How to Identify Waterbirds

It isn't always simple to tell waterbirds apart. Was that a great egret, snowy egret or white ibis? If you like bird watching, here's a few pointers to make it easier to identify waterbirds.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• access to river, lake or pond
• binoculars (optional)

1. 
    
   Note the black feet and yellow bill.

   Great Egret - Look for an all white bird with black legs and a yellow bill. It flies with the neck drawn up.

2. 
    
   Note the black bill.

   Snowy Egret - Look for an all white, but smaller bird than the great egret. It has yellow feet, black legs, and a black bill.

3. 
    
   Note curved bill and red legs.

   White Ibis - Identify this one by the curved bill (bright red during breeding season). It shows black wingtips when flying and has red legs. The immature ibis is brown with white underparts.

4. 
    
   Note light feathers on the head with dark streak.

   Great Blue Heron - Watch for a large, gray-blue bird with a heavy yellow bill. You'll see the neck extended when it takes off, but tucked back against the body in an "S" shape when flying.

5. 
    
   Note color and beak.

   Little Blue Heron - Although this one goes through color stages (white and then mottled when young), usually it is slate blue with a blue/gray beak with black tip. Look for it along the water's edge. It has greenish legs and is much smaller than the great blue heron.

6. 
    

   Limpkin - Notice a large bird with a brown body with white flecks and long dark olive legs. It has a slow, limping style of walking. It isn't nearly as showy as the egrets or herons.

7. 
    
   Note black wingtips.

   Wood Stork - Watch for a white bird with a black featherless head, heavy bill, and pink feet. Black shows on its wings when flying. Storks fly with the head extended, not tucked up like herons and egrets.

8. 
    
   Note female with lighter neck.

   Anhinga - Notice their long, snakelike neck, straight bill, and a long tail. Females have brownish necks. It swims with the body low in the water, diving often. To take flight, it runs across the top of the water. Often you'll see them with their wings spread to dry.

9. 
    
   Note curved beak.

   Cormorant - At first you may think it's an anhinga, as it looks and behaves very similar to those. Note that the cormorant has a curved beak and swims more on the surface of the water. Its neck is not as snakelike.

10. 
     
    Note red forehead.

    Common Gallinule - Watch for a duck-like shape and a distinct red shield on its forehead.

Tips & Warnings

• You can't always get close enough for positive identification. If not, just enjoy the bird watching and hope for closer views another time.

[boatst]

on 2/14/2009 Great article about birds. They are here to watch and enjoy.