The Black-crowned Night Heron 



with light ashy gray or lilaceous; crown, nape, and scapular-mantle (including back and 

 interscapular region) lustrous greenish black; the occipital crest with several narrow, 

 much-elongated, cylindrical, pure white plumes; remaining upperparts ashy- or smoky- 

 gray; edge of wing white. Bill black; lores greenish; irides red; legs yellow. Immature: 

 Above fuscous, with central stripes, or centro-terminal wedge-shaped spots of white 

 and buffy; green-tinged on crown and back, or not, according to age; below and on 

 sides of head and neck white heavily streaked with fuscous. Length 584.2-660.4 

 (23.00-26.00); wing 317.5 (12.50); tail 120.6 (4.75); bill 76.2 (3.00); tarsus 83.8 (3.30) 

 middle toe and claw 87.6 (3.45). 



Recognition Marks. — Brant size; greenish black crown and mantle of adult 

 contrasting with ashy gray; general streakiness of young. 



Nesting. — Nest: In colonies, platform of sticks in trees, or of rushes bedded 

 in reeds, or placed on ground of open marsh. Eggs: 2 to 5; elliptical ovate, variable 

 in size, very light bluish green (pale glaucous green to pale fluorite green). Av. size 

 53.5 x 47.2 (2.10 x 1.46); index 69.5. Season: April. 



Range of Nycticorax nycticorax. — Central and southern Eurasia, Africa, North 

 and South America. 



Range of N. n. ncevius. — North and South America. Breeds from northern 

 Washington, Saskatchewan, southern Manitoba, south to Patagonia; winters from 

 central California and the Gulf States southward. 



Distribution in California. — Abundant summer resident in suitable localities 

 throughout the State. Winters sparingly in the central valley and the San Diegan 

 district. 



Authorities. — Baird ( Nyctiardea gardeni), Rep. Pac. R. R. Surv., vol. ix., 1858, 

 p. 678 (San Diego; Petaluma) ; Finley, Condor, vol. viii., 1906, p. 35, figs. (desc. of 

 breeding colony near San Francisco; photos). 







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Taken near Los Banos 



LEAVING THEIR NESTS 



THE TULES ARE PART OF A TINY ISLAND GIVEN OVER TO THE BIRDS 



Photo by the Author 



IQII 



