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Fresh Water

325 Bird Species

Acadian Flycatcher

This species is heavy-billed and long-winged compared to most other Empidonax flycatchers. Upperparts are bright olive green. The dusky-green to blackish wings show two wing bars (whitish in spring, buffy in autumn) and very long primary projection. The complete eye ring is thin and yellowish. The th more...

Length: 15 cm Wingspan: 22 cm

Alder Flycatcher

This species is nearly identical to Willow Flycatcher. Alder and Willow Flycatchers were once considered the same species, Traill's Flycatcher. The two are best distinguished by voice. Upperparts are olive, with darker grayish tones on head. The blackish wings show two whitish wing bars and fairly lo more...

Length: 13 cm Wingspan: 20 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 Bittern

A rather compact heron-like bird with a fairly long tapering neck and head. The head is mostly brown with white supercillium and pale iris. Large, long, sharp, dirty-yellowish bill. White throat bordered with dark malar. Neck patterned with broad, bold brown vertical stripes. Heavy body with smudgy, more...

Length: 71 cm Wingspan: 107 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 Dipper

Dark, plump aquatic songbird with stout tail and short wings. Adults slate-colored, with brown cast on head. Pale legs and small, dark bill. Juveniles have paler belly and especially throat, with lighter bill and white scalloping on the wings. Belly may have light streaks. more...

Length: 19 cm Wingspan: 23 cm

American Flamingo

These mostly pink, tall long-legged wading birds are unmistakeable. Pink head, pale iris and large chunky pale bill with black and pink tip. Long, slender and curved pink neck and pink body. Extremely long, dull pink legs, brightest at joints. In flight, black and pink wings. Sexes similar. Juvenile more...

Length: 117 cm Wingspan: 152 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 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

Arctic Tern

One of several small white terns that do not attain full adult alternate plumage until at least their third summer (three years after hatch year), this species is slightly smaller, shorter-legged, and shorter-billed than similar Common, Forster's and Roseate terns. Alternate adult has gray back and w more...

Length: 30 cm Wingspan: 78 cm

Bahama Swallow

This species is recognized by its long forked tail and bright white underparts. Male: Dark metallic green crown and back, with the dark of the crown extending below the eyes. The upperside of the wings and tail are dark metallic blue. The underparts, including the cheek and the underwing coverts, are more...

Length: 14 cm Wingspan: 28 cm

Baikal Teal

This Asian species could be overlooked in a flock of similar Green-winged Teal. Male: Striking head pattern is distinctive, with dark crown, green nape, and buffy face with bold black line extending down from the eye. The breast is pinkish with black spots. The sides are gray with vertical white bord more...

Length: 38 cm Wingspan: 51 cm