks like a tri-colored heron! Some call it the Louisiana heron.
Arden, great guess, but it is not a tri-colored heron. I will put a photo up on Saturday of a tri-colored heron next to this bird so you can see the difference. As always, thanks for reading and for taking the time to guess!
I got to see one break off a stick and toss into the water to get fish to come and check it out.
What a coincidence, me too!