PROJECT MANAGERS AND EDITORS

Anne Sutton; Riley WoodfordAlaska Department of Fish and Game

ILLUSTRATIONS

George C. West (www.birchsidestudios.com)

DESIGN AND LAYOUT

Annie Kincheloe (A Sign of Design)

PHOTOS

Cover: John Hyde (Harlequin Duck)Back cover: Jim Williams (Common Loon; Common Murre; Common Mergansers) Bob Armstrong (White-winged Scoter; Bonaparte’s Gull)Karla Hart (Chilkat Mountains)

Thanks to Deb Rudis, Bob Armstrong and ADF&G staff Kristen Romanoff and Ken Marsh for their editorial assistance.

This project was developed for the Wildlife Viewing Program of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game with funding from the National Scenic Byways Program.

©2015 Alaska Department of Fish and GameAll rights reserved.

www.wildlifeviewing.alaska.gov

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You’re out on the water—the boat’s tossing, sun’s glinting off the waves—and that silhouette bobbing in the distance could be just about any kind of bird. But train a pair of binoculars on it and an array of field marks and unique behaviors come into view. Identifying marine birds can be challenging, but the tips in this guide can help by pointing out those tell-tale features.

Our illustrations include the birds most com-monly seen (or seasonally abundant) on inside waters. Key features are highlighted and chara-cteristic behaviors noted. There are always exceptions but, in most cases, general truisms should help identify the bird. For example, oystercatchers are usually seen on the beach, murrelets are frequently in pairs, scoters are normally found in big flocks known as rafts. First identify the kind of bird—is it a loon or a merganser—then you can narrow it down to the exact species.

Size and weight are useful for relative comparison. The familiar mallard weighs about two pounds

What’sthat bird?

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and is about 23 inches long. That’s about the same size as a merganser, and noticeably bigger than a bufflehead or a harlequin duck. Marbled murrelets are the smallest of the common resident seabirds. Cormorants and loons are the largest (disregarding gulls, which are pretty distinct relative to other seabirds). The familiar glaucous-winged gull is noticeably larger than a kittiwake or mew gull, and the relatively small size of a Bonaparte’s gull is a good clue.

Generally, sea ducks are more common dur-ing spring migration and winter, as many nest farther north or inland in summer. A big flock of ducks in winter may include a mix of species, ages and sexes. That’s a good chance to compare species and pick out the more distinctive males.

This guide identifies all birds by their common name and gives the bird’s sex where plumages vary. With some birds, like loons, murres, murrelets and gulls, the sexes are similar and plumages vary by season. With others, like the oystercatcher, the sexes are similar and plumage stays consistent year-round. All birds shown, with the exception of one gull, are adults. Illustrations are not to scale and colors may look different in the field based on light, location and the artist’s interpretation.

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Harlequin Duck

Threewhitepatchesonhead;darkbrownish-grayoverall

Bold,variedcolors

Harlequin Duck

•Swiftflightwithabruptturns

•Oftenseenbobbingnearshoreoronrocksatwaterline

•Colorfulmalemayappearsoliddarkfromadistance

•Squeakycalls

L 17in

W 1.5lb

FEMALE

MALE

Identifying

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Bufflehead

Buff

lehe

ad

Distinctivewhitecheekpatch;darkgray-brownbody

FEMALE

Large,roundhead;largewhitepatchonbackofhead;bodylargelywhiteexceptfordarkglossybackandhead

MALE

•Low,swiftflight

•Fliesstraightupfromawatertake-off

•Usuallyinsmallflocks

L 13.5in

W 13oz

Identifying

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Long-tailed Duck

•Swift,lowflightwithchangingformations

•Usuallyinsmallgroups

•Veryvocal;incessantcalloftensoundslikeow-owoolee

Breeding:darkbrownoverall;palepatchonhead;whiteflanks;stubbybill

MALE

ShorttailFEMALE

Non-breeding:whiteoncrown,back,andunderneath;darkcheeks

MALE

Long-tailed Duck

Identifying

L 16.5in

W 1.6lb

SPRING

WINTER

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Red-breasted Merganser

Red-

brea

sted

Mer

gans

er

Shaggycrest;thinbill;deepredeyecolor;reddish-brownchest

MALE

Orange-brownhead

•Frequentssaltwaterbaysandinlets

•Oneofthefastestflyingducks

Identifying

L 23in

W 2.3lb

FEMALE

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Comm

on Merganser

•Flocksmoveinsinglefilelowoverwater

•Foundinsaltwaterbaysandinletsbutpreferfreshwater

Identifying

L 25in

W 3.4lb

Shortcrest;roundedhead;distinctcolorchangeatbaseofneck

FEMALE

Mostlywhitebody;blackback;smooth,darkhead

MALE

Common Merganser

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Common Goldeneye

Com

mon

Gol

dene

ye

L 18.5in

W 1.9lb

Identifying

Round-shapedpatch

MALE

Darkunderwing;whistlingwings

MALE

•Barrow’sandcommongoldeneyesflyhighandstrong

•Wingsofbothspeciesmakedistinctivewhistlingsoundinflight

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Barrow’s Goldeneye Barrow

’s Goldeneye

Crescent-shapedpatch

MALE

L 18in

W 2.1lb

Identifying•Notedifferenceinblackand

whitewingmarksbetweencommonandBarrow’s

•CommonandBarrow’sfemalesverysimilar,butcommonhasadarkbillwithyellowtip

FEMALE

Mostlyyellowbill

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Surf Scoter

Surf

Sco

ter

Multicoloredbill;slopingbillprofile;whitepatchesonheadandnape

MALE

L 20in

W 2.1lb

Identifying•Scoterstravelinloose

flocks,ofteninirregular,wavylinesclosetowaves

•Gatheronwaterinsmalltolargeflocksofthousands,oftenamixofscoters

FEMALE

Palespotsonhead;darkerbrownupperparts

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White-wingedScoter W

hite-winged Scoter

Darkbrownwithlightgrayspotsonhead

Whitepatchesonwing;whitecrescentbeloweye;red-orangebilltip

L 21in

W 3.7lb

Identifying•White-wingedhas

noticeablefeatheringonbill

•Surfandwhite-wingedoftenflocktogether

MALE

FEMALE

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Common Murre

Com

mon

Mur

re

L 17.5in

W 2.2lb

Identifying•Solitaryorinsmallgroups

•Penguin-likewhenperched

•Winterplumagesimilarexceptneckismostlywhitewithdarklinebehindeye

•Sexeshavesimilarplumage

SUMMER

Breeding:long,pointedbill;dark,sootybrownupperparts,whitebelow;whitetrimonwing

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SUMMER

PigeonGuillemot Pigeon Guillem

ot

L 13.5in

W 1.1lb

Identifying•Seldomfarfromland

•High,squeakywhistlesaroundnest

•Sexeshavesimilarplumage

•Winterplumagewhitewithblackmottlingonupperpartsandcrown

Breeding:brightredfeetandmouthlining;whitewingpatches

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Non-breeding:darkgray-brownupperparts;darkcapandcheek;whitecollarandpatchesonupperwing

SUMMER

Breeding:brownoverall;heavilymottledonunderparts

MarbledMurrelet

Mar

bled

Mur

rele

t

L 9.75in

W 8oz

Identifying•Ofteninpairs

•Flieslowwithfastbeatsoflong,pointedwings

•Oftendiveswhenapproached

•Sexeshavesimilarplumage

WINTER

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Red-necked Phalarope

Red-necked Phalarope

L 7.75in

W 1.2oz

Identifying•Oftengathersinflocks

onthewaterduringmigrationandwinter

•Spinswhenfeeding,creatingasmallwhirlpool

•Sexeshavesimilarplumage,butfemaleisbrighter

Redneck;whitethroatpatch

SUMMER

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PacificLoon

Paci

fic

Loon

Breeding:palegrayhead;whitestripesonblackneck;iridescentthroatpatch;slendergraybill

SUMMER

L 25in

W 3.7lb

Identifying•Loonsareusuallysolitary

butmayformsmallloosegroups

•Long-bodied

•Lowtothewater

•Pacificlooncallscharacterizedbyhigh,yodelingsounds

Non-breeding:darkgrayupperparts;chinstrap

WINTER

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CommonLoon

Comm

on Loon

L 32in

W 9lb

Identifying•Notedifferences

inheadandneckbetweencommonandPacificloons

•Commonloonhasdistinctivelow,wailingcall

Breeding:glossyblackhead;stoutblackbill;checkeredback

SUMMER

Non-breeding:grayorbrownupperparts;whiteunderparts,chinandforeneck

WINTER

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BlackOystercatcher

Blac

k O

yste

rcat

cher

L 17.5in

W 1.4lb

Identifying•Crow-sizedshorebird

commonlyseennearwaterlineonrockyislands

•Voiceisaloudpiercingwhistle

•Juvenilebillispink

•Sexeshavesimilarplumage

Long,brightorange-redbill;yelloweyes;pinklegs

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PelagicCormorant

Pelagic Cormorant

L 28in

W 3.9lb

Identifying•Usuallysolitary

•Directflightwithquick,choppywingbeatsandneckstretchedstraight

•Oftenseenperchedonrocks

•Diveswithadistinctivelunginghop(mergansersmayalsodothis)

Breeding:blackwithiridescentsheen;long,slenderneck;billhookedattip;whitepatchonflanks

SUMMER

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Mew Gull

Mew

Gul

l

L 16in

W 15oz

Identifying•Graceful,buoyantflight

•Neckhasbrownwashinwinterplumage

•Sexeshavesimilarplumage(sameforallgullspecies)

Breeding:darkgraymantle;shortyellowbill

SUMMER

Whitespotsonblackwingtips

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Glaucous-winged Gull

Glaucous-w

inged Gull

L 26in

W 2.2lb

Identifying •MostcommongullinSoutheastAlaska

•Robust;chunky

•Broad-winged

•Oftennestswithothergullsproducinghybrids,makingIDdifficult

JUVENILE

ADULT

Heavyblackbill;browntogray-browncoloring

Breeding:palegraymantle;whiteheadandneck;darkergraywingtips;yellowbillwithreddotnearlowertip;pinklegs

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Breeding:palegraymantle;blackwingtips;yellowbill;blacklegs

Black-legged Kittiwake

Blac

k-le

gged

Kit

tiw

ake

L 17in

W 14oz

Identifying•Smallergullwithrelatively

longwings

•Oftenforagesbyhoveringandplungediving

•Wintersonopenocean

•Juvenileslargelybrownandgraywithblackbill

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Bonaparte’s Gull

Bonaparte’s Gull

L 13.5in

W 7oz

Identifying•Smallestofcommongulls

•Maygatherinflocksbythehundredswhenfoodisabundant

•Distinctivebuzzy,almostduck-likecall

SUMMER

Thinblackbill;red-orangelegs;whiteouterprimaries;darkwingtips

Non-breeding:mostlywhiteheadwithdarkearspot

Breeding:blackhood

WINTER

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A Checklist for Common Birds of the Inside WatersThis is not meant to be an exhaustive check-list for Southeast Alaska; that list would contain more than 300 birds! Instead we’ve included birds commonly seen in and around the inside waters and noted the seasons in which they are most abundant. Some birds not listed here may be very common, but only in particular areas. For example, tufted and even horned puffins or Kittlitz’s murrelets are frequently seen in Glacier Bay, while in outside waters like Cross Sound and Dixon Entrance, common pelagic (or ocean-going) birds include shearwaters, fulmars, storm petrels and albatross. As for the seasons, spring and fall refer to migration periods, which can vary by species. The number of species appears most sparse in summer because many birds will fly to Interior, Arctic or Western Alaska breeding grounds to nest.

Red-throatedLoonPacificLoonCommonLoonHornedGrebeRed-neckedGrebePelagicCormorantTundraSwanGreaterWhite-frontedGoose

SPECIES SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER

• •• • •• • • •• • •• •• • • •• •• •

Snow GooseCanada GooseGreen-winged TealMallardNorthern PintailNorthern ShovelerAmerican WigeonGreater ScaupLesser ScaupHarlequin DuckLong-tailed DuckSurf ScoterWhite-winged ScoterCommon GoldeneyeBarrow’s GoldeneyeBuffleheadCommon MerganserRed-breasted MerganserBald EagleRed-necked PhalaropeBonaparte’s GullMew GullHerring GullThayer’s GullGlaucous-winged GullBlack-legged KittiwakeArctic TernCommon MurrePigeon GuillemotMarbled MurreletBelted Kingfisher

SPECIES SPRING SUMMER FALL WINTER

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

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