Are all the white birds you see on the berm the same?
By Sidney Freund
Florida Master Naturalist
If you look closely, you will see differences in the birds seen on the berm, other than size. One of the more common birds is the white Ibis.
It has a pink curved bill and long neck, The juveniles are mottled brown. Their bills and legs usually pink, turn bright red during breeding season. White ibis are highly sociable. They feed and roost in flocks and fly in V formation with necks extended. In flight, look for their black wing tips.
Another common white bird is the great egret. Great Egrets are tall, long-legged wading birds with long, S-curved necks and long, dagger-like bills. In flight, the long neck is tucked in and the legs extend far beyond the tip of the short tail. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.
Snowy egrets can be identified by their black bill, black legs and yellow feet, which has earned them the nickname “golden slippers.” They can be distinguished from the great egret by their smaller size and distinctive white plume. In the early 19th century, the snowy egret was hunted to near extinction for its distinctive plumes, which were popular in women's hats.
Wood storks are huge, long-legged birds with long, thick, heavy, down-curved bill. The wood stork’s head is black and bald. It has white wings with extensive black flight feathers. Its legs are black and feet are pink. The wood stork is the only stork breeding in the United States. Its late winter breeding season is timed to the Florida dry season when fish prey becomes concentrated in shrinking pools.
Cattle egrets have a pointed orange yellow bill, yellow legs and feet (though to confuse things, (juveniles have dark legs and bills). It is much smaller than the other egrets in Florida. This adaptable little bird can indeed be found placidly riding cows, picking off insects as they land. They also follow lawn mowers, snatching stirred-up bugs. Actually, you are more likely to see them in the Publics parking lot than on the berm!
To confuse matters, that white bird you see could be a little blue heron. Wait, what? Doesn’t their name say they’re blue? Well, yes, but only once they’re grown up. As juveniles, they are indeed white, making them tricky to ID. “Do you know why they're white in their first year? Recent studies suggest that the white plumage makes them more easily accepted by snowy egrets, who are quite feisty when protecting their favored fishing spots. Because “snowies” are such aggressive feeders, and more efficient than little blues at finding prey, being able to tag along helps the youngsters survive their first year. Look for a two-toned gray bill, pale greenish yellow legs and feet.
Now when you walk the berm take a closer look at the white birds and soon you will become a white bird expert.
By Sidney Freund
Florida Master Naturalist
If you look closely, you will see differences in the birds seen on the berm, other than size. One of the more common birds is the white Ibis.
It has a pink curved bill and long neck, The juveniles are mottled brown. Their bills and legs usually pink, turn bright red during breeding season. White ibis are highly sociable. They feed and roost in flocks and fly in V formation with necks extended. In flight, look for their black wing tips.
Another common white bird is the great egret. Great Egrets are tall, long-legged wading birds with long, S-curved necks and long, dagger-like bills. In flight, the long neck is tucked in and the legs extend far beyond the tip of the short tail. They hunt in classic heron fashion, standing immobile or wading through wetlands to capture fish with a deadly jab of their yellow bill. Great egrets were hunted nearly to extinction for their plumes in the late nineteenth century, sparking conservation movements and some of the first laws to protect birds.
Snowy egrets can be identified by their black bill, black legs and yellow feet, which has earned them the nickname “golden slippers.” They can be distinguished from the great egret by their smaller size and distinctive white plume. In the early 19th century, the snowy egret was hunted to near extinction for its distinctive plumes, which were popular in women's hats.
Wood storks are huge, long-legged birds with long, thick, heavy, down-curved bill. The wood stork’s head is black and bald. It has white wings with extensive black flight feathers. Its legs are black and feet are pink. The wood stork is the only stork breeding in the United States. Its late winter breeding season is timed to the Florida dry season when fish prey becomes concentrated in shrinking pools.
Cattle egrets have a pointed orange yellow bill, yellow legs and feet (though to confuse things, (juveniles have dark legs and bills). It is much smaller than the other egrets in Florida. This adaptable little bird can indeed be found placidly riding cows, picking off insects as they land. They also follow lawn mowers, snatching stirred-up bugs. Actually, you are more likely to see them in the Publics parking lot than on the berm!
To confuse matters, that white bird you see could be a little blue heron. Wait, what? Doesn’t their name say they’re blue? Well, yes, but only once they’re grown up. As juveniles, they are indeed white, making them tricky to ID. “Do you know why they're white in their first year? Recent studies suggest that the white plumage makes them more easily accepted by snowy egrets, who are quite feisty when protecting their favored fishing spots. Because “snowies” are such aggressive feeders, and more efficient than little blues at finding prey, being able to tag along helps the youngsters survive their first year. Look for a two-toned gray bill, pale greenish yellow legs and feet.
Now when you walk the berm take a closer look at the white birds and soon you will become a white bird expert.