Southern Screamer
Anseriformes
Anhimidae
Black and white neck ring, red eye skin, thick pinkish legs
Snow Goose
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Large pick bill, white body with black patch on rump, black grin patch
Ross's Goose
Anseriformes
Anatidae
similar to snow goose but smaller body and bill, grey on base of bill, pink legs, short neck
Brant
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Short neck, black: head, bill breast, white necklace, brown body
Cackling Goose
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Smaller than canada goose, short neck, smaller head and bill, white smile check patch, black head and neck fading to brown
Canada Goose
Anseriformes
Anatidae
White chin strap, long black neck, head, bill, brown back, white breast
Tundra Swan
Anseriformes
Anatidae
All white, large bodies with long necks, black legs and bills, yellow bill base near eye
Wood Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Males have iridescent green heads with white stripes and long crest, red eyes and red eye rings, red and yellow bills, white neck rings, brown chest with spots, and many other color and patterns on their bodies
Wood Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female also has the long crest but is much less colorful, the white teardrop-shaped plumage around her eye is very distinct as well as the blue speculum patch and white edges of that patch
Gadwall
Anseriformes
Anatidae
the large black rump patch is distinctive as well as the relatively plain head and body, but up close the feathers are very intricately spotted
Gadwall
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female resemble mallards but have thinner, darker bills, her plumage is a fairly uniform pattern of dark brown feathers with lighter brown edges
Mallard
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Males have dark green iridescent heads, yellow bills, orange legs, chestnut breasts, white neck rings (not visible here) and curly tail feathers
Mallard
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female plain brown body
dark iridescent side wing with white barriers
American Wigeon
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Males have white “mohawks” and green streaks on the side of that, blue bill with black tip, black and white butt
American Wigeon
Anseriformes
Anatidae
American Wigeon
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female warm brown body dark smudge around the eye, bill tipped in black, dark brownish gray head
Eurasian Wigeon
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Males have the same light colored “mohawk” but have chestnut colored heads
Both wigeon species have blue-ish bills with black tips
Body plumage is also very similar to male American Wigeon
Cinnamon Teal
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Uniform cinnamon head, neck, and flanks, orange eyes, black bill (bright cinnamon color in breeding plumage), longer and wider bill than most other ducks
Cinnamon Teal
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female are drab with dark body feathers with light edges, but have same wide bill
Northern Shoveler
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Males have green, mallard-like head, yellow eye, white breast, chestnut sides, oranges legs, and black and white back, very wide black bill
Northern Shoveler
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female is more drab in color but has same large body and extra large bill as the male, though her bill is dark orange
Northern Pintail
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Brown head with white breast and white neck extending up face, dark bill, long neck, very large duck, male has long pointed tail and blocks of color on body, long tail, gray bill with black stripes
Northern Pintail
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Females have relatively unmarked face, same large body and long neck and more patterns on body feathers and wing coverts than many other drab females, who just have pale edging on dark feathers, dark colored bill, long tail, plain tan head
Green Winged Teal
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Small duck with dark green, thick eye stripe, chestnut head, and beautiful spotted patterns on chest and flanks, tan rump patch, bright green speculum
Green Winged Teal
Anseriformes
Anatidae
female, small bill, dark line through eye, small unmarked whitish patch on tail, green wing patch, white spot at base of bill
Canvasback
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Long, sloped forehead, male had red eyes, bright chestnut head, black breast, gray back, and dark rump
Canvasback
Anseriformes
Anatidae
smoothly slopped forehead, grayish cast to back, black legs, white raccoon mask, light brown head
Redhead
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Similar in appearance to the canvasback but bill is a blue-grey with black tip, eyes are yellow
Redhead
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Similar in appearance to the canvasback but bill is a blue-grey with black tip, eyes are black, black legs
Ring Necked Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Ring of cinnamon color around neck (hard to see), black and white tipped bill with white bill base, yellow eyes, jet black head, neck, breast, and body, grey sides, peaked head shape, white side
Ring Necked Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Peaked head, gray face, white eye ring, white and black strip on tip of beak, brown body
Greater Scaup
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Dark black-green head, yellow eyes, grey-blue bill with black tip, white sides, black and white patterned wing coverts, dark rump (on top and bottom of body), rounder head
Greater Scaup
Anseriformes
Anatidae
females with prominent whitish ear patch, bold white patch at base of bill, gray blue bill with black tip, yellow eyes
Lesser Scaup
Anseriformes
Anatidae
similar appearance to Greater Scaup but head is more pointed – black head, neck, and breast, white and black patterned back, white sides, yellow eyes, less black on bill
Lesser Scaup
Anseriformes
Anatidae
similar to greater but less black on bill, peaked head, uniformly brown body, lighter on sides
Harlequin Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Mostly gray, chestnut side patch, bold patterns of white and black
Harlequin Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
rounded head with small bill, uniformly dark brown gets lighter and leads into white chest patch, 3 white face patches
Surf Scoter
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Large, sloped bill of orange, red, and white with black spots, white forehead, bright white eye, red legs, white spot on back of head with the rest of its body black
Surf Scoter
Anseriformes
Anatidae
whitish patch on side of base of bill, vertically shaped white patch on ear
Black Scoter
Anseriformes
Anatidae
All dark black body and eye with black bill except for yellow knob at base of bill
Black Scoter
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Sea duck, fairly small straight bill, brownish overall with pale face and neatly delineated dark cap
Bufflehead
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Bold, large white patch on head surrounded by dark iridescent color, white underparts, back usually appears all black, small gray bill and small body
Bufflehead
Anseriformes
Anatidae
female dark brown head, dark upper parts, lighter gray under parts, neat white patch on face and wing
Common Goldeneye
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Bright yellow eye, green-black head (can look black in some lighting) , white cheek patch, black and white streaked sides, orange feet, uniform black bill
Common Goldeneye
Anseriformes
Anatidae
warm brown head, contrasts with grayish body, upper darker, yellowish bill, usually mostly blackish with yellow tip
Hooded Merganser
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Thick black and white crest (on males), cinnamon flanks, white and black necklace , yellow eyes (males), hood can be raised or not (photos)
Hooded Merganser
Anseriformes
Anatidae
small brownish gray duck, warm cinnamon creast, dark yellowish eyes, long straight slender bill
Common Merganser
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Female shown , red-chestnut head with long crest, different shaped crest than Hooded Merganser, red bill with black tip, white chin, red legs, gray back, mottled gray and white underparts
Common Merganser
Anseriformes
Anatidae
The males are striking with clean white bodies, dark green heads, and a slender, serrated red bill with black tip.
White-winged Scoter
Anseriformes
Anatidae
White eye, white “eyelash” under/behind eye, dark bill with red tip, same bill and face shape as other scoters, black body with white secondaries
White-winged Scoter
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Females also have white wing patch but body is more faded blackish brown , have blurry white cheek patch and spot behind bill
Red-breasted Merganser
Anseriformes
Anatidae
green-black head, white neck band, mottled red-brown breast, spotted black/white flanks, black and white back. Red bill and red eyes with a shaggy crest
Red-breasted Merganser
Anseriformes
Anatidae
throat and chest more blended, red eyes, dark eyeline, messy crest, orange bill
Ruddy Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Bright blue bill (breeding plumage) fades to a grey/black color in the winter
Distinct white cheek patch, black head, chestnut back
Tail often sticks straight up or lays flat on the water
Ruddy Duck
Anseriformes
Anatidae
Scope shaped bill, whitish check with black stripe across it, light brown body, dark brown cap
Western Screech-Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Tiny with ear tufts
Heavily streaked
Ranges from grayish to brownish morphs
Dark bill
Western Screech-Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Northern Pygmy Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Yellow beak, heavily spotted head, dark brown spotted back, white chest streaked with dark brown
Northern Pygmy Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Burrowing Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
long legs, white throat and brown/white barred breast, sandy colored owls with bright-yellow eyes
Burrowing Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Short-eared owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Ear tufts difficult to see
Medium (crow) sized
Long, narrow wings with buff based primaries
“Fierce” expression with black eye makeup
Vertical breast streaking
Short-eared owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Spotted Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
huge black eyes, white X between eyes, spotting on back/nape, horizontal marking on breast, light gray face
Spotted Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
huge black eyes, white X between eyes, spotting on back/nape, horizontal marking on breast, light gray face
Barred Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
yellow beak, big black eyes,
Breast is whiter overall with more vertical stripes than Spotted
More extensive white bars on back and nape, ligher colored face
Barred Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
yellow beak, big black eyes,
Breast is whiter overall with more vertical stripes than Spotted
More extensive white bars on back and nape
Great Horned Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Large ear tufts
white throat and barred breast
Great Horned Owl
Strigiformes
Strigidae
Large ear tufts
white throat and barred breast
Barn Owl
Strigiformes
Tytonidae
Heart-shaped faces
Pale plumage – nearly all white below
Longer legs than most Strigidae
Pied-Billed Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Pied-billed = two-toned (bill) in breeding plumage, compact thick body, short neck, light eye ring, dark back, brown body, light front of neck, and white rump
Pied-Billed Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Small water bird with short thick bill, almost no tail, white rump, light brown body, darker uppers
Horned Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
small grebe with small head and short straight bill. black cap, white cheek, gray-black upperparts, grayish and whiteish underpart
Horned Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
alternate plumage yellow tufts of feathers that look like horns, black back and chestnut sides, red eyes, black face and black bill smaller and more narrow than Pied-Billed Grebe, chestnut neck (hard to see here) helps to differentiate from Eared Grebe, as well as chestnut lores
Red necked grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Red neck, white cheek patch, black cap with long, bicolored bill, black back (in alternate plumage)
Red necked grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
large yellow and black bill, blackish cap, darker eyes, whitish cheeks, darker gray ear patch, bill pointed down
Eared Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Red eyes, black back and chestnut sides, yellow ear tufts similar to horned grebe except neck is completely black (in Horned Grebe the neck is chestnut), yellow tufts are more fan-like, thin, pointy black bill
Eared Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Black cap comes down to cheek, grey neck and white chest, dark back and white-ish underparts, dark cheek helps to differentiate it from other basic plumage grebes, shorter bill
Western Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Black on crown extends below the eye – essential for distinguishing from Clark’s Grebe (next species), back dark and sides mottled black and white, front of neck and sides of face white, bill yellow, red eye
Western Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Bill slightly duller and lines between black and white slightly more mottled, can be slightly more difficult to differentiate Western and the next species, Clark’s Grebe in winter plumage
Clarks' Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Clarks' Grebe
Podicipediformes
Podicipedidae
Black crown doesn’t extend below eye, black back of neck, mottled black back with white underparts
basic plumage = less distinction between black and white (so can be harder to differentiate from Western Grebe), duller bill
Red-throated loon
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae
Alternate plumage:
Red throat on gray head
Nape streaked blackish and white
Slim bill, often held up at an angle
Often seems “heavy-headed” in flight
Red-throated loon
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae
Extensive white on throat and face, typically enclosing eye
Fine white spotting on back
White visible on flanks when swimming, gray, head, long and slender bill
Pacific Loon
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae
Bill size intermediate
Alternate plumage:
Black face and throat
White lateral streaks on throat
Gray nape and crown
Neat white rows of block spots on back
Pacific Loon
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae
Basic plumage
Darker head than other loons
Vertical border between white throat and sides of neck
Dark “chin strap”
Blackish back
Common Loon
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae
Similar to Pacific, but typically has jagged border between white throat and dark sides of neck
Not quite as blackish on head and back
Distinctive size and structure
Common Loon
Gaviiformes
Gaviidae
Similar to Pacific, but typically has jagged border between white throat and dark sides of neck
Not quite as blackish on head and back
Distinctive size and structure
Emperor Penguin
Sphenisciformes
Spheniscidae
Turkey Vulture
Cathartiformes
Cathartidae
Silvery flight feather contrast with blackish coverts and body
Tubular, unfeathered reddish head.
Turkey Vulture
Cathartiformes
Cathartidae
Silvery flight feather contrast with blackish coverts and body
Tubular, unfeathered reddish head. white undertail
California Condor
Cathartiformes
CathartidaeMuch larger than Turkey Vulture, with white in wing coverts and axillaries
Larger paler head, too
California Condor
Cathartiformes
Cathartidae
Much larger than Turkey Vulture, with white in wing coverts and axillaries
Larger paler head, too
American Kestrel
Falconifromes
Falconidae
small body, long tail, reddish tail, reddish back, bluish cap, and double vertical black lines on face male blue covert, black spots on wings and breast
American kestrel
Falconiformes
Falconidae
barred reddish wings and blurry reddish breast streaks, long wings, reddish tails and back, bluish cap, and double vertical black lines on face
Merlin
Falconiformes
Falconidae
Blackish gray upperparts and tail with thick dark bands, long tail
Whitish supercilium and vertical blackish bar extending down from eye
Dense vertical streaking on breast
Males often have some buff color on belly and flanks
Merlin
Falconiformes
Falconidae
Blackish gray upperparts and tail with thick dark bands, long tail
Whitish supercilium and vertical blackish bar extending down from eye
Dense vertical streaking on breast
Males often have some buff color on belly and flanks
Peregrine Falcon
Falconiformes
Falconidae
Larger (crow to small hawk size)
Horizontal dark barring on belly and lower chest
White upper chest and throat
‘Helmeted’ head pattern
Densely marked, dark underwings
Peregrine Falcon
Falconiformes
Falconidae
Larger (crow to small hawk size)
Horizontal dark barring on belly and lower chest
White upper chest and throat
‘Helmeted’ head pattern
Densely marked, dark underwings, yellow facial skin
Prairie Falcon
Falconiformes
Falconidae
Very similar to Peregrine
More white on face, single horizontal line
Paler, sandy brown above
Distinct dark axillaries and wing coverts in flight
Fine spotting or streaks on mostly white breast
Prairie Falcon
Falconiformes
Falconidae
Very similar to Peregrine
More white on face, single horizontal line
Paler, sandy brown above
Distinct dark axillaries and wing coverts in flight
Fine spotting or streaks on mostly white breast
Red-legged Seriema
Cariamiformes
Cariamidae
long red legs, red bill, blue eyering, tuffed crest between eyes
Sharp-shinned hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
smallest hawk
Tail feathers all relatively equal in length
Toothpick thin legs and toes
Narrow waist and broad shoulders
Short neck and round head
Also obvious in flight
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
adult
redish barring on brest, solid hood that goes from the head to the back, Tail feathers all relatively equal in length
Toothpick thin legs and toes
Narrow waist and broad shoulders
Short neck and round head
Also obvious in flight
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
juvenile
vertical streaks on the breast, blobby, fairly wide, overlapping, thin legs and toes, equal length tail feathers, broad shoulders
Cooper's Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
thicker legs and toes, more tubular body with longer neck and larger flat topped head, out tail feathers shorter than inner
Cooper's Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
adult
reddish barring on breast, capped appearance- pale nape separates blackish from grayish back, thicker legs, long neck, large flat topped head
Cooper's Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
juvenile
whitish breast with vertical streaks, long, more separated, thin streaks, thicker toes, shorter out tail feathers
Northern Goshawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Bulkier, grayish barring not red, thick legs, black cheek with thick supercilium, tail feathers messy barring
Northern Goshawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
juvenile
vertile breast streaking, blackish brown, Cooper’s-like breast streaking but denser and extends onto the undertail coverts, upper wings have big white buff spots, bold supercilium, black bands have white boarders, messy tail bands
Northern Harrier
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Much longer wings, extent lower than tail
Owl-like facial disk, white ring
White rump
Northern Harrier
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
white gray bird with distent black on outer of wing
Northern Harrier
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
juvenile
long wing tips, owl like facial disk, brown body
Red-Tailed Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Dark “belly band” and pale upper chest, dark patagials in most plumages
Adults typically have brick red tail
Juvenile tail is brown with thin darker brown bands
Red-Tailed Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Juvenile tail is brown with thin darker brown bands, belly band
Rough-legged Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Adult light morph
Whitish tail with broad black subterminal band band
White streaked head
Blackish belly and wrist patches
Feathered tarsi
Small bill and feet
Rough-legged Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Adult light morph
Whitish tail with broad black subterminal band band
White streaked head
Blackish belly and wrist patches
Feathered tarsi
Small bill and feet
Ferruginous Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Adult light morph
Mostly white on underparts, with orange thighs
Rusty color on upperwings
White tail
Heavy bill and feathered tarsi
ferruginous - reddish
Ferruginous Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Adult light morph
Mostly white on underparts, with orange thighs
Rusty color on upperwings
White tail
Heavy bill and feathered tarsi
ferruginous - reddish
Swainson's Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Adult light morph
Long distance migrant = long primaries, wing extents below tail
Dark “bib”, dark head with white chin/face patch
Dark flight feathers and whitish underwing coverts, white chest
Swainson's Hawk
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Adult light morph
Long distance migrant = long primaries
Dark “bib” with white chin/face patch
Dark flight feathers and whitish underwing coverts
Golden Eagle
Accipitriformes
Accipitriformes
Relative of the Buteo hawks
Adult only
Large, primarily brown
Little to no white in plumage
Feathered tarsi
Golden nape
Golden Eagle
Accipitriformes
Accipitriformes
Relative of the Buteo hawks
Adult only
Large, primarily brown
Little to no white in plumage
Feathered tarsi
Golden nape
Bald Eagle
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Larger-billed than Golden with unfeathered tarsi
Juvenile and formative similar to Golden Eagle
More white in underwings in juvenile
Formative has white patches on body
no golden neck
Bald Eagle
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
Larger-billed than Golden with unfeathered tarsi
Juvenile and formative similar to Golden Eagle
More white in underwings in juvenile
Formative has white patches on body
no golden neck
Bald Eagle
Accipitriformes
Accipitridae
white tail
bold white head
bright yellow bill, long bill, brown body
Osprey
Accipitriformes
Pandionidae
Almost exclusive fish diet
Huge eyes
Mostly white below and blackish above
White head with blackish eye mask
Soars with crooked wings
Pale feet
white coverts, tail and primaries
Osprey
Accipitriformes
Pandionidae
Almost exclusive fish diet
Huge eyes
Mostly white below and blackish above
White head with blackish eye mask
Soars with crooked wings
Pale feet
white coverts, tail and primaries
White Tailed kite
Accipitridae
Accipitridae
Small
Frequently hovers to hunt small mammals in grasslands or marshes
Solid white head and underparts except for wingtips
Large wings and small, narrow tail
Upperparts pale gray with blackish wing coverts and scapulars
red eyes,
White Tailed kite
Accipitridae
Accipitridae
Small
Frequently hovers to hunt small mammals in grasslands or marshes
Solid white head and underparts except for wingtips
Large wings and small, narrow tail
Upperparts pale gray with blackish wing coverts and scapulars
red eyes,
Red Shouldered Hawk
