blackish; rest of head and neck white sometimes tinged with rusty;
tail mostly white. _Yng._ Body less distinctly scaled; head and
hindneck spotted with grayish. _Notes._ When flying, a deep, hoarse,
strident _clAc-hAc, clAc-hAc, clAc-hAc_; when alarmed and about to fly, a
ringing _A"-lA"gh_,_-A"lA"gh_. (Nelson.)
Range.--"Coast and islands of Alaska north of the Peninsula; chiefly
about Norton Sound and Valley of the Lower Yukon; Commander Islands,
Kamchatka; casually south to Humboldt Bay, California." (A.O.U.)
Geese and Brant
[Illustration: 172.]
=172. Canada Goose= (_Branta canadensis_). L. 38. _Ads._ A white patch
on cheeks and throat; rest of head and neck black; no whitish ring at
base of black neck. _Yng._ Similar but with blackish on white of
throat. _Notes._ A sonorous _honk_.
Range.--North America; breeds from Labrador, Minnesota and British
Columbia, north chiefly in the interior, to Alaska; winters from Long
Island, Illinois and British Columbia south to Mexico and southern
California.
=172a. Hutchins Goose= (_B. c. hutchinsii_). Similar to No. 172, but
smaller; L. 30; tail feathers, 14-16.
Range.--Western North America; breeds in Arctic regions; winters from
British Columbia and Kansas south to Lower California and Mexico.
=172b. White-cheeked Goose= (_B. c. occidentalis_). Size of No. 172,
but throat blackish, lower neck with white collar.
Range.--"Pacific coast region, from Sitka, south in winter to
California." (A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 172c.]
=172c. Cackling Goose= (_B. c. minima_). Similar to No. 172b, but
smaller, L. 24; tail feathers 14-16.
Range.--Western North America; breeds in Alaska; winters from British
Columbia southward; east rarely to Wisconsin.
[Illustration: 173.]
=173. Brant= (_Branta bernicla glaucogastra_). L. 26.
_Ads._ Sides of neck with white markings; belly _whitish_.
_Notes._ A guttural _car-r-rup_, or _r-r-r-rouk_. (Elliot.)
Range.--Northern hemisphere; breeds in Arctic regions; winters in
America, from Mississippi Valley east, and from Illinois and Massachusetts
southward; rare in interior.
[Illustration: 174.]
=174. Black Brant= (_Branta nigricans_). L. 26. _Ads._ _Sides_ and
_front_ of neck with white markings; belly nearly as dark as back.
_Notes._ A low guttural _gr-r-r-r-r_; on alarm repeated often with
emphasis. (Nelson.)
Range.--Western North America; breeds in northern Alaska and eastward;
winters from British Columbia to Lower California; occasional on
Atlantic Coast.
Order VI. FLAMINGOES.
ODONTOGLOSSA†.
Family 1. FLAMINGOES. PhA"nicopteridA|. 1 species.
Flamingoes might be called long-legged Ducks. Their feet are webbed,
and their bill is set with ridges, which serve as sieves or strainers,
as do the 'gutters' on a Duck's bill. They are, however, wading birds
and their webbed feet are of use in supporting them on the soft mud of
shallow lagoons or bays where they search for the favorite food of
small mollusks. In feeding the flat top of the bill is pressed into
the mud when its tip points upward toward the bird's body. Flamingoes
fly with the neck and legs stretched to the utmost presenting on the
wing a picturesque, but by no means so graceful an appearance as do
the Herons. Their voice is a vibrant _honking_ like that of a Goose.
Order VII. HERONS, STORKS, IBISES, ETC.
HERODIONES.
Family 1. SPOONBILLS. PlataleidA|. 1 species.
Family 2. IBISES. IbididA|. 3 species.
Family 3. STORKS and WOOD IBISES. CiconiidA|. 1 species.
Family 4. BITTERNS, HERONS, ETC. ArdhidA|. 14 species, 3 subspecies.
The Roseate Spoonbill was formerly a common bird in Florida and along
the Gulf coast, but so many have been killed for their plumage that in
the United States the species is now exceedingly rare except in the
most remote parts of southern Florida.
Spoonbills build a rude nest of sticks in mangrove bushes or small
trees and lay three to five whitish eggs speckled with shades of
brown.
Ibises are usually found in flocks along the shore of lagoons, lakes,
etc., or in marshy places. They fly with the neck outstretched and are
generally silent. Their nests of reeds, weed stalks, etc., are
sometimes placed in low bushes, at others in grassy marshes. The eggs
number from three to five. They are plain blue in the Glossy Ibis,
greenish white with chocolate markings, in the White Ibis.
The Storks are largely Old World birds, only three of the some twenty
known species inhabiting the Western Hemisphere. But one of these is
found regularly north of the Rio Grande, the so-called Wood Ibis which
is abundant in southern Florida. It lives in flocks and builds a nest
of sticks usually in cypress trees, often forty feet from the ground,
laying two or three white eggs. When flying the neck is extended. It
progresses by alternate flapping and sailing and occasionally soars
high overhead in circles, like a Vulture.
The Bitterns and Herons unlike our other long-legged wading birds, fly
with a fold in the neck. They belong in two subfamilies, the
_BotaurinA|_ and _ArdeinA|_, respectively. The Bitterns are usually
solitary birds inhabiting grassy or reedy marshes where their colors
harmonize with their surroundings and render them difficult to see.
The American Bittern nests on the ground and lays three to five pale
brownish eggs. The Least Bittern usually weaves a platform nest of
reeds among rushes growing in the water and lays four or five bluish
white eggs.
Herons feed along the shore and are consequently more often seen than
Bitterns. With the exception of the Green Heron and the Yellow-crowned
Night Heron, which usually nest in isolated pairs, our species gather
in colonies to nest. Several hundred pairs occupying a limited area
in some wooded or bushy swamp to which, when undisturbed, they return
year after year.
Herons build a rude platform nest of sticks, sometimes placing it in
bushes, sometimes in the tallest trees, and at others on the ground or
beds of reeds in marshes. The eggs are greenish blue in color and
usually four in number. It is among those Herons, which in nesting
time are adorned with delicate plumes or aigrettes, that the greatest
ravages of the millinery hunter have been made. Attacking these birds
when they have gathered on the nesting ground, they are not permitted
to rear their young and the species is thus exterminated branch and
root.
The voice of Herons is a harsh squawk varying in depth of tone with
the size of the bird.
Flamingo, Spoonbill and Ibis
[Illustration: 182.]
=182. Flamingo= (_Phoenicopterus ruber_). L. 45; from toe to bill, 60.
_Ads._ Rosy red, lighter on back; primaries and secondaries black.
_Yng._ Smaller, grayish brown; lighter below. _Notes._ A _honk_
resembling that of a Canada Goose.
Range.--Atlantic coasts of tropical and subtropical America; resident
(breeding?) in southwestern Florida (Monroe county); casual
west to Texas, north to South Carolina.
[Illustration: 183.]
=183. Roseate Spoonbill= (_Ajaia ajaja_). L. 32. _Ads._ Head and
throat bare; sides of breast and end of tail rusty buff; lesser
wing-coverts, upper and under tail-coverts carmine. _Yng._ Head
feathered, buff and carmine replaced by pink.
Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; north to Gulf States.
[Illustration: 185.]
=185. Scarlet Ibis= (_Guara rubra_). L. 24. _Ads._ Scarlet: tips of
primaries black. _Yng._ Grayish brown, lower back, rump, and upper
tail-coverts white; underparts dull white.
Range.--"Florida, Louisiana and Texas, southward to the West Indies
and northern South America. No record of its recent occurrence in the
United States." (A.O.U.)
Ibises
[Illustration: 184.]
=184. White Ibis= (_Guara alba_). L. 25. _Ads._ White, tips of outer
primaries black, face orange red. _Yng._ Grayish brown, rump, breast
and belly white. _Notes._ When near nest, _crook_, _croc_, _croo_;
when disturbed, a loud, hoarse, _bunk_, _bunk_, _hunk_. (Audubon).
Range.--Tropical America; breeds north to Lower California, southern
Indiana, southern Illinois and South Carolina; winters from Gulf
southward; accidental in South Dakota, Connecticut and Long Island.
[Illustration: 186.]
=186. Glossy Ibis= (_Plegadis autumnalis_). L. 24. _Ads._ Front of
head black with greenish reflections. _Yng._ Head and neck fuscous
brown margined with white, rest of underparts fuscous brown; back with
greenish reflections.
Range.--Tropical and subtropical regions in America; rare or local in
southeastern United States; casual north to Massachusetts and
Illinois.
[Illustration: 187.]
=187. White-faced Glossy Ibis= (_Plegadis guarauna_). L. 24. _Ads._
Front of head _white_. _Yng._ Resembles young of No. 186.
Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; north to California, (rarely
British Columbia), Texas, Kansas, east rarely to Florida; winters
south of United States.
[Illustration: 188.]
=188. Wood Ibis= (_Tantalus loculator_). L. 40. _Ads._ Head and
neck bare; white, primaries, secondaries and tail blackish.
_Yng._ Resembles ad. but head and neck feathered, grayish brown.
_Note._ When alarmed, a rough, guttural croak. (Audubon.)
Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds In Gulf States,
(Lower California?), and later may stray as far north as New York,
Wisconsin, and California.
Bitterns
[Illustration: 190.]
=190. American Bittern= (_Botaurus lentiginosus_). L. 28. _Ads._
A glossy black streak on either side of the neck. _Yng._ Similar
to ad. but colors much deeper, more rusty. _Notes._ Call, _quawk_;
song, _pump-er-lunk_.
Range.--North America north to Labrador and British Columbia, breeding
chiefly north of latitude 35A deg.; winters from about latitude 35A deg.
southward.
[Illustration: 191.]
=191. Least Bittern= (_Ardetta exilis_). L. 13. _Ad._ [Male]. Hindneck
rufous, foreneck, underparts, and under tail-coverts white and buff.
_Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but crown and back brown, below streaked with
brownish. _Notes._ Call, an explosive _quab_; song, a soft _coo_
repeated four or five times.
Range.--North America; breeds from Gulf States to New Brunswick and
Manitoba; winters from Gulf States southward. "Less common west of
Rocky Mountains; on the Pacific coast north to northern California."
(A.O.U.)
[Illustration: 191.1]
=191.1. Cory Bittern= (_Ardetta neoxena_). L. 13. _Ad._ [Male].
Hindneck black, foreneck chestnut, belly mixed black and chestnut,
under tail-coverts black. _Ad._ [Female]. Similar, but crown and back
duller.
Range.--Eastern North America; recorded from Florida, Ontario,
(breeding), Massachusetts, and Michigan; about 20 specimens known.
Herons
[Illustration: 192.]
=192. Great White Heron= (_Ardea occidentalis_). _Ads._ White, no
"aigrette" plumes. A white Heron about the size of a Great Blue Heron.
What is supposed to be a gray-blue phase of this bird has been called
_Ardea wuerdmanni_, a bird which resembles No. 194, but has the head
and neck whitish.
Range.--Southern Florida, Cuba and Jamaica.
[Illustration: 196.]
=196. American Egret= (_Herodias egretta_). L. 41. _Ads._ White, about
50 _straight_ "aigrette" plumes grow from the back between the wings;
legs and feet _black_. Ads. when not breeding and Yng., the same, but
no plumes.
Range.--Tropical and temperate America; breeds north to Virginia,
southern Illinois, and California; later strays to New Brunswick,
Minnesota, and Oregon; winters from southern California and Gulf
States southward.
[Illustration: 197.]
=197. Snowy Heron= (_Egretta candidissima_). L. 24. _Ads._ White,
about 50 _recurved_ "aigrette" plumes grow from back between the
wings; legs black, feet _yellow_. Ads. when not breeding and Yng.
The same, but no plumes.
Range.--Tropical and temperate America; bred formerly north to Long
Island, southern Illinois and California; now very rare in eastern
North America; winters from Gulf States and southern California
southward.
[Illustration: 194.]
=194. Great Blue Heron= (_Ardea herodias_). L. 45; W. 18.5; B. 5.5;
Tar. 7. _Ads._ Center of crown white, head crested; legs blackish.
_Yng._ Similar, but no crest, crown wholly black, plumage more
streaked.
Range--Northern South America north to Arctic regions; breeds locally
throughout most of North America range; winters from about latitude
42A deg. southward.
=194a. Northwest Coast Heron= (_A. h. fannini_). Similar to No. 194
but much darker; upperparts bluish slate black; tarsus shorter, 5.3.
Range.--Pacific coast from Vancouver to Sitka.
=194b. Ward Heron= (_A. h. wardi_). Similar to No. 194 but whiter
below, neck darker; legs olive; larger, L. 52; W. 20; B. 6.5; Tar. 8.
Range.--Florida; coast of Texas.
[Illustration: 202.]
=202. Black-crowned Night Heron= (_Nycticorax nycticorax nA|vius_).
L. 24. _Ads._ Crown and back greenish black lower back, wings and
tail ashy; head with two or three rounded white plumes, except just
after breeding season. _Yng._ Grayish brown streaked with white; below
white streaked with blackish; outer webs of primaries, _pale rufous_.
_Notes._ An explosive _qA"awk_.
Range.--Western hemisphere; breeds in North America north to New
Brunswick, Quebec, Manitoba, and Oregon; winters from California and
Gulf States southward.
[Illustration: 203.]
=203. Yellow-crowned Night Heron= (_Nyctanassa violaceus_). L. 23.
_Ads._ Blue-gray; crown and ear-coverts whitish, rest of head black;
scapulars streaked with black; head with two or three rounded, white
plumes, except just after nesting season. _Yng._ Crown _black_,
streaked with whitish; primaries _bluish slate, no rufous_; back
brownish streaked with white; below whitish streaked with blackish.
Range.--Tropical and subtropical America; breeds north to South
Carolina, southern Illinois, and Lower California; strays to
Massachusetts and Colorado; winters from Gulf States southward.
[Illustration: 2198.]
=198. Reddish Egret= (_Dichromanassa rufescens_). L. 29. Two color
phases independent of age. _Ads._ _Dark phase_, Head and neck rufous;
back slate; about 30 "aigrette" plumes. _White phase._ White,
including plumes; tips of primaries sometimes speckled with gray.
_Yng._ Rufous and gray, or white, without plumes.
Range.--West Indies and Central America north to coasts of Gulf
States, Illinois (rarely), and Lower California.
[Illustration: 199.]
=199. Louisiana Heron= (_Hydranassa tricolor ruficollis_). L. 26.
_Ads._ "Aigrette" plumes, short, dirty gray; rump and belly white;
legs blackish. _Yng._ Head and neck brownish; throat and line down
foreneck white; above slaty washed with brownish, rump, and belly
white.
Range.--West Indies and Central America north to Gulf States, casually
to Long Island and Indiana.
[Illustration: 200.]
=200. Little Blue Heron= (_Florida cA"rulea_). L. 22. _Ads._ Head and
neck maroon; rest of plumage slaty blue. _Yng._ White, tips of
primaries bluish, legs _greenish yellow_.
Range.--Tropical America and eastern United States; breeds north to
Virginia and Illinois, later may stray north as far as Nova Scotia;
winters from South Atlantic and Gulf States southward.
[Illustration: 201.]
=201. Little Green Heron= (_Butorides virescens_). L. 17. Smallest of
our Herons. _Ads._ Crown, glossy green-black; throat and line down
foreneck buffy; rest of head and neck purplish chestnut; back green
washed with bluish gray. _Yng._ Neck and below streaked with blackish;
back-feathers not lengthened; duller. _Notes._ A rattling
_oc-oc-oc-oc-oc_, a startling _scow_, and, more rarely, a deep, hollow
groan. (Brewster.)
Range.--Tropical and temperate North America; breeds from Gulf States
north to Nova Scotia and Manitoba; winters from Gulf States southward
to northern South America.
=201a. Frazar Green Heron= (_B. v. frazari_). Similar to No. 201, but
rather larger and darker, neck more purplish, light stripings on
throat and foreneck more restricted. (Brewster.)
Range.--Lower Califorinia.
=201b. Anthony Green Heron= (_B. v. anthonyi_). Similar to No. 201,
but slightly larger, and paler, light markings of wings, neck, and
throat less restricted and whiter. (Mearns.)
Range.--Arid portions of southwestern United States, south into
Mexico.
Order VIII. CRANES, RAILS, ETC.
PALUDICOLA†.
Family 1. CRANES. GruidA|. 3 species.
Family 2. COURLANS. AramidA|. 1 species.
Family 3. RAILS, GALLINULES, and COOTS. RallidA|. 12 species,
3 subspecies.
Cranes bear a general resemblance to Herons in that they are
long-legged, long-necked birds, but when on the wing, they carry the
neck fully extended, a habit which will readily distinguish them from
the curved neck Herons. Cranes are less aquatic than Herons and are
often found feeding on the prairies or pine-barrens where worms,
grasshoppers, lizards, roots, etc., form their fare. They nest on the
ground laying two buffy eggs thickly marked with brown. The young,
unlike the nearly naked, helpless young of Herons, are born covered
with down and can soon follow their parents. The Cranes have loud
sonorous voices; the Herons raucous croaks.
The Limpkin is a singular inhabitant of the more retired Florida
swamps. It feeds upon the ground largely upon a kind of land shell,
but also perches in trees. Its nest of twigs is placed in a small tree
or bush, and it lays from four to seven pale buffy eggs stained and
speckled with cinnamon brown.
The Rails (Subfamily RallinA|) are inhabitants of grassy marshes where,
trusting to their long legs, they more often escape observation by
running than by flying. One may hear their characteristic notes coming
from the dense growth only a few yards distant and still be unable to
catch a glimpse of their maker.
Rails nest on the ground laying six to twelve or fifteen buffy eggs
spotted with reddish brown. The young of all our species are born
covered with a shining black down.
The Gallinules (Subfamily GallinulinA|) are more aquatic than the Rails
and are consequently less difficult to observe.
The Coots (Subfamily FulicinA|) are still more aquatic than the
Gallinules, as might be supposed from their lobed toes, in fact are as
much at home in the water as though they were Ducks. Both Gallinules
and Coots lay eight to sixteen buffy, thickly speckled eggs in a nest
of reeds often built on a pile of rushes in the reeds.
Cranes and Limpkin
[Illustration: 204.]
=204. Whooping Crane= (_Grus americana_). L. 50. _Ads._ White; skin of
top of head dull red; primaries black. _Yng._ Head feathered, plumage
more or less washed with rusty.
Range.--Interior of North America: breeds from northern Mississippi
Valley north to Arctic regions; winters from Gulf States southward.
=205. Little Brown Crane= (_Grus canadensis_). L. 35. W. 18; B. 4.
_Ads._ Skin of top of head dull red; plumage brownish gray. _Yng._
Head feathered, plumage with more or less rusty.
Range.--"Northern North America from Hudson Bay to Alaska, migrating
south through western United States east of Rocky Mountains to
Mexico." (Ridgway.)
[Illustration: 206.]
=206. Sandhill Crane= (_Grus mexicana_). Similar to No. 205, but
larger. L. 44: W. 20; B. 5. _Notes._ A loud, sonorous, grating,
_krrrow_, repeated five or more times.
Range.--North America; breeds locally from Texas, Cuba, Florida north
through Mississippi Valley to Manitoba, British Columbia, and Oregon;
winters from northern California and Gulf States southward.
[Illustration: 207.]
=207. Limpkin= (_Aramus giganteus_). L. 28. _Ads._ Glossy olive-brown,
striped with white; wings and tail more bronzy. _Notes._ A loud
_wah-ree-ow_, repeated and the last note prolonged into a wail.
Range.--Central America and West Indies north to southern Texas and
Florida.
Rails
[Illustration: 208.]
=208. King Rail= (_Rallus elegans_). L. 15. _Ads._ Above olive-brown,
black, and olive-gray; wing-coverts reddish brown; neck and breast
cinnamon; belly and sides _blackish_, _sharply_ and broadly barred
with white. _Notes._ A loud _bup_, _bup_, _bup_, repeated and ending
in a roll.
Range.--Eastern United States; breeds from Florida north to
Connecticut and South Dakota; strays to Maine; winters from Virginia
and Lower Mississippi Valley south to Gulf States.
=209. Belding Rail= (_Rallus beldingi_). Similar to No. 208, but
paler; flank-bars narrower.
Range.--Lower California.
=210. California Clapper Rail= (_Rallus obsoletus_). L. 17. Above
grayish olive-brown streaked with blackish brown; breast cinnamon;
flanks dusky brown narrowly banded with white. Margins to back
feathers much broader than in forms of _crepitans_.
Range.--Salt Marshes of Pacific coast north to Washington.
[Illustration: 212.]
=212. Virginia Rail= (_Rallus virginianus_). L. 9.5; B. 1.5. _Ads._
Above blackish and grayish brown; wing-coverts reddish brown; below
cinnamon, flanks black and white. Resembling a King Rail in color, but
much smaller. _Notes._ Calls, _kep_ or _kik_; song, a grunting sound
and _cut_, _cA"tta-cA"tta-cA"tta_. (Brewster.)
Range.--North America; breeds from Pennsylvania, Long Island, northern
Illinois, and middle California north to Labrador, Manitoba, and
British Columbia; winters from about its southern breeding limits
south to Cuba and Guatemala.
[Illustration: 215.]
=215. Yellow Rail.= (_Porzana noveboracensis_). L. 7; B. .5. _Ads._
Above black and buffy barred with white; breast buffy; sides brownish
barred with white. Notes. An abrupt cackling, _'krA(C)k_, _'krek_,
_'krek_, _'krek_, _kA"k_, _'k'k'k_. (Nuttall.)
Range.--Eastern North America north to New Brunswick, Quebec, and
Hudson Bay, west to Manitoba and rarely California; probably breeds
chiefly north; winters in southern States.
[Illustration: 211.]
=211. Clapper Rail, Marsh Hen= (_Rallus crepitans_). L. 14.5; W. 5;
B. 2.5. _Ads._ Above _pale_ olive bordered by _gray_; wing-coverts
_pale_ grayish brown; breast _pale_ cinnamon; flanks barred _gray_
and white. _Notes._ _Gkak_, _gkak_, _gkak_, at first loud and rapid,
ending lower and slower.
Range.--Salt marshes of the Atlantic coast; breeds from North Carolina
to Connecticut; winters from Long Island (rarely) southward, north
casually to Massachusetts; south casually to Louisiana.
=211a. Louisiana Clapper Rail= (_R. c. saturatus_). Similar to
No. 211, but above rich brown edged with olive; breast darker
cinnamon; bill more slender, 2.3.
Range.--Coast of Louisiana.
[Illustration: 211b.]
=211b. Scott Clapper Rail= (_R. c. scotti_). Similar to No. 211, but
much darker; sooty brown or black above edged with olive-brown or
olive-gray; breast and neck cinnamon, washed with brownish; flanks
brown and white. Darkest bird of group.
Range.--Gulf coast of Florida.
=211c. Wayne Clapper Rail= (_R. c. waynei_). Similar to No. 211, but
darker, back rich olive-brown edged with gray; breast more ashy.
Range.--Atlantic coast, North Carolina to eastern Florida.
=211.2. Caribbean Clapper Rail= (_Rallus longirostris caribA|us_).
L. 14; W. 5.7; B. 2.4. _Ads._ Above olive-brown edged with
olive-ashy, breast cinnamon; flanks _brown_ and white.
Range.--West Indies; coast of southeastern Texas (and northeastern
Mexico?).
[Illustration: 214.]
=214. Carolina Rail= (_Porzana carolina_). L. 8.5; B. 8. _Ads._ Region
about base of bill black. _Yng._ Similar, but no black about base of
bill; breast more cinnamon. _Notes._ Calls, _kuk_ or _peep_, song,
_ker-wee_; and a high, rolling _whinny_.
Range.--North America; breeds from Long Island, Illinois, Kansas, and
southern California, north to Newfoundland, Hudson Bay region, and
British Columbia; winters from South Carolina, southern Illinois, and
northern California south to South America.
[Illustration: 216.]
=216. Little Black Rail= (_Porzana jamaicensis_): L. 5; B. 6. _Ads._
Head, breast, and belly slate; back blackish brown barred with white;
nape reddish brown. _Notes._ Probably, _kik-kik-kik_, _quee'ah_, or
_kik-ki-ki-ki_, _ki_, _quee'ah_, or variants. (Brewster.)