124 



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. 



