U.S. Wildlife: This Stocky Sci-Fi-Looking Bird Actually Uses Tools

Will County, IL – This short, stocky bird looks like something that wandered out of a sci-fi novel, and its appearance is only the beginning.

According to the Forest Preserve District of Will County, the green heron is one of the relatively few bird species known to use tools, making it one of the more surprising animals you might spot around a pond, marsh or lake.

Green herons can use feathers, insects and even small food scraps as bait. The bird drops or places the object on the water, waits for a curious fish to swim closer and then strikes with its sharp bill.

Yes, this bird basically goes fishing.

The species has a compact, almost hunched appearance because it usually keeps its long neck pulled tightly against its body. Its greenish back, chestnut-colored breast, yellow legs and intense stare can make it look more prehistoric than backyard bird.

Males can become even more colorful during breeding season, when their normally yellow legs can turn orange.

Green herons are commonly found around wetlands, including swamps, marshes, lakes and ponds where trees and shrubs provide quiet nesting areas. They hunt along the water’s edge, feeding on fish and other small aquatic prey.

While Will County officials recently highlighted the bird in Illinois, green herons are found across a broad portion of North America.

So if you see a chunky little bird standing motionless near the water this week, give it another look. That strange, compact creature may be doing something far more sophisticated than it appears.

It could be using bait and waiting for dinner to come to it.