The herons of this typical genus are of large size and except in plumage differ little from the members of Pyrrherodia but the bill is comparatively heavier and the claws much shorter; tarsus two to two and one-half times the length of hind toe with claw.

Species.
135. ARDEA CINEREA Linnæus.
COMMON HERON.

Guimaras (Steere Exp.). Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia.

“Adult in breeding plumage.—General color above light ashy gray, scapular plumes, parapteral feathers, and innermost secondaries elongated and forming narrow drooping plumes of pearly gray or white; the wing-coverts gray like back, the outer ones pearly gray or white, the greater series dark ashy, outer webs entirely white; alula, primary-coverts, and quills purplish black, secondaries shaded with gray externally, inner secondaries like back; tail-feathers entirely gray; crown of head crested, white in the center, with a broad band of purplish black on each side, ending in a crest on occiput, and having two elongated nuchal plumes; entire sides of face, neck all round, and under surface of body white, with a creamy lilac shade on each side of fore neck and chest, which have drooping plumes of narrow, elongated, white feathers; the whole of the lower throat and fore neck varied with elongated black stripes, differing in breadth and situated on one side of the feather; on each side of the crop is a large patch of drooping plumes of purplish black, and continued along the sides of the body even as far as the vent; sides of body light ashy gray; thighs and under tail-coverts white; under wing-coverts ashy gray. ‘Bill yellow, with the ridge of the upper mandible brown towards the end; feet dull green; tibia yellow; claws black; iris yellow; bare space between the bill and the eye green.’ (Macgillivray.) Length, 762; culmen, 129; wing, 457; tail, 183; tarsus, 173.

“Adult female.—Similar to the male and equally beautifully colored, but the black crest-plumes not so long, and the black markings on the chest not quite so pronounced. Length, about 762; culmen, 124; wing, 452; tail, 170; tarsus, 162.

“Young.—Differs from the adult in being darker and not so pure gray; head dark slate-color, with a small nuchal crest of purplish black, neck rather lighter ashy; sides of face and ear-coverts also ashy gray; cheeks and throat white; neck dark slaty gray, as also the sides of the body, under wing-coverts, and axillars; lower throat, fore neck, and chest very broadly streaked with black, the black very thickly developed on throat, sparsely on fore neck, and represented by a few black streaks on sides of body; on each side of chest the black patch of the adult is represented by a dusky patch of feathers, relieved by several broad white streaks; on bend of wing a tinge of rust-color, which also pervades the black-streaked feathers of throat and fore neck.” (Sharpe.)