^:)< 



KEY TO THE WATER BIRDS OF FLORIDA. 



Genus NYCTICORAX Stephens. 



Subgenus NYCTICORAX. 



NYCTICORAX NYCTICORAX N^EVIUS {Bodd?). 

 Black=crowned Night Heron. 



Crown, head, back, and scapulars greenish black ; forehead, lores, most of tlie neck and under 

 parts white or ashy white. Wings and tail gray ; legs and feet yellow ; two or three very long 

 occiputal plumes, white, in the breeding season. 



Length, 24 to 26; Wing, 11; Tarsus, 3.10 to 3.40; Tail, 4.20 to 5.30. 



The immature bird has the general plumage mottled dark brown and gray, the feathers 

 marked and streaked with pointed blotches of grayish or buff; outer web of primaries buff 

 color ; under parts streaked with black and white. 



This species occurs on the Atlantic coast from Canada to South America 



and has been recorded from the West Indies. It is common in Florida. 



The nest is a mass of sticks generally built in trees or low bushes, rarely on 



the ground. All the nests that I personally have found have been built in 



trees or bushes. The eggs are four to six in number and pale blue. 



