Bird field guide · Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Photographing the Green Heron

How to photograph the Green Heron (Butorides virescens): the right lens for its size, shutter speeds for perched and moving animals, and when it's most often seen (May, July and August).

40–140 cm1/2000 sG4
Green Heron (Butorides virescens)
Photo: © Tom Kennedy, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Tom Kennedy via iNaturalist
40–140 cm
Typical length (family range)
1/500 s
Shutter: perched / still
1/2000 s
Shutter: action / flight
f/6.3–f/8
Aperture
133,391
Research-grade sightings in N. America
ModeManual + Auto ISOLock shutter & aperture, let ISO float
Shutter (still)1/500 s
Shutter (action)1/2000 s
Aperturef/6.3–f/8
FocusAF-C + subject/eye detectionHerons and egrets stand still for long periods — wait for the strike or take-off and use continuous AF.
DriveHigh-speed burst
Lens100–400 mmFull-frame equivalent

Focal length needed to frame it#

For a subject about 90 cm long filling a third or half of the frame width horizontally.

Distance⅓ of frame (FF)½ of frame (FF)⅓ of frame (APS-C)⅓ of frame (MFT)
5 m (16 ft)65 mm98 mm43 mm33 mm
10 m (33 ft)130 mm196 mm87 mm65 mm
15 m (49 ft)195 mm294 mm130 mm98 mm
20 m (66 ft)261 mm392 mm174 mm130 mm
30 m (98 ft)391 mm588 mm261 mm195 mm
50 m (164 ft)651 mm980 mm434 mm326 mm

When to find it#

Jan: 4% Jan Feb: 4% Feb Mar: 4% Mar Apr: 10% Apr May: 14% May Jun: 11% Jun Jul: 14% Jul Aug: 16% Aug Sep: 11% Sep Oct: 4% Oct Nov: 3% Nov Dec: 4% Dec
Share of iNaturalist observations by month across North America. Peak months: May, July and August.

Field-craft tips#

  • White egrets: expose for the whites (−0.7 EV in sun).
  • Breeding plumes are most spectacular in spring.
  • Herons and egrets stand still for long periods — wait for the strike or take-off and use continuous AF.
  • Sightings peak in May, July and August, which is when you'll have the most chances.

Ethics#

  • The welfare of the animal comes first: if it changes its behaviour because of you, you are too close.
  • Stay on trails, respect closures around nests, leks, dens and haul-outs.
  • Avoid playback and baiting in sensitive seasons; never bait predators.
  • Don't share precise locations of rare, nesting or roosting animals publicly.

More Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns#

Great Blue Heron Great Blue HeronArdea herodias Great Egret Great EgretArdea alba Snowy Egret Snowy EgretEgretta thula Black-crowned Night Heron Black-crowned Night HeronNycticorax nycticorax Yellow-crowned Night Heron Yellow-crowned Night HeronNyctanassa violacea Little Blue Heron Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea Tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor Western Cattle-Egret Western Cattle-EgretArdea ibis

Frequently asked questions#

What lens do I need to photograph a Green Heron?

At about 90 cm long, a green heron fills a third of a full-frame image at 10 m with roughly 130 mm, or at 20 m with 261 mm.

What shutter speed should I use for a Green Heron?

1/500 s when it's still; 1/2000 s for action.

When is the best time to photograph a Green Heron?

Observations in North America peak in May, July and August. Early morning and late afternoon give the best light and activity.

Sources & licences#

  • iNaturalist — Observation data CC BY-NC; photo licence as credited

Last updated October 03, 2026 · How we calculate · Sources