ARDEOLA.
Smaller Herons ; tarsus shorter ; plumage not entirely white.
Ardeola ibis ibis (L.). BUFF-BACKED HERON. Fr. Heron garde-bceuf ; Ger. Kuhreiher ; ited. Airone guarda-buoi.
8' summer. White ; crown with lengthened feathers, chest and dorsal plumes reddish buff. In winter long dorsal plumes are absent and feathers on crown are shorter, crown is pale buff, chest and back white tinged creamy buff. Bill, orbital skin, legs, feet and irides yellow. Wing 8' ? 247-255. Tarsus 78-85. Bill 54-57. ? in summer resembles 8' ; in winter chest and back are white. Young like winter ?, legs dark greenish brown.
Breeds.—Spain and Portugal, N.W. Africa, Egypt and through Africa and S.W. Asia. Partly migratory ; many winter S. Spain ; casual in Europe outside breeding range, twice in England.
Ardeola ralloides Scopoli. SQUACCO HERON. Fr. Heron crabier ; Ger. Rallenreiher ; Ital. Sgarza-ciuffeto.
summer. Wings, lower back, tail and underparts white ; crown (dark striped), neck, breast and lateral dorsal plumes ochreous buff, central dorsal plumes vinous. In autumn dorsal plumes are lost, foreback and scapulars yellowish brown. Bill blackish horn, greenish at base below. Legs and feet in summer yellow, in winter yellowish green. Iris yellow. Wing 205-235. Tarsus 57-64. Bill 58-65. Immature birds have back brown, little or no ochreous colour, neck more streaked, and primaries with brown shafts.
Breeds.—N.W. Africa and S. Spain, Hungary, Rumania, Lower Danube Valley, W. Balkans, S.W. Russia, Volga and Ural districts ; also S.W. Asia and through Africa. Migrates ; occurs on passage in Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Greece, Madeira and Canaries. Casual in N.W. Europe, including Britain.