In this guide, I invite you to explore the wetland birds of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Brunswick through 31 custom, species-specific plates. I created this resource for birders and nature enthusiasts to help identify birds across Northern New England and the Canadian Provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia. Each plate highlights key identification traits, habitats, behaviors, and natural history. To make things easier, I’ve grouped species by size so you can identify regional wetland birds quickly and with confidence.

How to use this Guide

Use the four familiar bird sizes below as references. Assign the bird you see to the closest size group, even if it seems to fall between two categories, then click to explore that group. You can also use the Table of Contents below to browse the guide.

While weight offers a useful starting point, appearances can be deceiving—plumage, body shape, and leg length often make a bird look larger or smaller than its true size.

Birds Included in this Guide

This guide highlights birds closely associated with wetlands in the State of Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine, and the Canadia Provinces of New Brunswick, New Brunswick, Prince George Island, and Nova Scotia. It features the classic wading species—herons, egrets, ibises, spoonbills, storks, and others—along with additional birds that, while not strict “waders,” are still strongly tied to marshes, swamps, ponds, and coastal wetlands.

Ducks, geese, and mergansers and shorebirds are not covered here; because they form such a large and prominent group, they are presented in a separate guide dedicated entirely to them.

Wetlands of Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, and New Brunswick

The wetlands of northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes (including Prince Edward island and Nova Scotia) form a critical network of habitats that sustain biodiversity and migratory birds along the Atlantic Flyway.

Maine holds about 1.62 million hectares (17%) of its land in wetlands, including Merrymeeting Bay, a globally significant tidal delta that supports vast numbers of waterfowl and extensive peatlands vital for boreal bird species.

Vermont, though smaller in extent with 44,500 hectares (5%), has wetlands that support nearly 30% of the state’s rare, threatened, and endangered species and provide essential habitat for over three-quarters of its native birds.

New Hampshire contains 254,000 hectares (11%), which serve an estimated 70% of the state’s wildlife but have faced measurable losses in recent decades, highlighting conservation needs.

Across the border, New Brunswick encompasses about 1.3 million hectares (18%), with Bay of Fundy wetlands internationally renowned as staging areas for millions of shorebirds and diverse inland systems sustaining many birds. Together, these wetlands—though varied in scale—anchor the region’s ecological richness and global importance for birdlife.

More about wetlands: Understanding Wetlands: An Overview for State Bird Guides

Groups of Wetland Birds

The breakdown of wetland birds found in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick add a total of 31 species grouped as follows:

• Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: This is the largest group, with 10 species, representing approximately 32.3% of the birds listed.
• Rails, Coots, Gallinules, and Swamphens: This group contains 6 species, comprising about 19.4% of the total.
• Ibises: This group includes 1 species, making up about 3% of the birds.
• Raptors (Hawks, Kites, Eagles, Osprey): There are 3 raptor species, representing about 10% of the total.
• Pelicans, Cormorants, and Anhinga: This group has 2 species, which is approximately 6.4% of the list.
• Cranes: The one crane species accounts for about 3.2% of the total.
• Terns: The two tern species make up about 6.4% of the birds listed.
• Snipe & Woodcock: This group includes 2 species, making up about 6.4% of the birds.
• Blackbirds: The 1 species in this group represent about 3.2% of the total.
• Other Species (Killdeer, Kingfisher, Grebe): These 3 species, each with a single representation, collectively make up the remaining 9.6%.

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Very Large Wetland Birds of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick (>10 lb)

From the American White Pelican to the Sandhill Crane, large birds of Northern New England are the giants of the wetlands. This group has the smallest number of members with sizes ranging from the 16.5 lb American White Pelican to the 11 lb Sandhill Crane.

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American White Pelican

Silent

Identification: Adult: Snowy white with black flight feathers visible in flight. Yellow-orange bill and legs; breeding adults show a yellow chest patch and grow a bill horn. Immature: Mostly white with dusky head, neck, and back.
Habitat: The American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) forages in shallow inland marshes, lake and river edges, estuaries, sloughs, and inlets.
Range: The American White Pelican is classified as an extremely rare vagrant in Maine and Vermont, and New Brunswick typically sighted individually or in small groups on large inland lakes, rivers, or coastal estuaries. It is considered a very rare vagrant in New Hampshire, occasionally appearing on large freshwater bodies or coastal estuaries, especially during migratory periods.
Migration: Across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, the species is generally observed as an accidental or extremely rare transient visitor. Sightings are sporadic, often representing lost migrants or post-breeding dispersers, particularly noted in Vermont.
Diet: Primarily small fish, but also salamanders, tadpoles, crayfish, and game fish.
Nest: A shallow depression on the ground, sometimes lined with vegetation. Nests in colonies.
Breeding: Season: April-late August | Clutch: 2 chalky white eggs | Incubation: ~30 days | Nestling period: 63–70 days.
Lifespan: At least 23 years, 6 months.
How many are there? Global population estimated at ~450,000.
Conservation Status: Low conservation concern.

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Sandhill Crane

Identification: Adult: Slate gray with rusty wash, pale cheek, red crown, black legs. Juvenile: Gray and rusty brown, lacking pale cheek and red crown.
Habitat: The Sandhill Crane (Grus americana) forages in open wetlands, prairies, bogs, lakes, croplands.
Range: The range of the Sandhill Crane is expanding eastward. In both Maine and New Hampshire, the cranes are increasingly found in freshwater marshes, bogs, and wet meadows in the interior and southern regions. Vermont sees the species utilizing open wetlands and marshy areas, notably in the Champlain Valley.
Migration: In Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, the species is generally classified as an uncommon to rare migrant and summer resident. All three states have reported a small but growing number of breeding records in recent decades. Migration status for the Sandhill Crane in New Brunswick is not well known.
Behavior: Forages for food by gleaning/probing. Social. Pairs perform elaborate dances.
Diet: Sandhill cranes feed on invertebrates, small vertebrates, seeds, berries, tubers.
Nest: Cup-shaped structure of dominant vegetation, 30–40 in across, on the ground.
Breeding: Season: Jan to May. Breeding age: 2–7 years | Clutch: 1–3 pale brownish yellow/gray markings eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 29–32 days | Offspring dependency: 9–10 months.
Lifespan: At least 37 years, 3 months.
How many are there? In Floria there are about 4,500 resident and 25,000 migratory Sandhill Cranes.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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Large-Wetland-Birds of Northern New England (5-10 lb)

Large birds of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick include four members ranging from the familiar Bald Eagle (9.5 lb) to the Great Blue Heron (5.3 lb).

Bald Eagle

Identification: Striking white head and tail contrasting with a dark brown body and wings, plus yellow legs and bill. Immatures are dark with mottled brown-and-white, and take about five years to acquire full adult plumage.
Habitat: The Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is found in forests near large bodies of water with tall mature trees for nesting. In winter, they use dry open uplands as well.
Range: The Bald Eagle is widespread across Maine and New Brunswick, favoring coastal areas and major waterways like the Bay of Fundy, Northumberland Strait, and the Saint John River. These regions provide fish-rich waters and abundant mature forests near water for nesting. In Vermont, eagles are increasingly found along major waterways such as Lake Champlain and the Connecticut River. New Hampshire sightings are primarily along its major rivers (Merrimack, Connecticut), large lakes (Winnipesaukee), and coastal estuaries, where open water supports ample fishing.
Migration: Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick all support a healthy or growing resident breeding population. While many eagles remain year-round in these states/provinces, northern birds migrate south, resulting in an influx of wintering eagles in Maine, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, particularly where coastal or major rivers remain unfrozen. Vermont’s year-round residents may migrate south during harsh winters.
Behavior: Powerful fliers that hunt, steal prey from other animals, scavenge carrion, and even feed on garbage.
Diet: Primarily fish, but also birds, reptiles, amphibians, crabs, rabbits, and muskrats.
Nest: Bald Eagles have the largest nests of any North American bird. Nests are placed in tall trees, cliffs, or occasionally on the ground.
Breeding: Season: December-mid-May (South) | Clutch: 1–3 dull white, usually unmarked eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 34–36 days | Nestling period: 56–98 days.
Lifespan: At least 38 years.
How many are there? Over 316,000 individuals in the U.S. Lower 48.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Great Blue Heron

Identification: Largest North American heron with long legs, S-shaped neck, and dagger-like bill. Blue-gray plumage, black eye stripe, and shaggy head. A white morph occurs in the Florida Keys.
Habitat: The Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) is found in fresh, saltwater, brackish wetlands, ditches, and farmland.
Range: The Great Blue Heron is common and widespread across Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, utilizing a diverse array of aquatic habitats including freshwater marshes, rivers, lakes, ponds, and saltwater coastal areas or estuaries. In New Brunswick, the heron is also common throughout the province, found along coasts, rivers, lakeshores, and various wetland habitats statewide.
Migration: The Great Blue Heron is primarily a migratory summer resident across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, arriving in the spring to breed. While the majority migrate south for the winter, particularly those in Vermont (departing by late fall), some individuals commonly attempt or successfully overwinter in sheltered, ice-free coastal areas in Maine, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick.
Behavior: Hunts by standing still or stalking in shallow water. Flies with neck tucked and legs trailing. Defends feeding territories.
Diet: Fish, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, insects, and birds. Prey grabbed or impaled with bill.
Nest: Great Blue Herons build a stick platform in trees; also on ground, bushes, or man-made structures. Often in colonies.
Breeding: Season: March–August | Clutch: 2–6 pale blue eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 27–29 days | Nestling: 49–81 days.
Lifespan: At least 24 years, 6 months.
How many are there?? About 700,000 globally.
Conservation Status: Stable, low concern.

Medium-sized Wetland Birds of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick (3.7–1 lb)

From the versatile Double-crested Cormorant to the compact Pied-billed Grebe, medium-sized wetland birds of Northern New England and New Brunswick range in weight from 3.7 to 1 lb. This is perhaps the most confusing size group that include seemingly rather different bird sizes.

Double-crested Cormorant

Identification: Adult: Brown-black plumage, yellow-orange facial skin. Breeding adults show double crests (black/white). Immatures browner, with pale neck/breast.
Habitat: Freshwater and saltwater habitats, coasts, large inland lakes.
Range: The Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) is common along the entire coastline, offshore islands, and larger inland waters in Maine. It is also common in New Brunswick, found along the coastline, in estuaries, on offshore islands, and on larger inland ponds and rivers. In Vermont and New Hampshire is regularly seen in inland lakes and rivers.
Migration: This species is primarily a common summer breeding resident and migrant in New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine and New Brunswick, typically arriving in spring and departing south for the winter months. A unique aspect is noted in Maine, where a small number of individuals may occasionally linger in protected coastal areas throughout the non-breeding season.
Behavior: Dives to catch small fish, spreads wings to dry. Flies in V-shaped flocks, nests colonially.
Diet: Double-crested Cormorants feed on mainly small fish.
Nest: Bulky stick nest, often in tree colonies.
Breeding: Season: Varies in every region | Clutch: 1-6 unmarked pale blue eggs | Broods: 1-2 | Incubation: 25-28 days | Nestling: 21-28 days.
Lifespan: At least 23 years, 8 months.
How many are there? Abundant.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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Osprey

Identification: Dark brown upperparts, white underparts. White head marked with a bold brown eye stripe. Juveniles have white spots on the back and buff-tinted breast shading.
Habitat: Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) inhabit open waters with abundant fish; plus elevated nesting sites.
Range: The Osprey is a common and widespread species across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Brusnwick, favoring major rivers, large lakes, and coastal estuaries where they nest near fish-rich waters. They are particularly associated with Lake Champlain and significant inland water bodies in Vermont, and are widespread along the seacoast and large lakes in New Hampshire.
Migration: Across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, the Osprey is characterized as a common, widespread, and regular summer breeding resident. They consistently arrive in spring (e.g., April) for nesting and undertake migration south to their wintering grounds by late summer or early autumn (typically from August to September).
Behavior: Ospreys hunt live fish by hovering and diving feet-first. Mostly solitary; males perform aerial “sky-dance” displays.
Diet: Almost exclusively live fish (99%), occasionally fish remains, birds, snakes, voles, squirrels.
Nest: Large, untidy stick platforms, often on poles, snags, dead trees, or artificial platforms.
Breeding: Season: mid April-early September | Breeds spring–fall | Clutch: 1–4 cream spotted with reddish eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 36–42 days | Nestling period: 50–55 days.
Lifespan: At least 25 years, 2 months.
How many are there? ~1.2 million global breeding population.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Black-crowned Night-Heron

Identification: Stocky heron with light-gray body, black back and crown, and all-black bill. Immatures are brown with white spots, streaks, and yellow-and-black bills.
Habitat: The Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) forages in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater wetlands.
Range: In Maine, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, the Black-crowned Night-Heron is found in both coastal marshes/estuaries and larger inland freshwater wetlands/river systems, often forming breeding colonies. Vermont sightings are concentrated in lowland wetlands, particularly the Lake Champlain basin, where they are an uncommon to rare summer resident.
Migration: The species is primarily a migratory summer breeding resident/visitor in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, arriving in spring for nesting. While most individuals migrate south by late autumn, a few birds may occasionally overwinter in sheltered coastal areas in New Hampshire. In Vermont, lingering into late fall is occasionally noted.
Behavior: Feeds at night or dusk; rests by day perched in trees.
Diet: The Black-crowned Night-Heron feeds on fish, frogs, insects, small mammals, birds, carrion, plant matter, and garbage.
Nest: Stick platform in trees, shrubs, or cattails; nests colonially.
Breeding: Season: January-August | Clutch: 3–5 greenish-blue eggs | Incubation: 24–26 days | Nestling: 29–34 days.
Lifespan: Up to 21 years, 5 months.
How many are there? About 3 million globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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American Coot

Identification: Adult: Plump, chickenlike, dark gray to black, bright white bill and forehead, small red forehead patch. Juvenile/nonbreeding: Duller gray with less distinct forehead patch.
Habitat: The American Coot (Fulica americana) prefers freshwater wetlands with emergent vegetation. Also found anywhere with standing water; ponds, city parks.
Range: The American Coot inhabits freshwater marshes, ponds, and larger lakes throughout Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick occurring particularly in the southern half of New Hampshire and statewide in Vermont. In Maine, breeding is sparse and localized in southern marshes, but they become more common during migratory periods along coastal and inland waters.
Migration: The species is primarily classified as a migratory visitor/transient in Maine, Vermont, New Brunswick and New Hampshire, with significant stopovers during spring and fall migration. They commonly share the trait of local summer breeding, and in Maine and New Hampshire, occasional records exist of individuals overwintering in ice-free areas.
Behavior: The American Coot forages by plucking plants while walking, swimming, dabbling, or diving. Highly social in winter.
Diet: Primarily aquatic plants. Also takes insects, snails, tadpoles, and salamanders.
Nest: Floating platform anchored to emergent vegetation, woven into a shallow basket over water.
Breeding: Season: May-mid-August | Clutch: 8–12 buff with dark speckles eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 23–25 days | Chicks: Down-covered, alert, leave nest within 6 hours.
Lifespan: At least 22 years, 4 months.
How many are there? Global breeding population about 7.1 million individuals.
Conservation Status: Low conservation concern.

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Yellow-crowned Night-Heron

Identification: Medium heron with cloudy gray plumage, black head, creamy yellow crown, and white cheek patches. Immatures are brown with fine white spots and streaked underparts.
Habitat: The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) forages in coastal wetlands; also inland in swamps, and wet fields.
Range: The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is categorized as an accidental or extremely rare vagrant across the Northern New England states. Sightings in Maine and New Brunswick are considered accidental, occurring occasionally in coastal marshes or southern wetlands. Similarly, in New Hampshire, it is an accidental to very rare visitor, typically observed along the seacoast or in southern wetlands. Vermont also lists the species as an extremely rare vagrant, with occurrences potentially near large lakes or rivers.
Migration: This species is universally classified as an accidental or rare vagrant throughout Maine, Vermont, New Brunswick and New Hampshire. These infrequent observations represent individuals far outside their typical migratory pathways. The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron has no established breeding or overwintering populations recorded in Northern New England.
Behavior: Forages day and night with a hunched, forward-leaning posture.
Diet: The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron feeds primarily on small crabs and crayfish; also fish, snakes, and small mammals.
Nest: Stick platform with shallow center, built near or over water.
Breeding: Season: March–August | Clutch: 2–6 pale bluish-green eggs | Incubation: 24–25 days | Nestling: 30–43 days.
Lifespan: At least 6 years.
How many are there? About 400,000 globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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American Bittern

Identification: Medium-sized heron with compact body, short legs, and thick neck. Warm brown and buff with bold streaks.
Habitat: The American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) Shallow freshwater marshes with dense reeds and emergent vegetation.
Range: The American Bittern is a widespread breeder across the region. It breeds throughout Maine and New Brunswick in these densely vegetated aquatic habitats. In New Hampshire, the species occurs across the state, specifically favoring wet meadows and bogs in the northern and central regions. Vermont finds the bittern throughout the state in suitable low-lying wetland areas.
Migration: The American Bittern is primarily a migratory breeder and summer resident. Breeding occurs from spring to fall in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, with birds arriving in spring and departing south for winter. A unique aspect for Maine is the potential for rare wintering to occur in mild coastal areas, a behavior shared as a possibility in New Hampshire (departing by autumn).
Behavior: When alarmed, points bill upward to blend with reeds.
Diet: The American Bittern feeds on insects, crustaceans, fish, frogs, lizards, and small mammals.
Nest: Platform of reeds lined with grasses in dense marsh vegetation.
Breeding: Season: April–August | Clutch: 2–7 beige to olive eggs | Incubation: 24–28 days | Nestling: 7–14 days, chicks remain nearby for weeks.
Lifespan: At least 8 years, 4 months.
How many are there? About 2.5 million globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern, though declining in some regions.

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Great Egret

Identification: Large white heron with long black legs, and yellow bill. Smaller than Great Blue Heron, larger than Snowy Egret. Breeding adults grow long back plumes.
Habitat: The Great Egret (Ardea alba) inhabits freshwater, brackish, and coastal wetlands.
Range: The Great Egret is a seasonal visitor and summer resident, utilizing coastal marshes, estuaries, and large inland wetlands for foraging. It is found along the southern and central coastlines of Maine, and in New Brunswick, it occurs along the Bay of Fundy and Northumberland Strait coastal estuaries, salt marshes, and tidal flats. New Hampshire sees the egret primarily along its seacoast, the Great Bay estuary, and the lower Merrimack River. Vermont sightings are concentrated along larger rivers, lakes, and extensive wetlands, notably the Champlain Valley.
Migration: The species is characterized as a seasonal visitor that is present from spring through fall. It is a common summer breeding resident in New Hampshire and a summer visitor in Maine, arriving to breed before migrating south for winter. In New Brunswick and Vermont, the egret is listed as a seasonal visitor, present during spring and summer months for breeding and foraging activities, and departing southward. Post-breeding dispersal is noted before migration in New Hampshire..
Behavior: Hunts by standing still in shallow water, striking quickly at prey.
Diet: Great Egrets feed on primarily fish; also amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals, and invertebrates.
Nest: Large stick platform in trees or shrubs, usually in colonies.
Breeding: Season: March–July | Clutch: 1–6 pale greenish-blue eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 23–27 days | Nestling: 21–25 days.
Lifespan: Up to 22 years, 10 months.
How many are there? About 9.5 million in North America.
Conservation Status: Low concern; populations increasing.

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Red-shouldered Hawk

Identification: Adult: Barred reddish-peach underparts, strongly banded tail, checkered wings, pale wing crescents near tips. Immature: Brown above, white below streaked with brown, pale wing crescents.
Habitat: The Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) inhabits tall woods near water, including swamps, riparian forests, and suburban parks.
Range: In Maine, the Red-shouldered Hawk favors habitats across the southern and central regions of New England. The species is also found in these moist wooded areas across Vermont, New Hampshire and throughout much of New Brunswick, particularly in the southern half of the province.
Range: Across Maine, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, the hawk is primarily categorized as a summer breeding resident. In Maine, they breed and undertake significant migratory movements south for the winter. They arrive in New Hampshire in the spring to breed and migrate south for the winter months. New Brunswick hawks also arrive in spring and migrate south.
Behavior: Hunts from perches with swift descents. Soars and glides frequently. Males perform a “sky dance” display during courtship.
Diet: Feeds on small mammals, lizards, snakes, amphibians, voles, chipmunks, and birds.
Nest: Large stick nests (~2 ft diameter), placed in tree crotches near water. Often reused in subsequent years.
Breeding: Season: Late March-July | Clutch: 2–5 dull white to bluish, brown-blotched eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 32–40 days | Nestling period: 42–49 days.
Lifespan: At least 25 years, 10 months.
How many are there? Global breeding population about 1.9 million.
Conservation Status: Low conservation concern.

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Caspian Tern

Identification: Largest tern species. White overall. Breeding adults have a black crown and a coral-red bill. In winter and juveniles, the crown is partially black with grayish speckling.
Habitat: Caspian Terns (Hydroprogne caspia) are found along ocean coasts, barrier islands, interior lakes and rivers.
Range: The Caspian Tern utilizes large open water bodies and coastal habitats. In Maine, it is an uncommon but regular visitor found along coastal areas and nearshore waters. New Hampshire sightings are primarily along the coast and in open water. Vermont sees the tern as a rare to uncommon visitor sighted at large lakes and reservoirs, specifically Lake Champlain. New Brunswick records the species as a rare to uncommon visitor along the Bay of Fundy and in coastal habitats.
Migration: The species is a non-breeding seasonal migrant across Maine and New Hampshire, passing through in both spring and fall. In Vermont, it is a seasonal migrant with most sightings in spring and fall. While typically non-breeding, the tern is listed as a rare to uncommon summer visitor in New Brunswick, primarily passing through during migration toward more northern breeding grounds.
Behavior: Caspian Terns fly slowly before plunging for fish. Roosts and rests in flocks.
Diet: Primarily fish; also crayfish, large insects, and occasionally scavenged invertebrates.
Nest: A shallow scrape in open areas lined with dried vegetation and ringed with pebbles, or other debris.
Breeding: Season: mid-May-late August | Clutch: 1-3 buff with dark spots eggs | Broods: 1 | Eggs: | Incubation: 25–28 days | Nestling: 1–2 days.
Lifespan: At least 32 years, 1 month.
How many are there? ~530,000 global breeders.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Glossy Ibis

Identification: Deep maroon body with metallic green, bronze, and violet wing coverts. It appears black in the distance.
Habitat: The Glossy Ibis uses freshwater, brackish, and saltwater marshes and rice fields.
Range: The Glossy Ibis (Plegadis chihi) is identified as an accidental vagrant in Maine, occasionally found in coastal wetlands or agricultural fields. It is also considered a vagrant in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick.
Migration: The White-faced Ibis is an accidental vagrant in northern New England.
Diet: Glossy Ibises feed on aquatic invertebrates, crabs, fish, amphibians, grain, crops.
Nest: Bulky platform of sticks/reeds, on ground or in trees up to 12 ft high, in colonies.
Breeding: Season: April-June | Clutch: 3–4 eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 20–22 days | Nestling: 8–9 days.
Lifespan: At least 21 years.
How many are there? In North America: 13,000–15,000 individuals.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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Pied-billed Grebe

Identification: Small, chunky brown waterbird. Adults have a dark crown and nape, and a whitish bill with a black band in breeding season (yellow-brown outside breeding). Juveniles show distinctive striped faces.
Habitat: The Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) occupies ponds, marshes, lakes, sluggish rivers, and areas with emergent vegetation or open water.
Range: The Pied-billed Grebe is a widespread summer resident throughout the region, preferring freshwater marshes, ponds, and slow-moving rivers with dense emergent vegetation. It is uncommon in Maine and New Hampshire, but listed as a common summer resident in Vermont, particularly abundant in the Champlain Valley. It is also widespread but uncommon in New Brunswick.
Migration: The grebe is classified as a seasonal resident in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick, arriving in the spring to breed and departing south for the winter in the fall. In Vermont and New Brunswick, the birds migrate south for the winter.
Behavior: Forages by diving to pursue prey. Typically solitary but may form small winter flocks.
Diet: Pied-billed Grebes feed on crayfish, shrimps, fish, frogs, tadpoles, and salamanders.
Nest: Floating open-bowl nest built anchored among emergent plants.
Breeding: Season: February-November | Clutch: 2–10 bluish white, unmarked eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 23–27 days | Chicks: Leave the nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: At least 4 years, 7 months.
How many are there? Global breeding population about 3.1 million.
Conservation Status: Low conservation concern.

Small Wetland Birds of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick (< 1 lb)

From the graceful Snowy Egret to the elusive and tiny Black Rail, Northern New England small wetland birds represent a diverse group. Among them are secretive rails, which are more often heard than seen.

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Snowy Egret

Identification: All-white heron with black bill, black legs, and yellow feet. Immatures have duller greenish legs. Breeding adults grow filmy curving plumes.
Habitat: The Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) forages in fresh, salt, and brackish water wetlands.
Range: The Snowy Egret is consistently associated with coastal, estuarine, salt marshes, and tidal flats in Maine and New Brunswick. The species favors these habitats predominantly in the southern part of Maine. Uniquely, in Vermont and New Hampshire, it is documented as a rare visitor restricted to large inland wetlands, particularly along the shores of Lake Champlain.
Migration: The Snowy Egret is a seasonal visitor or migrant across Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, and New Brunswick. Maine populations are categorized as summer breeding visitors, departing by early fall. New Brunswick reports it as an uncommon to rare seasonal visitor, with most sightings occurring during general migration. Vermont records the species primarily as an irregular, non-breeding visitor typically seen during late summer post-breeding dispersal.
Behavior: Hunts in shallow water, spearing or chasing prey; uses yellow feet to stir or herd fish before striking.
Diet: Snowy Egrets feed on small fish, frogs, shrimp, and insects.
Nest: Shallow twig platform, usually over water.
Breeding: Season: March–July | Clutch: 2–6 pale greenish-blue eggs | Incubation: 24–25 days | Nestling: 20–24 days.
Lifespan: At least 17 years, 7 months.
How many are there? About 2.1 million globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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King Rail

Identification: Large, chickenlike, rusty wings and breast, and a striped belly. Gray cheeks and whitish throat. Juveniles are darker with shorter bills.
Habitat: The King Rail (Rallus elegans) inhabits brackish and freshwater marshes, rice fields, and areas with tall emergent vegetation.
Range: The King Rail is classified as an extremely rare vagrant or accidental visitor in Maine and New Brunswick. Any rare occurrences in Maine are limited to coastal freshwater or brackish marshes. In Vermont and New Hampshire, it is listed as a very rare or accidental visitor, with sightings being extremely infrequent in extensive freshwater marshes and wet meadows.
Migration: Across all three documented locations—Maine, Vermont, and New Brunswick—the King Rail is defined as an accidental visitor or vagrant. It is explicitly not a regular migrant, breeder, or overwintering resident in Maine or New Brunswick. The species’ migratory status in Vermont and New Hampshire are not well understood.
Behavior: Forages slowly, stalking prey in shallow water and jabbing with its bill.
Diet: King rails feed on crayfish, crabs, fish, frogs, snakes, fruits, acorns, seeds, and rice.
Nest: Simple round platform elevated above water, made of marsh grasses or rice plants.
Breeding: Season: February-August | Clutch: 10–12 pale buff with irregular brown spots eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 21–23 days | Chicks: Leave nest within 1 day, become independent in ~2 months.
Lifespan: Not available.
How many are there? Global breeding population about 69,000 individuals.
Conservation Status: Listed as an Orange Alert species in 2025.

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Cattle Egret

Identification: Stocky heron with short, thick neck. Adults are white with buff plumes in breeding season; bill turns bright red before pairing. Juveniles lack plumes and have black bills.
Habitat: Wet grasslands, pastures, farmlands; favors drier open areas more than other herons.
Range: The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is documented as a rare and irregular visitor in New Brunswick, typically found in open agricultural fields, pastures, or coastal wetlands. Range information for Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire is not provided in the sources.
Migration: In New Brunswick, Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, the species is classified as a rare transient or post-breeding disperser, sighted mostly in late summer or fall, and is not a breeding species.
Behavior: Walks with a distinctive head-pumping strut. It often follows cattle.
Diet: Cattle Egrets feed on mainly insects and other invertebrates.
Nest: Stick platform in trees, or marsh vegetation; nests colonially with other wading birds.
Breeding: Season: March–June | Clutch: 3–4 pale bluish-white eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 23 days | Nestling: 30 days.
Lifespan: Up to 15 years.
How many are there? 3.8–6.7 million globally.
Conservation Status: Least Concern.

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Little Blue Heron

Identification: Adults are dark blue-gray with purple-maroon head and neck, greenish legs, and pale gray-and-black bill. Juveniles are all white; immatures are patchy white and blue.
Habitat: The Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) forages in most types of wetlands and flooded fields.
Range: The Little Blue Heron is a scarce species in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, and a rare and irregular visitor in New Brunswick. When recorded, it uses coastal marshes or open agricultural areas in both locations, typically as a rare vagrant or post-breeding disperser.
Migration: The species is present as a rare vagrant or post-breeding disperser in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire and New Brunswick.
Behavior: Stand-and-wait predator, also moves slowly searching for prey.
Diet: Small fish, frogs, shrimp, insects, and other invertebrates.
Nest: The Little Blue Heron builds a porous twig platform in shrubs or small trees over water; often in mixed colonies.
Breeding: Season: March–October | Clutch: 3–4 pale bluish-green eggs | Incubation: 22–23 days | Nestling: 35–49 days.
Lifespan: Up to 13 years, 11 months.
How many are there? About 1.1 million globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern, though populations have declined.

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Common Gallinule

Identification: Charcoal gray with a distinct white side stripe. Adults feature a bright red forehead shield and red bill tipped in yellow. Immatures are similar but lack the red shield and bill coloration.
Habitat: The Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) inhabits freshwater and brackish wetlands. Also found in ditches, rice fields, sewage, and stormwater ponds.
Range: The Common Gallinule is a rare, local breeder in Maine, found specifically in dense freshwater marshes and emergent vegetation within the southern and central regions. It is also a rare, local breeder in Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick.
Migration: In Maine, the species is a rare summer resident and breeder, arriving in spring and migrating south for the winter months. Migration status for Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick is not well known.
Behavior: The Common Gallinule swims, walks on floating vegetation with a crouched posture, often flicking its tail. Highly territorial during breeding.
Diet: Aquatic vegetation and seeds, plus snails and insects.
Nest: A broad bowl, typically 10–12 inches wide, placed on thick aquatic plant mats.
Breeding: Season: April-August | Clutch: 3–15 light gray with darker specks/spots eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 19–22 days | Chicks: leave the nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: At least 9 years, 10 months.
How many are there? Apparently declining.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Purple Gallinule

Identification: Adult: Purplish body with green wings and back, yellow-tipped red bill, blue frontal shield. Juvenile: Brown upperparts, khaki underparts, duller bill.
Habitat: The Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) favors freshwater marshes and wetlands with emergent or floating vegetation such as water lilies.
Range: The Purple Gallinule is consistently classified as an extremely rare or exceedingly rare vagrant across Maine, New Brunswick, Vermont, and New Hampshire. When sighted, occurrences are isolated in freshwater marshes, wetlands, or vegetated ponds in all states, being far north of its typical range.
Migration: The species is uniformly defined as an accidental visitor or accidental stray in Maine, New Brunswick, Vermont, and New Hampshire. It does not breed or regularly migrate through any of these states.
Behavior: Forages slowly over vegetation, pecking at food and flicking its tail. Juveniles often help feed younger siblings.
Diet: Omnivorous—feeds on aquatic plant seeds, invertebrates, small frogs, fish, and bird eggs.
Nest: Cup-shaped platform of rushes, floating or anchored to vegetation, sometimes partially roofed.
Breeding: Season: May-August | Clutch: 6–8 creamy white with small irregular brown spots eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 20–23 days | Nestling: Leaves nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: At least 7 years, 4 months.
How many are there? Estimated 390,000 individuals.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Green Heron

Identification: Small heron with velvet-green back, rich chestnut body, and dark cap. Juveniles are browner with pale neck streaks and wing spots.
Habitat: The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) forages in most types of wetlands and ditches.
Range: The Green Heron is a widespread summer resident across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick. It is generally common in the southern and central regions of Maine and New Hampshire, and utilizes lower elevations and lake regions in Vermont. In New Brunswick, it inhabits suitable aquatic environments primarily in the southern and central regions.
Migration: The Green Heron is a migratory breeding species or visitor across Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick. Birds arrive in spring (late spring in NH) to breed and migrate south for wintering grounds by early fall or autumn. It is noted as an uncommon to rare migratory breeding visitor in New Brunswick, but is generally a common migratory species elsewhere in the region.
Behavior: Hunts by standing still or walking slowly in shallow water; strikes quickly when prey approaches.
Diet: Green Herons feed on small fish, shrimp, frogs, and insects.
Nest: Simple stick platform, in trees or shrubs. It is a solitary breeder.
Breeding: Season: February–July | Clutch: 3–5 pale green to bluish eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 19–21 days | Nestling: 16–17 days.
Lifespan: Up to 8 years, 11 months.
How many are there? About 1.2 million globally.
Conservation Status: Bird in steep decline (~51%).

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American Woodcock

Identification: Plump bird, very long straight bill, short tail. Cryptic plumage. Hatchlings covered in thick down.
Habitat: The American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) if founs in forests openings and clearings, young shrubby deciduous forests, old fields, wet meadows.
Range: Breeds widely in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, favoring young forests, alder thickets, and moist lowlands. In New Brunswick, it is common in young deciduous and mixed forests, especially near water.
Migration: A common migratory breeder across the region. Arrives in spring and departs south in fall. Notable peak migration occurs in New Hampshire. Departures are latest from Maine and New Brunswick, while Vermont reports distinct spring and fall movements.
Behavior: Forages probing soil for earthworms. Often rocks body while walking. Generally solitary; sometimes small clusters (2–4).
Diet: Earthworms, invertebrates, snails, millipedes, spiders, flies, beetles, ants. Plant material: sedges, pigweed.
Nest: Shallow depression on ground. Made by the female in leaf and twig litter. Usually in young upland woods.
Breeding: Breeding Months: January through May | Clutch: 1-5 grayish orange with splotches of brown eggs | Incubation: 20–22 days | Nestling: ~30 days (Independence).
Lifespan: 11 years, 4 months.
How many are there? Global population ~3.5 million individuals.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Belted Kingfisher

Identification: Stocky, large-headed bird with shaggy crest, thick bill. Blue-gray above, white below with blue breast band. Females have rusty belly bands. Juveniles show rusty spotting.
Habitat: Streams, rivers, ponds, lakes, estuaries, and human-made pits.
Range: The Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) is a widespread summer resident in all four regions, occurring along rivers, lakes, streams, and coasts. Requires vertical banks for burrow nesting, consistently noted in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick.
Migration: Seasonal resident. Birds arrive in spring to breed and migrate southward in fall. Departure is consistently reported across all four regions, including Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick
Behavior: The Belted Kingfisher forages alone from a perch or by hovering, diving for prey. Territorial and solitary. Loud rattling calls.
Diet: Fish, crayfish, insects, amphibians, young birds, small mammals, berries.
Nest: Burrow in earthen bank near water, 3–6 ft deep, sloping upward to unlined chamber.
Breeding: Season: Mid-March-Late July | Clutch: 5–8 pure white eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 22–24 days | Nestling: 27–29 days.
Lifespan: Typically 6 to 10 years.
How many are there? Global breeding population ~1.8 million.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Wilson’s Snipe

Identification: Pudgy bird, very long straight bill. Intricately patterned. Hatchlings tan/chestnut down, black blotches, white crown streak.
Habitat: The Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) forages in marshes, bogs, fens, wet meadows, rivers, ponds, wet pastures, muddy pond edges, and damp fields.
Range: A widespread breeder in wetlands of all four regions. Common in northern Maine, northern and western New Hampshire, Vermont’s Champlain Valley, and across southern and central New Brunswick.
Migration: The Wilson’s Snipe is a migratory breeder. Arrives in spring and departs south in fall. Some overwinter in mild coastal areas of Maine and New Hampshire. Vermont notes lingering individuals, while New Brunswick reports late fall migrants.
Behavior: Probes wet soil methodically. Swallows prey without removing bill. Elusive. Performs winnowing courtship display.
Diet: Wilson’s snipes feed on aquatic invertebrates, insect larvae, worms, snails, crustaceans. Occasionally lizards, frogs, and fish.
Nest: Shallow scrape in moist soil. Lined with coarse and finer grasses. Hidden on ground near water.
Breeding: Breeding Months: Mid-March-late August | Clutch: 2-4 olive brown splotched dark brown eggs | Incubation: 18-20 days | Nestling: Chicks leave the nest day of hatching.
Lifespan: At least 9 years, 3 months.
How many are there? Global population ~2 million individuals.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Forster’s Tern

Identification: Breeding adults are gray above, white below, with a black cap and an orange bill tipped in black. Nonbreeding adults have a thick black eye patch and a pale head. Juveniles resemble nonbreeding birds but have tan upperparts, a pale bill base, and shorter tails.
Habitat: The Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) uses freshwater, brackish, and saltwater wetlands and bodies of water.
Range: Classified as a non-breeding migrant or vagrant throughout the region. Rare to uncommon along Maine and New Hampshire coasts, a rare vagrant in New Brunswick, and an occasional inland visitor to Vermont, especially Lake Champlain.
Migration: Observed only as a non-breeding migrant. Small numbers pass through Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire, mainly during fall. In New Brunswick, the tern is an accidental visitor, outside its normal migratory range.
Behavior: Forages mainly by plunge-diving for fish; sometimes hunts from perches. Highly social, often in flocks.
Diet: Forster’s Terns feed on small fish and insects.
Nest: A shallow scrape or rough bowl on the ground in marsh vegetation, floating mats, or atop muskrat lodges.
Breeding: Season: May-mid August | Clutch: 1–4 olive with dark spots eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 23–28 days | Nestling period: 2–7 days.
Lifespan: At least 15 years, 10 months.
How many are there? ~98,000 global breeders.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Killdeer

Identification: Brownish-tan above, white below, with two distinct black breast bands and a black-and-white patterned face. Chicks with a single black breast band.
Habitat: Found on lawns, pastures, golf courses, athletic fields, parking lots.
Range: The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a common summer resident throughout Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick. Occupies open areas such as fields, pastures, gravel sites, and shorelines across the region.
Migration: Seasonal breeder. Birds arrive in spring, breed through summer, and migrate south in fall. This pattern is consistent in all four regions.
Behavior: Forages by running and stopping to search the ground for food. Famous for the “broken-wing” distraction display to protect nests.
Diet: Earthworms, grasshoppers, beetles, aquatic insect larvae, seeds, and frogs.
Nest: A shallow ground scrape, often decorated with rocks, shells, sticks, or debris.
Breeding: Season: March-October | Clutch: 4–6 buff with heavy blackish markings eggs | Broods: 1–3 | Incubation: 22–28 days | Nestlings: leave nest as soon as down is dry.
Lifespan: At least 10 years, 11 months.
How many are there? ~2.3 million global breeders.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Least Bittern

Identification: Tiny heron; males are blackish above and buffy-brown below, females and juveniles are more uniformly brown. Juveniles appear scaly.
Habitat: The Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) forages in freshwater and brackish marshes with tall cattails or reeds.
Range: A rare local breeder, requiring extensive marshes with dense emergent vegetation. Restricted to southern Maine, southern New Hampshire, southern New Brunswick, and Vermont’s Lake Champlain basin.
Migration: A very rare summer resident. Arrives in late spring to breed, then departs by early fall. Winters occur farther south, outside this region.
Behavior: Hunts by standing still perched on standing reeds. When disturbed, compresses the body, raises neck and bill, and sways with reeds for camouflage.
Diet: The Least Bittern feeds on small fish, frogs, shrimp, mice and, dragonflies.
Nest: Well-hidden platform of reeds and sticks, about 6-30 inches above water.
Breeding: Season: April–July | Clutch: 2–6 pale blue or green eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 17–20 days | Nestling: 6–15 days.
How many are there? About 310,000 globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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Virginia Rail

Identification: Small, chickenlike with bill and short, upturned tail. Rusty overall with a gray face and black-and-white barred sides. Legs and bill are reddish.
Habitat: The Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) inhabits shallow freshwater wetlands as well as muddy bottoms, saltmarshes, and brackish wetlands.
Range: A common breeder in wetlands of Maine, Vermont, and New Brunswick, favoring cattail marshes and wet meadows. Central and southern Maine hold most populations. Status in New Hampshire is not documented.
Migration: Breeds in spring and summer, migrating south in fall. Most depart after breeding, though Vermont notes occasional late individuals lingering into the season.
Behavior: Forages by probing mud for prey. Usually solitary. Notable for jerky movements and frequent tail flicking.
Diet: Virginia Rails feeds on insects, small fish, frogs, and plant material including seeds in winter.
Nest: Woven basket of wetland vegetation, placed on floating mats at or just above the water surface.
Breeding: Clutch: 4–13 white/buff with sparse irregular brown spots eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 18–20 days | Young: Leave nest after 3–4 days.
Lifespan: Not available.
How many are there? Trends appear stable, though difficult to estimate due to secretive behavior.
Conservation Status: Low conservation concern.

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Sora

Identification: Small, chubby rail with mottled gray and brown plumage. Distinctive yellow bill, black mask and throat patch. Females are duller with less black on the face and throat; juveniles lack the mask. Short tail is often cocked upward.
Habitat: The Sora (Porzana carolina) inhabits freshwater and brackish wetlands, wet pastures, ditches, and flooded fields during migration and winter.
Range: A widespread summer breeder across all four regions, occupying freshwater marshes with dense emergent cover. Uses brackish wetlands in Maine and fens or bogs in New Hampshire and New Brunswick.
Migration: Soras are common migratory breeders, arriving in spring and departing in autumn to overwinter in the southern United States.
Behavior: Forages slowly along muddy edges or over floating vegetation, pecking for seeds and insects. Usually stays hidden in dense cover.
Diet: Soras feed on seeds and aquatic invertebrates.
Nest: Shallow basket of cattails or sedges, built on mounds or attached to stems above shallow water.
Breeding: Season: May-August | Clutch: 6–10 cream to cinnamon with irregular brown spots eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 17–20 days | Chicks: Leave the nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: Not available.
How many are there? Stable; Considered abundant.
Conservation Status: Low conservation concern.

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Red-winged Blackbird

Identification: Adult males are glossy black with bright scarlet-and-yellow shoulder patches. Females are streaky dark brown with a paler breast and a whitish eyebrow.
Habitat: Freshwater or saltwater marshes and the like, agricultural fields, feedlots, wet roadsides, and even golf courses.
Range: The Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is a common summer resident throughout Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick. Found in marshes, fields, pastures, ponds, and swamps with emergent vegetation.
Migration: Seasonal resident. Arrives each spring to breed and departs southward in fall. Consistent migration pattern across all four regions.
Behavior: Males sing from high perches and aggressively defend territories. Highly social, with winter roosts often numbering in the millions, mixed with other blackbirds.
Diet: Red-winged Blackbirds feed on insects in summer; seeds and grains in winter.
Nest: Females build a cup-shaped nest in marsh vegetation, shrubs, trees, or crops.
Breeding: Season: April-early August | Clutch: 2–4 pale blue-green to gray with dark markings eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 11–13 days | Nestling: 11–14 days.
Lifespan: At least 15 years, 9 months.
How many are there? ~180 million globally.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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Black Rail

Identification: Tiny bird with gray-black plumage speckled white, black crown, chestnut nape, and red eyes. Immatures have less white and amber to hazel eyes.
Habitat: The Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) occupies shallow wetlands, riparian zones, coastal prairies, saltmarshes, and rice fields.
Range: Extremely rare in Maine, historically limited to isolated coastal salt marshes. No range information is available for Vermont, New Hampshire, or New Brunswick.
Migration: The Black Rail is defined as an extremely rare vagrant or historical breeder in Maine, and is not a regular resident or migratory species in Northern New England, New Brusnwick, Prince George Island nor Nova Scotia.
Behavior: Forages by gleaning invertebrates. Males defend territories and sing.
Diet: Black Rails feed on small invertebrates, as well as seeds from bulrush and cattail.
Nest: Circular bowl of fine grasses placed on the ground at the base of tall vegetation, often with a ramp of dead plant material.
Breeding: Season: March-early September | Clutch: 4–13 creamy white with fine brown spots eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 17–20 days | Chicks: Leave the nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: Estimated at 5–9 years.
How many are there? Eastern subspecies numbers only 355–815 breeding pairs.
Conservation Status: The eastern subspecies is listed as Threatened under the U.S. Endangered Species Act.

Foraging Strategy and Habitat use as tools to Identify Wetland Birds in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick

Even though many birds share wetlands, they don’t all feed in the same way. Each species uses specific strategies—diving, wading, probing mud, or hunting from the air—based on its food preferences and adaptations. For birdwatchers, knowing these foraging groups helps predict where certain species are most likely to be found in a wetland, making it easier to spot and identify them.

The table below summarizes the main foraging groups of wetland birds in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick. It aslo shows their preferred habitats, and representative species.

Foraging Group	General Description of Strategy	Preferred Habitat Type	Representative Species
Diving Birds	Forage by diving beneath the water’s surface to find food.	Open, deep water (lakes, rivers, coastal areas)	Grebes, cormorants, anhingas
Open Water Waders	Forage by wading in shallow water with low-density vegetation.	Shallow water with low vegetation	Herons, egrets, ibises, storks, cranes, spoonbills, avocets, stilts
Dense Vegetation Waders	Forage by wading in shallow water surrounded by dense vegetation.	Shallow water with dense vegetation	Night herons, green herons, bitterns, rails, limpkin
Dipping/Dabbling Foragers	Forage by surface dipping or “tipping” in shallow water.	Shallow water, ponds, marshes with dense vegetation	Coots, gallinules
Moist-soil Foragers	Forage in muddy or moist-soil areas along the shoreline.	Muddy areas, moist soil, shorelines	Ibises, killdeer, rails, gallinules
Aerial Piscivores/snail eaters	Use perches or flight to spot and dive for prey.	Open water, often near perches or trees	Terns, kingfishers, eagles, osprey

Where to Find Wetland Birds in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New Brunswick

The wetlands of northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes (Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia) form a vital mosaic of habitats that sustain rich birdlife year-round. From tidal estuaries and salt marshes to inland bogs, fens, and floodplains, these ecosystems provide breeding grounds, foraging areas, and crucial migratory stopovers along the Atlantic Flyway. Birders exploring these states and provinces encounter both widespread species and habitat specialists, making the region a premier destination for wetland birdwatching.

Maine – Coastal Salt Marshes

These tidal estuarine environments, dominated by salt-tolerant grasses, are critical nurseries and feeding grounds. Look for Saltmarsh Sparrows, Willets, and various sandpipers and plovers. Notable locations include Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center and sections of Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge.

Vermont – Lakeshore Marshes & Bays

Found along the shores of Lake Champlain and other large lakes, these shallow areas feature emergent vegetation like cattails and sedges, interspersed with open water. Key species include Pied-billed Grebes, Common Loons, Ospreys, various dabbling ducks, and Virginia Rails. Dead Creek Wildlife Management Area and the bays around Sand Bar State Park are excellent examples.

New Hampshire – River Floodplains and Oxbows

Along New Hampshire’s major rivers, periodically flooded plains create dynamic backwaters, oxbow ponds, and wet woodlands. These areas are excellent for Wood Ducks, Common Mergansers, Belted Kingfishers, and Spotted Sandpipers. Prime birding spots include the floodplains along the Connecticut River Valley and sections of the Merrimack River.

New Brunswick – Salt Marshes & Estuaries

These tidal ecosystems, particularly prominent along the Bay of Fundy, feature extensive mudflats and Spartina grasses. They are crucial for vast numbers of shorebirds like Semipalmated Sandpipers and Willets. The Tantramar Marshes near Sackville and areas around Dorchester Cape are renowned hotspots.

Photo Credits:

The photographic material used in this guide was made available on various websites. Many thanks to Andrew Morffew, Mark Mochell, Elizabeth Milson, Duzan Brinkhuizen, Dennis Church, Wendy Miller, Rick From Alabama, John Benson, Mick Thompson, Steve Guttman, Victor Espinoza, Kelly Colgan-Azar, Andy Reago, Chrissy McLaren, Garry C., Linda Fortuna, Vicky DeLoach, Paul Hurtado, Tom Murray, Tom Wilberding, Kenneth Cole-Schneider, Doug Greenberg, Brian Garrett, David White, Becky Matsubara, Dan Mooney, Hal Trachtenberg, Lloyd Davis, Denis Fournier, Gregory Heaton, hharryus, Greg Lavaty, Dona Hilkey, Joshua Mayer, Aaron Maizlish, Ashley Tubs, Richard George, Sandra Minica, Nick, Jon valentine, Steve Valasek, Mitch Walters, Kurayba and Julio Mulero.

Voices:

Most recordings were made by Paul Marvin (Xeno-canto https://xeno-canto.org/contributor/RFTXRYBVBX)

References and Sources:

• Allaboutbirds.org
• eBird. (https://ebird.org/)
• Birds of the World: https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/home
• Gill, Frank B., 1994. Ornithology – 2nd Edition, W. H. Freeman and Company.
• Sibley, David, 2000, The Sibley Guide to Birds. Alfred A. Knopf, Publisher.
• Species Longevity Data: United States Geological Survey (https://www.usgs.gov/)
• The Sibley Guide to Bird Life and Behavior, 2001. Chris Elphick, John Dunning, and David Sibley (eds). Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

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