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Coastal-cliffs-sm

Coastal Cliffs

43 Bird Species
Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Named for its ragged patch of head feathers resembling gray hair in alternate plumage, the diminutive Ancient Murrelet has a black head and bib, partial white collar, gray back, straw-yellow bill, and white underparts. In winter, the white head streaks fade and the black bib is encroached by white. A more...

Length: 26 cm Wingspan: 43 cm

Atlantic Puffin

Atlantic Puffin

Unmistakable; the only puffin found in the Atlantic Ocean. Crisply marked with black upperparts, white underparts, a black breast band, white face, orange legs, and large blue and orange bill. A bit smaller than Tufted and Horned Puffins, which are unknown from Eastern North America. Without range as more...

Length: 32 cm Wingspan: 53 cm

Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

This small goose is a rare visitor from Europe. Single birds in North America have long been presumed escapees, but there is increasing evidence that at least some are legitimate vagrants. The mostly white face contrasts with the otherwise black nape, neck, and breast. A dark line extends through the more...

Length: 58 cm Wingspan: 132 cm

Black Noddy

Black Noddy

A dark, tern-like bird, rare on Texas coast and Dry Tortugas in Florida. Adult, unusual in North America, is black with white cap, slender black bill, and short black legs. Juveniles and immatures are entirely dark with sharply contrasting white cap and pale wing coverts. Brown Noddy is browner overa more...

Length: 34 cm Wingspan: 76 cm

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe

This phoebe is instantly recognized by its stark black and white pattern, peaked hind crown, and tail bobbing. The upperparts, head, breast, and sides are black. The belly and undertail coverts are white. Wing feathers show indistinct pale edges. At close range, note the white outer web of the outerm more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 27 cm

Black Swift

Black Swift

This is the largest regularly occurring swift in North America. Blackish overall. At close range, shows a whitish cast on the face. The wings are long and broad and usually appear somewhat curved in flight. The tail is fairly long and wide, clearly notched on adult males, more squared on females and more...

Length: 18 cm Wingspan: 38 cm

Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

This smallish gull is short-legged and short-billed. At rest, the tail is slightly notched. Alternate Adult: Medium gray mantle, with all-white head, tail, and underparts. The legs are short and black. Bill is all yellow. At close range, note the red eye ring and gape. Basic Adult: Blackish spot on a more...

Length: 38 cm Wingspan: 93 cm

Black-tailed Gull

Black-tailed Gull

This Asian species is one of the few gulls that shows black on the tail as an adult. Distinguished in all plumages by its long thin bill with no gonydeal expansion. Alternate Adult: The mantle is dark gray. The head and underparts are white. The tail has a broad black band, completely edged in white. more...

Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 119 cm

Brandt's Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorant

Similar in length, but slightly slimmer overall than Double-crested Cormorant. In flight, they hold their necks straighter; neck and head more streamlined than Double-crested. Adults are all black. During nesting season, they show some greenish iridescence, a bright azure blue throat pouch, and may h more...

Length: 80 cm Wingspan: 120 cm

Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Boobies are large and distinctive in shape with long slightly crooked pointed wings, fairly long necks that taper into a slender head and long pointed bill, with a lot of neck and head extension in front of the wing. The rump and tail extend well behind the wings tapering to a fairly narrow wedge-sha more...

Length: 76 cm Wingspan: 145 cm

Brown Noddy

Brown Noddy

A dark, tern-like bird, breeds on Dry Tortugas in Florida. Adult is dark brown overall with white forehead, long and stout black bill, and short black legs. Juveniles and immatures are entirely dark brown with white forehead and pale wing coverts. Sexes are similar. Black Noddy is black overall with more...

Length: 39 cm Wingspan: 81 cm

Cassin's Auklet

Cassin's Auklet

Often described as a flying football, this species is chunky, thick-necked, rounded, and evenly shaded over most of its body. It is sooty charcoal gray on the back, head, and breast. The belly and undertail vary from medium gray to near white. The bill is fairly stout, mostly dark with a pale area a more...

Length: 23 cm Wingspan: 38 cm

Common Murre

Common Murre

Dense breeding colonies of Common Murres often reach tens of thousands of individuals, making this one of the more abundant seabirds along the rocky coastlines of eastern and western North America. Fully-grown, murres are larger than murrelets and auklets with a long chisel-shaped bill. Recently-fled more...

Length: 45 cm Wingspan: 66 cm

Crested Auklet

Crested Auklet

Small and chunky, the Crested Auklet is named for its thick, upright, forward-curling crest in alternate plumage. Adults are dark-bodied with a stubby orange bill, pale eye, and a single thin white plume drooping behind the eye. In basic plumage, the crest is shorter, white plumes are dropped, and th more...

Length: 20 cm Wingspan: 43 cm

Dovekie

Dovekie

This tiny seabird typically swims tilted forward with head down, giving a thick-necked and short-tailed appearance. Adults in alternate plumage have black wings, back, head, and throat, with a short, stubby bill. In basic plumage, the throat is white, wrapping up behind the eye, leaving a dark neck b more...

Length: 21 cm Wingspan: 38 cm

Eurasian Jackdaw

Eurasian Jackdaw

This small Eurasian crow has been found several times in northeastern North America. Adults are blackish overall, with pale gray on the nape that wraps around to the sides of the head. The iris is white. The bill is fairly short, and the wings are short and pointed. Juveniles have darker napes and da more...

Length: 33 cm Wingspan: 43 cm

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  • Ancient Murrelet

    Ancient Murrelet

    5 Photographs
  • Atlantic Puffin

    Atlantic Puffin

    9 Photographs
  • Barnacle Goose

    Barnacle Goose

    4 Photographs
  • Black Noddy

    Black Noddy

    1 Photograph
  • Black Phoebe

    Black Phoebe

    9 Photographs
  • Black Swift

    Black Swift

    6 Photographs
  • Black-legged Kittiwake

    Black-legged Kittiwake

    14 Photographs
  • Black-tailed Gull

    Black-tailed Gull

    12 Photographs
  • Brandt's Cormorant

    Brandt's Cormorant

    8 Photographs
  • Brown Booby

    Brown Booby

    2 Photographs
  • Brown Noddy

    Brown Noddy

    5 Photographs
  • Cassin's Auklet

    Cassin's Auklet

    2 Photographs
  • Common Murre

    Common Murre

    22 Photographs
  • Crested Auklet

    Crested Auklet

    1 Photograph
  • Dovekie

    Dovekie

    4 Photographs
  • Eurasian Jackdaw

    Eurasian Jackdaw

    0 Photographs

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Non-vegetated-areas-sm

Non-vegetated Areas

2 species

Black Swift

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Coastal Cliffs, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands
White-throated Swift

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Coastal Cliffs, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains
Salt-water-sm

Salt Water

43 species

Ancient Murrelet

Ancient Murrelet

Synthliboramphus antiquus

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Atlantic Puffin

Atlantic Puffin

Fratercula arctica

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Open Country and Grasslands
Black Noddy

Black Noddy

Anous minutus

Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches
Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands
Black Swift

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Coastal Cliffs, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands
Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Black-tailed Gull

Black-tailed Gull

Larus crassirostris

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes
Brandt's Cormorant

Brandt's Cormorant

Phalacrocorax penicillatus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches
Brown Booby

Brown Booby

Sula leucogaster

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches
Brown Noddy

Brown Noddy

Anous stolidus

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Cassin's Auklet

Cassin's Auklet

Ptychoramphus aleuticus

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Common Murre

Common Murre

Uria aalge

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Crested Auklet

Crested Auklet

Aethia cristatella

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Dovekie

Dovekie

Alle alle

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Eurasian Jackdaw

Eurasian Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Coastal Cliffs, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands
Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands
Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Lakes Resevoirs
Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Lakes Resevoirs
Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Coastal Cliffs, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows
Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Horned Puffin

Horned Puffin

Fratercula corniculata

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoides

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Sewage Treatment Plants, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Ivory Gull

Ivory Gull

Pagophila eburnea

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches
Least Auklet

Least Auklet

Aethia pusilla

Open Ocean, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Northern Fulmar

Northern Fulmar

Fulmarus glacialis

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Northern Gannet

Northern Gannet

Morus bassanus

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Parakeet Auklet

Parakeet Auklet

Aethia psittacula

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Pelagic Cormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Pigeon Guillemot

Pigeon Guillemot

Cepphus columba

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Razorbill

Razorbill

Alca torda

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Red-faced Cormorant

Red-faced Cormorant

Phalacrocorax urile

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs
Red-legged Kittiwake

Red-legged Kittiwake

Rissa brevirostris

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Stejneger's Petrel

Stejneger's Petrel

Pterodroma longirostris

Open Ocean, Coastal Cliffs
Steller's Sea-Eagle

Steller's Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs, Ponds and Rivers, Boreal Forest
Thick-billed Murre

Thick-billed Murre

Uria lomvia

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Tufted Puffin

Tufted Puffin

Fratercula cirrhata

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
Western Gull

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Ponds and Rivers
Whiskered Auklet

Whiskered Auklet

Aethia pygmaea

Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs
White Wagtail

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Ponds and Rivers
White-tailed Eagle

White-tailed Eagle

Haliaeetus albicilla

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs
White-throated Swift

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Coastal Cliffs, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains
Yellow-legged Gull

Yellow-legged Gull

Larus michahellis

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches
Human-altered-areas-sm

Human-altered Areas

10 species

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands
Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Black-tailed Gull

Black-tailed Gull

Larus crassirostris

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes
Eurasian Jackdaw

Eurasian Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Coastal Cliffs, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands
Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands
Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Lakes Resevoirs
Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoides

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Sewage Treatment Plants, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Western Gull

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Ponds and Rivers
White Wagtail

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Ponds and Rivers
Fresh-water-sm

Fresh Water

11 species

Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands
Black-legged Kittiwake

Black-legged Kittiwake

Rissa tridactyla

Open Ocean, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands
Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-winged Gull

Larus glaucescens

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Lakes Resevoirs
Great Cormorant

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Lakes Resevoirs
Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Coastal Cliffs, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows
Herring Gull

Herring Gull

Larus argentatus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Iceland Gull

Iceland Gull

Larus glaucoides

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Sewage Treatment Plants, Dams, Lakes Resevoirs
Steller's Sea-Eagle

Steller's Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs, Ponds and Rivers, Boreal Forest
Western Gull

Western Gull

Larus occidentalis

Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Ponds and Rivers
White Wagtail

White Wagtail

Motacilla alba

Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Ponds and Rivers
Grassland-and-scrubland-sm

Grassland and Scrubland

6 species

Barnacle Goose

Barnacle Goose

Branta leucopsis

Rocky Shores, Coastal Cliffs, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Saltmarshes, Open Country and Grasslands
Black Phoebe

Black Phoebe

Sayornis nigricans

Coastal Cliffs, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Fresh Water Marshes, Ponds and Rivers, Open Country and Grasslands
Eurasian Jackdaw

Eurasian Jackdaw

Corvus monedula

Coastal Cliffs, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Open Country and Grasslands
Glaucous Gull

Glaucous Gull

Larus hyperboreus

Open Ocean, Estuaries and Bays, Inshore Waters, Coastal Cliffs, Beaches, Urban Landscapes, Suburban/residential Landscapes, Sewage Treatment Plants, Fresh Water Marshes, Lakes Resevoirs, Open Country and Grasslands
Gyrfalcon

Gyrfalcon

Falco rusticolus

Coastal Cliffs, Tidal Mudflats and Shallows, Fresh Water Marshes, Open Country and Grasslands, Alpine Tundra and Meadows
White-throated Swift

White-throated Swift

Aeronautes saxatalis

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Rimrocks and Mesas, Coastal Cliffs, Deserts and Sagebrush Plains
Forest-and-woodlands-sm

Forest and Woodlands

2 species

Black Swift

Black Swift

Cypseloides niger

Rocky Cliffs and Gorges, Coastal Cliffs, Western Confierous Forest, Dry Western Woodlands
Steller's Sea-Eagle

Steller's Sea-Eagle

Haliaeetus pelagicus

Estuaries and Bays, Coastal Cliffs, Ponds and Rivers, Boreal Forest
43
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