Central Minnesota Audubon Society

THE GREEN-BACKED HERON
The Green-Backed Heron, or Green Heron, Butorides striatus, is a small heron common in Central Minnesota. It may nest alone or in mixed colonies with great blue herons. Commonly seen at the water's edge, it feeds on frogs, small fish and aquatic invertebrates. The drawing at the top left illustrates an immature bird.

The name of our Newsletter, The Green-Backed Gazette, was inspired by this animal. The water color by John James Audubon shows an adult male and an immature bird. The adult female is similar to the adult male, but smaller.