Birds and Birding's Guide to:

Watching THE STORK-LIKE BIRDS

THE HERONS (Family Ardeida)

Beyond the fact already pointed out of their resemblance to the Cranes and Rails, the Herons form a relatively compact and generally well-known group. They have long or moderately long legs, the front of the metatarsus being covered with scute-like plates. There are always four toes, the hind toe being on the same plane as the others, and the claw of the middle one is comb-like on the inner side.

The body is thin and compressed, the neck usually long, and the bill long and pointed, with all the outlines nearly straight. The wings are relatively large, but are very much rounded from the fact that the second, third, and fourth quills are of nearly the same length. The lores and a space about the eyes are bare.”The general plumage, which is very variable in color, is soft and loose; the feathers on the crown of the head, back, and upper breast being frequently elongated.”The peculiar powder-down patches on the rump, abdomen, and elsewhere are always present and constitute a well-known character of the group.

In the matter of distribution, Herons are almost cosmopolitan, being, however, most abundant in tropical and subtropical regions. They are inhabitants for the most part of swamps and marshes, a few only preferring the seacoast.

They are often gregarious, feeding and nesting in communities, where they build large, bulky nests, frequently in trees.

They may often be seen walking about in or along marshes with a slow and measured gait; when on the wing their progress is rather slow, although strong, and is accompanied by a continuous flapping of the wings. In general they lay from three or four to six unspotted eggs, which are bluish green or whitish in color.

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