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Range (West Indies and Central)

West Indies and Central America north to coasts of the Gulf States; casually southern Illinois.

Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes generally over water. Eggs, two to four, pale, dull blue, 1.95 x 1.45.

This is, or was a few years ago, a not uncommon species on the coasts of southern Florida, but it is unknown in the interior. It is LITTLE BLUE HERON, ADULT AND IMMATURE.

HERONS AND BITTERNS. generally seen in flocks. With A. candidissima they lack the patience of the larger Herons and pursue their prey in shallow water. 199. Ardea tricolor ruficollis (Gosse). LOUISIANA HERON. Ad. -Upper parts dark bluish slate-color; back of the head and upper neck with elongated chestnut-rufous and white feathers; back with pale brownish gray "aigrette" plumes reaching to the tail; lower back, rump, and belly white; neck bluish slate-color; throat white, an indistinct rufous line down the middle of the foreneck; legs blackish; base of the bill and lores bluish. Im.- Throat, and an indistinct line down the foreneck, white; rest of the head and neck brownish rufous; upper back and wings bluish slate-color, more or less washed with brownish rufous; no plumes; lower back, rump, and belly white; breast with more or less slaty streaks; legs yellow behind, blackish before; lower mandible and lores orange; upper mandible black. L., 26.00; W., 10.00; Tar., 3.70; B., 3.90.