Species Identification Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) Northern Pintail (G. Sorenson) Herring Gull American Wigeon, female on right (G. Sorenson) TheWildernessAlternative (eBird)
Gulls Iceland Challenging to ID, but IDs to species are important for trend data Take photos for help if you are unsure, especially for flocks Heerman’s Gull can be found around Victoria and are quite distinct looking
Gulls Western Gull Bonaparte’s Gull - Smallest gull - Dark bill and eye - Black spot in winter - Large, heavy looking - Dark mantle - Black wing tips - Pink Legs
Gulls Herring Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) TheWildernessAlternative (eBird) Mew Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull
Gulls Iceland Gull (Thayer’s) Herring Gull TheWildernessAlternative (eBird) Less common, but still regular More common Iceland
Gulls October Distribution from eBird Iceland Gull (Thayer’s)
Gulls October Distribution from eBird Herring Gull
Gulls Ring-billed Gull California Gull Mew Gull Charlotte Morris (eBird)
Gulls What is this gull? Dark wingtips and pink legs = Western or Herring or Iceland Not dark grey mantle = Herring or Iceland Dark eye, rounded head, bill appearing thin = Iceland Gull Liam Singh (eBird)
Common Loon Pacific Loon Red-throated Loon • Common in winter on our • Form large flocks during migration • Less frequent on our coasts coasts Smaller than Common Loon • • Found in bays, less in open • Winter plumage dark gray • Bill, head size, body size ocean above, white below • May show chin strap Thin bill often tipped up • • Partial collar • Darker colour around eye • Speckled back in winter • Large bill and head • General impression of slimmer • White neck and lower face compared to Pacific Loon bird than COLO, in flight and on water
Western Grebe Red-necked Grebe Horned Grebe • Most common wintering • Smaller than Western Grebe, grebe stockier • Smaller than other common • Bigger than Horned Grebe with • Our largest grebe grebe species larger bill Long neck with white throat • • White face (more than Red- • Yellow-green bill • Dark face surrounds red eye necked) • Neck often reddish-brown • Thin bill, appears curved up • Small gray beak • Dark eye (not red)
Double-crested Pelagic Cormorant Brandt’s Cormorant Cormorant Marc Hanneman (eBird) Kathryn Keith (eBird) • Similar color to Pelagic • Thicker bill and neck • Our largest cormorant • Smallest cormorant in BC • Beige throat patch always • Face is yellow/ orange at all Thin neck and beak • present times of the year • Breeding adults have white patch • Found in large groups more • Adults are all black, • Glossy black-green overall, than Pelagic juveniles (like image) have generally appear black • White plumes in summer on paler throat and chest head
Common Murre Pigeon Guillemot Marbled Murrelet Ryan Shaw (eBird) • Small alcid normally alone or with pair • Whiter overall in winter Bigger than guillemot and • • Fast, buzzy flight than murres and murrelets murrelet White on throat, belly, and • • Bright red feet • Long, sharp bill, held at angle white line on back Thinned head and neck • • Dark brown above, white below • Small pointy bill Bigger Small
Surf Scoter White-winged Scoter Black Scoter • Adult male has white • No white markings • White wing patches on males and behind head, on forehead, • Thinner bill, often with females yellow at base and on orange bill • More evenly sloped forehead • Large bill • Females have dark cap and • Bigger than other scoter species • Pale eye on adult females pale cheeks • More round head shape
Harlequin Duck Barrow’s Goldeneye Common Goldeneye Brian Hicks (eBird) Kathryn Keith (eBird) Brian Hicks (eBird) • Whiter body and round face • Adult males are very • Less white on body and tear patch distinct, even in winter shaped face patch • Female usually mostly black • Females have two white • Female usually has mostly yellow bill, overlap between species patches on face bill
Long-tailed Duck Bufflehead John Gordinier (eBird) • Very distinct sea duck • Bold patterning, long tail • Pink in bill • Breeding males are very distinct – mostly white Females and non-breeding males • have single white cheek patch • Very small size
Mallard Northern Pintail Gadwall • Orange legs and feet • Orange beak with some • Similar to Mallard but overall dark (most orange) smaller look • Dark eye stripe • Less orange on just edges of • White feathers on tail bill • Blueish speculum (colored • Gray legs and feet • Yellow legs feathers on wings during • Slimmer, longer bird than Mallard • White speculum in flight flight) • Plain face • Domed head shape • Dark gray beak
American Wigeon Green-winged Teal Northern Shoveler • Smallest dabbler – recognizable • Large bill is distinct • Very numerous in by size Similar look to Mallard • migration, and in winter • Green speculum visible except green speculum Head shape is distinct to • • Face similar to Mallard, but dark • Orange legs wigeons bray bill • Small round head, dark shadowing around eye • Small gray bill with black tip
Dunlin Sanderling Western Sandpiper • Distinctive running behavior • Black droopy bill Larger and longer-legged • • Short and straight black bill • Black legs than Western Sandpiper • Smaller than Dunlin • Dark legs, pale body • Arrive later than most • Dark mark on folded wings (lesser • Uncommon in winter peeps in the fall wing coverts) visible in winter • Longer, droopy black bill Black legs • Breeding Dunlin (left) and Western Sandpiper
Semipalmated Least Sandpiper Black-bellied Plover Sandpiper Larger than all mudflat • • Darker and smaller than similar sandpiper species • Less common than other species • Thick dark bill and large eye sandpipers • Crouching behavior • Black armpits in flight Gray-brown above, pale • • Yellowish legs with streaks below • Short, droopy bill • Short black bill, nob at end • Black legs Western Sandpiper behind crouching Least Sandpiper
Short-billed Long-billed Greater Yellowlegs Dowitcher Dowitcher Lesser Yellowlegs • Slightly shorter bill than • Relatively gray in non-breeding Long-billed plumage • When foraging, back • Very hunched appearance while appears flat foraging • Brownish-gray with barred flanks
Black Turnstone Surfbird Black Oystercatcher • Small, chunky bird • Distinct large, black shorebird • Larger gray shorebird with thick • Thin, short black bill Long, bright orange bill yellow legs • White belly contrasting • • Orange base to bill with dark body
Counting Waterbirds Herring spawn season in Baynes Sound. Photo: A.Martell
Counting Waterbirds • Assess flock size & species composition: – How many birds? How many species? Look for any unusual or rare species. – Is the flock dense or well spaced out? – Are the birds actively diving, flying, is there a predator around spooking them (e.g., Peregrine Falcon) • Can you count them easily by individual bird? – If not, estimate using appropriate sub-group classes • If multiple species, estimate composition along transects
Counting Waterbirds Photo: M. Yip How many species? How many individuals?
Counting Waterbirds 71 Surf Scoter, 6 Long-tailed Duck, 1 Barrow’s Goldeneye, 1 Black Scoter 95% Surf Scoter, 4% Long-tailed Duck, 1% other
Counting Waterbirds There are 10 birds in the yellow box. How many birds are there in the flock? Photo: R. Tizard
Counting Waterbirds 68 Common Murre in this flock! Photo: R. Tizard
Counting Waterbirds Note how the size of your count-estimate frame decreases with distance. 56 birds Photo: M. Lemon Estimating flocks of many 1,000s best done in sub-groups of 500-1,000. There’s probably ~2,000 birds in this picture. Estimate the species composition by counting the # of each species along transects through the flock. Estimate of ~60 Dunlin to ~20 Westerns ¾ Dunlin and ¼ Westerns ~1,500 Dunlin and ~500 Westerns
Further Counting Help • Ebird – For bird counting tips and techniques for counting single-species flocks see Bird Counting 101 – For guidance for counting large numbers, moving flocks, and mixed species flocks see Bird Counting 201 R. Tizard • Practice with an experienced person, it gets easier! • Start with smaller, easier flocks and progress to larger groups. • Take photos to try to calibrate your eye. • Have fun!
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