BirdFellow - Birding services, social networking, and habitat conservation

Estuaries and Bays

132 Bird Species

Aleutian Tern

A slender, gray tern of coastal Alaska. Alternate Adult has gray back, wings, and underparts, forked white tail, white face, black cap and eyeline, white forehead, thin black bill, and black legs. Basic Adult has dark primaries, white underparts, blackish smudge on shoulder, and white head with black more...

Length: 30 cm Wingspan: 74 cm

American Avocet

This species is recognized by its bold black-and-white pattern, long blue-gray legs, and long upturned bill. Alternate Adult: Wings are black with white scapulars and secondaries. The back and underparts are white. The head, neck, and upper breast are buffy orange to cinnamon--about the color of a pe more...

Length: 43 cm Wingspan: 69 cm

American Black Duck

This large dabbling duck is very dark brown overall. Back and flank feathers lack paler margins, resulting in a less patterned appearance than most other female dabbling ducks. The head and neck are paler with a dark crown, dark line through the eye, and fine streaking. Only Mottled Duck compares in more...

Length: 48 cm Wingspan: 84 cm

American Coot

A small, dark, duck-like rail. Adults solid charcoal gray with a white, chicken-like bill, red or white forehead, and pale yellow legs with large feet and large lobed toes. Juveniles have paler bellies, gray legs and feet and a grayer bill. Very similar to Eurasian and Caribbean Coots. Larger and les more...

Length: 39 cm Wingspan: 61 cm

American Golden-Plover

Very similar to other golden-plovers. At rest, the wingtips of this species extend well beyond the tail, with four or five primaries visible beyond the tertials. In flight, the undersides of the wings are gray. The upperside of the wings show an indistinct white stripe. In flight, the toes usually do more...

Length: 25 cm Wingspan: 46 cm

American Oystercatcher

A large, stocky shorebird with contrastingly black-and-white plumage, a long, orange-red bill and sturdy, flesh-colored legs. Head, neck and upper breast black. Upperparts dark brown with black primaries and a white wingbar. Underparts white. In flight, shows a bold white wingbar and a white band acr more...

Length: 44 cm Wingspan: 81 cm

American White Pelican

Very large mostly white waterbird with black wingtips. Head is disproportionately large with a huge, long bill with extensible pouch and, in breeding season, horn on upper mandible. Neck long, crooked in flight. Body mostly white; immatures have dusky markings on wings. Bill and skin around eye orang more...

Length: 155 cm Wingspan: 274 cm

American Wigeon

A chunky dabbling duck with short legs and a long tail. The distinctive head shape, characterized by a steep forehead, high forecrown, and sloped crown, is less round than most other dabbling ducks. Male: Head is mostly gray with fine black mottling with a white crown, and a bold iridescent green str more...

Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 76 cm

Anhinga

Large, black, slender cormorant-like bird with longer tail and neck. Long, yellowish, pointy bill. Adult male: black overall. Short white plumes and sides of head and neck. Orange patch at base of bill. Dark greenish lores. Silvery-white wing panels. White streaks and spots on scapular feathers and b more...

Length: 89 cm Wingspan: 114 cm

Arctic Loon

Accidental outside Western Alaska. In all plumages, note the white flank tuft above waterline. Otherwise, similar to Pacific Loon but slightly larger and heavier-billed; alternate adult has black back with white patches, black throat, vertical white lines on neck, and gray head and nape. Nape is slig more...

Length: 69 cm Wingspan: 102 cm

Bald Eagle

Familiar to most as the avian symbol of the United States; adults are instantly recognizeable. They are dark brown overall with a gleaming white head and tail. The bill and feet are yellow, as is the eye. When soaring, the wings are held flat. At a distance, when the white head and tail blend in with more...

Length: 86 cm Wingspan: 183 cm

Barrow's Goldeneye

A compact diving duck with a puffy head and short thick bill. The forehead is extremely steep; sometimes extending forward from the base of the bill. This feature is often the most reliable for distinguishing female and young birds from the similar Common Goldeneye. Male: Black head with purple iride more...

Length: 41 cm Wingspan: 76 cm

Belted Kingfisher

The only kingfisher across most of North America, this species is often seen perched on power lines and other exposed perches over water. It is easily recognized by its large angular head, its shaggy crest and long bill. The upperparts are slaty blue-gray, with a white collar extending almost all the more...

Length: 28 cm Wingspan: 56 cm

Black Scoter

The smallest of the three scoter species, Black Scoters are recognized by their smaller bills and round foreheads. Males: Plumage is all black. The base of the bill is covered by an orange-yellow knob. Females: Dark brown with a small dark bill. Pale cheeks and throat contrast with dark crown and hin more...

Length: 43 cm Wingspan: 76 cm

Black Skimmer

A distinctive coastal bird of Eastern and Southern North America. Adult is tern-like, with long wings, short legs, and short neck. Back and wings are black, underparts white. Head is white with black cap and, in alternate plumage, black nape. Unique bill is long and relatively thick vertically, while more...

Length: 46 cm Wingspan: 112 cm

Black Tern

A small, dark tern. Flight is buoyant with deep slashing wingstrokes. Alternate Adult has blackish body, gray wings reaching well beyond short tail, white vent, short black legs, and sharp, slender bill. Basic Adult is mostly white (may be mistaken for a small gull), retaining gray wings and back, wi more...

Length: 25 cm Wingspan: 61 cm