LITTLE BLUE HERON 



rufous and gray), down the foreneck; rest of 

 lower parts plain white. Bill dark above, 

 yellow below; legs blackish or greenish. 



Young. Head and neck light rusty, chin and 

 throat white, foreneck streaked white and 

 rusty; back and wings gray; rump and upper 

 tail coverts white; lower parts white, the breast 

 with slaty streaks. 



Not very common in the Canal Zone. It is 

 distinguishable by its very slender neck and 

 bill, and its white lower parts contrasting with 

 the slaty back. Occasionally to be seen on the 

 beach at old Panama at low tide. 



5. Florida caerulea caerulea (Linnaeus) 

 Little Blue Heron 



Length about 610 mm. (24.00 in.); tail about 

 108 mm. (4.25 in.). 



Sexes alike. Adult. Head and neck maroon 

 chestnut, rest of plumage bluish slate color, legs 

 and feet black. 



Immature. Plumage white, more or less 

 washed with slaty; tips of longer quills bluish 

 slate color; bill dark; legs and feet greenish 

 yellow. 



The commonest of the herons in the Canal 

 Zone. Most of the white herons seen are the 

 immature of this species. They can be dis- 

 tinguished from the egrets by their greenish 

 yellow feet, broader and more rounded wings and 

 more irregular flight. 



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