78 HERONS, EGRETS, BITTERNS 



bill black, with yellow base. Post-breeding plumage and young : back with- 

 out plumes. Length : 20.00-27.25, wing 8.20-10.50, bill 2.08-3.65, tarsus 

 3.15-4.50. 



Distribution. Approximately the whole United States, and south to 

 Argentina, South America. 



Although widely distributed, the snowy heron is generally a rare 

 bird. Throughout most of the western United States only an occa- 

 sional wanderer is found. 



Subgenus Dichromanassa. 

 198. Ardea rufescens Gmel. REDDISH EGRET. 



Adults. Feathers of head, sides of neck, and lower part of throat long 

 and lanceolate ; scapular plumes extending beyond end of tail and with 

 fine dissected filaments; color plain slaty, with cinnamon or vinaceous 

 rufous head and neck. Young : plain grayish, tinged here and there with 

 rusty. Length : 27-32, wing 11.90-13.60, bill 3.30-4.00, tarsus 4.90-5.75. 



Distribution. Cuba, Jamaica, and Mexico, from Guatemala north to 

 Lower California, the Gulf states, and southern Illinois. One record for 

 Colorado. 



Subgenus Florida. 



200. Ardea CSBrulea Linn. LITTLE BLUE HERON. 



Adults. Plumes on crown, back, and breast long and narrow ; head and 

 neck chestnut or maroon ; rest of plumage dark slaty blue ; plumage 

 sometimes partly or mainly white, with bluish tips to quills. Young: 

 without elongated plumes ; mainly white with a tinge of blue on quills. 

 Length: 20.00-29.50, wing 9.00-10.60, bill 2.70-3.30, tarsus 3.15-4.00. 



Distribution. Eastern United States from New Jersey and Maine west 

 to Nebraska and San Angelo, Texas ; south to northern South America. 



The little blue heron breeds in Tropical and Lower Sonoran zones, 

 and after the breeding season wanders north, sometimes as far as 

 Nebraska. 



Subgenus Butorides. 



201. Ardea virescens Linn. GREEN HERON. 



Bill longer than tarsus, crown and back with long, lanceolate, but not 



dissected plumes. 

 Adults : crown and 

 crest, tail, and most 

 of wings dark green; 

 scapular plumes blu- 

 ish green; sides of 

 neck rich dark chest- 

 nut ; belly dusky. 

 Young : similar to 

 _ adults, but with 



86 - scapular plumes 



shorter and darker 

 green ; most of quills tipped with white and under parts coarsely streaked. 

 Length: 15.50-22.50, wing 6.30-8.00, bill 2.00-2.55, tarsus 1.75-2.15. 



Distribution. Oregon and Ontario southward to West Indies and Vene- 

 zuela. 



