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Mass Audubon State of the Birds

Find Bird Groups

Green Heron
Butorides virescens

The Green Heron breeds singly or in loose colonies along wooded streams throughout Massachusetts. Despite its widespread distribution in Massachusetts, different data sources present conflicting estimates of the health of its breeding population.
Conservation Status
Continued Action/Monitoring Needed

Tracking This Bird In Massachusetts

Climate Vulnerability Score

Least Vulnerable
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (current)
0.51
Mass Audubon Mean likelihood of occurrence (2050)
0.51
Mass Audubon Absolute change in likelihood of occurrence
0.00
U.S. Forest Service Climate Change Bird Atlas (Hadly Hi emissions scenario)a
18.40
National Audubon Societyb
n/a
a USFS model data for Massachusetts by 2100
b National Audubon Society's Climate Change Atlas was completed on a continental scale.

Breeding Bird Atlas

Atlas I Blocks
417
Atlas II Blocks
534
Percent of state occupied - Atlas I
43
Percent of state occupied - Atlas II
51
Percent change
113

Breeding Bird Survey

Annual trend 1966-2010
-2.3%
P-value
significant, declining
Number of routes
25
Recent trend 2000-2010
-2.5%

Christmas Bird Count

Trend (1963-2008)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1963-1979)
0
Significantly different than zero
Trend (1979-2008)
0
Significantly different than zero

Habitat Usage

Breeding

Coastal, Forest, Forested Wetland, Open Freshwater Marsh, Rivers, Lakes, and Ponds

Wintering

Does not winter in Massachusetts

Climate Suitability Current and 2050