Near Shore Birds

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BIRDS



Birds of Prey
EaglesFalconsHawksOspreyOwls


Waterfowl
DucksGeeseSwansCormorantsLoonsGrebes


Near Shore Birds
BitternsCranesEgretsHeronsPloversRailsKingfisherPhalaropesSandpipers


Galliforms
GrousePheasantsTurkeys


Corvids
CrowsJays


Other Birds
BlackbirdsCardinalsChickadeesCreepersCuckoosDovesFinchesGrosbeaksGullsHummingbirdsKingletsLarksNight JarsNuthatchesOriolesPigeonsPipitsShrikeSparrowsStarlingsSwiftsSwallowsTernsTanagersThrashersThrushesTitmiceTowheesTyrant FlycatchersWarblersWaxwingsWoodpeckersWrensVireoVultures

Not an official term, local "Near Shore Birds" is meant here to categorize Groups of birds that live, hunt and breed near shore. This includes locations such as swamps, marshes, mudflats and shorelines.

Bitterns

American Bittern

(Botaurus lentiginosus)

UCOMMON TO COMMON: Migrates south for the winter, sightings in appropriate habitat easier when they first arrive in the spring, before the marshes have grown in.
Can be generally located by their unique call. American Bitterns are medium-sized herons with thick, compact bodies. They have shorter legs and thicker necks than typical herons and a slightly hunched posture. The daggerlike bill is long, straight, and sharply pointed. The wings are broad but the wingtips are somewhat pointed. American Bitterns are mostly warm brown, buff, and white. They are strongly streaked, especially on the neck, and they can be very hard to see against marsh vegetation. In flight the dark outer wings contrast sharply with the brown of the rest of the bird. Bitterns are stealth predators and typically stand motionless as they wait for prey to approach, or stalk it with barely perceptible motions. They adopt a classic pose when alarmed, with the beak pointing straight up, helping this streaky bird blend in with its reedy background. They tend to forage alone. Look for American Bitterns in shallow freshwater marshes, typically toward the margins and among reeds and other vegetation; they are rarely out in the open.

American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) - © Ken Czworka
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) - © Ken Czworka





Least Bittern

(Ixobrychus exilis)
COMMON: Migrates south for the winter, here through the warmer months of the year. Heard more than seen.
This diminutive heron is fairly common in its preferred wetland habitat, but secretive and easily overlooked. Found in marshes with a mix of open water and vegetation, often with cattails, phragmites, or lily pads. Usually seen perched motionless, straddling reeds at the edge of water or on a short dash flying just above the reeds. Its soft song, "coo-coo-coo," is heard at night. Attractive pattern of orange, black, and white is distinctive among herons. Female drabber than male. Feeds on small fish.


Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) - © Ken Czworka
Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) - © Ken Czworka


Cranes

Sandhill Crane

(Grus canadensis)
UNCOMMON: Seen in low numbers in limited, suitable habitat. Sandhill Cranes are very large, tall birds with a long neck, long legs, and very broad wings. The bulky body tapers into a slender neck; the short tail is covered by drooping feathers that form a “bustle.” The head is small and the bill is straight and longer than the head.

These are slate gray birds, often with a rusty wash on the upperparts. Adults have a pale cheek and red skin on the crown. Their legs are black. Juveniles are gray and rusty brown, without the pale cheek or red crown. Sandhill Cranes forage for grains and invertebrates in prairies, grasslands, and marshes. They do not hunt in open water or hunch their necks the way herons do. Sandhill Cranes form extremely large flocks—into the tens of thousands—on their wintering grounds and during migration. They often migrate very high in the sky. Sandhill Cranes breed and forage in open prairies, grasslands, and wetlands. Outside of the breeding season, they often roost in deeper water of ponds or lakes, where they are safe from predators. Migratory birds most likely to be seen in and around the Iroquois National Wildlife Refuge. Otherwise seen in other areas as a flyover.

Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) - © Ken Czworka
Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) - © Ken Czworka


Egrets

Great Egret

(Ardea alba)
COMMON: in suitable habitat.
Great Egrets are tall, long-legged wading birds with long, S-curved necks and long, dagger-like bills. In flight, the long neck is tucked in and the legs extend far beyond the tip of the short tail. All feathers on Great Egrets are white. Their bills are yellowish-orange, and the legs black. Great Egrets wade in shallow water (both fresh and salt) to hunt fish, frogs, and other small aquatic animals. They typically stand still and watch for unsuspecting prey to pass by. Then, with startling speed, the egrets strike with a jab of their long neck and bill. You’ll find Great Egrets in both freshwater and saltwater habitats. They tend to nest in colonies, typically placing stick nests high in trees, often on islands that are isolated from mammalian predators such as raccoons. The Great Egret is fairly common throughout Western New York. Most migrate south for the cold weather months, however there are always a few that will winter over and can be found where water remains ice free.

Great Egret (Ardea alba) - © Ken Czworka
Great Egret (Ardea alba) - © Ken Czworka

Cattle Egret

(Bubulcus ibis)
RARE to UNCOMMON: Western New York is not in the normal range to see Cattle Egret, However they do expand to the north at times, post breeding season.
Compared with other herons, Cattle Egrets are noticeably small and compact. They have relatively short legs and a short thick neck. The straight, dagger-like bill is shorter and thicker than other herons. They have medium-length, broad, rounded wings. Adult Cattle Egrets are all white with a yellow bill and legs. In breeding plumage they have golden plumes on their head, chest, and back. Juveniles have dark legs and bill. Cattle Egrets stalk insects and other small animals on the ground in grassy fields. They are much less often seen in water than other herons. They nest in dense colonies of stick nests in trees or emergent wetlands, often mixed with other species of herons. They forage in flocks in upland areas such as pastures and fields, generally focusing on drier habitats than other species of white herons.


Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) - © Ken Czworka


Snowy Egret

(Egretta thula)
RARE: Western New York is out of the Snowy Egret 's normal range, however some find their way to the region every now and then.
These are medium-sized herons with long, thin legs and long, slender, bills. Their long, thin neck sets the small head well away from the body. Adult Snowy Egrets are all white with a black bill, black legs, and yellow feet. They have a patch of yellow skin at the base of the bill. Immature Snowy Egrets have duller, greenish legs. Snowy Egrets wade in shallow water to spear fish and other small aquatic animals. While they may employ a sit-and-wait technique to capture their food, sometimes they are much more animated, running back and forth through the water with their wings spread, chasing their prey. They are most common along the coast, though they do breed patchily in inland wetlands. Snowy Egrets nest colonially, usually on protected islands, and often with other small herons. They concentrate on mudflats, beaches, and wetlands, but also forage in wet agricultural fields and along the edges of rivers and lakes.


Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) - © Ken Czworka
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) - © Ken Czworka


Herons

Great Blue Heron

(Ardea herodias)
COMMON: Found in suitable habitat throughout Western New York. Many migrate south for the winter months, however decent numbers can be found year round where ice free water persists.
Largest of the North American herons with long legs, a sinuous neck, and thick, dagger-like bill. Head, chest, and wing plumes give a shaggy appearance. In flight, the Great Blue Heron curls its neck into a tight “S” shape; its wings are broad and rounded and its legs trail well beyond the tail. Great Blue Herons appear blue-gray from a distance, with a wide black stripe over the eye. In flight, the upper side of the wing is two-toned: pale on the forewing and darker on the flight feathers. Hunting Great Blue Herons wade slowly or stand statue-like, stalking fish and other prey in shallow water or open fields. Watch for the lightning-fast thrust of the neck and head as they stab with their strong bills. Their very slow wingbeats, tucked-in neck and trailing legs create an unmistakable image in flight. Look for Great Blue Herons in saltwater and freshwater habitats, from open coasts, marshes, sloughs, riverbanks, and lakes to backyard goldfish ponds. They also forage in grasslands and agricultural fields. Breeding birds gather in colonies or “rookeries” to build stick nests high off the ground.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) - © Ken Czworka
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) - © Ken Czworka


Green Heron

(Butorides virescens)
COMMON: Migrates south for the winter. Mid-Spring, Summer and early fall are the best times to find them.
Compared with most herons, Green Herons are short and stocky, with relatively short legs and thick necks that are often drawn up against their bodies. They have broad, rounded wings and a long, daggerlike bill. They sometimes raise their crown feathers into a short crest. From a distance Green Herons look all dark. In better light they are deep green on the back with a rich chestnut breast and neck. The wings are dark gray. Juveniles are browner, with pale streaking on the neck and spots on the wings. Green Herons stand motionless at the water’s edge as they hunt for fish and amphibians. They typically stand on vegetation or solid ground, and they don’t wade as often as larger herons. In flight these compact herons can look ungainly, often partially uncrooking their necks to give a front-heavy appearance. Green Herons live around wooded ponds, marshes, rivers, reservoirs, and estuaries.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - © Ken Czworka
Green Heron (Butorides virescens) - © Ken Czworka


Black-Crowned Night-Heron

(Nycticorax nycticorax)
COMMON: Seen regularly throughout spring, summer and early fall in appropriate habitat.
Black-crowned Night-Herons are small herons with rather squat, thick proportions. They have thick necks, large, flat heads, and heavy, pointed bills. The legs are short and, in flight, barely reach the end of the tail. The wings are broad and rounded. Adults are light-gray birds with a neatly defined black back and black crown. Immatures are brown with large white spots on the wings and blurry streaks on the underparts. Adults have all-black bills; immatures have yellow-and-black bills. Black-crowned Night-Herons often spend their days perched on tree limbs or concealed among foliage and branches. They forage in the evening and at night, in water, on mudflats, and on land. In flight they fold their head back against their shoulders, almost making the neck disappear. These are social birds that tend to roost and nest in groups, although they typically forage on their own. Look for them in most wetland habitats across North America, including estuaries, marshes, streams, lakes, and reservoirs.

Black-Crowned Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - © Thomas G Hessler
Black-Crowned Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) - © Thomas G Hessler


Yellow-Crowned Night-Heron

(Nyctanassa violacea)
UNCOMMON To RARE: Rarely seen in Western New York, however post-breeding migration may bring one north ever so often.
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons are fairly small herons with stocky bodies and short, thick necks, and short legs. They have large, blocky heads with thick, relatively short bills. In flight, the wings are broad and rounded. Adults are cloudy gray birds with a bold face pattern: a black head with large white cheek patch, and a creamy yellow crown and head plumes. Immatures are brown with fine white spots on the back and wings; the underparts are streaky. The legs are orange-yellow, brighter in adults. Yellow-crowned Night-Herons slowly stalk prey in or near shallow water, usually alone, with a hunched, forward-leaning posture. They perch quietly on stumps and tree branches, often over water. The majority of their prey is crustaceans, especially crabs and crayfish. They are most common in coastal wetlands barrier islands, saltmarshes, drainage ditches, and mangroves; they also occur inland along bottomland forests, swamps, and sometimes wet lawns or fields.


Yellow-Crowned Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) - © Thomas G Hessler