Waterfowl and Wading Birds
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The
great blue heron, Ardea herodias, is bluish gray and grows up to 4 feet
tall. It stalks the edges of ponds and rivers searching for the fish and frogs
it feeds on.
The green heron, Butorides striatus, is greenish blue, has a dark red
breast, and grows up to 20 inches tall. It is found in streams and ponds and
feeds on small fish and frogs.
The
great egret, Casmerodius albus, is white with a yellow bill and
black feet. It grows up to 40 inches tall and feeds on fish and frogs.
The
snowy egret, Egretta thula, is white with a black bill and yellow feet.
It grows up to 27 inches tall, feeds on fish, and is common in tidal
wetlands.
The glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus, is dark green and red, grows up to 25 inches and has a long curved bill. It feeds on insects and small fish in marshes, and is a summer resident.
The common tern, Sterna hirundo, is white with a black head and grows up to 16 inches. It feeds on small fish in tidal areas and is a summer resident.
The Canada goose, Branta canadensis, grows up to 24 inches with a 40
inches wing span. It feeds on vegetation and is common on rivers and ponds.
The mallard duck, Anas platyrhynchos, grows up to 27 inches long and
feeds on vegetation. The male has a gray body and a green head, the female has a
mottled brown body.
The wood duck, Axis sponsa, grows up to 18 inches long and feeds on
vegetation and nest in trees. The male has a colorful green, white and dark red
head, the female has a mottled brown body and a white patch on its
head.
The American black duck, Anas rubripes, grows up to 23 inches and feeds
on vegetation. It has a dark brown body and is a winter resident.
The red winged blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus, is black with a red patch on its shoulder (males). It grows up to 9 inches long, feeds on insects and seeds, and is a summer resident common in marshy areas.
The purple martin, Progne subis, is a shiny blue-black color and grows up to 8 inches. It nest near water, feeds on insects, and is a summer resident.