Plate CCXI. Male.
Bill dusky green above, yellow beneath; feet dull green, paler behind;
feathers of the head long, tapering, decurved, two of them extremely
elongated; very long, tapering, pointed feathers from the anterior
part of the back; forehead pure white, the rest of the crest feathers
bluish-black; throat white, neck pale purplish-brown, the elongated
feathers beneath greyish-white, with part of the inner webs
purplish-blue, forming a longitudinal band; upper parts light
greyish-blue, the elongated tips of the dorsal feathers greyish-white;
edge of the wing, some feathers at the base of the fore neck, and the
tibial feathers, brownish-orange; two tufts of large curved feathers
on the fore part of the breast bluish-black, some of them with a
central stripe of white; lower surface of wings and sides light
greyish-blue; elongated feathers of breast, white, their inner edge
black, of the abdomen chiefly black; lower tail-coverts white, some of
them with an oblique mark of black near the tip. Young in first
plumage without the elongated dorsal feathers, the colours duller and
tinged with brown; upper part of head streaked with white, as is the
breast.
_Male_, 48, 72.
Resident from Texas to South Carolina. In spring migrates over the
United States, and along the Atlantic coast to the Gulf of St
Lawrence. Breeds everywhere. Retires southward in autumn. Common.
Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 106.
Ardea Herodias, Bonap. Syn. p. 304.
Great Heron, Ardea Herodias, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 42.
Great Blue Heron, Ardea Herodias, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
87; v. v. p. 599.