By Suzanne D. Fellows & Bob Gress

Funded by The Nature Conservancy,Westar Energy Green Team,

Chickadee Checkoff,and the Kansas Alliance for Wetlands & Streams

Published by the Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center

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A Pocket Guide to

Great PlainsWaterbirds

Second Edition

Table of Contents

• Introduction • 2

• Acknowledgements • 4

Loons • 5� Red-throated Loon • 6� Pacific Loon • 7� Common Loon • 8

Grebes • 9� Pied-billed Grebe • 10� Horned Grebe • 11� Red-necked Grebe • 12� Eared Grebe • 13� Western Grebe • 14� Clark’s Grebe • 15

Pelicans, Cormorants and Allies • 16� American White Pelican • 18� Neotropic Cormorant • 19� Double-crested Cormorant • 20

Bitterns, Herons, Ibises and Allies • 21� American Bittern • 23� Least Bittern • 24� Great Blue Heron • 25� Great Egret • 26� Snowy Egret • 27� Little Blue Heron • 28� Tricolored Heron • 29� Cattle Egret • 30� Green Heron • 31� Black-crowned Night-Heron • 32� Yellow-crowned Night-Heron • 33� Glossy Ibis • 34� White-faced Ibis • 35

American Bittern

Cover Photo:Sandhill Cranes©Bob Gress

©Bob Gress

1

Rails, Coots and Cranes • 36� Yellow Rail • 38� Black Rail • 39� King Rail • 40� Virginia Rail • 41� Sora • 42� Common Moorhen • 43� American Coot • 44� Sandhill Crane • 45� Whooping Crane • 46

Gulls, Terns and Jaegers • 47� Bonaparte’s Gull • 48� Franklin’s Gull • 49� Ring-billed Gull • 50� California Gull • 51� Herring Gull • 52� Least Tern • 53� Caspian Tern • 54� Black Tern • 55� Common Tern • 56� Forster’s Tern • 57

Rare Great Plains Waterbirds • 58Yellow-billed Loon • 58 Sabine’s Gull • 63Brown Pelican • 59 Laughing Gull • 63Anhinga • 59 Thayer’s Gull • 64Reddish Egret • 60 Iceland Gull • 64White Ibis • 60 Lesser Black-backed Gull • 65Roseate Spoonbill • 61 Glaucous Gull • 65Wood Stork • 61 Pomarine Jaeger • 66Purple Gallinule • 62 Parasitic Jaeger • 66Black-legged Kittiwake • 62 Long-tailed Jaeger • 67

• Pocket Guides • 68

Yellow-crownedNight-Heron

©Bob Gress

2

IntroductionWorld-wide there are over 600 species of

waterbirds. Waterbirds refer to water-dependentbirds excluding ducks, geese, swans and shorebirds.They are wading birds, marshbirds and seabirds.Many of these species are long-lived, produce fewyoung each year, have high juvenile mortality andhave delayed sexual maturity. Several species makespectacular long distance annual migrations betweenbreeding and wintering areas. Approximately 130species are commonly found in North America. Atleast 90 species have been documented in the GreatPlains region, including the prairie states andprovinces of the United States and Canada. TheGreat Plains is the largest ecosystem in NorthAmerica covering an area nearly 2,500 miles longand 600 miles across.

Dependence on water during part of their life cyclerenders waterbirds vulnerable to challenges associatedwith management and conservation of aquatichabitats. Species found in the region may usewetlands, lakes, streams, reservoirs, estuaries and openwaters. They face multiple threats including habitatdestruction, pollution, invasive species and naturalevents, such as storms and droughts. Because manyspecies are colonial, large numbers of individuals canbe affected by a single event. Abandonment of coloniesis likely when people enter breeding sites during thenesting stage. This can move adults away from nestsgiving predators easier access to unprotected eggs andyoung. Several species with robust populations arelegally harvested in parts of their range. Still othersare considered to be in direct competition with humaninterests and are legally taken under depredationorders and permits (e.g., Double-crested Cormorants).

This pocket guide highlights key characteristics ofthe most visible and common waterbirds found in the

Great Plains. The following waterbird orders occurin the Great Plains region: Gaviiformes (loons),Podicipediformes (grebes), Phoenicopteriformes(flamingo), Procellariiformes (shearwaters),Pelecaniformes (boobies, gannet, pelicans,cormorants, anhinga and frigatebirds), Ciconiiformes(bitterns, herons, egrets, night-herons, ibises,spoonbill, jabiru and stork), Gruiformes (rails,gallinule, moorhen, coot and cranes) and theCharadriiformes of the families Laridae (gulls andterns), Stercorariidae (skua and jaegers) and Alcidae(guillemot and murrelets).

Brief descriptions of rarespecies known to occur in smallnumbers, or those found only inlocalized sites within the regionare also given. Accidentalspecies, those vagrants whichhave been seen in the region butnot on any regular or predictablebasis, are also listed. Speciesaccounts and scientific namesare in taxonomic order andfollow the 7th edition (1998) ofThe A.O.U. [AmericanOrnithologists’ Union] Checklistof North American Birds and itssupplements (42-57). Namechanges and reordering occurregularly as biologists learn moreabout species and how they are related.

The purpose of this guide is to help you identifywaterbird species found in the region and provideinformation on their habitat and natural history. Wehope it helps you learn about waterbird conservationneeds and increases your enjoyment of thesefascinating species of the Great Plains.

3

Snowy Egret

©Bob Gress

4

AcknowledgementsThe following people assisted in developing the

species list based on their experience and knowledge ofbirds across the Great Plains: William H. Howe, Neal d.Niemuth, Robert P. Russell, Max c. thompson andeugene A. Young. Natural history information andspecies identification tips were provided by AdriannaAraya, charles P. Stone, Steve J. Lewis, Stefani Melvin,chuck otte, Robert P. Russell, Max c. thompson,Jennifer A. Wheeler, eugene A. Young and tamara Zeller.Marc Murrell and Lorrie Beck edited the final text. themajority of photos were supplied by Bob Gress, withadditional photos by Jim Burns, Mark chappell, kyleGerstner, Judd Patterson, Brian Pauly, thane Rogers,david Seibel and Linda Williams. Rachel Roth updatedthe nomenclature for the Second edition.

The findings and conclusions in this publication are those ofthe authors and do not necessarily represent the views of theU.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

© 2017 Great Plains Nature center

this publication would not be possible without financialsupport from the following sponsors.

Chickadee Checkoff

5

Loons

Four species of loons (or divers) are reported fromthe Great Plains. Loons are highly adapted to water andspend most of their time on large bodies of water likereservoirs, lakes and rivers. they catch their prey,primarily fish, by diving using their webbed feet andoccasionally their wings for propulsion. Loons needclear water to find their prey. Feeding studies show ittakes over a ton of fish to fledge a brood of chicks. Loonshave long bodies and their legs are set far back makingthem clumsy on land. Although strong fliers, they need“running” room across the water surface to becomeairborne. Several Native American tribes link loons tothe creation of the world and see them as symbols ofpride and bravery.

Loons begin breeding between 2 and 6 years of age,depending on the species and are not likely to breedevery year. they are site faithful, territorial andmonogamous. they generally build nests on smallislands or along the edges of shorelines of freshwaterlakes. Both parents incubate the 1-2 eggs, beginning withthe first egg laid. Young can swim soon after hatching,but are often seen resting on their parents’ back untilthey are about 2 weeks old. chicks fledge in 7-11 weeks,but may still be fed by the parents even after they leavethe breeding area. during migration, loons travel assingle birds or in small, loose flocks, usually at night.Most loons winter in larger groups in coastal marineenvironments.

Loons are highly susceptible to disturbance fromdevelopment and recreation. Mercury and leadcontamination are also major threats to loons. oil spillscan kill wintering loons or destroy their food supplies.Wintering loons are sometimes entangled in oceanfishing nets and drown.

6

Red-throated LoonGavia stellata

Red-throated Loons are the smallest of the loons andcan be distinguished from other breeding loons by theirdark backs and gray necks with red throat-patches.during the nonbreeding season, the white on their faceextends above the eye and almost completely around theneck. their backs have white speckling. immatures havea spotted appearance on their backs but never a barredpattern. their bills appear upturned near the tip. theytend to hold their heads tilted upwards and duringflight their necks appear drooped. unlike other loonsfound in the region, Red-throated Loons show whitealong their flanks when swimming. Red-throated Loonsare becoming more common in the region. they can befound on large reservoirs throughout the central GreatPlains during winter and migration.

� Red-throated Loon ©Mark Chappell

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Pacific LoonGavia pacifica

in breeding plumage individuals of this small specieshave pale gray napes, dark throats extending under theirslim, straight bills and small white patches on theirbacks. in nonbreeding plumage look for a black back,dark gray hind neck and a dark “chinstrap” across apredominantly white throat. Young birds have napesthat are paler than their backs. there is a sharp contrastwith a straight border between the white throat andnape. unlike common Loons, Pacific Loons do not havewhite around the eyes. Reports of Pacific Loons in thecentral Great Plains have increased in recent years,although they are still not common. Look for migratingindividuals on reservoirs.

� Pacific Loon ©Bob Gress

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common LoonGavia immer

this is the only loon species that could be foundbreeding in the northern Great Plains. common Loonsare the most regularly occurring species in the GreatPlains and often found on large lakes and reservoirs. thelarger size, dark head and white-patterned neck chokerdistinguish them from Pacific and Red-throated loons.Heavy, black bills distinguish them from Yellow-billedLoons when in breeding plumage. immatures andnonbreeding birds have a partial white neck collar, darkgray or blue bill, white around the eyes and dark barringon the back.

� Breeding Common Loon ©Bob Gress

� Nonbreeding Common Loon ©Bob Gress

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Grebes

Grebes are adapted to an aquatic lifestyle. they sitlow in the water, have streamlined bodies and short,hidden downy tail feathers. their legs are set far back ontheir bodies giving them great propulsion, but makingthem clumsy on land. they can sit or swim with justtheir head above water and they have waterproofplumage. Pectoral muscles are poorly developed ingrebes and there are several flightless species world-wide. Grebes run along the surface of the water whilerapidly beating their wings to take off. it is suspectedmost grebes simultaneously molt all their flight feathersat the end of the breeding season or prior to completingtheir southbound migration. they may be completelyflightless for a period of 3-4 weeks.

during the breeding season, grebes are found onlakes, reservoirs and wetlands. Migration usually takesplace at night and flocks can be quite large. Migratinggrebes use a variety of wetlands. they winter alongcoasts and on inland lakes.

Grebes have highly ritualized courtship displays.Partially floating nests with easy access to water areconstructed from aquatic vegetation by the breedingpair. Both sexes incubate the eggs. After the eggs hatch,adults leave the nests and carry the chicks on their backsin pockets formed by the wing and back feathers.

Although the floating nest reduces the predation riskfrom many mammalian species, gulls, crows, harriers,coots, turtles and large fish are known to take eggs andchicks. introduced exotic fish also compete with grebesfor food, prey on young chicks and alter aquaticvegetation. Grebes face many other challenges, includingentanglement in fishing nets and habitat degradationthrough oil spills, pollution and destruction of nestingvegetation.

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Pied-billed GrebePodilymbus podiceps

this brown, small-bodied, short-necked, stocky grebehas a short, stout bill and black eye. during the breedingseason, their white bill has a distinctive black ring andthe chin and throat are black. in the nonbreeding season,birds do not show the ring around the bill and the chinand throat are white. Pied-billed Grebes are relativelycommon breeders on wetlands throughout the northernand central Great Plains and winter in the southernGreat Plains. their stocky appearance and short bill andneck make them distinguishable from other grebesfound in the region.

� Pied-billed Grebe ©Bob Gress

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Horned GrebePodiceps auritus

during the breeding season, this striking grebe has arufous neck and flanks, dark back and face and solidyellow “horns.” its eyes are red, even in the nonbreedingseason. Wintering birds have white cheeks, throat, neckand lower flanks. the shorter, straighter, white-tippedbill and flatter crown of Horned Grebes distinguishthem from eared Grebes. the smaller size and shorter,dark bill distinguish them from Red-necked Grebes.Horned Grebes breed in the northern Great Plains,usually solitarily or in small colonies. they winter insheltered marine environments and occasionally on theopen sea. in the southern Great Plains they are found oninland waters. declines in breeding numbers aresuspected. Several conservation activities, such aspreventing the encroachment of woody vegetationaround wetlands and maintaining stable water levelsduring nesting, have been incorporated into habitatmanagement plans to increase breeding success.

� Horned Grebe ©David Seibel, BirdsInFocus.com

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Red-necked GrebePodiceps grisegena

Breeding birds are large with a heavy, tapered yellowbill, white throat and cheeks, dark crown and a reddishforeneck. in winter, their throat becomes dusky and thewhite from the chin extends to the back of the face in acrescent. they are distinguishable from Western andclark’s grebes by their dark eyes, smaller size, shorternecks and stockier appearance. Red-necked Grebesbreed in the extreme northern Great Plains and winterprimarily on deep, open water along the Atlantic andPacific coasts. they also winter in limited numbers onthe Great Lakes.

� Red-necked Grebe ©Bob Gress

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eared GrebePodiceps nigricollis

Breeding adults have a black neck and dark back andsides. Golden, wispy feathers fan out behind their eyes.Winter birds have dark cheeks, nape and back and avariable dusky throat and neck. Heads have a “peaked”appearance over the eye. the bill is longer, thinner,pointed upward at the tip and lacks the white tip ofHorned Grebes. eared Grebes nest in the northern GreatPlains and western states. these large colonies mayinclude over 1,000 pairs of eared Grebes. they primarilywinter in the Gulf of california and occasionally off thecoast of texas. they migrate mostly through the aridwest where they use saline wetlands. eared Grebes gothrough several unique physiological changes. in the fallthey molt, double their body mass and their flightmuscles atrophy. Following this, they quickly increaseheart size and metabolize fat to make a nonstop flight towintering sites. Flightless periods may total 9-10 monthseach year.

� Eared Grebe ©Bob Gress

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Western GrebeAechmophorus occidentalis

Like clark’s Grebes, Western Grebes are large-bodiedand have long necks. However, their black caps extendbelow the eyes and their bills are yellow-green in color.Although they occasionally hybridize with clark’sGrebes, the two species differ in behavior, calls and useof micro-habitats. Both species breed on large fresh andbrackish bodies of water, but Western Grebes tend toforage in areas with shallower water. Western Grebes aremore numerous and have a wider distribution withinthe Great Plains. they winter along the Pacific and Gulfcoasts. their larger size distinguishes them fromHorned, eared, Red-necked and Pied-billed grebes.

� Western Grebe ©Bob Gress

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clark’s GrebeAechmophorus clarkii

Although similar to Western Grebes, clark’s Grebesin breeding plumage can be distinguished by orangebills and dark caps that do not extend to the eye. inwintering plumage both birds are similar, although billcolor may still reliably be used to differentiate them.clark’s Grebes are less common in the northern andeastern Great Plains than Western Grebes. Western andclark’s grebes were once considered to be the samespecies. However, differences in vocalizations andappearance and a tendency to forage in deeper waterthan Western Grebes have led to classification asdifferent species.

� Clark’s Grebe ©Bob Gress

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Pelicans, cormorants and Allies

the order Pelecaniformes includes several species oftropicbirds, gannets, boobies and frigatebirds, as well asthe species of pelicans, cormorants and Anhingacommonly found in the Great Plains. All of these areadapted to fishing. Long necks and long, conical bills areused to quickly strike and catch fish. Pelicans use theirlarge, bare, extendible gular pouches, which can holdover 3.5 gallons of water, to scoop up fish. Althoughtheir tongues are small, it is the tongue muscles thatcontrol the pouch and allow pelicans to expel the waterafter they make a catch. All of the birds in this grouphave excellent propulsion through water due to large,webbed feet and short, sturdy legs set far back on theirbodies. Hollow bones and air sacs make them buoyantin the water. the micro-structure of the feathers ofdarters and cormorants allows the feathers to becomewet and reduces their buoyancy making diving easier.the trade-off is they need to spend considerable timeperched with their wings spread to dry in the sun.

Birds in this group are long-lived and have delayedsexual maturity. they lay few eggs each year and usuallyonly a few chicks per nest survive. Since many are colonialnesters, factors that affect a colony can have impacts on

American White Pelicans

local and even regional populations. outbreaks of diseasessuch as Newcastle’s disease and West Nile Virus can killentire colonies. Many species are sensitive to humandisturbance and mammalian predators during breedingand will often abandon their nesting colonies if disturbed.As fish eaters, they are exposed to large quantities of heavymetals and contaminant bioaccumulation. eliminating theuse of ddt in the u.S. and canada allowed pelican andcormorant populations to recover. Although most species offish taken by this group of birds have little or nocommercial or recreational value, human perception ofthem as competitors often causes conflict and persecution.Aquaculture facilities are attractive to these birds because ofthe relatively easy feeding opportunities they provide, oftenresulting in conflicts.

Several cultures have historically depended on thisgroup for a variety of purposes. cormorants and dartershave been kept as working pets to catch fish for theirowners. Feathers from several species were used in themillinery trade. eggs, chicks and adults have been takenfor human consumption. Guano from nesting coloniesprovides fertilizer. Several species play key roles inmaritime lore, medieval art and Asian medicine.Frigatebird chicks were hand raised and used asmessage carriers by early sailors.

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©Bob Gress

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American White PelicanPelecanus erythrorhynchos

American White Pelicans feed on fishes, salamandersand crayfish and often fly great distances between feedingand nesting areas. they are common in the Great Plains,often seen cooperatively fishing on large water bodies andriding the thermals in sizable flocks during migration.during the breeding season, both sexes grow a horny knobon top of the bill. knob size depends on the individual’sage and previous breeding experience and is shed aftereggs are laid. American White Pelicans nest on islands onalkaline and fresh water lakes and reservoirs. there areseveral large colonies within the Great Plains, such as theone at chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge, North dakota.At approximately 3-4 weeks of age the young gather intolarge groups called crèches while adults are away feeding.Adults return to feed their own chicks, which theyrecognize from hundreds of other chicks. in flight, pelicansare easily recognized by their crooked, s-shaped necks,bulky white bodies, orange bills, short bright yellow toorange legs, short tail and black-tipped wings.

� American White Pelican ©Bob Gress

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Neotropic cormorantPhalacrocorax brasilianus

this species was formerly known as the olivaceouscormorant. Neotropic cormorants are more common inthe southern Great Plains although they are being foundwith increasing frequency in the northern plains. theycan be distinguished from other cormorants by a whiteoutline around the gular pouch and base of the bill. thegular pouch appears triangular rather than rounded asin double-crested cormorants. tails are long,approximately the same length as their necks. Neotropiccormorants are noticeably smaller than the morecommonly seen double-crested cormorants. during thebreeding season, males acquire a head tuft and scatteredplumes on the head and neck. immatures are brownerthan the adults.

� Neotropic Cormorant

©Bob Gress

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double-crested cormorantPhalacrocorax auritus

double-crested cormorants are common throughoutthe Great Plains. during the breeding season theydevelop small crests along each side of the head. theirgular pouches are always yellow-orange and arerounder than the Neotropic cormorant’s. Young birdsare browner than adults and have white under the neckand chest. occasionally, the gular pouch may be tingedwith white causing them to be confused with Neotropiccormorants. in flight, the tail is noticeably shorter than aNeotropic cormorant or Anhinga.

� Double-crested Cormorant

©Bob Gress

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Bitterns, Herons, ibises and Allies

Seventeen species of the order ciconiiformes areregularly found in the Great Plains. they include bitterns,herons, egrets, night-herons, ibises and the RoseateSpoonbill and Wood Stork. Birds in this group have longnecks, legs and bills. their necks are held in an s-shapewhich they can quickly extend and retract to catch prey.the birds spend much of their time wading or standingmotionless in shallows waiting to ambush their quarry.

Several species nest in trees in large, mixed-speciescolonies. others form colonies in heavy marshvegetation. Bitterns are cryptic, solitary and usually nestin thicker aquatic vegetation. clutch size varies from 2-7eggs depending on the species and young hatchhelpless, mostly unfeathered and with their eyes closed.

Great Blue Heron

Herons typically fly with their necks held in an s-shape.

©Judd Patterson, BirdsInFocus.com

22

Several species grow ornamental plumes on thehead, lower neck, breast and back during the breedingseason. these plumes, once used to adorn fashionablehats, were highly valued by the milliner’s trade. theoverharvest of birds through the early 1900s resulted inthe near extermination of several species. World-widethey have also been harvested for food and killedbecause they are fish-eaters and seen as competitorswith humans. Habitat loss and pollutants are the biggestproblems facing this group of birds.

Sandhill Cranes

Cranes fly with their necks extended.

©Bob Gress

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American BitternBotaurus lentiginosus

American Bitterns are short, stocky, solitary heronsfound in wetlands with tall, emergent vegetation. Whenstartled they “freeze,” pointing their long necks and billsskyward, relying on their plumage to blend in withsurrounding vegetation. their pump-er-lunk call isunique and easy to recognize. American Bitterns aremost active at dusk and dawn, but can be seenthroughout the day along shorelines and edges ofmarshes. they eat amphibians, fish, crayfish, reptiles,small mammals and insects. American Bitterns are mostlikely confused with immature night-herons. they canbe differentiated by the bold, distinctive stripes on theneck, lack of white spots on the wings and a longer,stretched-out appearance of the neck. they are foundthroughout most Great Plains wetlands, breeding acrossthe continent from central canada through kansas. theywinter from coastal u.S. through central America.

� American Bittern ©Bob Gress

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Least BitternIxobrychus exilis

Least Bitterns inhabit marshes with dense cattails,bulrushes, sedges and other aquatic vegetation. theyfeed primarily on insects and small fish and appear to beweak, clumsy fliers. Least Bitterns are found along theeastern portion of the Great Plains during the breedingseason. they are territorial and often answer torecordings of their calls. Nests are made along channelsthrough vegetation in wetlands. Because this waterbirdis so secretive, much remains to be learned about itswintering and breeding ecology and population status.Least Bitterns are approximately half the size ofAmerican Bitterns and the dark back, cap and dark andbuff-colored wings are distinctive. A rare, darker colormorph, the cory’s Least Bittern, has been reported fromthe eastern Great Plains. Least Bitterns are larger thanmost of the rails. immature Green Herons are slightlylarger with dark wings.

� Least Bittern

©Bob Gress

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Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias

Great Blue Herons are the largest and most commonheron across the region. they build large, stick nests intrees, heavy brush or on the ground. they may nest asan isolated pair, in a single species colony or in multi-species colonies with other wading birds. they areprimarily fish eaters, but also eat amphibians, reptilesand occasionally small birds and mammals. Larger sizeand coloration can be used to distinguish Great BlueHerons from Reddish and tricolored herons. in flightthey carry their neck coiled rather than straight, whichdistinguishes them from cranes. Great White Herons,currently considered white color morphs, are foundalong the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. they aredistinguished from the Great egret and white morphReddish egret by their yellow legs and heavy yellowbills. Würdemann’s Herons, hybrids between Great BlueHerons and Great White Herons, appear as intermediatein color. Both Great White and Würdemann’s herons arerare in the Great Plains.

� Great Blue Heron

©Bob Gress

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Great egretArdea alba

Although less common in the northern and westernparts of the Great Plains, Great egrets have been foundthroughout the region in shallow, fairly open salt,brackish and freshwater habitats. Great egrets aredistinguishable from other white herons by their largesize, thin, slightly down curved yellow bill and long,black legs and feet. during the breeding season theydevelop long, white breeding plumes called “aigrettes”on the back. these filamentous plumes were highlyprized by the millinery trade and led to the birds’ nearextirpation in parts of their range.

� Great Egret

©Bob Gress

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Snowy egretEgretta thula

Breeding Snowy egrets have plumes on their head,chest and back. they are small and white, most easilyconfused with immature Little Blue Herons. However,an adult Snowy egret’s dark legs, yellow feet, dark billand lack of black on the primaries make distinguishingbetween the two species possible. Juvenile Snowy egretsmay show yellow-green legs, but they usually havesome dark on their forelegs and lighter colored feet. thelegs and feet of Little Blue Herons are always a pale,dull-green. Like other species of egrets and herons, thisspecies typically nests in large multi-species colonies.Snowy egrets are known to walk slowly throughshallow water, shaking their bright colored feet to flushfish and other prey. they are only found in smallnumbers in the northern Great Plains, but are abundantto the south.

� Snowy Egret

©Bob Gress

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Little Blue HeronEgretta caerulea

this species is most common in southeasternportions of the Great Plains. However, extensive post-breeding dispersal occurs and birds have been recordedin canada. Juveniles are white and most likely confusedwith Snowy egrets; however, their legs and feet aregreenish. Adults are reddish-purple to slate blue with abluish, black-tipped bill. An intermediate molt stageresults in a pied or calico white and blue plumage andgenerally a white body with blue primaries. it may beconfused with a tricolored Heron. Little Blue Herons aremuch smaller and duller colored than Reddish egretswhich have a bill with a pink base.

� Little Blue Heron

©Bob Gress

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tricolored HeronEgretta tricolor

Previously called Louisiana Herons, tricoloredHerons are usually found in coastal areas usingmangrove swamps, tidal creeks, shallow saltwaterhabitats and mudflats. Within the Great Plains, they haveoccasionally been reported breeding as far north as thedakotas. Like other herons and egrets, they nest in mixedspecies colonies. tricolored Herons are similar in size toLittle Blue Herons and are most similar in appearance toGreat Blue Herons. they have a white belly and neck,dark blue upperparts and reddish plumes on the backand upper wings during breeding. immatures may havea rusty or rufous colored head and neck.

� Tricolored Heron ©Bob Gress

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cattle egretBubulcus ibis

cattle egrets, originally from Africa, first arrived inthe Western Hemisphere in the 1930s and quickly spreadthroughout North America. they are often observed inclose association with cattle and following tractorssearching for fleeing insects and small mammals. theyhave shorter bills, necks and stockier bodies than otherwhite egrets. the dark bills of juveniles change to yellowas they become adults. during the breeding season,adults develop orange-buff colored crest, back andbreast feathers. their legs turn from a darker green toyellow or pinkish-red. Like other species of herons andegrets they nest colonially, often in mixed-species flocksand primarily in trees. they are often found in largebreeding colonies.

� Cattle Egrets ©Bob Gress

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Green HeronButorides virescens

Formerly considered a subspecies of the Green-backed Heron, the Green Heron is currently considereda distinct species with four recognized subspecies. Arelatively small, dark, stocky heron, the Green Heronprefers wetlands with thick vegetation. Fish, amphibiansand invertebrates comprise their diet. they are known to“bait” prey into closer striking range using a variety ofobjects, including live insects and earthworms. Primarilysolitary in their foraging and breeding behavior, GreenHerons may nest on the ground or in vegetationsingularly, in small loose groups or even colonially.Adults are distinctive with greenish-black caps andwings and rufous-colored necks and breasts. immaturesmay be confused with American Bitterns or immaturenight-herons. However, the smaller size, darker back,neck and wings, longer, straighter bill and slight crestcan help distinguish them from other species.

� Green Heron ©Bob Gress

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Black-crowned Night-HeronNycticorax nycticorax

common throughout the Great Plains, Black-crowned Night-Herons use a variety of differenthabitats, including wetlands, pastures and coastal areas.Primarily active at night, dusk and dawn, they also feedduring the day. they are opportunistic feeders eatingfish, amphibians, reptiles, rodents, invertebrates andeven bird eggs and chicks. they are colonial nesters,most commonly rebuilding old nests of sticks and reedsin bulrush stands or in trees. immatures are most likelyconfused with American Bitterns and immature Yellow-crowned Night-Herons. Black-crowned Night-Heronsare stockier with thicker necks, browner backs, longer,thinner bills and paler necks, chests and bellies. in flight,their feet barely extend beyond the tail. Adults of bothnight-heron species develop long, off-white head plumesduring the breeding season. Black-crowned Night-Herons take 2-3 years to reach sexual maturity.

� Black-crowned Night-Heron

©Bob Gress

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Yellow-crowned Night-HeronNyctanassa violacea

Yellow-crowned Night-Herons tend to foragesolitarily. they may roost and nest either singularly or insmall loose colonies, usually in urban woodlands andriverine forests. Nests are usually built of sticks in talltrees and may be reused each year. their bills areadapted to feed on crabs, crayfish and other crustaceans,but they also eat fish, amphibians, reptiles, mussels andother invertebrates. during breeding, the legs turn fromyellowish-green to a coral or scarlet color. immaturesmay be misidentified as young Black-crowned Night-Herons, American Bitterns or Green Herons. However,immature Yellow-crowned Night-Herons have a moreslender appearance, longer neck, darker bill and theirfeet and legs extend well beyond the tail.

� Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

©Bob Gress

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Glossy ibisPlegadis falcinellus

Glossy ibises are similar to White-faced ibises which aremore common in the Great Plains. However, both speciesare undergoing range expansion and may hybridize wherethey overlap. in breeding plumage, Glossy ibises have darkeyes and dark lores with narrow bluish borders above andbelow the eyes which do not extend under the chins orbehind the eyes. their gray legs and feet contrast withreddish ankle joints. during the nonbreeding season, adultGlossy ibises’ legs are entirely grayish and most of thebluish eye and chin borders disappear. in contrast, redeyes, pink or red lores with wide, white borders extendingbehind their eyes and under their chins and more extensivepinkish legs and feet are characteristic of breeding White-faced ibises. immatures of both species are difficult to tellapart in the field.

� Glossy Ibis

©Judd Patterson, BirdsInFocus.com

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White-faced ibisPlegadis chihi

the most common ibis encountered in the GreatPlains, White-faced ibises nest in large colonies, usuallyin dense, emergent, marsh vegetation. ibises feed inlarge flocks in flooded fields and shallow wetlands,primarily on insects, crustaceans and earthworms.Pesticide and heavy metal contamination and drainageof wetlands led to an alarming drop in numbers in the1960s and 1970s. Banning ddt and dieldrin, as well ashabitat conservation and improvement projects, have ledto an increase in ibis numbers. conflicts with crayfishproducers may arise when ibises flock to their ponds tofeed. White-faced ibises are most likely confused withGlossy ibises.

� White-faced Ibis ©Bob Gress

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Rails, coots and cranes

the order Gruiformes has species representing boththe smallest and largest waterbirds found in the GreatPlains. these species inhabit marshy wetlands, are highlyterritorial and are solitary breeders. Several species havedeveloped intricate courtship behaviors. due to theirlongevity, monogamous habits and extended care ofyoung, cranes, the largest species in this order, have longbeen viewed as symbols of good luck, long life, peace andmarital bliss. cranes have developed several elaboratedisplays and vocalizations which can include leaping,dancing and calling.

“thin as a rail” describes the laterally compressedbodies of all rails. Flexible vertebrae allow them toeffortlessly squeeze through dense marsh vegetation.Long toes, strong legs and vestigial claws at the tips ofthe wings assist them in navigating floating vegetationand climbing stems of emergent vegetation. Rails arealso able to swim to elude predators and are not strongor graceful fliers. Most species of rails build nests on theground or in vegetation above water level. Many nestsare covered with a dome canopy thought to be built forconcealment. chicks can leave the nest within days, butdepend on the parents to feed and brood them. Rails are

Sandhill Cranes

often killed when they collide with objects, includinglighted towers, overhead wires, buildings and vehicles.As with most species of waterbirds, wetland habitatdegradation and destruction are their biggest threats.

Vocalizations are distinctive and often the only way smallsecretive species like rails can be reliably surveyed. Goodrecordings are readily available for species found in the GreatPlains. Learning the calls can provide clues to bird presenceand the use of playback calls may allow individuals to becoaxed into view. However, be aware birds are reacting toperceived threats. overuse of calls to lure birds during thebreeding season means time spent away from nesting andforaging, which is detrimental to breeding success.

Gruiformes is the only waterbird order in whichseveral species are legally harvested within parts of theGreat Plains. crane and rail hunting is a specializedsport – to the point of developing its own culture amongdie-hard aficionados. care is taken to delineate huntingareas, bag limits and season lengths sustainable for eachhunted species. understanding the biology and habitatneeds of each species is important and researchers workwith land managers to maintain high quality winteringand breeding habitat to ensure robust populations. Legalspecies, season dates and bag limits vary among statesand years, so hunters should consult current regulations.

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©Bob Gress

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Yellow RailCoturnicops noveboracensis

Little is known about this cryptic species and it takesa special effort to locate it. Yellow Rails are rarely seenand best heard late at night. their call sounds like twosmall pebbles being tapped together four or five times.they require flooded, dense cover such as fens, sedge,grass and hay meadows, stream floodplains and ricefields. during migration, look for Yellow Rails in moistagricultural land and upland grasslands in the easternGreat Plains. they are small, yellowish tan on the neck,chest, and upper belly and have a short, light coloredbill. they have a striped back and in flight, large whitetrailing wing patches. Yellow Rails breed in the northernGreat Plains and winter along the southern Atlantic andGulf coasts. Several migration records in the GreatPlains are from specimens collected after collisions withradio and television towers.

� Yellow Rail ©Brian Pauly

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Black RailLaterallus jamaicensis

About the size of a sparrow, this is the smallest of therail species. Little is known about behavior, populations,threats or how they are affected by habitat managementactivities. Breeding in the Great Plains is localized andscattered. due to their secretive nature, many sites withnesting Black Rails may not yet be identified. in theGreat Plains they are found in riverine marshes, shallowsaline marshes, wet prairies with cordgrass and inspring seeps with permanent water. Black Rails winteralong the southern Atlantic and Gulf coasts. they feedon small invertebrates and seeds. Both juveniles andadults have black bills, rufous napes and dark backs andwings speckled with white. downy young of all rails aresmall and black. Hence, young of any rail species couldbe mistaken for a Black Rail.

� Black Rail ©Bob Gress

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king RailRallus elegans

king Rails are found in the eastern and southernportions of the Great Plains. they usually occur infreshwater marshes with a mosaic of marsh vegetationand open water. they feed on crustaceans, aquaticinvertebrates, grasshoppers, small fish and aquatic plantseeds. Like other rails, they migrate at night. king Railsare larger and browner overall than Virginia Rails andalways have brown cheek feathers. clapper Rails are alsosimilar, but are smaller, have gray cheek feathers and lackthe chestnut-colored upper wing coverts found on kingRails. Apparent long-term population declines have ledto the development of a comprehensive conservationplan for the king Rail and listing as an endangered orthreatened species in several states and canada.

� King Rail ©Bob Gress

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Virginia RailRallus limicola

Virginia Rails are similar in appearance to king Rails,but are smaller with shorter necks, gray cheek feathersand reddish legs and bills. As with other rail species,learning the calls made by Virginia Rails is important inidentification as they are rarely seen, but can often beheard in appropriate habitats. one of their calls isdescribed as a wheezy grunting series of wep calls whichdescend and accelerate. Another is described as amechanical gik or clattering skew. Virginia Rails arerelatively widespread and common in North Americaand found throughout the Great Plains during thebreeding and migration seasons.

� Virginia Rail ©Bob Gress

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SoraPorzana carolina

With their medium size, bright, yellow bill and blackface mask extending down the throat, Soras are easy toidentify and not likely to be confused with other railspecies. their distinctive call, a high pitched descendingwhinny, is a common sound associated with wetlands.Soras are the most abundant and widespread of NorthAmerican rails. they are likely to be encountered infreshwater marshes throughout the Great Plains duringbreeding and migration.

� Sora ©Bob Gress

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common GallinuleGallinula galeata

common Gallinules are uncommon breedersthroughout the southern and eastern Great Plains.Similar in appearance to an American coot, adultcommon Gallinules have a yellow-tipped red bill and ared frontal shield. they are browner than Americancoots, have a large white patch under their tails andshow a white line along their flanks where their wingsrest against their sides. in flight their wings have a whiteleading edge. they may build several platforms for eachnesting attempt, one for the actual nest and others fordisplay and chick brooding. Like coots, they concealnests in cattails and other tall emergent vegetation,usually anchoring them to surrounding vegetation andconstructing ramps leading to them.

� Common Gallinule ©Bob Gress

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American cootFulica americana

American coots are often mistaken for ducks and areone of the most common and visible waterbirds in theGreat Plains. their long, lobed toes are distinctive andassist with swimming. clumsy on land, coots arereluctant fliers and must run across the water surface tobecome airborne. they have a white frontal shield andthe white bill sometimes shows a reddish-brown orblack ring toward the tip. At the base of their tails theyhave a small white patch on otherwise dark bodies. inflight they may show white trailing edges along thesecondary feathers. Breeding adults can be aged basedon the color of their legs. Green-legged adults areprobably in their first year of breeding while red legsindicate at least a 4-year old bird. Young chicks havedowny black bodies, red and blue skin and reddish-orange curly fluff on their heads. American coots areprimarily herbivorous, although they opportunisticallyfeed on aquatic invertebrates and small fish. they aremost common in clear marshes and ponds.

� American Coot ©Bob Gress

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Sandhill craneAntigone canadensis

Sandhill cranes nest in isolated marshy wetlands,flooded meadows and river valleys. Although two eggsare typically laid and hatched, usually only one chick,called a colt, fledges. during migration and winter,Sandhill cranes form large flocks and are found in wide,shallow river channels, large open marshes, agriculturalfields, pastures and playa lakes. under certain lightingconditions, gray Sandhill cranes appear silvery and maybe mistaken for Whooping cranes. occasionally, Sandhillcranes appear brown or rusty which is a result of feedingin muddy conditions. Although similar in size to a GreatBlue Heron, cranes fly with necks stretched out straight.Powerful wing strokes consist of a snapping upstrokefollowed by a slower downstroke. When standing, heronslack the feathery pompadour rump of a crane.

� Sandhill Cranes ©Bob Gress

Whooping craneGrus americana

Whooping cranes are listed as an endangered speciesthroughout the Great Plains. From an estimated 1,300individuals in the 1860s, numbers dropped to less than 20in the 1940s. conservation measures, including captiverearing and release, have increased the wild population toabout 300 birds. the primary flock breeds in Wood BuffaloNational Park, Alberta and winters 2,500 miles to the southat Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, texas. the birdsmigrate through the Great Plains along a narrow 100-milewide route through cropland, shallow wetlands and wide,shallow rivers. Whooping cranes are usually seen in lateMarch to mid-April and from mid-September to mid-November. they usually migrate in family groups or smallflocks, fly with their necks and gray-black legs held straightout and show black wing tips. immature birds showvarying amount of white and cinnamon-colored feathers.Several white-plumaged species, including geese, swans,pelicans and egrets, are often misidentified as Whoopingcranes. Lack of winter food resources, severe weather,pollution and collisions with powerlines all threatenWhooping cranes.

46

� Whooping Cranes ©Bob Gress

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Gulls, terns and Jaegers

this large suborder of seabirds is most closely related toshorebirds. Several species have a worldwide distribution.Viewing areas for gulls and terns within the Great Plainsinclude wetlands, reservoirs, sand bars in rivers and garbagedumps. Because they are powerful fliers, prefer open spacesand congregate in groups around food resources, mostpeople are aware of gulls. terns are generally smaller andmore slender than gulls and are primarily fish eaters. theycan be easily distinguished from gulls by their huntingtechnique. Gulls pick things off the surface of the water orland, whereas terns dive after their prey in open water.Jaegers are primarily oceanic, usually only coming inland tobreed. At sea they steal food from other seabirds and on landthey are predators feeding on lemmings, small birds andother animals.

correctly identifying different gulls takes practice andcareful observation. individual bird identification can bechallenging as gulls look different depending on age,feather wear, individual variations and the tendency ofsome gulls to hybridize. Size, leg and bill color and patternson wings and tail are important for identification. only themost general identification characteristics are offered here. itis recommended that you take time to make carefulobservations and take extensive notes on species you areunsure of. Because of the subtle differences and the lowlikelihood of encounters, similar species, which we haveclassified as rare in the Great Plains region, are notdifferentiated here. A specialized gull identification guide,showing standing birds and the wings and tails of flyingbirds, in both winter and breeding plumage and thedifferent age classes, is highly recommended as a study aidfor gulls, terns and jaegers. However, even with an excellentresource, some gulls and jaegers may not be identified tospecies in the field.

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Bonaparte’s GullChroicocephalus philadelphia

Bonaparte’s Gulls nest solitarily in conifers aroundbogs in the boreal forest zone. they migrate in smallflocks through the Great Plains and winter in thesouthern Great Plains and along coastal areas. Similar toFranklin’s, Black-headed, Laughing and Little gulls,Bonaparte’s Gulls are differentiated by their size, thinblack bill, black trailing edge on the primaries, paleunderwings and pale gray mantle and wings. Atriangular white patch on the wings is very conspicuous.Winter birds show a dark ear spot in all age classes.Breeding birds have a black hood and orange-red legs.Bonaparte’s Gulls feed primarily on insects, otherinvertebrates and small fish.

� Bonaparte’s Gull ©Bob Gress

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Franklin’s GullLeucophaeus pipixcan

these small black-headed gulls nest in prairiemarshes in the northern Great Plains. colonies maycontain hundreds of thousands of individuals. coloniesmay shift locations between years as water conditionschange. Floating nests are built of bulrushes, cattails andother vegetation. Franklin’s Gulls often share theircolonies with nesting ibises, egrets, terns, grebes andcoots. there has been a general southern and westernexpansion into the Great Basin over the past 80 years. Aswith other species of waterbirds, colonies are vulnerableto human disturbance during nesting and may beabandoned if disturbance is excessive. Franklin’s Gullsare most likely to be confused with Bonaparte’s andLaughing gulls.

� Franklin’s Gull ©Bob Gress

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Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis

Probably the most common gull species in NorthAmerica, Ring-billed Gull numbers are estimated up to 4million individuals rangewide. they are medium in size.Adults are pale gray along their backs with white heads,yellow legs, pale yellow eyes with a red eye ring and abroad black ring around their yellow bills. they nest onthe ground, usually on sparsely vegetated islands in thenorthern Great Plains. Ring-billed Gulls winter along thecoast as well as inland in the southern Great Plains.they forage on lakes and reservoirs, landfill sites andfarm fields. their diet consists of fish, insects,earthworms, rodents, grain, fruit and discarded humanfood.

� Ring-billed Gull ©Bob Gress

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california GullLarus californicus

these are large-bodied, white-headed gulls. Similarspecies include the Herring and Lesser Black-backedgulls. Breeding california Gulls have a red orbital ring,dark iris, yellow-green legs and both a red and a blackmark at their bill tip. Lesser Black-backed and Herringgulls have only a red spot on their bills and light coloredirises. california Gulls winter along the Pacific coastand breed on islands in saline and freshwater lakes inthe interior of western North America. they areopportunistic feeders and are known to eat fish,vegetable matter, insects and young birds. the currentrecord for longevity for this species is 30 years.

� California Gull ©Bob Gress

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Herring GullLarus argentatus

A large, white-headed gull with pink legs, breedingadults have black wingtips with white “windows” ontheir first two primaries and a yellow bill with red spotsunderneath. immature plumages are difficult todistinguish from those of other immature and winteringspecies. the light colored iris, pink legs and lack of blackon the bill will distinguish Herring Gulls from californiaGulls in breeding plumage. Pink legs and lighter coloredmantles contrast with the bright yellow legs and darkmantles of breeding Lesser Black-blacked Gulls. HerringGulls also hybridize with Lesser Black-backed, Glaucousand Glaucous-winged gulls. Herring Gulls areopportunistic feeders but feed primarily on fish andinvertebrates. Within the Great Plains, they nestprimarily on the northern and eastern edges and winterin the central and southern parts.

� Herring Gull ©Bob Gress

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Least ternSternula antillarum

the smallest of the terns found in the Great Plains,Least terns nest colonially along sparsely vegetatedcoastal beaches, rivers, sand and gravel pits and driedmudflats. elaborate aerial courtship displays precedecreation of a simple scrape in which 2-3 eggs are laid.eggs, chicks and adults may be taken by predators,crushed by hail storms and drowned by water fromthunderstorms or water releases from reservoirs. Habitatlosses, human recreation in nesting areas and pollutionare continual threats. they winter along coastal areas.their diet consists of small fish and shrimp and otherinvertebrates they catch by hovering, followed byquickly diving and grasping their prey in their bill. Leastterns are federally listed as endangered where theyoccur in the Great Plains. they are unlikely to bemistaken for other terns in the Great Plains due to thecombination of small size, light color, yellow legs andwhite forehead.

� Least Terns ©Bob Gress

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caspian ternHydroprogne caspia

the caspian tern is the world’s largest tern and thecrested tern most likely seen in the Great Plains. thisspecies has a large, stout, black-tipped red bill and blacklegs. in flight, their tail appears only slightly forked, theundersides of their primaries are dark and their wingsare relatively short and wide giving them a gull-likeappearance. Winter birds have a heavily streaked capand forehead and breeding adults have a black cap.caspian terns feed primarily on fish, crayfish andinsects and occasionally on carrion, bird eggs and chicks.they nest on bare, sandy or rocky islands in thecanadian Prairie Provinces, North dakota and easternMontana. Human disturbance in breeding colonies canlead to substantial chick mortality. Larger size, bill color,and shape and color of the wings and tail candistinguish caspian terns from similar species.

� Caspian Tern ©Bob Gress

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Black ternChlidonias niger

Breeding adults are distinctive with gray wings,white undertail and black head, neck and body.Juveniles and nonbreeding adults are gray across thewings and back and have gray underwings. the lowerbody is white. the white head has a dark crown and adark spot behind the eyes. these small terns are semi-colonial and nest in emergent vegetation in shallow,freshwater marshes across the northern u.S. and centralcanada. they winter along both coasts of central andSouth America. First year birds usually summer fromthe Gulf of Mexico south. Black terns eat small fish,insects and other invertebrates. they are unlikely to bemistaken for other species.

� Black Tern ©Thane Rogers

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� Common Tern

common ternSterna hirundo

By the 1870s, populations of common terns weredecimated by the millinery trade but rebounded in the1930s due to protection brought about by the MigratoryBird treaty Act. However, they fell again when theeffects of ddt and competition with gulls for limitedbreeding sites affected their breeding opportunities andsuccess. common terns usually nest on islands in openareas with sand, shell or gravel and some vegetation forchicks to use as shelter. they are rare local breeders inthe northern Great Plains, but they migrate through theregion and are often found on lakes and reservoirs. theyare most likely to be confused with Forster’s terns.However, common terns are slightly smaller withshorter legs and their pale-gray upper wings usuallyshow a dark wedge on the trailing edge of the primaries.their forked tails show dark outer edges and do notextend past their wingtips when at rest.

©Bob Gress

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� Forster’s Tern

Forster’s ternSterna forsteri

Almost entirely restricted to North America, Forster’sterns spend their entire lives from the central canadianPrairie Provinces south to Panama. A marsh specialist,Forster’s terns build nests on muskrat houses, vegetationmats and low islands. they are rarely found on sandybeaches or rocky islands. they nest colonially, often inassociation with other waterbird species. they are mostlikely confused with common terns. Look for theForster’s terns’ longer, orange-red legs and longer,thicker, orange-yellow bill with a black-tip in thebreeding season or all-black bill in the winter. At rest,breeding adults have outer tail feathers that project wellbeyond their wing tips. their pale gray forked tails showwhite outer edges and their wings are frosty white withlighter wingtips year-round. immatures and nonbreedingadults show a dark eye mask and a pale nape.

©Bob Gress

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Rare Great Plains Waterbirds:

the following species are not regularly encounteredevery year or are known to occur only in small numbersin localized sites within the Great Plains. Many commonwaterbirds can be misidentified as a rare species.Sightings of suspected rare and accidental species shouldbe confirmed using a more detailed text and carefullydocumented with photographs and detailed descriptions.

Yellow-billed Loon

Yellow-billed LoonGavia adamsii

Yellow-billed Loons are the largest of the loons. Similarin breeding plumage to common Loons, their heavy bill isyellow in all seasons and slightly angled upward. Alongwith the tendency to keep their head raised, Yellow-billedLoons have a unique silhouette. in nonbreeding plumagethey do not have the jagged neck pattern of white on darkseen on common Loons. they are heavier and larger thanboth the Red-throated and Pacific loons and are paler innonbreeding plumage than either species.

©Jim Burns

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Brown PelicanPelecanus occidentalis

Nonbreeding BrownPelicans have a white toyellowish head and neck.Breeding birds have a darkhind neck, yellowish head

and a dark to red gular pouch. Young birds are darkgray with a white belly. this species is found alongocean shores and bays and the only pelican to plunge-dive for fish. Nests are constructed on the ground onsmall remote islands, cliffs or occasionally in small treesand bushes.

Brown Pelican

©B

ob G

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AnhingaAnhinga anhinga

Males are iridescent blackwhile females and juvenileshave a brown chest and neck.Anhingas are most likely to beconfused with cormorants.

However, Anhingas’ bills are dagger-like and do nothave a hooked end. they swim with only the neck andhead above water and spear fish with their bills. inflight, the long tail is fanned open. they are often seenwith their wings outstretched to dry and warmthemselves in the sun.

Anhinga

©B

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Reddish egretEgretta rufescens

Reddish egrets aretypically found along thecoast. Although usuallyreddish, there is also a whitecolor morph. Both morphs

have blue legs and a pink-based black-tipped bill.Feathers on the head give breeding adults a shaggyappearance. unlike the stealthy techniques used byother egrets and herons, Reddish egrets hold out theirwings and run and lurch in an erratic fashion whilechasing fish and other prey in shallow water.

Reddish Egret

©B

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White ibisEudocimus albus

White ibises generally forage ingroups, walking slowly with theirheads down probing for prey withtheir bills. Breeding adults have redlegs, black-tipped red bills and redfaces. in flight, mottled brown andwhite young birds show a triangular

white rump patch. Adults show black tips on their firstfour primaries. decurved orange-red bills and reddishlegs distinguish them from herons, egrets and other ibises.

White Ibis

©B

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Roseate SpoonbillPlatalea ajaja

the Roseate Spoonbill’ssize, color and bill aredistinctive. When foraging,spoonbills walk slowly inshallow water sweeping their

spatula-shaped bills side to side hunting fish,crustaceans and aquatic insects. Roseate Spoonbillnumbers plummeted during the millinery trade era. But like many species of waterbirds, they have made acomeback due to protective laws and habitatconservation.

Roseate Spoonbill

©B

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Wood StorkMycteria americana

Wood Storks are among thelargest of the waterbirds found inNorth America. the white body,bare, black head and neck, massivebill, pinkish-yellow feet and blackposterior half of their wings and tailmake them unique. their primary

habitat is the wooded swamps of the southeast wherethey are sensitive to local water availability. Regionaldroughts and drainage have resulted in federal listing asan endangered species.

©B

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Wood Stork

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Purple GallinulePorphyrio martinicus

these colorful birds use theirlong, yellow toes and legs to walkacross floating and emergentvegetation in their coastalmarshland habitat. their purplecolor, pale blue frontal shield andyellow-tipped, red bill are

distinctive. they feed on grains, seeds, aquatic insectsand frogs. Within the Great Plains, there are a fewlocalized areas in the southern part of the region wherethey occur and they are scarce elsewhere.

©B

ob G

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Purple Gallinule

Black-legged

kittiwakeRissa tridactyla

A Holarctic breeder, Black-legged kittiwakes nest onnarrow ledges on sea cliffs and

winter offshore along coastal areas. they feed on smallfish and occasionally insects and other invertebrates.Breeding birds have gray upper parts, black legs, yellowbills and pure black wing tips. Winter adults have a darkear spot. immatures have a black patterned “M” thatstretches from wing to wing and a black tail band. theyare present in the Great Plains during migration andoccasionally in winter months.

Black-legged Kittiwake

©B

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Sabine’s GullXema sabini

Sabine’s Gulls nest inmarshy areas of the arctictundra and winter insubtropical and tropicalcoastal areas off South

America and Africa. Breeding adults have black heads,yellow-tipped black bills and black legs. in flight, allages show a unique wing pattern with dark primaries,large white triangles on the trailing edge of each wingand a gray or brown triangle across the back. GreatPlains observations are of single birds or small flocksduring fall migration.

Sabine’s Gull

©L

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Laughing GullLeucophaeus atricilla

Primarily found along theAtlantic and Gulf coasts,Laughing Gulls in breedingplumage resemble this region’smore common Franklin Gulls.

in flight, breeding Laughing Gulls show more dark ontheir primaries, whereas the Franklin’s Gulls’ wingtipsshow a white bar and black and white wing tips.Laughing Gulls are slightly larger, less stocky and have aheavier, more drooped bill than Franklin’s Gulls.

Laughing Gull

©B

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thayer’s GullLarus thayeri

thayer’s Gulls breed insmall colonies on coastal cliffson arctic islands. they aremost likely to be confusedwith Herring and iceland

gulls. Adults have a yellow bill with a red spot andsometimes a green base. eye color is usually dark, butmay appear yellow under some lighting conditions. Areddish-purple eye ring is present during the breedingseason. the outer primaries show a distinct black withwhite pattern.

Thayer’s Gull

©B

ob G

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iceland GullLarus glaucoides

A medium to large-sizedspecies, iceland Gulls havepink legs and may shownarrow, dark streaks on thetips of their primaries. Like

thayer’s Gulls, they nest in small colonies on arcticislands. in North America, they winter primarily alongthe Great Lakes and north Atlantic Provinces and States.Within the Great Plains, they are usually observedduring the winter months on open water in the vicinityof dams. iceland Gulls are most likely confused withthayer’s Gulls and the larger Glaucous Gulls.

Iceland Gull

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Lesser Black-

backed GullLarus fuscus

this large, old Worldspecies has been found inNorth America since the 1950s

in increasing numbers. Adults have slate-grayupperparts, black wing tips with white spots on theouter two primaries, yellow legs, yellow eyes and ayellow bill with a bright orange-red spot. First winterHerring Gulls can be mistaken for first winter LesserBlack-backed Gulls. immature california Gulls can beconfused with Lesser Black-backed Gulls.

Lesser Black-backed Gull

©K

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Glaucous GullLarus hyperboreus

Glaucous Gulls are large,pink-legged, white-winged,white-bodied birds. they areaggressive scavengers. theyhave a circumpolar breeding

range and nest on open tundra and coastal cliffs. theyfeed on fish, young birds, crustaceans and carrion.Glaucous Gulls are more commonly reported thaniceland Gulls but may be confused with them.

Glaucous Gull

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Pomarine JaegerStercorarius pomarinus

individual variations andtwo color morphs make itdifficult to differentiateamong the three jaegers.Pomarine Jaegers are larger,

have a heavier, barrel-chested appearance and broaderand longer wings than other jaegers. Although usuallylost soon after leaving their arctic breeding grounds, thetwo central tail feathers are broad, blunt, have a half-twist and extend beyond the rest of the tail. on breedinggrounds their main food is lemmings.

Pomarine Jaeger

©M

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Parasitic JaegerStercorarius parasiticus

known for their agilityand ability to pursue otherseabirds until they drop theirfood, Parasitic Jaegers arehighly acrobatic and

aggressive during chases. during the breeding seasonthey also eat small birds, eggs and lemmings. ParasiticJaegers usually show 4-6 white primary shafts. Light andintermediate-phase juveniles have a distinctivecinnamon-toned plumage. Adults show a pale crescentjust behind their bills, a peaked head and their centraltail feathers are narrow and pointed.

Parasitic Jaeger

©B

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67

Long-tailed

JaegerStercorarius longicaudus

of the three jaegers, Long-tailed Jaegers are the mostpetite and have a graceful, tern-

like flight. Breeding adults have long, ribbon-like centraltail streamers. they have a distinctive clean cap. theirbreasts are generally light colored and do not have breastmarkings as other jaegers. they breed in dry, uplandtundra and feed on rodents, berries, insects and youngbirds. they winter in the southern temperate oceans.

Long-tailed Jaeger

©M

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Pocket Guides Jim Mason, Editor

69

Single copies of GPNC Pocket Guides may be picked up free at the Great Plains Nature Center.All GPNC Pocket Guides may also be downloaded in pdf format from GPNC.org. Copies can be mailed for $3.00 each by sending your check, payable to FGPNC, to: Pocket Guides, Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th Street North,Wichita, KS 67220.

Great Plains Nature CenterThe Great Plains Nature Center is a cooperative project between

the U.S. Fish andWildlife Service, Kansas Department ofWildlife, Parks & Tourism, and the City ofWichita Department of Park and Recreation.The GPNC features the Koch Habitat Hall, Owl’s Nest gift shop,Coleman Auditorium, and 2 miles of Chisholm Creek Park nature trails.The Friends of the Great Plains Nature Center was formed to increase awareness of and help sustain the Center’s environmental education mission. For more information visit the Great Plains Nature Center web site at gpnc.org. Please visit or contact us at Great Plains Nature Center, 6232 East 29th Street North,Wichita, KS 67220 or phone us at 316-683-5499

Chickadee CheckoffThe Chickadee Checkoff program

is a voluntary donation program fornongame projects sponsored by theKansas Department of Wildlife, Parksand Tourism. Kansas taxpayers areable to contribute on their individualstate income tax form. Donations canalso be made by sending a check toChickadee Checkoff Program, 512 SE25th Ave., Pratt, KS 67124. Since1980, the Chickadee Checkoffprogram has distributed over $4million to projects that helpendangered species, assist inreintroduction efforts of sensitivespecies, supports wildlife educationprojects at schools and naturecenters, and supports hundreds ofother nongame conservation projects.

Kansas Alliance forWetlands and Streams

The mission of KAWS is to ensurethe future of wetlands, streams,riparian areas and prairies as anintegral part of our Kansas heritageand landscape. We work with ourpartners and citizens of Kansastowards a vision of a healthy,sustainable ecosystems andwatersheds that preserve a highquality of life and water for us all andfuture generations. This Pocket Guidehighlights some of the importantnative species that are part of ournatural heritage, and KAWS is proudto be involved in work to conservethese important species in Kansas.Learn more by visiting kaws.org.

The Nature ConservancyThe Nature Conservancy is the

leading conservation organizationworking around the world to protectecologically important lands andwaters for nature and people. Oureffective and pragmatic solutionshave enabled The NatureConservancy to protect more than119 million acres and thousands ofmiles of rivers worldwide. In Kansas,the Conservancy has protected100,000 acres including owning48,000 acres of biologically rich anddiverse habitat. For more information,contact The Nature Conservancy inKansas at (785) 233-4400, by emailat kansas@tnc.org, or visitnature.org/kansas andfacebook.com/TNCKansas.

Westar Energy Green TeamWestar Energy, Inc. is the largest

utility in Kansas serving nearly700,000 customers with about35,000 miles of transmission anddistribution lines. Since 1989, theiremployees have operated anenvironmental team. The Green Teammembers volunteer hours to improvewildlife habitat through wetlandcreation and restoration and nativegrass and tree planting. They buildbridges and trails and work to protectand reintroduce sensitive plant andanimal species. The Green Team canbe contacted at 785-575-8125 or atBen.Postlethwait@Westarenergy.com.

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Suzanne D. Fellows is with the Federal Duck Stamp Office, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Falls Church, Virginia.

Bob Gress is a wildlife photographer and was Director of the Great PlainsNature Center from 1996-2012.