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| Western
Grebe |
(Aechmophorus
occidentalis) |
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Description:
A common winter resident, this diving bird is famous for its
courtship dance. Black and white with a long straight neck,
its bill is yellow and very long. Sexes look alike. These birds
labor to get airborne and often must run on the water surface
before takeoff. Dives to catch sculpin, herring, perch, and
smelt. Length 18 inches; Wingspan 40 inches. |
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| Double
Crested Cormorant |
(Phalacrocorax
auritus) |
|
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Description:
These fish eating birds are common locally in the fall and winter.
Black with orange throat pouch. Sexes look alike. Dives from
the surface to 60 feet, swimming underwater with great agility
in the quest for food. When in flight head held higher than
the neck. Lacking the protective oils of a duck, these birds
must dry their wings, or risk hypothermia. Length 27 inches;
Wingspan 50 inches. |
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| Canada
Goose |
(Branta
canadensis) |
|
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Description:
Our most common goose, with nearby resident populations. Gathers
in large flocks, and natural populations migrate in large V-shaped
formations. Characteristic honking a familiar sound. Sexes look
alike. Feeds on Sea Lettuce and marsh plants. Length 16 - 25
inches; Wingspan 50 - 68 inches. |
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| Brant
Goose |
(Branta
bernicla) |
|
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Description:
A small dark goose that breeds in the Arctic and winters locally.
Black on breast and belly, white on neck and underside. Flight
is fast and low over the water. Feeds on aquatic grasses like
eelgrass, which it harvests by tipping. Once almost extinct,
populations are now recovering. Sexes look alike. Length 17
inches; Wingspan 46 inches. |
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| Mallard |
(Anas
platyrhynchos) |
|
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Description:
Once of the most widespread ducks on earth, found in North and
Central America, Eurasia and Africa. Resident year round. Males
identified by metallic green head and white neck band; females
are mottled brown. Their voice is a loud "quack."
Feeds in shallow water on variety of plants, crustaceans, and
mollusks. Length 16 inches; Wingspan 36 inches. |
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| Bald
Eagle |
(Haliaeetus
leucucephalus) |
|
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Description:
Occasionally seen along the shoreline, this fish eagle is easily
identified by its white head and tail. Body brown, with beak
and talons yellow. Sexes look alike. Flies with deep strokes
and soars on flattened wings. Prey is caught in the talons.
Length 32 inches; wingspan 80 inches. |
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| Great
Blue Heron |
(Ptilosarcus
gurneyi) |
|
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Description:
This common year round resident is the largest North American
heron. Head white, with darker underparts blue gray. Breeding
adults have long gray plume feathers on breast and back. Sexes
look alike. Walks in the shallows, often standing motionless
for long periods before spearing a fish on its long sharp bill.
Nests in treetop colonies called rookeries. Length 38 inches;
Wingspan 70 inches. |
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Killdeer |
(Charadrius
vociferous) |
|
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Description:
This common type of plover has brown upper body with a white
underside, black neck bands, and orange on the upper tail and
lower back. Sexes look alike. Pretends to injured with a broken
wing in order to lure predators away from its egg filled nest
on the ground. Repeats its name as a call. Length 8 inches. |
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| Sanderling |
(Calidris
alba) |
|
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Description:
Sometimes seen along our sandy beaches, this small bird is
light gray in winter and brownish red in spring. Sexes look
alike. In flight a broad white wing stripe and black wrist
are prominent. Length 6.5 inches. |
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| Least
Sandpiper |
(Calidris
minutilla) |
|
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Description:
This locally common shore bird can be seen in the Edmonds marsh,
as well as along the shoreline. Feeds by probing in the mud
as well as picking food from the surface. Darker brown in the
summer, lighter in the winter. Sexes look alike. Length 4.75
inches. |
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| Western
Sandpiper |
(Calidris
mauri) |
|
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Description:
A locally common shorebird found on sandbars and tidal mudflats.
In the summer back and crown are reddish, in the fall plumage
is more gray. Sexes look alike. This bird probes for food at
water's edge. Length 5.25 inches. |
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| Glaucous-Winged
Gull |
(Larus
glaucescens) |
|
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Description:
One of 12 types of gull that frequent the Puget Sound area.
This abundant gull is gray and white with a stocky body, webbed
feet and hooked bill. Juveniles have a mottled, dirty gray-brown
appearance. Sexes look alike. Will drop shellfish onto the beach
from high in the sky to break open shells. In summer preys on
eggs and young birds of other seabirds. Length 22 inches; Wingspan
54 inches. |
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| Western
Gull |
(Larus
occidentalis) |
|
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Description:
One of 12 types of gull that frequent the Puget Sound area.
This occasionally seen gull is gray and white with a stocky
body, webbed feet and hooked bill. It has darker wings than
the Glaucous-Winged
Gull.
Juveniles have a mottled, dirty gray-brown
appearance. Sexes look alike. Will drop shellfish onto the beach
from high in the sky to break open shells. In summer preys on
eggs and young birds of other seabirds. Length 21 inches; Wingspan
55 inches. |
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| Ring-Billed
Gull |
(Larus
delawarensis) |
|
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Description:
One of 12 types of gull that frequent the Puget Sound area.
This uncommon gull is also gray and white with a stocky body,
webbed feet and hooked bill. It is smaller, and has darker wings
than the Glaucous-Winged
Gull, with a black wrist.
Complete black ring on beak. Juveniles
have a mottled, dirty gray-brown appearance. Sexes look alike.
Length 16 inches; Wingspan 49 inches. |
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| Mew
Gull |
(Larus
canus) |
|
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Description:
One of 12 types of gull that frequent the Puget Sound area.
This common gull is gray and white with a stocky body, webbed
feet and hooked bill. It has darker wings than the Glaucous-Winged
Gull, with a black wrist.
Juveniles have a mottled, dirty gray-brown
appearance. Sexes look alike. Length 14 inches; Wingspan 42
inches. |
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| Bonaparte's
Gull |
(Larus
philadelphia) |
|
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Description:
One of 12 types of gull that frequent the Puget Sound area.
This common visitor in fall and winter is gray and white with
a stocky body, webbed feet and hooked bill, and black head.
It has gray wings with a white wrist.
Juveniles lack the black head, and have
a black tail band. Sexes look alike. Length 11 inches; Wingspan
32 inches. |
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| Common
Tern |
(Sterna
hirundo) |
|
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Description:
This common visitor in the fall is slender, with long narrow
white wings, a forked tail and pointed bright orange-red bill.
Black cap. Sexes look alike. Flight is elegant with bill pointed
downward as eyes search for fish. Length 14 inches; Wingspan
31 inches. |
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| Rhinoceros
Auklet |
(Cerorhinca
monocerata) |
|
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Description:
A small, short-billed, dark-backed bird. Bill is yellow. Sexes
look alike. Common locally, this bird displays a white face
pattern in summer. Nests in burrows or rock slides. Length 11.5
inches. |
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| Belted
Kingfisher |
(Ceryle
alcyon) |
|
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Description:
This common resident dives headlong into the water to catch
small fish. It often hovers before diving. Head and back blue,
breast white with a separate white band around the neck. Wrists
black. Females have an ochre band across the breast. Large head
with crest. Chattering call. Often seen locally in and around
the Edmonds Marina. Length 12 inches. |
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Copyright
© 2008-2009 City of Edmonds, Washington - All Rights Reserved
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