38 THE BIRDS 
SUBFAMILY ARDEIN/AE.—HERONS AND 
EGRETS. 
GENUS ARDEA. 
[194]. Ardea herodias herodias (Linneus). 
Great Blue Heron. 
[Big Blue Crane. Cranky]. 
Rawer.—Western Hemisphere. Breeds from south- 
western British Columbia, central Alberta, central Mani- 
toba, northern Ontario, and Prince Edward Island south 
to southern Lower California and Isabella Island, Mexico, 
northern Texas, and South Atlantic States (except parts 
of Florida) ; winters from Oregon, the Ohio Valley, and 
Middle States south to the West Indies, Panama, and 
Venezuela. 
This large heron, commonly called “crane,” is an 
abundant species with us in the Tidewater area. A few 
pair remain through the winter, but the majority move 
further south the latter part of December, and return 
about the middle of March. They are one of the most 
familiar and easily recognized birds along our bays, rivers, 
creeks, and water courses; while a solitary bird standing 
motionless on the edge of the river, up to his thighs 
in water, neck outstretched, ready to spear a soft crab or 
minnow with the long sharp beak, is a sight well worth 
watching. Another interesting sight is to watch a large 
flock returning from their feeding grounds to the rookery, 
easily identified at a great distance by their large expanse 
