A Synopsis of the Birds of North AmericaAudubon, John James
Science
A Synopsis of the Birds of North America
Audubon, John James
Birds -- Classification; Birds -- North America
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head and of the neck
generally, much elongated, very narrow, loose, with linear-acuminate
compact tips; of the back extremely long, slightly recurved, with
loose filaments, and extending several inches beyond the tail; bill
pale flesh-colour, with the terminal third black; feet ultramarine
blue, the scutella bluish-black; plumage of the head and neck light
reddish-brown; back and wings greyish-blue; long train-feathers
yellowish toward the end; lower parts greyish-blue, paler than the
upper. Young with the plumage white, the feet dusky green, the soles
yellow.
_Male_, 31, 46.
Resident on the Florida Keys, and in Galveston Bay. Never seen inland.
Extremely abundant.
Ardea rufescens, Gmel. Syst. Nat. v. i. p. 628.
Peale's Egret Heron, Ardea Pealii, Bonap. Amer. Orn. v. iv. p.
96. Young.
Peak's Egret, _Nutt._ Man. v. ii. p. 49. Young.
Reddish Egret, Ardea rufescens, _Aud._ Orn. Biog. v. iii. p.
411; v. v. p. 604.
374. 10. Ardea cœrulea, Linn. Blue Heron.
Plate CCCVII. Male and Young.
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head very long and linear;
of the middle of the back extremely long, linear-acuminate, compact,
their tips extending about five inches beyond the tail; bill blue;
feet black; plumage of head and neck vinaceous purple, of the other
parts deep greyish-blue. Young with the plumage white, becoming
patched with blue as they advance in age.
_Male_, 24-1/2, 42.
Resident in Florida and Texas, where it breeds. In spring migrates as
far as Long Island; up the Mississippi to a hundred miles above
Natchez. Never seen far inland.
Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea, Wils. Amer. Orn. v. vii. p. 117.
Ardea cœrulea, Bonap. Syn. p. 300.
Blue Heron, Nutt. Man. v. ii. p. 58.
Blue Heron, Ardea cœrulea, Aud. Orn. Biog. v. iv. p. 58.
375. 11. Ardea Ludoviciana, Wils. Louisiana Heron.
Plate CCXVII. Male.
Feathers of the upper and hind part of the head elongated, tapering,
curved, about six of them larger and much longer; of the back
extremely elongated, with loose threadlike filaments, extending beyond
the tail; bill brownish-black above, yellow beneath; feet light
greenish-yellow, with the scutella dusky; general colour of upper
parts light purplish-blue; elongated feathers of head and neck above,
reddish-purple, as are those of the lower part of the neck; six
longest feathers of head white; elongated loose feathers of back dull
purplish-yellow; throat white, its lower part chestnut; a line of
white down the fore neck; rump and lower parts pure white, except the
anterior feathers of the breast, which have their inner webs dusky
blue. Young with the neck and fore part of the back light
brownish-red; throat and lower parts white, as is the hind part of the
back; quills, larger wing-coverts and tail light purplish-blue.
Plumage and colouring completed at the end of the second year.
_Male_, 27, 37.
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