HERONS AND BITTERNS 227 



Range. N. and S. Am. Formerly bred from Mo., Ind., Ills., and N. J. to 

 w. Mex. and s. to Argentina and Peru ; in the U. S. now breeds locally in the 

 Gulf states and n. to S. C.; after breeding season wanders casually to Nebr., 

 Wise., Ont., New England, and N. S.; winters from S. C. southward. 



Washington, casual in July and Aug.; sometimes quite common. Long 

 Island, rare from Apl.-Sept. Cambridge, casual. 



Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes or small trees over water. 

 Eggs, 3-4, pale, dull blue, T70 x 1*30. Date, San Mateo, Fla., Apl. 1; coast 

 S. C., Apl. 23. 



Thanks to their lack of 'aigrette' plumes Little Blue Herons are 

 one of the most common Herons in Florida today. They are gen- 

 erally found in flocks, sometimes composed entirely of blue adults, 

 sometimes of white, immature birds, and at others both young and old 

 are associated. I have seen a few white-plumaged birds nesting in colon- 

 ies composed of blue adults. The white birds resemble E. candidissima, 

 but the color of their legs and feet serves as a distinguishing character 

 at some distance. They are silent when feeding, but when undisturbed 

 in their rookeries, each bird seems to have something to say, and the 

 result is a strange chorus of croaking voices. They feed by day, and 

 generally wait for their prey to come within striking distance. 



201. Butorides virescens virescens (Linn.). LITTLE GKEEN HERON. 

 (Fig. 36.) Ads. Crown and a short line below eye glossy greenish black; 

 throat buffy white, this color extending down foreneck as a narrow line 

 mixed with blackish, widening on breast; rest of head and neck rufous- 

 chestnut glossed with vinaceous; back, with lengthened interscapulars, 

 green, more or less washed with bluish gray; wing-coverts green, margined 

 with white or buffy ; belly ashy gray, more or less washed with buffy. 7m. 

 Similar, but with neck and underparts streaked with blackish; back without 

 lengthened feathers or wash of blue-gray; wing-coverts widely margined 

 with buffy ochraceous. L., IT'OO; W., 7'25; Tar., 1'90; B., 2'50. 



Range. E. N. Am. Breeds from s. S. D., n. Wise., s. Ont., s. Que., 

 and N. S. s. to the West Indies; winters from the West Indies southward, 

 and rarely in se. U. S. ; casual in Colo. 



Washington, very common S. R., Apl. 9-Sept. 15. Long Island, common 

 S. R., Apl. to Oct. Ossining, common S. R., Apl. 6-Sept. 26. Cambridge, 

 common S. R., May 1-Sept. 30. N. Ohio, common S. R., Apl. 14-Nov. 15. 

 Glen Ellyn, fairly common S. R., Apl. 25-Aug. 31 and doubtless later. SE. 

 Minn., uncommon S. R., Apl. 23-Sept. 25. 



Nest, a platform of sticks in a bush or low branch of a tree. Eggs, 3-6, 

 pale, dull blue, 1'50 x 1'14. Date, San Mateo, Fla., Mch. 25; Chester Co., 

 Pa., Apl. 30; Cambridge, May 10. 



The shores of wooded streams or ponds are frequented by this small 

 Heron in preference to more exposed situations. It is most active in 

 the early morning or at nightfall, during the day it rests quietly in some 

 sheltered situation. When startled, it springs into the air with a fright- 

 ened skeow or explosive whistle, and, alighting at a safe distance on a 

 tree or on some elevated perch, with upstretched neck watches the 

 intruder, betraying its apprehension by nervous twitchings of the tail. 

 It is a solitary bird, and, unlike most Herons, is not found in flocks, 

 and usually nests alone, though as many as a dozen pairs may sometimes 

 be found associated. In the mating season it utters a surprising variety 

 of hen-like notes and a hoarse, choking gulp. 

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