Let's have a look at some avian species from the coastal regions! All of these birds are fairly commonly found on the U.S. Gulf Coast, but, with the exception of one species, they are also pretty common along the East Coast.
1. As always, I like to start with something slightly easier. This species often lurks in marsh grasses during the day.
2. This bird migrates through the area, but it isn't typically a resident.
3. Marshes, beaches, and mudflats attract this species.
4. This tiny bird is typically seen skittering over the beach or along the water's edge.
Answers:
1. The signature yellow crown of the adult Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is not present in juvenile and immature birds, like this individual. Young Yellow-crowned Night-Herons strongly resemble immature Black-crowned Night-Herons, but their longer legs, dark bills (unlike the mostly yellow bills of Black-crowneds), finer patterning, and slimmer builds help to distinguish them. As I mentioned above, they usually skulk -- and roost -- in the marshes in the daytime. At night, they will often hunt in more open areas for the invertebrates and fish that make up most of their diet.
Yellow-crowned Night-Herons commonly occur all year long in parts of the Gulf Coast, and in coastal areas in Central and South America. Along the Atlantic seaboard, they are usually found only in the breeding season.
2. The tail feathers on this immature individual can't compare with the ridiculously long streamers that adult birds have. Nonetheless, this is a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher! When it takes off from its perch, the deep fork in the tail is more noticeable, and the yellow-orange feathers (which would be a deeper peach color on an adult) on the belly may catch the light. The Scissor-tailed Flycatcher is more of a western species, but it can be found on the Gulf Coast (and occasionally the Eastern Coast, as well) during migration. The open beaches and scrubby coastal vegetation of the region provide excellent substitutes for the fields and pastures that they use during the breeding season in the western-central U.S.
3. This is one of the most commonly seen shorebirds in the Gulf and Atlantic Coast regions. It also happens to be one of the larger ones, with long legs that enable it to wade in deeper water than most of its relatives. In the spring and early summer, the Willet's plumage will be more heavily mottled, but plumage in the fall and winter is mostly gray. Unlike the thin and lanky Greater Yellowlegs, the Willet has grayish legs and feet, as well as a moderately thick bill. When it flies, the white stripes on its wings are visible, and it will usually give a shrill, piping call: willet!
4. Named for the partial webbing between its toes, the Semipalmated Plover might be confusing at first glance, as there are several somewhat similar-looking plover species that inhabit coastal regions. However, the Semipalmated Plover is darker than the Snowy Plover and the Piping Plover, and, unlike the Snowy Plover, it has a solid breast-band and yellowish legs. The Wilson's Plover, another fairly common species, has gray legs and a thick, black bill. Finally, the abundant and familiar Killdeer (also a plover!) has two breast bands and measures much larger than the Semipalmated Plover.
Semipalmated Plovers breed in the far northern regions of North America and range widely in the winter on the coasts (both eastern and western) of North, Central, and South America. During migration, they may be seen in a variety of wetland habitats.
