Hunter
The hunter announces his presence with a "determined, and somewhat aggressive" whistle, starkly contrasting the gentle birdsong filling the air. He is armed with a gun and carries a heavy sack full of dead birds. As an ornithologist, he takes great pride in his collection of "stuffed and preserved" birds, boasting dozens upon dozens. Though he exudes a friendly and kind demeanor, he also displays a touch of smugness regarding his wealth and sophistication. Sylvia finds herself both drawn to and intimidated by him. His eagerness to add a white heron to his collection leads him to offer Sylvia ten dollars—a trivial amount to him but a significant sum for her—if she guides him to the bird. As they traverse the woods together, they both derive pleasure from the birds they encounter—Sylvia admires their living beauty, while the hunter values their rarity and potential as trophies. The young man, who remains unnamed, isn't defined by his individuality but by what he symbolizes: masculinity, acquisitiveness, and romantic love.

Sylvia
Nine-year-old Sylvia is a genuine child of nature. Her name, "Sylvia," and her nickname, "Sylvy," derive from the Latin word silva, meaning "wood" or "forest." Living with her grandmother on a secluded farm in rural Maine, she seldom encounters other people. She recalls her early years in a noisy manufacturing town as a terrifying period and has no desire to return. When a hunter arrives in search of a white heron, Sylvia relishes the company of another person for the first time, despite the conflicting emotions he evokes. He offers much-needed money and represents her first opportunity for friendship or romantic love. Only she knows the location of the bird he seeks. Sylvia faces a difficult decision: whether the hunter's offerings are worth betraying her bond with nature. Ultimately, she chooses not to disclose the heron's nesting place.

Mrs. Tilley
Mrs. Tilley, Sylvia’s maternal grandmother, traveled to the city a year before the story begins to bring back one of her daughter’s children to assist her on the farm. That child was Sylvia, who has since grown to love the forest. Mrs. Tilley, having lost four children, now has two remaining adult children who live far away. She values Sylvia’s help and companionship and allows her the freedom to explore the woods.