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Range (Tropical and temperate America) (III)

Tropical and temperate America, breeding as far north as southern Illinois and Virginia; after the breeding season wanders northward, sometimes reaching Nova Scotia. Washington, casual in July and August; sometimes quite common. Long Island, rare from Apl. to Sept.

Nest, a platform of sticks, in colonies, in bushes over water. Eggs, three to four, pale, dull blue, 1.70 x 1.30.

Thanks to their lack of "aigrette" plumes Little Blue Herons are probably the most common Herons in Florida to-day. They are generally found in flocks, sometimes composed entirely of blue adults, sometimes of white, immature birds, and at others both young and old are associated. The white birds resemble A. candidissima, but the HERONS AND BITTERNS. color of their legs and feet serves as a distinguishing character at some distance. They are silent when feeding, but when undisturbed in their rookeries each bird seems to have something to say, and the result is a strange chorus of croaking voices. They feed by day, and generally wait for their prey to come within striking distance. 201. Ardea virescens Linn. LITTLE GREEN HERON; POKE (see Fig. 19). Ad. - Crown and a short line below the eye glossy greenish black; throat buffy white, this color extending down the foreneck as a narrow line mixed with blackish, widening on the breast; rest of the head and neck rufous-chestnut glossed with vinaceous; back, with lengthened interscapulars, green, more or less washed with bluish gray; wing-coverts green, margined with white or buffy; belly ashy gray, more or less washed with buffy. Im.- Similar, but with the neck and under parts streaked with blackish; back without lengthened feathers or wash of blue-gray; wing-coverts widely margined with buffy ochraceous. L., 17.00; W., 7.25; Tar., 1.90; B., 2.50.