Great Black-Backed Gull (Larus marinus)

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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Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

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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Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger)

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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American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus)

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

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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Great Cormorant

Appearance: black feathers, black webbed feet, pale beak, blue eyes, white patch on chin, breeding adults also have white patch on flanks under wings, neck kinked in flight Males and females look identical, except males are slightly larger and have slightly longer wingspan Height: 33-35 inches (about 3 feet) Wingspan: 51-63 (about 4.5-5 feet) Status:…

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