The Bird Book Part 22

187. WHITE-FACED GLOSSY IBIS. _Plegadis guarauna._

Range.--A sub-tropical species found in the southwestern parts of the United States, rarely found east of the Mississippi.

This species differs from the Glossy Ibis in having the feathers on the front of the head white, the rest of the plumage is a dull brownish chestnut, with greenish reflections on the back. As these birds are not in demand commercially, their numbers have not decreased, and thousands of them breed in colonies in southern Texas. They build a substantial nest of reeds and rushes woven about the upright canes, close to the surface of the water. Their eggs are laid during May, and number from three to four. They are easily distinguished from those of the Herons, being of a deeper greenish blue color and averaging more elongate. Size 1.95 1.35. Data.--Corpus Christi, Texas, May 26, 1899. Four eggs. Nest of twigs and rushes on side of river. Collector, F. B. Armstrong.

STORKS and WOOD IBISES Family CICONIIDAE

188. WOOD IBIS. _Mycteria americana._

Range.--A sub-tropical species which is resident along the Gulf coast and which strays casually north to New England and Colorado.

This peculiar member of the Stork family has the whole head and part of the neck bare and covered with numerous scales; the bill is large, long and heavy; the plumage is white, except for the black primaries and tail. It is a large bird about four feet in length. They are quite abundant in swamps along the

[Ill.u.s.tration 120: Glossy Ibis. White-faced Glossy Ibis. Wood Ibis.]

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Gulf coast, where they place their nests, which are platforms of sticks, in trees and bushes over the water. They lay three eggs which are white, and have a rough surface. Size 2.75 1.75.

189. JABIRU. _Jabiru mycteria._

This large bird, which is the only true Stork that claims a place in our avifauna, is a native of South and Central America, wandering north, casually to Texas. Their nests are large platforms of sticks in very high trees.

BITTERNS and HERONS Family ARDEIDAE

Herons and Bitterns are long-legged waders, having straight, pointed bills, and with the head feathered, except for the lores.

190. BITTERN. _Bautaurus lentiginosus._

Range.--United States and southern British provinces, breeding in the northern half of the United States and wintering in the southern portion.

This species, with its mottled rusty brownish plumage, is one of the best known of the Heron family. It is known locally by a great many names, nearly all of which have reference to the "booming" or "pumping"

sound made during the mating season. They build their nests in swampy or marshy places, placing them on the ground, frequently on a tussock, entirely surrounded by water. The nest proper is only a few gra.s.ses twisted about to form a lining to the hollow. They lay from three to five eggs of brownish drab. Size 1.95 1.50.

They do not breed in colonies, generally, but one or two pairs nesting in one marsh. Data.--Worcester, Ma.s.s., June 3, 1897. Four eggs laid in a gra.s.s lined hollow in middle of a hummock of earth and gra.s.s, in middle of marsh. Collector, James Jackson.

[Ill.u.s.tration 121: Jabiru. Bittern.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Brownish drab.]

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191. LEAST BITTERN. _Ixobrychus exilis._

Range.--Common throughout the United States, especially in the eastern part, and in the southern British provinces.

This small variety of Bittern is very common in the southern portions of the United States, but less so and locally distributed in the northern portions of its range. They are very quiet and sly birds, and their presence is often unsuspected when they are really quite abundant. When approached, they will remain perfectly quiet, with the body erect and the head and neck pointed skyward, in which position their yellowish brown plumage strongly resembles the rushes among which they are found.

Their nests are made of strips of rushes woven about upright stalks, generally over water. They lay from three to five eggs of a pale bluish white color. Size 1.20 .90. Data.--Avery's Island, La., May 1, 1896.

Four eggs. Nest of strips of rushes woven together to form a platform and fastened to saw gra.s.s growing on the bank of a stream. Collector, E.

A. McIlhenny.

191.1. CORY'S LEAST BITTERN. _Ixobrychus neoxenus._

This rare species, of which about twenty specimens are known is probably resident in Florida, wandering north in the summer, specimens having been taken in Ontario, Canada, and in several localities in eastern United States. It is very different from the Least Bittern, having a more uniform chestnut coloration, especially on the under parts. It is twelve inches in length. Mr. C. W. Crandall has a set of five eggs of this species, taken on the Caloosahatchee River, Fla., April 15, 1891, by S. B. Ladd. Nest was made of gra.s.ses and rushes placed in the cane two feet above the water.

[Ill.u.s.tration 122: Pale bluish gray.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Least Bittern. Cory's Least Bittern.]

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192. GREAT WHITE HERON. _Ardea occidentalis._

Range.--This species occurs in the United States regularly, only in the southern parts of Florida. It is a resident of the West Indies.

This large white Heron is about the same size as the Great Blue Heron; it has none of the slender plumes found on the smaller White Herons.

These birds are not uncommon in southern Florida, especially on the Keyes, where they build their nests in company with Great Blue Herons.

Their nesting habits and eggs are very similar to those of the Blue Heron. Size of eggs 2.25 1.80. Data.--Outside of Torch Key, Florida, June 16, 1899. Nest a platform of sticks about five feet from the ground, in a mangrove tree. Three eggs. Collector, O. Tollin.

194. GREAT BLUE HERON. _Ardea herodias herodias._

Range.--Nearly the whole of North America, except the extreme north; resident south of the middle portions of the United States and migratory north of there.

This handsome Heron is about four feet in length. Its general color is a bluish gray, relieved by a black crest, primaries and patches on the sides, and a white crown. In the south they breed in large colonies, often in company with many other species. In the northern portions of their range they breed singly or in companies of under a hundred individuals. They generally place their rude platforms of sticks well up in trees, near ponds, swamps or rivers, but in the most northerly parts of their range, where trees are scarce, they often build on the ground.

Unless they are disturbed, they return to the same breeding grounds, year after year. They lay from three to five eggs of a greenish blue color. Size 2.50 1.50. Data.--Duck Island, Maine, May 20, 1883. Three eggs. Nest of sticks and twigs, about fifteen feet from the ground.

Collector, R. B. Gray.

194a. NORTHWEST COAST HERON. _Ardea herodias fannini._

This darker sub-species of the breeding is found along the Pacific coast, north to Sitka, Alaska. Its nests and eggs do not differ from the former species.

[Ill.u.s.tration 123: Great White Heron. Great Blue Heron.]

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194b. WARD'S HERON. _Ardea herodias wardi._