Family: ArdeidaeHabitat: Found in fresh-water and brackish marshes, usually with tall, emergent vegetation (A.O.U. 1998).
Distribution: Breeding range extends from southeastern Alaska, southern Mackenzie, northern Manitoba, northern Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland south to California, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, western Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, northeastern West Virginia, Maryland, and Virginia. Generally winters from British Columbia, Washington, Utah, northern Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, the Gulf coast states, and southern New England south into Mexico (A.O.U. 1998).
Field Marks: Generally brown in color, with blackish-brown moustache on side of neck; paler below, with brown streaks Call is loud and diagnostic.
Nest Habits: Nest is placed near or over water, in dense growth of cattails, grasses, sedges, or other available vegetation and is built from dried and living plant material such as sticks, grass, and sedges.
Eggs: 2-7, usually 4-5; 49 millimeter; buff-brown to olive-buff in color.
Incubation: The female incubates the eggs and cares for the young. Incubation usually lasts about 28-29 days.
