**Description:** A small, stocky heron with a velvet-green back, rich chestnut neck, and bright yellow legs. They often sit in a hunched position, appearing like a dark ball of feathers until they extend their long necks to strike.
**Size & Weight:** 16–18 inches long. Weighs roughly 7–8 oz.
**Sexual Dimorphism:** Monomorphic; males and females look identical.
**Behavior:** One of the few birds known to use tools; they drop insects or twigs onto the water surface as "bait" to lure small fish.
**Habitat:** Prefers "messy" aquatic environments like beaver ponds and reservoir backwaters with thick vegetation.