Butorides is a genus of small herons. It contains the Green Heron or Green-backed Heron.
Adults have a blue-black back and wings, a black cap and short yellow legs. Juveniles are browner above and streaked below, and have greenish-yellow legs.
Underpart is chestnut with a white line down the front.
Butorides herons stand still at the water's edge and wait to ambush prey. They mainly eat small fish, frogs and aquatic insects. They sometimes drop food on the water's surface to attract fish.
