Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) Appearance: white head and belly, light grey backs, black wingtips, white on wing undersides, beige legs, yellow beak with red spot on underside near tip, head and neck streaked tan during winter and black ring appears on beak Male is larger than female, same coloration in plumage Length: 22 to 26…
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Great Egret (Ardea alba), “Great White Heron” Appearance: white body, long black legs, long S-curved neck, long yellow beak, dark feet (not yellow) Males are larger than females, both have ornamental feathers during breeding season Height: about 3 feet Wingspan: 51-57 inches (about 4-5 feet) Status: least concern, populations are increasing In the late 1800s,…
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Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) Appearance: white head with dark brown cap, black beak and feet, white chest and belly, dark brown patch in center of belly, wings dark brown on top and fade to gray white, white underwings, dark brown tail ο Females larger than males, but have same coloration Length: 18-20…
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Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) ● Appearance: mostly white; long, black-tipped wings; pale yellow feathers on head and neck; long, straight, grey beak; black webbed feet, black eye ring ○ Males are larger than females, females are heavier, same coloration ○ Males have yellow-green line running down legs (top right), females have blue-green line (bottom right)…
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Appearance: blue-gray body, dark blue feathers on insides of wings, long legs, long and dagger-like orange beak, black or blue stripe around eye Height: 3 to 4.5 feet Despite their height they only weigh 5-6 lbs Wingspan: 65-80 inches (about 5.5 to 6.5 feet) Status: least concern, populations are increasing Nearly hunted to extinction for…
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Appearance: white head and belly, dark grey (“black”) backs, black on tips of wings, white on undersides of wings, beige legs, yellow beak with red spot near tip Identical plumage coloration, but male is larger Length: 28 to 31 inches (about 2.5 feet) Wingspan: 57 to 63 inches long (about 5 feet) Status: common, populations…
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Appearance: black head and back, red eyes, grey wings, white underbelly, yellow legs, can be seen resting in a hunched position during the day No significant difference between males and females Length: 23-26 inches (about 2 feet) Wingspan: 45-47 inches (just short of 4 feet) Status: populations recovered from mid-1900s pesticide use and are fairly…
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Appearance: black back and head, white underside, wings are black on top and white underneath, red legs, red beak with black tip, top half of beak is longer than bottom half no difference in plumage coloration, but males are noticeable larger than females Black skimmers used to be known as “scissor bills” because their beaks…
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Appearance: black head, brown back, white stripe on wings and tail, long red/orange beak, yellow eyes surrounded by yellow ring, pale pink legs, white undersides Females are larger than males, identical plumage Height: 17-21 inches (about 1.5 feet) Wingspan: 35 inches (about 3 feet) Status: recovered from severe decline in 1800s; common, but threatened by…
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Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) Appearance: brown-black feathers; black, webbed feet; gray, narrow, hooked beak; orange skin on face near beak; blue eyes; long neck that kinks in flight Breeding adults have white or black tufty feathers on head Males are slightly larger than females, but coloration is the same Height: 28-35 inches (about 2.5 feet)…
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