untitled
Over 290 Bird species can be seen in the Coastal South Texas Area !
The following species can be found on this page with a short description to help indentify them.
TIP:double click your mouse on any word for instant word definition
hawk, crane, loon, heron, egret, lark, plover, vulture, falcon, swallow, cormorant, bittern, grebe, pelican, roseate spoonbill, booby, anhinga, ibis, teal, mallard, goose, and more ...
-
Common Loon
Gavia immer
(71-91 cm).28-36"(71-91cm)Heavy-bodied, thick, pointed, usually black or dark gray bill held horizontally. Breeding plumage, head, neck black with white bands on neck; back black with white spots. In winter, crown, hindneck, upperparts dark grayish; throat, underparts white.
- Eared Grebe
Podiceps nigricollis
12-14" (30-36 cm). In breeding plumage, black head, back; golden ear tufts; black crest. In winter plumage, dark gray above, white below; neck dusky. Bill appears slightly upturned, sides of face smudged with gray, whitish patch behind ear.
- Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
12-15" (30-38 cm). Pigeon-sized. A stocky, uniformly brownish water bird, with stout whitish bill that has black ring around it during breeding season.
- Least Grebe
Tachybaptus dominicus
8-10" (20-25 cm). Robin-sized. Similar to Pied-billed Grebe, but smaller, with a more slender bill. Brownish gray with orange-yellow eyes and small dark bill.
- Masked Booby
Sula dactylatra
32" (81 cm). White with black tail, black tips and trailing edges to the wings, stout pinkish or orange bill. In breeding season, birds have patch of bare, bluish skin at base of bill.
- American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
55-70" (1.4-1.8 m). W. 8' (2.4 m). A huge white bird with a long flat bill and black wing tips. In breeding season, has short yellowish crest on back of head and horny plate on upper mandible. Young birds duskier than adults.
- Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
45-54" (1.1-1.4 m). W. 7'6" (2.3 m). Large, stocky bird, dark brown body, long flat bill. Only non-white pelican in the world. Head whitish in adults, dark brown on hindneck during breeding season. Young birds have dark brown head, whitish bellies.
- Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
30-35 (76-89 cm). Orange throat pouch and long neck. Long hooked bill tilted upward when swimming. Adults have short tuft of feathers over each eye during breeding season. In flight, the neck shows a slight crook.
- Neotropic Cormorant
Phalacrocorax brasilianus
25" (64 cm). A small, delicate-looking cormorant of southern lagoons and marshes; black glossed with olive, with orange throat pouch narrowly bordered with white.
- Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
34-36" (86-91 cm). Long, slender, S-shaped neck; long, spear-like bill; fan-shaped tail. Male's plumage, greenish iridescence; upper surface of wings silvery gray. Female, tawny-brown neck and breast, sharply set off from black belly.
- Magnificent Frigatebird
Fregata magnificens
38-40" (97-102 cm). W. 7'6" (2.3 m). Black with very long, narrow, pointed wings, deeply forked tail, and long hooked bill. Male, brilliant red throat pouch in breeding season. Female has white breast. Young have white heads and underparts.
- Great Egret
Ardea alba
35-41" (89-104 cm). W. 4'7" (1.4 m). All-white heron with yellow bill, black legs. Breeding plumage, has long lacy plumes on back. Smaller Snowy Egret has black bill, legs, yellow feet.
- Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
39-52" (99-132 cm). W. 5'10" (1.8 m). Large, mainly grayish heron with a pale or yellowish bill. Flies with neck folded, not extended. In southern Florida an all-white form, "Great White Heron," has greenish-yellow rather than black legs.
- American Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
23-34" (58-86 cm). Medium-sized, streaked brown heron. Outer wing appears blackish brown in flight, contrasting with lighter brown of inner wing and body. Adults show long black stripe down side of throat.
- Cattle Egret
Bubulcus ibis
20" (51 cm). Small, stocky white heron, with buff on crown, breast, and back during breeding season. Legs pale yellow or orange in adults, blackish in some immatures. Bill short, yellow or orange; dark in juveniles. No other small white heron has a yellow bill.
- Green Heron
Butorides virescens
16-22" (41-56 cm). A dark, crow-sized heron. Crown black, back and wings dark gray-green or gray-blue (depending on lighting); neck chestnut colored. Bill dark; legs bright orange.
- mmatures have streaks on neck, breast, and sides.
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
25-30" (64-76 cm). W. 3'5" (1 m). Adult slate blue with maroon neck. Bill grayish with black tip; legs greenish. Immature is white, usually with dusky tips on primaries. Snowy Egret, smaller, all white, with black bill and legs, yellow lores and feet.
- Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
20-27" (51-69 cm). W. 3'2" (97 cm). Small, white heron with a slender black bill, black legs, and yellow feet. In breeding season, it has long lacy plumes on its head, neck, and back. Immature bird has yellow stripe up back of leg.
- Tricolored Heron
Egretta tricolor
25-30" (64-76 cm). W. 3'2" (97 cm). A slender gray-blue heron with rufous neck and white belly.
- Least Bittern
Ixobrychus exilis
11-14" (28-36 cm). A tiny, secretive heron with blackish back and conspicuous buff wing patches and underparts. Female and young are similar but duller, more buffy.
- Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Nyctanassa violacea
22-27" (56-69 cm). W. 3'8" (1.1 m). Adult slate-gray with black head, white cheeks, yellowish crown, plumes, black bill, yellow or orange legs. In flight, feet, part of legs extend beyond tail. Immature grayish brown, finely speckled with white above.
- Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
23-28" (58-71 cm). W. 3'8" (1.1 m). A medium-sized, short-necked heron with black crown, back, gray wings, white underparts. Bill short, black, legs pinkish or yellowish. In breeding season it has 2 or more long white plumes on back of head.
- Roseate Spoonbill
Ajaia ajaja
30-32" (76-81 cm). W. 4'5" (1.3 m). Bill long and straight with broad spatulate tip from which the bird gets its name. Mainly white, with brilliant pink wings and flanks, and orange tail; shoulder rich crimson. Immature pale pink and white.
- White Ibis
Eudocimus albus
23-27" (58-69 cm). W. 3'2" (97 cm). Adult white with black wing tips (usually hidden at rest); bare face and down-curved bill are red; legs red in breeding season, otherwise slate-gray. Immatures brown above and white below, with brown bill and legs.
- White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
22-25" (56-64 cm). W. 3'1" (94 cm). Chestnut-bronze marsh bird with long, down-curved bill. Band of white feathers around bare face, red eyes, legs. In winter, has streaks on head, neck, brown eyes.
- Wood Stork
Mycteria americana
40-44" (1-1.1 m). W. 5'6" (1.7 m). White with black flight feathers and tail. Head and neck bare, dark gray. Bill long, stout, and slightly curved; black in adults and dull yellow in immatures. Unlike herons, storks fly with neck extended.
- Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
25-32" (64-81 cm). W. 6' (1.8 m). Eagle-sized blackish bird, In flight, wings held upward in a wide, shallow V; rolls, sways from side to side. Flight feathers silvery below. Tail long; head small, bare, reddish; gray in immatures.
- Black Vulture
Coragyps atratus
22-24" (56-61 cm). W. 4'6" (1.4 m). Black, with white patch near each wing tip, conspicuous in flight; head bare, grayish; feet extend beyond short tail. Flaps its shorter and rounder wings more often and more rapidly than Turkey Vulture.
- Northern Pintail
Anas acuta
Male, 25-29" (64-74 cm); female, 21-23" (53-58 cm). Male, brown head, white underparts, neck, white line extending onto head, grayish back, long black pointed central tail feathers. Inner wing, metallic brown. Female mottled brown, gray, slender.
- American Wigeon
Anas americana
18-23" (46-58 cm). Male is brownish with white crown, green ear patch, and bold white shoulder patches easily visible in flight. Female is mottled brown with grayish head and whitish shoulder patches. Bill pale blue in both sexes
- Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata
17-20" (43-51 cm). Large shovel-shaped bill. Male has green head, white body, and chestnut flanks. Female streaked brown with pale blue shoulder patches; similar to female Blue-winged Teal, but bill much larger.
- Green-winged Teal
Anas crecca
12-16" (30-41 cm). Male,chestnut head, green ear patch, flashing green inner wing, pale gray sides, pinkish breast with a vertical white stripe down the side. Female is dark brown without distinctive markings.
- Cinnamon Teal
Anas cyanoptera
14-17" (36-43 cm). Male bright rufous with pale blue shoulder patches. Female mottled sandy brown, dusky, with pale blue shoulder patches; face plainer than female Blue-wing's, but the two are often not distinguishable in the field.
- Blue-winged Teal
Anas discors
14-16" (36-41 cm). Brown with pale blue shoulder patches. Male, gray head, white crescent in front of eye. Female mottled brown, gray, obscure patterning on face, pale blue shoulder patches like the male.
- Mottled Duck
Anas fulvigula
21" (53 cm). Mottled dark brown and sandy. Similar to a female Mallard, but bill clear yellow or orange-yellow, throat plain tawny, and tail dark rather than whitish.
- Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
18-27" (46-69 cm). Male, green head, white neck ring, chestnut breast, grayish body; inner wing, metallic purplish blue, bordered with white. Female, mottled brown, with white tail, purplish-blue inner wing, mottled orange brown bill.
- Gadwall
Anas strepera
18-21" (46-53 cm). Male is a medium-sized grayish duck with white patch on hind edge of wing, black rump, and sandy brown head. Female mottled brown, with white patch on hind edge of wing.
- Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser albifrons
27-30" (69-76 cm). Dusky-brown goose, conspicuous white belly, undertail coverts; white patch on front of face; underparts barred, flecked with black. Bill usually pink; legs orange. Young birds lack white face and black bars on underparts.
- Lesser Scaup
Aythya affinis
15-18" (38-46 cm). Head angular. Head of male glossed with purple, not green. Female dark brown, small white face patch. In flight, white stripe is shorter than that of the Greater Scaup, which extends three-fourths of the wing's length.
- Redhead
Aythya americana
18-22" (46-56 cm). Male gray, brick-red head, black breast. Female duller, browner, light area around base of bill. Pale gray wing stripe, pale blue-gray bill. Similar Canvasback has whiter body and sloping forehead and bill.
- Ring-necked Duck
Aythya collaris
14-18" (36-46 cm). Male, black back, breast; purple-glossed, black head; pale gray flanks; vertical white mark on side. Female brownish, narrow white eye ring. Bill pale gray with white ring. Angular shape of head, white ring on bill, distinguish from the scaup.
- Canvasback
Aythya valisineria
19-24" (48-61 cm). Male, whitish body, black chest, reddish head with low forehead. Long bill gives head a distinctive sloping profile. Female grayish, sandy-brown head. At a distance males can be distinguished by their white bodies.
- Canada Goose
Branta canadensis
Small races, 22-26" (56-66 cm); large races, 35-45" (89-114 cm). Brownish body with black head, long black neck, conspicuous white cheek patch. The smaller Brant has a shorter neck and lacks white cheek patch.
- Cackling Goose
Branta hutchinsii
22-27" (56-68 cm). Brownish body with black head, long black neck, conspicuous white cheek patch. Shorter neck, bill, and overall size than Canada Goose.
- Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola
13-15" (33-38 cm). Male largely white, with black back, black head with greenish, purplish gloss, large white patch from behind eye to top and back of head. Female all dark, with single whitish patch on cheek. Fast flier, with a rapid wingbeat.
- Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula
16-20" (41-51 cm). Male, white body; black back; black-appearing (glossy greenish) head; round white spot in front of eye. Eye bright yellow. Female grayish, warm brown head, white neck ring, dark bill. Both have large white wing patch, conspicuous in flight.
- Snow Goose
Chen caerulescens
25-31" (64-79 cm). Pure white, black wing tips; bill pink, black "lips"; legs pink. Dark phase, bluish-gray upperparts, brownish underparts, white head, neck. Blue-phase birds have spread westward, often seen among thousands of white Snow Geese.
- Ross's Goose
Chen rossii
24" (61 cm). A Mallard-sized edition of the Snow Goose. White wings, black wing tips, pink bill, and pink legs. Differs from Snow Goose in its smaller size, very stubby bill, and rounder head. The rare blue phase looks like a miniature "Blue Goose" .
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna autumnalis
20-22" (51-56 cm). A tall, long-necked, long-legged duck. Body of adult mainly chestnut and black; bill red; legs pink. Large white wing patch visible in flight. Immature similar but much duller.
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck
Dendrocygna bicolor
18-21" (46-53 cm). A long-legged, long-necked, goose-like duck. Body mainly tawny, with white stripe on side; wings dark; rump and undertail coverts white.Go to top of page
- Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus (Mergus cucullatus)
16-19" (41-48 cm). Slender pointed bill. Male has white, fan-shaped, black-bordered crest, blackish body, dull rusty flanks, white breast with 2 black stripes down side. Female, dull gray-brown, with warmer brown head, crest. Both show white wing patch in flight.
- Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator
19-26" (48-66 cm). Male has green head with wispy crest, gray sides, white neck ring, and rusty breast. Female grayish, with reddish-brown head shading gradually into gray of neck. Both sexes are crested and have red bills.
- Masked Duck
Nomonyx dominicus
12-14" (30-36 cm). A small brown duck with a white wing patch. Breeding male mainly reddish brown, with black face and crown, and pale blue bill. Female, winter male brown, marked with blackish spots, blackish line through eye, dark line across cheek.
- Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
14-16" (36-41 cm). Long tail, often held straight up. Breeding male, chestnut body, black crown, white cheeks. Female/winter male are dusky brown, whitish cheeks of female crossed by dark stripe. Male's bill is blue in breeding season, black at other times.
- Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
14-20" (36-51 cm). W. 28" (71 cm). Long tail, short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, with dark cap, and finely rust-barred below. Immature brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Tail tip rounded, not squared-off.
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipiter striatus
10-14" (25-36 cm). W. 21" (53 cm). Long, narrow, square-tipped tail, short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, pale below, with fine rust-colored barring. Immature, brown above with whitish spots, creamy white below with streaks on breast, barring on flanks.
- White-tailed Hawk
Buteo albicaudatus
21-23" (53-58 cm). W. 4' (1.2 m). A large stocky hawk. Adult gray above, white below, with narrow but conspicuous black band on its short white tail, and rufous shoulder patch. Immature birds dark with gray tail.
- Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
18-25" (46-64 cm). W. 4' (1.2 m). Light-phase birds have whitish breast, rust-colored tail. Broad, rounded wings, white chest. Young birds duller, more streaked, lacking rust-colored tail . Variable in color, some blackish in West, these usually retain rusty tail.
- Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
16-24" (41-61 cm). W. 3'4" (1 m). Large, long-winged hawk with white barring on dark wings, rusty shoulders, pale underparts barred with rust, narrowly banded tail. In flight shows translucent area near tip of wing, visible from below. Young birds streaked below.
- Broad-winged Hawk
Buteo platypterus
13-15" (33-38 cm). W. 33" (84 cm). A stocky, pigeon-sized hawk. Adult plain brown above, barred with rusty color below, with broad black-and-white tail bands. Immatures similar, but sparsely spotted or blotched below, and with tail bands less distinct.
- Ferruginous Hawk
Buteo regalis
22 1/2 -25" (57-64 cm). W. 4' 8" (1.4 m). Light-phase adult rufous above, mainly whitish below, with rufous "wrist" patch, leg feathers, black primary tips. Legs, feet feathered to talons. Immatures resemble light-phase adults, but with few or no rufous markings.
- Swainson's Hawk
Buteo swainsoni
18-22" (46-56 cm). W. 4' 1" (1.2 m). Brown above, white below with warm-brown breast; tail dark brown, indistinctly banded. Long, pointed wings. Young similar to immature Red-tail, but tends to have darker markings on breast, Soars with wings held in shallow V.
- Northern Harrier
Circus cyaneus
16-24" (41-61 cm). W. 3' 6" (1.1 m). Long-winged, long-tailed hawk with a white rump, often seen gliding over marshes with wings held in a shallow V. Male, pale gray back, head, breast; wing tips black. Female, young, brown above, streaked below.
- White-tailed Kite
Elanus leucurus
15-16" (38-41 cm). W. 3' 4" (1 m). Gull-like bird of prey. Largely white, with gray back, black patch on shoulder, undersurface of the pointed wing, white tail. The back, breast of young are streaked with warm brown. Often dangles its feet in flight.
- Mississippi Kite
Ictinia mississippiensis
12-14" (30-36 cm). W. 3' (91 cm). A small bird of prey with narrow pointed wings. Adult gray, paler below and on head; tail and outer flight feathers in wings blackish, inner flight feathers whitish. Young bird streaked below, with banded tail.
- Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
21-24" (53-61 cm). W. 4' 6 "-6' (1.4-1.8 m). A large, long-winged "fish hawk." Brown above and white below; head white with dark line through eye and on side of face. Wing shows distinctive bend at "wrist." At a distance, can resemble a gull.
- Harris's Hawk
Parabuteo unicinctus
18-23" (46-76 cm). W. 3' 7" (1.1 m). A black, crow-sized hawk with chestnut shoulders and thighs, white on rump and base of tail, and white tail tip. Immatures similar but more streaked.
- Crested Caracara
Caracara cheriway
20-22" (51-56 cm). W. 4' (1.2 m). Large, long-legged, hawk-like bird with rounded wings. Dark brown with black cap; bare red face, throat, neck; base of tail white; tip of tail has black band. In flight, large white patches near wing tips.
- Aplomado Falcon
Falco femoralis
15-18" (38-45.5 cm). W. 40-48" (102-122 cm). Small, long- tailed, boldly patterned. Adult blue-gray above, bold "mustache" on face, white eyebrow, black eye stripe. Upper breast buff with heavy streaks; lower breast, flanks black; thighs, belly cinnamon.
- Peregrine Falcon
Falco peregrinus
15-21" (38-53 cm). W. 3' 4" (1 m). Large robust falcon with a black hood and wide black "mustaches." Adults slate-gray above and pale below, with fine black bars and spots. Young birds brown or brownish slate above, heavily streaked below.
- American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
9-12" (23-30 cm). W. 21" (53 cm). A jay-sized falcon, often seen hovering. Rusty tail and back. Adult male has slate-blue wings. Female has rusty wings and back, narrow bands on tail. Both sexes have 2 black stripes on face.
- Plain Chachalaca
Ortalis vetula
18-21" (46-53 cm). W. 26" (66 cm). Crow-sized. Olive-brown, with a long tail glossed with green and tipped with white. Slightly crested, with patches of bare, pinkish-red skin at sides of throat.
- Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Male, 48" (1.2 m); female, 36" (91 cm). Dusky brown, barred, iridescent bronze sheen; head, neck naked, bluish, reddish wattles; tail fan-shaped, chestnut, buff, or white tail tips. Male, spurs, long "beard" on breast. Female smaller, lacks spur.
- Scaled Quail
Callipepla squamata
10-12" (25-30 cm). A small stocky quail, gray-brown above, with buff-white crest. Bluish-gray feathers on breast and mantle have black semicircular edges, creating scaled effect; belly also has brown "scales." Sexes alike.
- Northern Bobwhite
Colinus virginianus
8-11" (20-28 cm). A small, chunky, brown bird; underparts pale and streaked; face patterned in black and white in males, buff and white in females. Usually seen in groups called coveys.
- American Coot
Fulica americana
15" (38 cm). A gray, duck-like bird with white bill and frontal shield, white undertail coverts, and lobed toes. Frontal shield has red swelling at upper edge, visible at close range. Immatures similar but paler, with duller bill.
- Common Moorhen
Gallinula chloropus
13" (33 cm). Constantly bobs its head while swimming. Adult slate-gray, with conspicuous red frontal shield and red bill with yellow tip. White stripe on side; white undertail coverts. Young birds similar but duller, without colorful bill.
- Purple Gallinule
Porphyrula martinica
11-13" (28-33 cm). A strikingly colored, chicken-sized marsh bird. Purplish blue with green upperparts, white undertail coverts, yellowish-green legs, red-and-yellow bill, light blue frontal shield. Immature buffy-brown, with greenish wings, dark bill.
- Sora
Porzana carolina
8-10" (20-25 cm). A quail-sized rail with short yellow bill, gray breast, and black face. Upperparts mottled brown; lower abdomen banded with black and white. Young birds in fall lack black face and have buff breast.
- King Rail
Rallus elegans
15-19" (38-48 cm). Similar to the Clapper Rail of salt marshes but head, neck, shoulders, and underparts rusty. Flanks barred with black and white. Virginia Rail is smaller, with gray patch on face.
- Virginia Rail
Rallus limicola
9-11" (23-28 cm). A small rail with a long reddish bill, rusty underparts, barred flanks, and gray cheeks. Much larger King Rail has dark bill and buff or rusty cheeks. Late-summer young birds are similar to adults, but have blackish breasts and dark bills.
- Clapper Rail
Rallus longirostris
14-16" (36-41 cm). Long-billed, black-and-white barred flanks. Eastern populations, grayish brown without rusty underparts. Gulf Coast, Far West are rustier, do not show rust on shoulders or sides of.
- Sandhill Crane
Grus canadensis
34-48" (86-122 cm). W. 6' 8" (2 m). Very tall, with long neck and legs. Largely gray, with red forehead; immature browner, no red on head. Plumage often appears rusty because of iron stains from water of tundra ponds.
- Snowy Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
5-7" (13-18 cm). A small whitish plover with pale brown upperparts, black legs, slender black bill, and small black mark on each side of breast. The similar Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) has stubbier yellow bill and yellow legs.
- Piping Plover
Charadrius melodus
6-7" (15-18 cm). Sandy upperparts, narrow, incomplete black breast band, stubby bill with orange base, yellowish legs. Young similar, with black bill, broken gray breast band.
- Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
6-8" (15-20 cm). Brown-backed plover, white underparts, 1 black breast band. Bill stubby, yellow-orange, dark tip. Immature; all-black bill, brownish breast band. Piping Plover similar but much paler above. Larger Killdeer has 2 black breast bands.
- Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
9-11" (23-28 cm). Our largest "ringed" plover. Brown above and white below, with 2 black bands across breast, long legs, and relatively long tail. In flight, shows rusty uppertail coverts and rump.
- Wilson's Plover
Charadrius wilsonia
7-8" (18-20 cm). Male brown above and white below with a broad black eye patch and breast band, and heavy black bill. Female similar, but breast band is brown.
- American Golden-Plover
Pluvialis dominica
9-11" (23-28 cm). Breeding plumage, dull golden-brown above, black throat, breast, flanks, belly, undertail coverts; bold white stripe runs from forehead, over eye, down side of neck and breast. Winter, has bold whitish eyebrow, grayish-white underparts.
- Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
10-13" (25-33 cm). Breeding adults gray, flecked light/dark above; black on face, breast; white on belly. Winter, face, breast, white. White wing stripe, white rump, black patch under wing. Young, upperparts flecked, yellow, breast, belly finely streaked.
- American Oystercatcher
Haematopus palliatus
17-21" (43-53 cm). A large stocky shorebird, boldly patterned in blackish brown and white. Bill long and red; legs and feet pink. Shows bold white wing patch in flight.
- Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
13-16" (33-41 cm). A slender, long-legged shorebird. Black above, white below; head patterned in black and white; neck long; bill long and thin; legs very long, red, and slender.
- American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
16-20" (41-51 cm). A large, long-legged shorebird with a slender, upturned bill. Upperparts and wings patterned in black and white; underparts white. Head and neck rust-colored in summer, white in winter.
- Spotted Sandpiper
Actitis macularia
7 1/2" (19 cm). Bobs tail almost constantly. Breeding adults are brown above, with bold white wing stripe, white below with bold black spots on breast and belly. Fall birds lack black spots below, have brownish smudge at sides of breast.
- Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
8-10" (20-25 cm). A stocky shorebird with orange legs. Upperparts mainly rusty red in summer, brown in winter; underparts white. Face, breast have conspicuous black markings, duller but still visible in winter. Bold pattern of black and white visible in flight.
-
Upland Sandpiper
Bartramia longicauda
11-12 1/2" (28-32 cm). Long yellowish legs, slender neck, small head, short bill. Upperparts brown, scaly, underparts streaked, barred. Tail long, wedge-shaped. Often holds wings upward briefly on alighting, exposing black and white barring on underwing.
-
Green Jay
Cyanocorax yncas
12" (30 cm). Strikingly colored, with bright green body and green tail with yellow on the sides; brilliant blue crown and cheeks; rest of head, throat, and breast black.
-
Horned Lark
7-8" (18-20 cm). Larger than a sparrow. Brown, with black stripe below eye, white or yellowish stripe above, black crescent on breast, and black "horns" (not always seen). Walks rather than hops. In flight, tail is black with white edges.
- Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
5 3/4-7 3/4" (15-20 cm). Sparrow-sized. Our most familiar swallow, and the only one with a deeply forked tail. Upperparts dark steel-blue, underparts buff, throat and forehead rusty.
- Cave Swallow
Petrochelidon Fulva (Hirundo Fulva
5 1/2" (14 cm). A stocky swallow with a square tail, steel-blue upperparts, buff throat and rump, and chestnut forehead.
area bird species sources : enature.com
go on to page 2 skip to page 3 go back to home
birdbitsweb@aol.com
·photos ·links guestbook journal· faq ·forum