REDDISH EGRET 
198. Dichromanassa rufescens. 29 in. 
Two color phases, the gray being the most common :— 
Head and neck, including plumes on neck and breast, 
reddish-brown; rest of plumage gray, the plumes on the 
back being lightest; feet blue-black; bill yellowish 
at the base and black at the tip. In the white phase, 
the plumage is entirely, or nearly, white, including the 
plumes. As usual, these egrets associate in large flocks, 
of their own kind or other small herons. Their food 
consists of small fish, frogs, lizards, insects and mice. 
They will stand motionless in shallow water, for a long 
time waiting for their prey, and woe to the creature 
that comes within striking distance of their spear-like 
bill. Their flight is strong and graceful as they make 
their way from their breeding places to their feeding 
grounds on the mud flats, left bare by the receding tide. 
Nest.—Like that of other herons; eggs slightly more 
greenish blue than those of the other egrets (1.9 x 1.45) ; 
May, June. 
Range.—Breeds in the Gulf coast states, and north 
to South Carolina. 
