Usually resident throughout the year. Lives in marshy, swampy places.
Head and throat white, with long black crest.--Very long neck covered
with light gray feathers--darker on chest--back, ashy gray--darker
wings--a touch of red on bend of wings and legs.
Long legs, which are black.
Long bill, which is yellow, sharp, and strong.
Food--mostly fish, frogs, and small reptiles. Feeds near sunset.
Nest very simple--sometimes directly on ground or rocks--at other times
a rickety platform of sticks.
Eggs blue-green--four in number--young helpless for at least three
weeks after hatching.