《Colonial Nesting Wading Birds》.pdfVIP

Colonial Nesting Wading Birds Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Egret Casmerodius albus Green Heron Butorides virescens Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea Snowy Egret Egretta thula Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor White Ibis Eudocimus albus Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea Contributors: Elizabeth A. Ciuzio and Thomas M. Murphy DESCRIPTION Photo of White Ibis by SC DNR Taxonomy and Basic Description Colonial nesting wading birds are a taxonomically diverse group composed of several different genera. Members of this guild belong to two families: Ardeidae (herons and egrets) and Plataleidae (ibises). Colonial nesting wading birds are medium to large birds that have long legs, necks and bills; these features are specially adapted for capturing prey while wading in shallow water. The glossy and white ibises have long, narrow bills that enable sub-surface, tactile feeding. Colonial wading birds are among the most striking birds in North America. The white ibis, great and snowy egrets are white birds; however the white ibis has black primaries, visible during flight. These three species are easily distinguished from each other by size or color of the bill or legs: the white ibis has a scarlet bill and legs; the snowy egret has yellow feet; and the great egret is tall with a yellow bill and black legs. Juvenile little blue herons are also white. On the other extreme, the glossy ibis appears as an all dark bird from a distance. Upon closer inspection, the glossy ibis is actually a glossy chestnut color. Little blue, great blue and tricolored herons as