Water Bird Field Guide

Long-legged Waders and Shore Birds

• One type of water bird, known as a wader, includes herons, flamingos, cranes and storks which wade into streams, ponds, lakes--even the ocean, depending on where they live--to feed on fish and other small aquatic animals. They often have long legs and sharp beaks to skewer fish or pick at snails or aquatic crustaceans.

  Some birds similar to waders are quite small, but the distance they wade into the water is proportional to their stature. These shore birds will stand on the edges of lakes or run along the shore of an ocean to feed. They often pluck their food from the sand or mud after a wave has rolled over it. They consist of birds like sandpipers, plovers and avocets and are very small and quick, relying primarily on their speed on land over their ability to fly away quickly.

Upright Perching Water Birds

• Some water birds sit on low perches overlooking the water like a fallen tree or stump or a cliff outcropping. This offers them both protection and an excellent view of what is swimming beneath them which they can prey upon. These types of water fowl include varieties of cormorants, auklets and puffins. They live near both fresh water and the ocean. These water birds are known for being able to fly and dive quickly, in order to hunt and catch food efficiently.

Gulls

• There are a wide variety of gulls, or gull-related birds. They have more rounded beaks and large wingspans, often traveling, nesting and feeding in large groups. These birds spend a great deal of time in the air, hovering over the water in search of food. They also spend a good amount of time actually floating in the water, feeding and relaxing. Gulls are one of the most prevalent in oceans but also live around freshwater lakes, and are incredibly aggressive when it comes to food and territory. Gulls-type birds include all varieties of seagulls, albatross, shearwaters and boobies.

Floating Birds

• The most recognizable birds when it comes to identifying water fowl are many species of ducks, swans, geese and pelicans as they are numerous in lakes, rivers and metropolitan areas and on the ocean. They float along the surface, bathing and feeding, using their webbed feet to propel them through the water. These water birds usually nest by the water, as it offers a great escape route from predators on land.

Marsh Birds

• Marsh birds are much more difficult to locate as they stay hidden much of the time in dense marsh land and these water birds are some of the toughest for real birders to locate. These birds consist of rails, coots and gallinules and they forage in the marsh on aquatic plants and animals. Most marsh bird are incredibly quick as well as camouflaged, as a good defense against numerous predators which may lurk in the marshes.