The American Bittern is a large brown heron 23 to 27 inches in length and a wingspan of 45 inches. Although common in much of North America the American Bittern is usually well-hidden in bogs, marshes and wet meadows. Usually solitary, it walks stealthily among the dense grass. If it senses that it has been seen, the American Bittern becomes motionless, with its bill pointed upward, causing it to blend into the reeds. (See my photo below). It is most active at dusk. More often heard than seen, this bittern has a call that resembles a congested pump. Like other members of the heron family, the American Bittern feeds on amphibians, fish, insects, and reptiles. The Bittern's numbers have declined in the southern parts of its range due to habitat loss. The Bittern is thus protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.
American Bittern
photo taken at Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge, Washington
The Double-crested Cormorant is a member of the cormorant family of seabirds. Yet it is the only cormorant found on fresh water lakes and waterways. Thus it is widely distributed across North America. It is about 33 inches in length with a wingspan of 52 inches and weighing as much as 3.7 pounds. It is all-black except during breeding season when it gains a small double crest of black and white feathers. It has a bare patch of orange-yellow facial skin. Its feathers, like those of all cormorants, are not waterproof and it must spend time drying them out after spending time in the water. The Double-crested Cormorant swims low in the water, often with just its neck and head visible, and dives from the surface. It uses its feet for propulsion and is able to dive to a depth of 25 feet for 70 seconds. After diving, it spends long periods standing with its wings outstretched to allow them to dry, since they are not fully waterproofed. This species flies low over the water, with its bill tilted slightly upward, sometimes leaving the colony in long, single-file lines. Food can be found in the sea, freshwater lakes, and rivers. Like all cormorants, the double-crested dives to find its prey. It mainly eats fish, but will sometimes also eat amphibians and crustaceans. Fish are caught by diving under water. Smaller fish may be eaten while the bird is still beneath the surface but bigger prey is often brought to the surface before it is eaten. Cormorants regurgitate pellets containing undigested parts of their meals such as bones.
Double Crested Cormorant
photo taken at Puget Sound, Washington
The Pelagic Cormorant is the more typical ocean going cormorant found in the North Pacific. This is a smallish cormorant, measuring 25 to 29 in in length, with a wingspan of about 40 inches and a weight of 52-86 oz. when fully grown. Adults in nonbreeding plumage are all-black with a metallic iridescence. In breeding plumage they grow two short crests (one on top of the head and one at the nape), white thighs, and scattered white filoplumes on the head and neck. (see my photo below). The long thin bill and the large feet with all-webbed toes are black throughout the year, while the patch of dark naked skin below the eye turns a vivid magenta in the breeding season. The Pelagic Cormorant breeds on rocky shores and islands. They do not form large colonies, but smaller groups may nest together. In some cases these birds alternate between two or three nesting sites in a region from one year to another. The nest is built at the cliff face, usually on ledges, less often in crevices or caves. Once the birds have found a nest site they like, they tend to remain faithful to it for the rest of their life. The nest is repaired and improved in each season if need be; it can thus grow up to 5 ft deep.
Pelagic Cormorant (breeding plumage)
photo taken on Olympic Peninsula Coast, Washington
The White-faced Ibis is a wading bird that breeds colonially in marshes, usually nesting in bushes or low trees. It can be found in the western United States into Mexico, southeastern Brazil, southeastern Bolivia, south to central Argentina, and along the coast of Central Chile. The White Faced Ibis is nearly identical to the Long Billed Curlew in size and shape (including the bill), although the plumage is quite unique. The back is dark green while the upper back, breast, and neck are a dark maroon. The bill is gray, and their is a white border around a red iris.
White Faced Ibis
photo taken at Whitewater Draw, Arizona
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