Читать книгу Western Bird Guide - Reed Charles Keller - Страница 52

188. Mycteria americana. 45 inches

Head and neck unfeathered and covered with scales, which are pale bluish in color as are also the legs. Plumage entirely white except for the primaries and tail, which are glossy purplish black. This is the only true Stork which occurs in North America, and is found only in the southern part of California and the most southern states near the Gulf of Mexico. They lay 3 or 4 white eggs (2.75 × 1.75).

LEAST BITTERN

191. Ixobrychus exilis. 13 inches

This small variety of Bittern is very common in the southern portions of the United States. They are very quiet and sly birds, and their presence is often unsuspected when they are really quite abundant. Their nests are made of rushes woven about the upright stalks; 3 to 5 eggs, bluish white (1.20 × .90).