Birding for Boaters - New Jersey Audubon Society

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Open WaterAmerican Black Duck – this blackbodied,tan-headed duck, about thesize of a Mallard is common duringthe cooler months and nests alongour coast. Look for white underwingflashes when it flies.Double-crested Cormorant –long aerial lines of these black birdscan be seen during migration; individualsare found along the coastyear-round. At close range notethe orange facial skin and boldlycoloredeyes. They often standerect with outstretched wings.Osprey (Threatened) – this “fishhawk” catches its food by plungingfeet first into the water. They canbe identified in flight by their w-shaped wing pattern and black andwhite heads. Ospreys will nest onmanmade platforms as well as cellphone towers, channel markers and buildings.WetlandsClapper Rail – a secretive chickenlikebird of the salt marsh which isusually heard more than seen.Listen for their resonant “kek-kekkek”call that speeds up. Best timeto see them is at low tide whenthey venture onto mudflats.Glossy Ibis – an exotic-lookingwading bird with an iridescentbronze, black, and green body andlong, sickle-shaped bill. Duringspring and summer, colonies ofGlossy Ibis are found in several locationsof the Intracoastal Waterway.Black-crowned Night-Heron(Threatened) – mostly nocturnal,these birds become active arounddusk and can often be heard makinga loud “quawk” call. Note thebird’s black back and cap, thickneck and shorter-legged stancethan other herons and egrets.Great Blue Heron – a familiar“crane-like” bird of the marsh.Their distinctive profile includeslong legs, an s-curved neck, shaggybreast feathers, and bluish-grayfeathers. They eat a wide variety ofanimals including fish, frogs,rodents, and small birds.Great Egret – a white bird with ayellow beak, similar in size andshape to the Great Blue Heron.They feed by standing statue-likeand then striking prey quickly.Once hunted for its exquisitebreeding plumes, this species hasmade a remarkable comeback.Snowy Egret – much smaller thanthe Great Egret, this species iswhite with a black bill, and blacklegs with bright golden-yellow feet.Snowy Egrets are active feeders,shuffling their “golden slippers”through shallow water to stir upthe bottom and expose prey.Marsh Wren – a loud, bubblingsong often reveals the presenceof this small, brownish bird.They are found in a variety ofwell-vegetated wetlands, oftenperching on reeds, with tails inthe air.Red-winged Blackbird – with ablack body and bold red shoulders,the male of this species is an obviousresident of coastal habitats.Females are more camouflaged,with streaked brown plumage.Males make a distinctive “konk-aree”sound.Tree Swallow – a small, glossy,blue-backed bird that eats mostlyinsects. During early fall, hugeflocks gather along barrier islandsand coastal marshes before migratingsouth for the winter. Duringmigration, if insects are scarce,they will also eat bayberries.Beaches/MudflatsAmerican Oystercatcher – a longand flattened orange bill, blackhead and back, white underparts,and flesh-colored legs identify thislarge shorebird. Nesting on undisturbedbeaches and marshes, oystercatchersbreak through clamshells with a chisel-pointed bill.Willet – easy to identify in flightwith a bold black-and-white wingpattern, this species vigorously andloudly defends its nesting territoryfrom all intruders, saying “I’m-a-Willet. I’m-a-Willet!” Willets feed ona variety of worms and crustaceansalong beaches and wetlands.
Sanderling – the classic gray andwhite sandpiper often seen playing“chicken” with waves along ourbeaches, this Arctic-nesting shorebirdcan be seen along the coastfrom July to May.Piping Plover (Endangered) – thisbeach nester is a sparrow-sizedshorebird that arrives in March anddeparts in September. Foundalmost exclusively on ocean sidebeaches and sand flats, this bird’scamouflaged coloration makes itdifficult to see.Laughing Gull – abundant alongthe coast, this smallish gull is afamiliar sight anywhere along theJersey shore from March toNovember. Its distinctive“ha’ha’ha” call gives the bird itsname. The largest nesting colonyin the world is near Stone Harbor.Herring Gull – a common yearroundresident of the shore, thisspecies takes four years to reachmaturity and shows a variety ofplumages. Young birds are mostlybrown, slowly changing to thewhite-headed and gray-backedadult over time.Great Black-backed Gull – thelargest gull in the world, thisspecies’ populations increasedgreatly in NJ. Young birds arecheckered brown and white whileadults are black-backed and whitebodied with a powerful yellow bill.Least Tern (Endangered) – this littletern nests locally from SandyHook to Cape May. It can be separatedfrom other terns by its smallsize and yellow bill.Common Tern – smaller and moregraceful than gulls, this speciesnests on coastal islands and protectedbeaches. They hunt forsmall fish by hovering over thewater, then diving. Note the pointywings, forked tail, and black capthat help distinguish it from gulls.Use the check boxes torecord your bird sightings!Royal Tern – this species is largerthan Common Tern and has asmall black crest and orange bill.After nesting in the mid-Atlanticthis species spends late summerand fall along the Jersey shore.They feed on small fish by aerialdives.Black Skimmer (Endangered) –best known for its feeding style.Flying just above the surface, theycut the water with their elongated,knife-like lower bill. This speciesnests on undisturbed beaches andremote islands in our coastalwaterways. Listen for their barking call while the birdsforage around sunrise and sunset.MarinasBarn Swallow – often nestingaround old buildings and docks,these small, insect-eating birdshave a forked tail, orange underparts,and a blue back.Belted Kingfisher – easily recognizableby its blue upperparts, longbill, and shaggy crest, this birdperches conspicuously near waterand hover-hunts for small fish.Boat-tailed Grackle – found onlyalong the coast, this large memberof the blackbird family nests in saltmarshes and eats small fish andcrustaceans. During winter theyform large flocks and may befound in residential areas, marinas,and cities.Fish Crow – almost identical toAmerican Crow, these birds canbe distinguished by their nasal“uh-oh” call and coastal distribution.Fish Crows are commonscavengers along New Jersey’scoastline.Turkey Vulture – with a featherlessred head, huge silvery wings,and v-shaped flight silhouette, thisscavenger is a common sight anywherealong the Jersey Shore.They locate food using a keensense of smell.
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Birding for Boaters - New Jersey Audubon Society

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