plumage is exactly like that of the preceding except that the bill is
entirely black, and the nostril is located nearer the eye. Their nesting
habits and eggs are the same as those of the Whistling Swan. While a few
pairs may breed within the United States by far the greater number are
found in the extreme north, from Hudson Bay to Alaska. The eggs may
average a trifle larger than those of the preceding species.
[Illustration 116: Whistling Swan.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 115
LAMELLIROSTRAL GRALLATORES. Order VI. ODONTOGLOSSÆ
FLAMINGOES. Family PHOENICOPTERIDAE
182. FLAMINGO. _Phœnicopterus ruber._
Range.--Tropical and sub-tropical America on the Atlantic coasts,
breeding in the Bahamas and West Indies; north to Florida and casually
to the South Atlantic States.
These remarkable and grotesque appearing birds attain a length of about
48 inches. The plumage varies from white to a deep rosy red. It requires
several years for them to attain the perfect adult plumage, and unlike
most birds, they are in the best of plumage during the winter, the
colors becoming faded as the nesting season approaches. The birds are
especially noticeable because of the crooked, hollow, scoop-shaped bill,
and the extremely long legs and neck. The feet are webbed, but more for
the purpose of supporting them upon the mud flats than for use in
swimming. The nests are usually built on a sandy point of an island;
they are mounds of earth, grass and rubbish from one to two feet in
height, the top being hollowed to receive the eggs. One or two eggs are
a complete set. The shell is pale blue, but this is covered with a heavy
white chalky deposit. The eggs are laid in June and July. Size 3.40 ×
2.15.
IBISES, STORKS, HERONS, etc. Order VII. HERODIONES
The members of this order are wading birds, consequently they all have
long legs and necks. They have four toes, not webbed.
SPOONBILLS. Family PLATALEIDAE
183. ROSEATE SPOONBILL. _Ajaia ajaja._.
Range.--Tropical America, north in summer to the Gulf States. They
formerly nested in remote swamps along the whole Gulf coast, but are now
confined chiefly to the Everglades in Florida.
[Illustration 117: American Flamingo. Roseate Spoonbill.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 116
This bird, with its broad, flat bill, bare head, and rosy plumage with
carmine epaulets and tail coverts, seem more like the fanciful creation
of some artist than a real bird of flesh and blood. Its plumage and
colors are strikingly clear and beautiful. Full plumaged adult birds
have very brilliant carmine shoulders and tail coverts, a saffron
colored tail, and a lengthened tuft of bright rosy feathers on the
foreneck. This species breed in small colonies in marshy places, often
in company with herons and ibises. Their nests are rather frail
platforms of sticks, located in bushes or trees, from four to fifteen
feet from the ground. The eggs are laid during the latter part of May
and June. They are three or four in number and have a ground color of
dull white, or pale greenish blue and are quite heavily blotched with
several shades of brown. Size 2.50 × 1.70.
[Illustration 118: Pale greenish blue.]
[Illustration: Chalky bluish white. Egg of American Flamingo.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 117
IBISES. Family IBIDIDÆ
Ibises are gracefully formed birds having a long curved bill and a bare
face.
184. WHITE IBIS. _Guara alba._
Range.--This is a tropical and sub-tropical species which is found along
the Gulf coast, and north to South Carolina, west to Lower California.
These handsome birds are wholly white, with the exception of black
primaries. The legs and the bare skin of the face is orange red. These
birds are very abundant in most marshy localities along the Gulf coast,
especially in Florida, where they nest in rookeries of thousands of
individuals. Owing to their not having plumes, they have not been
persecuted as have the white herons. They build their nests of sticks
and grasses, in the mangroves a few feet above the water. In other
localities they build their nests entirely of dead rushes, attaching
them to the standing ones a foot or more above the surface of the water.
They are quite substantially made and deeply cupped, very different from
the nests of the Herons. Their eggs are from three to five in number,
vary from grayish ash to pale greenish or bluish in color, blotched with
light brown. Size 2.25 × 1.60. The nesting season is during May and
June. Data.--Tampa Bay, Fla., June 4, 1895. Three eggs. Nest of sticks
and a few weeds in small bushes on an island. Collector, Fred Doane.
185. SCARLET IBIS. _Guara rubra._.
Range.--Occasionally, but not recently met with in the southern states.
Their habitat is tropical America, they being especially abundant along
the Orinoco River in northern South America.
Full plumaged adults of this species are wholly bright scarlet, except
for the primaries, which are black. Their nests are built in
impenetrable thickets, rushes or mangroves, the nests being constructed
like those of the White Ibis. The eggs, too, are very similar to those
of the preceding species, but both the ground color and the markings
average brighter. While still common in some localities, the species is
gradually becoming less abundant, chiefly because of the demand for
their feathers for use in fly-tying.
[Illustration 119: Grayish.]
[Illustration: White Ibis. Scarlet Ibis.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 118
186. GLOSSY IBIS. _Plegadis autumnalis._.
Range.--This tropical and sub-tropical species, is chiefly found in the
Old World. It is occasionally found in southeastern United States where
it sometimes breeds. Its habits, nesting habits and eggs are just the
same as the next species.
187. WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS. _Plegadis guarauna._
Range.--A sub-tropical species found in the southwestern parts of the
United States, rarely found east of the Mississippi.
This species differs from the Glossy Ibis in having the feathers on the
front of the head white, the rest of the plumage is a dull brownish
chestnut, with greenish reflections on the back. As these birds are not
in demand commercially, their numbers have not decreased, and thousands
of them breed in colonies in southern Texas. They build a substantial
nest of reeds and rushes woven about the upright canes, close to the
surface of the water. Their eggs are laid during May, and number from
three to four. They are easily distinguished from those of the Herons,
being of a deeper greenish blue color and averaging more elongate. Size
1.95 × 1.35. Data.--Corpus Christi, Texas, May 26, 1899. Four eggs. Nest
of twigs and rushes on side of river. Collector, F. B. Armstrong.
STORKS and WOOD IBISES
Family CICONIIDAE
188. WOOD IBIS. _Mycteria americana._
Range.--A sub-tropical species which is resident along the Gulf coast
and which strays casually north to New England and Colorado.
This peculiar member of the Stork family has the whole head and part of
the neck bare and covered with numerous scales; the bill is large, long
and heavy; the plumage is white, except for the black primaries and
tail. It is a large bird about four feet in length. They are quite
abundant in swamps along the
[Illustration 120: Glossy Ibis. White-faced Glossy Ibis. Wood Ibis.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 119
Gulf coast, where they place their nests, which are platforms of sticks,
in trees and bushes over the water. They lay three eggs which are white,
and have a rough surface. Size 2.75 × 1.75.
189. JABIRU. _Jabiru mycteria._
This large bird, which is the only true Stork that claims a place in our
avifauna, is a native of South and Central America, wandering north,
casually to Texas. Their nests are large platforms of sticks in very
high trees.
BITTERNS and HERONS Family ARDEIDAE
Herons and Bitterns are long-legged waders, having straight, pointed
bills, and with the head feathered, except for the lores.
190. BITTERN. _Bautaurus lentiginosus._
Range.--United States and southern British provinces, breeding in the
northern half of the United States and wintering in the southern
portion.
This species, with its mottled rusty brownish plumage, is one of the
best known of the Heron family. It is known locally by a great many
names, nearly all of which have reference to the "booming" or "pumping"
sound made during the mating season. They build their nests in swampy or
marshy places, placing them on the ground, frequently on a tussock,
entirely surrounded by water. The nest proper is only a few grasses
twisted about to form a lining to the hollow. They lay from three to
five eggs of brownish drab. Size 1.95 × 1.50.
They do not breed in colonies, generally, but one or two pairs nesting
in one marsh. Data.--Worcester, Mass., June 3, 1897. Four eggs laid in a
grass lined hollow in middle of a hummock of earth and grass, in middle
of marsh. Collector, James Jackson.
[Illustration 121: Jabiru. Bittern.]
[Illustration: Brownish drab.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 120
191. LEAST BITTERN. _Ixobrychus exilis._
Range.--Common throughout the United States, especially in the eastern
part, and in the southern British provinces.
This small variety of Bittern is very common in the southern portions of
the United States, but less so and locally distributed in the northern
portions of its range. They are very quiet and sly birds, and their
presence is often unsuspected when they are really quite abundant. When
approached, they will remain perfectly quiet, with the body erect and
the head and neck pointed skyward, in which position their yellowish
brown plumage strongly resembles the rushes among which they are found.
Their nests are made of strips of rushes woven about upright stalks,
generally over water. They lay from three to five eggs of a pale bluish
white color. Size 1.20 × .90. Data.--Avery's Island, La., May 1, 1896.
Four eggs. Nest of strips of rushes woven together to form a platform
and fastened to saw grass growing on the bank of a stream. Collector, E.
A. McIlhenny.
191.1. CORY'S LEAST BITTERN. _Ixobrychus neoxenus._
This rare species, of which about twenty specimens are known is probably
resident in Florida, wandering north in the summer, specimens having
been taken in Ontario, Canada, and in several localities in eastern
United States. It is very different from the Least Bittern, having a
more uniform chestnut coloration, especially on the under parts. It is
twelve inches in length. Mr. C. W. Crandall has a set of five eggs of
this species, taken on the Caloosahatchee River, Fla., April 15, 1891,
by S. B. Ladd. Nest was made of grasses and rushes placed in the cane
two feet above the water.
[Illustration 122: Pale bluish gray.]
[Illustration: Least Bittern. Cory's Least Bittern.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 121
192. GREAT WHITE HERON. _Ardea occidentalis._
Range.--This species occurs in the United States regularly, only in the
southern parts of Florida. It is a resident of the West Indies.
This large white Heron is about the same size as the Great Blue Heron;
it has none of the slender plumes found on the smaller White Herons.
These birds are not uncommon in southern Florida, especially on the
Keyes, where they build their nests in company with Great Blue Herons.
Their nesting habits and eggs are very similar to those of the Blue
Heron. Size of eggs 2.25 × 1.80. Data.--Outside of Torch Key, Florida,
June 16, 1899. Nest a platform of sticks about five feet from the
ground, in a mangrove tree. Three eggs. Collector, O. Tollin.
194. GREAT BLUE HERON. _Ardea herodias herodias._
Range.--Nearly the whole of North America, except the extreme north;
resident south of the middle portions of the United States and migratory
north of there.
This handsome Heron is about four feet in length. Its general color is a
bluish gray, relieved by a black crest, primaries and patches on the
sides, and a white crown. In the south they breed in large colonies,
often in company with many other species. In the northern portions of
their range they breed singly or in companies of under a hundred
individuals. They generally place their rude platforms of sticks well up
in trees, near ponds, swamps or rivers, but in the most northerly parts
of their range, where trees are scarce, they often build on the ground.
Unless they are disturbed, they return to the same breeding grounds,
year after year. They lay from three to five eggs of a greenish blue
color. Size 2.50 × 1.50. Data.--Duck Island, Maine, May 20, 1883. Three
eggs. Nest of sticks and twigs, about fifteen feet from the ground.
Collector, R. B. Gray.
194a. NORTHWEST COAST HERON. _Ardea herodias fannini._
This darker sub-species of the breeding is found along the Pacific
coast, north to Sitka, Alaska. Its nests and eggs do not differ from the
former species.
[Illustration 123: Great White Heron. Great Blue Heron.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 122
194b. WARD'S HERON. _Ardea herodias wardi._
This sub-species is a resident in Florida. It is a lighter variety than
the common. It nests together with the Great Blue Heron and its habits
are the same.
195. EUROPEAN HERON. _Ardea cinerea._
This species is only an accidental straggler in Greenland. It is very
similar to our Blue Heron and is the one which was formerly used to
furnish sport for the royalty when falconry was at its height.
196. EGRET. _Herodias egretta._
Range.--Resident in the southern portions of the United States,
straggling northward casually to the northern parts.
This is one of the beautiful Herons which have been sought by plume
hunters till they are upon the verge of extermination. They are entirely
white, with a long train of beautiful straight "aigrettes" flowing from
the middle of the back. In remote localities, quite large colonies of
them may still be found, but where they numbered thousands, years ago,
they can be counted by dozens now. They breed in impenetrable swamps,
very often in company with the following species, and also with
Louisiana and Little Blue Herons, and White Ibises. Their nests are but
frail platforms, generally in bushes over the water. Their usual
complement of eggs numbers from three to five, four as the most common
number. They are generally laid during the latter part of May, but often
on account of their being disturbed, nests with eggs may be found in
July. The eggs are a light bluish green in color. Size 2.25 × 1.45.
Data.--Gainesville, Florida, April 14, 1894. Four eggs on a platform of
sticks and grass, in a button-wood bush over six feet of water.
Collector, George Graham.
197. SNOWY EGRET. _Egretta candidissima candidissima._
Range.--Common now only in restricted localities in the Gulf States and
Mexico.
This species, which is smaller than the last, being but twenty-four
inches in length, is also adorned with "aigrettes," but they are
beautifully recurved at the tips. Owing to the merciless slaughter to
which they have been subjected, their ranks have been woefully
decimated, and it is to be hoped that the remaining ones may be safely
protected. Their nesting habits are the same as the last, although, of
course, the eggs are smaller. Size 1.80 × 1.25.
[Illustration 124: Snowy Egret. Egret.]
[Illustration: Light greenish blue.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 123
198. REDDISH EGRET. _Dichromanassa rufescens._
Range.--In the United States, this species is confined chiefly to the
Gulf States.
It is somewhat larger than the last species, the head and neck are
rufous, the body is bluish gray, and the back is adorned with slender
gray plumes. It also has a white phase. This Egret is very abundant
along the whole Gulf coast, but especially so in Texas. Their nesting
habits are identical with those of the other small Herons and Egrets.
The three or four eggs are rather of a more greenish blue than the
preceding. Size 1.90 × 1.45. Data.--Gainesville, Florida, April 14,
1894. Three eggs. Nest of sticks and straw in a button-wood tree, two
feet above the water. Collector, George Graham.
199. LOUISIANA HERON. _Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis._
Range.--Sub-tropical America, north regularly to the Gulf States and
casually farther.
This Heron is of about the size of the Reddish Egret, but the neck is
longer, more slender and dark, while the chin, throat and underparts are
white. The plumes from the back are short, reaching barely to the end of
the tail. They nest in large colonies in company with Egrets and Little
Blue Herons, placing their nests in the mangroves, only a few feet above
the water. Their nests are the same as those of the other species, a
slight platform of sticks, and the three to five eggs are practically
not distinguishable from those of the Snowy or Little Blue Herons. Size
1.75 × 1.35.
[Illustration 125: Pale bluish green.]
[Illustration: Reddish Egret. Louisiana Heron.]
[Illustration: Pale bluish green.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 124
200. LITTLE BLUE HERON. _Florida cærulea._
Range.--South Atlantic and Gulf coasts, north casually to New England
and Manitoba; west to Kansas and Nebraska.
A smaller species than the preceding, length 22 inches, plumage a
uniform slaty blue changing to purplish red on the head and neck. They
also have a white phase, but always show traces of the slaty blue,
especially on the primaries. Young birds are always white. They breed in
immense rookeries during April and May. Their nesting habits and eggs
are very similar to the last species, although the eggs average a trifle
smaller. Size 1.75 × 1.25. Data.--Avery's Island, Louisiana, April 21,
1896. 5 eggs. Nest a flat and frail platform of twigs in a Mimosa tree
growing in floating turf, over deep water in a large swamp. Collector,
E. A. McIlhenny.
201. GREEN HERON. _Butorides virescens virescens._
Range.--Temperate and sub-tropical America, breeding north to the
British Provinces.
This is the smallest of our Herons, and is well known all over the
country. Sometimes they breed in numbers in rookeries, in company with
the larger Herons, but in most sections of the country they will be
found nesting, one or two pairs together, along the border of some swamp
or stream. They have a greater diversity of building sites, than do any
of the other Herons and frequently nest a long ways from water. Their
nests may be found in alders, birches or even apple trees. It is the
usual Heron type of platform, upon which the three to six eggs are laid.
They are a pale greenish blue in color, and measure 1.45 × 1.10.
Data.--Avery's Island, Louisiana, April 10, 1894. 5 eggs on a platform
of twigs placed in a willow tree growing on the edge of a pond.
Collected by E. A. McIlhenny.
[Illustration 126: Pale bluish green.]
[Illustration: Little Blue Heron. Green Heron.]
[Illustration: Light bluish green.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 125
201a. FRAZAR'S GREEN HERON. _Butorides virescens frazari._
A darker variety found in Lower California; nesting the same as the
common species.
201b. ANTHONY'S GREEN HERON. _Butorides virescens anthonyi._
A lighter, desert form found in the arid portions of the interior of
southwestern United States and Mexico.
[Illustration 127: NEST AND EGGS OF GREEN HERON.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 126
202. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. _Nycticorax nycticorax naevius_.
Range.--North America from southern British Provinces, southward;
winters along the Gulf coast and beyond.
A well known bird, often called "quawk" from the sound of its note
frequently heard in the evening. While, in some localities, only a few
pairs of these birds are found nesting together, most of them gather
together into large colonies during the breeding season. In New England
they generally select a remote pine grove as their breeding grounds. If
not disturbed they will return to this same place each year. Their nests
are built of sticks and lined with small twigs, and are placed well up
towards the tops of the trees.
Frequently several nests will be found in the same tree, and I have
counted as many as fifty nests in view at the same time. In large swamps
in the south they generally nest at a low elevation, while in the
marshes of Wisconsin and Minnesota, large colonies of them nest on the
ground, making their nest of rushes. Like all Heronries, those of this
species have a nauseating odor, from the remains of decayed fish, etc.,
which are strewn around the bases of the trees. Their eggs number from
three to five and are of a pale bluish green color. Size 2.00 × 1.40.
Data.--Uxbridge, Mass., May 30, 1898. 4 eggs. Nest of sticks, about
thirty feet up in a pine tree. Many other nests. Collector, H. A. Smith.
203. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT HERON. _Nyctanassa violacea_.
Range.--Sub-tropical America, breeding along the Gulf coast and to Lower
California; casually farther north, to Illinois and South Carolina.
A handsome grayish colored species, with long lanceolate plumes on the
back, and two or three fine white plumes from the back of the head, like
those of the Black-crowned species. Its black head, with tawny white
crown and ear coverts, renders it unmistakable. This species nests in
colonies or by pairs, like the preceding, and very often in company with
other Herons. They lay from three to six eggs, very similar in size,
shape and color to those of the Black-crowned Heron.
[Illustration 128: Pale bluish green.]
[Illustration: Black-crowned Night Heron. Yellow-crowned Heron.]
[Illustration: left hand margin.]
Page 127
CRANES, RAILS, etc. Order VIII. PALUDICOLÆ
CRANES. Family GRUIDAE
Cranes are large, long-legged, long-necked birds, somewhat resembling
Herons. Their structure and mode of living partakes more of the nature
of the Rails, however. They are found upon the prairies, where besides
shell fish from the ponds, they feed largely upon grasshoppers, worms,
etc.
204. WHOOPING CRANE. _Grus americana._
Range.--Interior of North America, breeding from about the latitude of
Iowa northward to the Arctic regions; winters in the Gulf states and
southward.
The Whooping Crane is the largest of the family in America, measuring 50
inches or more in length. The plumage of the adults is pure white, with
black primaries. The bare parts of the head and face are carmine. It is
a very locally distributed species, in some sections being practically
unknown, while in a neighboring locality it may be rated as common. They
are very shy birds and are not easily obtained. They nest either upon
the solid earth or in marshy places over the water. In either case the
nest is a very bulky mass of grass and weeds from two to three feet in
diameter and raised perhaps a foot above the ground. They lay two eggs
of a brownish buff color, irregularly blotched with brown, and with
fainter marking of gray. Size 3.75 x 2.50. Data.--Torkton, northern
Assiniboia, northwest Canada. Nest a mass of marsh hay, three feet in
diameter, on the prairie. The birds seen, but very wary. Collector,
Cowbry Brown.
205. LITTLE BROWN CRANE. _Grus canadensis._
Range.--North America in the interior, breeding from Hudson Bay and
southern Alaska north to the Arctic coast; south in winter to Mexico.
This uniform gray colored Crane differs from the next species only in
size, being about three feet in length, while the Sandhill averages
three and one-half feet. The eggs cannot be distinguished with any
certainty.
[Illustration 129: Whooping Crane. Little Brown Crane.]
[Illustration: deco.]
[Illustration: right hand margin.]
Page 128
[Illustration 130: Brownish buff. EGG OF WHOOPING CRANE.]
[Illustration: Buff. EGG OF LITTLE BROWN CRANE.]
[Illustration: Left hand margin.]
Page 129
206. SANDHILL CRANE. _Grus mexicana._
Range.--Temperate North America, breeding from the Gulf States, locally
north to the southern parts of the British Provinces.