AMERICAN BITTERN
190. Botaurus lentiginosus. 28 in.
Much variegated with brown and yellowish-brown; adults with a long,
broad, black stripe on either side of the white throat; eye yellow; legs
and base of bill greenish-yellow. Bitterns have a great many local
names, most of which refer to the peculiar pumping noise that the male
makes during the mating season. Perhaps the most common of these is
“Stake-driver.” Bitterns are found in bogs or marshes; they remain
concealed by the tall grass until any intruder is very near, before they
take flight.
Notes.—A squawk of alarm; song a hollow “punker-lunk.”
Nest.—A grass-lined hollow in tufts of grass or turf, in the middle of
bogs or marshes. 3 or 4 plain brownish eggs, measuring 1.95 × 1.50. But
one or two pairs nest in a locality; May, June.
Range.—Breeds in the northern half of the United States and Southern
Canada; winters in southern half of the United States.
[Illustration: ]
LEAST BITTERN
191. Ixobrychus exilis. 13 in.
Male with the crown and back glossy black; female with these areas
hair-brown, and streaked with brown below. These diminutive little
bitterns are very shy and retiring, and seldom seen away from the reed
grown marshes or ponds that they frequent.
Notes.—A hoarse croak, and a softly repeated “coo.”
Nest.—A platform of dead rushes twisted about the living stalks. The 3
or 4 eggs are pale bluish white. (1.2 × .9); May, June.
Range.—Breeds from the Gulf States, locally to Southern Canada; winters
from the Gulf States southward.
CORY LEAST BITTERN
191.1. Ixobrychus neoxynus. 13 in.
This extremely rare little bittern is of the same size and form as the
common species. The crown, back, wing-feathers and tail are black, and
the rest of the plumage is more or less intense chestnut brown. The
majority of specimens have been taken in Florida and Ontario, with one
each from Michigan and Massachusetts. There are about twenty of them
known to be preserved.
[Illustration: ]
GREAT WHITE HERON
192. Ardea occidentalis. 50 in.
This is the largest heron that we get in North America, surpassing even
the Great Blue. Its plumage is entirely white; no “aigrettes” on the
back, but two white plumes on the back of the head and the feathers of
the breast much lengthened, the same as in adult Blue Herons; bill, eyes
and legs yellow. A gray phase of this heron, or a hybrid between it and
the Great Blue Heron, is occasionally found in Southern Florida; it is
similar to the Blue Heron, but paler and with the head and neck white.
Nest.—A large platform of sticks placed in the tops of mangroves. Their
three or four eggs are not distinguishable from those of the next
species; June.
Range.—Said to be not uncommon on some of the Florida Keys.
[Illustration: ]
GREAT BLUE HERON
194. Ardea herodias. 48 in.
Adult Blue Herons are very handsome birds, as may be seen in the
illustration. Young birds, and nine out of ten that we see will be young
birds, are much duller colored and have no plumes. It takes several
years for them to attain their perfect plumage. Their nests are placed
in the tops of the tallest trees and are, consequently, difficult to get
at. In some heronries, trees have been found containing as many as 40
nests. In flight, herons always carry their head drawn in against the
shoulders, the neck being curved below.
Nest.—A platform of sticks in tall trees in wet woods. 3 or 4 pale
greenish-blue eggs (2.50 × 1.50); May, June.
Range.—Breeds locally throughout the United States and Canada, either in
colonies, or single pairs where they are persecuted as in New England;
winters in Southern U.S. 149b. Ward Heron (A. h. wardi) is similar but
lighter below and the neck is darker and browner; it abounds in Florida.
[Illustration: ]
AMERICAN EGRET
196. Herodias egretta. 41 in.
Entirely white, with no plumes on the head but with a long train of
straight “aigrette” plumes growing from the middle of the back; bill and
eye, yellow; legs and feet, black. Young and adults in winter, without
plumes. The hand of man, to gratify the desire of woman, has ruthlessly
slaughtered thousands upon thousands of these exquisitely beautiful
birds; in Florida where they were abundant a few years ago, only
stragglers are seen. A few of these heronries are yet left, either
because they are in wildernesses where man has not yet penetrated, or
are strongly protected by the humane owners of the land. It is only at
the breeding places that they can be killed in numbers, as at other
times they are shy; and it is only during nesting season that they wear
their beautiful plumes.
Nest.—A frail platform of sticks, at low elevations, in bushes usually
over water in swamps. Eggs, 3 or 4 in number, plain bluish green (2.25 ×
1.45); April to June.
[Illustration: ]
SNOWY HERON
197. Egretta candidissima. 24 in.
Plumage white; in breeding season with numerous recurved plumes growing
from the middle of the back; long crest of plumes on the back of the
head, and on the breast. Bill black, greenish at the base and about the
eyes; legs black; feet yellow. This species is the most beautiful of the
Egrets and consequently is the one that has suffered most from “plume
hunters.” Although they are now protected wherever they can be, their
ranks have been so decimated that extermination is threatened within a
few years; the demand for their plumes is still so great that lawless
men will commit murder to obtain them (Warden Bradley having been shot
in 1905, while preventing the destruction of herons in Southern
Florida).
Nest.—In swamps, in company with other small herons, the nests being
frail platforms of twigs on branches of trees. Eggs pale greenish-blue.
Range.—Breeding range formerly coincident with that of the last, but now
very rare.
[Illustration: ]
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 × 1.45); May, June.
Range.—Breeds in the Gulf coast states, and north to South Carolina.
[Illustration: ]
LOUISIANA HERON
199. Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis. 26 in.
In breeding plumage, with short plumes on the back, extending three or
four inches beyond the tips of the wings. Throat, front line of neck,
and underparts white; head and neck reddish-purple; back and wings
slaty; crest whitish; bill and legs dark; eyes red. A very abundant
species throughout the year, on the Gulf coast of the United States.
Their bearing is one of self-esteem and their walk slow and stately;
they are often called “Lady of the Waters,” because of the imposing
picture that they make. They are very sociable, rarely quarrel among
themselves, and are usually found in company with Little Blue Herons and
Egrets.
Nest.—They nest in communities in mangroves in southern Florida and in
swamps, in company with many other species, in the northern portions of
their range. Their nesting habits and eggs are the same as those of the
Snowy Heron.
Range.—Breeds and is resident in the South Atlantic and Gulf States.
[Illustration: ]
LITTLE BLUE HERON
200. Florida cærulea. 22 in.
Head and neck, maroon; rest of plumage slaty-blue; plumes on back of
head, breast and on the back; eyes yellow; bill and feet greenish. Young
birds are white, usually with a tinge of bluish on the forehead and ends
of the wings. They can be distinguished from the similar Snowy Herons by
the greenish-black legs, while the legs of the latter are black with
yellow feet. These little herons are resident and most abundant in the
South Atlantic and Gulf States. They are at home in and enjoy the
rankest and most impenetrable swamps, where only birds or reptiles can
tread with safety. Yet herons are an interesting group and, in their own
way, perform useful service to mankind by destroying quantities of
reptiles, insects and mice.
Nest.—The nesting habits and eggs of this species are the same as those
of the little Snowy Heron and the eggs cannot be distinguished with
certainty.
Range.—Breeds north to Virginia and Illinois; later may stray north to
New England.
[Illustration: ]
GREEN HERON
201. Butorides virescens. 17 in.
Smallest of the family, except the Least Bittern. In breeding plumage,
they are one of the most beautiful of herons. They may be found in
marshes, along creeks or about the edges of shallow ponds or lakes. They
are often seen sitting upon a partly submerged log sunning themselves,
or waiting for a tempting frog or fish to pass within reach. When they
are among rushes, they will usually attempt to escape observation by
mimicking their surroundings, and they do so very successfully. When
they are alarmed and take flight they utter a single sharp shriek. At
other times they utter a series of hollow screams, “qu-ick, qu-ick,” and
also a hollow croak.
Nest.—In bushes, in communities or in company with other species in the
south, but usually a few pairs nest in a locality in the northern states
and Canada. Eggs pale bluish-green (1.45 × 1.10).
Range.—Breeds from the Gulf to Manitoba and Nova Scotia; winters in the
Gulf States.
[Illustration: ]
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
202. Nycticorax nycticorax nævius. 24 in.
Bill much heavier than that of the herons; neck and legs shorter and
stouter; eye red; bill black; legs and bare space in front of eye, pale
yellowish-green. Young birds are mottled with brownish-gray and white;
eyes yellow. As their name implies, these herons do most of their
feeding after dusk, sleeping during the greater part of the day. Their
heronries are usually located in swamps, and preferably in coniferous
trees. A visit to one of these is very interesting, but old clothes must
be worn, for their homes are filthy. On your approach, the old birds
flap away, and circle about with squawks of disapproval, and all the
young birds commence a loud ticking noise, like what would be produced
by hundreds of huge “grandfather’s clocks.”
Notes.—A harsh “quark.”
Nest.—A platform of sticks; eggs pale bluish-green. (2.00 × 1.40).
Range.—Breeds north to New Brunswick and Manitoba; winters in the Gulf
States and southward.
[Illustration: ]
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
203. Nyctanassa violacea. 23 in.
Like the last species, the head of this one is adorned with three long,
rounded, white plumes; in life these plumes are rarely separated, but
are nested together so that there appears to be but one. As dusk
approaches, these birds sally out from their roosting or nesting places,
and with slow, measured flaps, wing their way to their feeding grounds,
which are usually fresh water bogs, teeming with animal and insect life.
After dark the “quark” of Night Herons is frequently heard as the birds
pass overhead, and they can very easily be decoyed by a crude imitation
of their call. This species is principally confined to the South where
it is found in heronries of its own kind, or in company with others.
Notes.—Like those of the Black-crowned Night Heron.
Nest.—A platform of sticks in trees, in swamps. 3 or 4 pale bluish-green
eggs (2.00 × 1.40); May.
Range.—Breeds north to South Carolina and Southern Illinois; later may
stray farther north.
[Illustration: ]
CRANES, RAILS, ETC.—Order Paludicolæ
CRANES—Family Gruidæ
WHOOPING CRANE
204. Grus americana. 50 in.
Plumage white, with black primaries; the inner wing feathers greatly
lengthened, making a flowing train. Head of adult, largely bare, carmine
colored, and with a few black hair-like feathers; eye yellow; bill and
legs black. Young birds are whitish, mixed with gray. These great birds
are not uncommon on the prairies of interior America, where they
frequent the edges of marshes and sloughs. They are very wary and their
great height enables them to see anyone a long way off, above the marsh
grass. They were formerly found on the South Atlantic coast, but are now
extremely rare there.
Notes.—A loud whooping scream.
Nest.—On the ground, usually in marshes; it is a bulky mass of grass and
weeds, with the hollowed top a foot or more above ground. The two eggs
that they lay are brownish-buff, spotted with brown (3.75 × 2.50); May,
June.
[Illustration: ]
LITTLE BROWN CRANE
205. Grus canadensis. 36 in.
Like the next and better known species, but smaller and browner,
especially on the wings.
Range.—Breeds in the interior of Northern Canada; migrates, west of the
Mississippi and east of the Rockies, to Mexico.
SANDHILL CRANE
206. Grus mexicana. 44 in.
Plumage entirely grayish with a few brownish feathers; bare skin on top
of head, red. These cranes are locally distributed in the Gulf States,
and in the interior north to Manitoba. Their food consists largely of
grasshoppers, worms and lizards. Unlike herons, their young are born
covered with down and can run about as soon as they appear. When flying,
cranes carry their neck full outstretched.
Nest.—On the ground like that of the Whooping Crane.
Range.—Winters on the Gulf coast and in Florida; breeds north to
Manitoba.
[Illustration: ]