KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



253 



This species ranges throughout tropical and temperate America as far 

 south as Buenos Ayres, South America. It is very common in Florida, where 

 it breeds, and has been known to breed as far north as Long Island. Strag- 

 glers have been taken in Nova Scotia. 



The eggs are three to five in number and pale blue, as in most of this 

 family. 



This species is sometimes confounded with the immature of the Florida 

 Blue Heron, which is also white, but that species has a faint wash of grayish 

 on the tips of the primaries. Besides having the primaries perfectly white 

 without any wash near the tips, this species has the legs black, which in the 

 immature of the Florida Blue Heron are greenish yellow. 



Subgenus DICHROMANASSA Ridgw. 



ARDEA RUFESCEN5 GmeL 

 Reddish Egret. 



(Colored phase.) 



Adult in colored phase : Head and neck lilac brown ; rest of plumage dark slate color. This 

 species has the long plumes extending from the scapular region of the back during the breed- 

 ing season ; legs and feet bluish, showing dusky on the scales of the tarsus. Bill black on the 

 terminal third, the balance flesh color ; lores flesh color. 



