Guide to the Wetland birds of Massachusetts, Connecticut & Rhode Island

Explore the Guide to the Wetland Birds of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island through 40 illustrated bird species plates with field marks, behavior, habitat and, natural history. I created this guide to help birdwatchers (birders) and nature lovers identify and know more about wetland bird found across the Southern New England’s marshes, swamps, and coastal wetlands. To make identification easier, I’ve grouped species by size—Very Large (about the size of a crane > 10 lb), Large (about the size of a stork 5–10 lb), Medium (about the size of an egret 1–5 lb), Small (about the size of a gallinule < 1 lb), helping you recognize Southern New England. 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 states of in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. 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 are not covered here; because they form such a large and prominent group, they are presented in a separate guide dedicated entirely to them.

Southern New England generally refers to the states of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. These states share a more temperate and milder climate than the northern New England states of Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.

Southern New England Wetlands (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut)

Wetlands are a defining feature of southern New England, covering between 5% and 11% of the land area in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Despite their relatively small footprint, these ecosystems play an outsized role in supporting birdlife. Situated along the Atlantic Flyway, the region’s coastal salt marshes and inland wetlands provide breeding, foraging, and migratory stopover habitat for wetland-dependent birds. Yet, centuries of wetland loss—especially salt marshes—have reduced available habitat, making the remaining wetlands even more vital for both resident and migratory species.

Massachusetts Wetlands

Massachusetts holds about 242,800 hectares (600,000 acres) of wetlands, or 11% of the state’s area. Its 45,000 acres of salt marshes are among the most significant in New England, serving as key breeding and migratory habitat for waterfowl, shorebirds, and other wetland birds along the Atlantic Flyway.

Rhode Island Wetlands

Rhode Island contains about 21,850 hectares of wetlands, covering 8% of its land area. The state has lost an estimated 35% of its original wetlands, making its remaining salt marshes especially critical for wetland-dependent birds.

Connecticut Wetlands

Connecticut supports about 70,400 hectares of wetlands, representing 5.6% of its land. Nearly half of its original salt marshes have been lost since European settlement, but the remaining wetlands continue to provide essential habitat for both resident and migratory birds.

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

Groups of Wetland Birds

This guide includes a total of 43 wetland bird species. The breakdown of Southern New England wetland birds by group is as follows:

• Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns: This is the largest group, with 10 species, representing approximately 23% of the birds listed.
• Rails, Coots, Gallinules, and Swamphens: This group contains 9 species, comprising about 21% of the total.
• Ibises: This group includes 3 species, making up about 7% of the birds.
• Raptors (Hawks, Kites, Eagles, Osprey): There are 3 raptor species, representing about 7% of the total.
• Pelicans, Cormorants, and Anhinga: This group has 3 species, which is approximately 7% of the list.
• Wood Storks & Spoonbills: This group includes 2 species, making up about 5% of the birds.
• Avocets and Stilts: The two species in this group represent about 5% of the total.
• Cranes: The one crane species accounts for about 2.3% of the total.
• Terns: The two tern species make up about 5% of the birds listed.
• Snipe & Woodcock: This group includes 2 species, making up about 5% of the birds.
• Blackbirds: The two species in this group represent about 5% of the total.
• Other Species (Limpkin, Killdeer, Kingfisher, Flamingo, Grebe): These miscellaneous species, each with a single entry, collectively make up the remaining 9.3%.

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Very Large Wetland Birds of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (>10 lb)

From the American White Pelican to the Sandhill Crane, New England’s large birds 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: Uncommon but regular vagrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, observed on large freshwater lakes, reservoirs, or coastal estuaries, often in small groups during migration.
Migration: Primarily a rare post-breeding disperser or transient migrant, not a regular seasonal visitor or resident in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Behavior: Forages by dipping bill at the water’s surface to scoop fish; also upends like dabbling ducks. Known for cooperative foraging, driving fish toward shore. Highly gregarious.
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: Found in large freshwater marshes, wet meadows, and agricultural lands, primarily in the western parts of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: An uncommon but increasing migrant and rare summer resident, with a small number of breeding pairs established mostly in Masschusetts.
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 in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (5-10 lb)

Large birds of Southern New England include four members ranging from the familiar Bald Eagle (9.5 lb) to the Wood Stork (5.2 lb). Most members of this groups, except for the bald eagle, have long legs giving the impression of being larger.

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: Bald Eagles are found statewide, especially along major rivers like the Connecticut and Merrimack, large lakes, and coastal areas, often near extensive forests for nesting.
Migration: Massachusetts hosts a thriving resident breeding population that remains year-round. Both Connecticut, and Rhode Island also receives wintering eagles from northern territories, particularly in unfrozen water bodies.
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: Widespread across the Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, inhabiting marshes, ponds, rivers, and coastal estuaries, frequently found in shallow foraging areas.
Migration: Mostly a breeding summer resident, with some individuals remaining year-round, particularly in coastal or milder regions.
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.

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Wood Stork

Identification: Large, white wading bird with black flight feathers and tail, bald scaly head, and thick, slightly curved bill.
Habitat: The Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) inhabits marshes, forested wetlands, swamps, and shorelines.
Range: Wood Storks are rare post-breeding visitors to Massachusetts, occasionally found in coastal marshes, estuaries, or large inland freshwater wetlands during dispersal.
Migration: This species is an accidental visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with most records occurring in late summer and early fall, far north of its regular migratory routes.
Behavior: Wood storks feed by probing water and feeling for prey; may startle prey. Social, soars on thermals.
Diet: Fish, aquatic invertebrates, seeds, amphibians, nestlings, reptiles.
Nest: Large stick structure in trees above standing water, lined with greenery, secured with guano; in colonies.
Breeding: Season: December-August | Clutch: 1–5 creamy white eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 28 and 32 days | Nestling: 50 days.
Lifespan: At least 22 years, 6 months.
How many are there? The U.S. Wood Stork population has rebounded from about 5,000 nesting pairs in the 1970s to over 11,000 pairs by early 2023.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

Medium-sized Wetland Birds of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (3.7–1 lb)

From the versatile Double-crested Cormorant to the compact Pied-billed Grebe, Southern New England medium-sized wetland birds include 17 species ranging in weight from 3.7 to 1 lb. This is perhaps the most confusing group weight wise including extremes such as the Roseate Spoonbill and the seemingly small and compact Pied-billed Greebe.

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: Abundant along the entire coastline, on islands, estuaries, and frequently found on larger inland lakes and major rivers.
Migration: Primarily a summer breeding resident and migrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with some individuals remaining year-round, especially in coastal and open water areas.
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: Uncommon but increasingly regular visitor, particularly in coastal marshes and estuaries in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, often as post-breeding dispersers.
Migration: A common summer breeding resident, arriving in early spring, raising young, and migrating south to wintering grounds by early fall.
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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Roseate Spoonbill

Identification: Adult: Bright pink, partly bald head, white neck, and long spoon-shaped bill. Pink shoulders. Juvenile: Paler pink, fully feathered head until age 3.
Habitat: The Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) lives in shallow fresh, brackish, and marine waters. Nests/roosts in trees or shrubs along water.
Range: Roseate Spoonbills are rare vagrants, occasionally appearing in coastal marshes, estuaries, and tidal flats, usually during post-breeding dispersal events.
Migration: This species is a rare and irregular visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with most records occurring in late summer and fall as non-breeding individuals wander north.
Behavior: Forages by sweeping bill side-to-side in shallow water. Usually in flocks, often with other waders.
Diet: Roseate Spoonbill feed on shrimp, aquatic insects, and fish.
Nest: Bulky stick platform lined with moss or bark strips, built in trees/shrubs over water.
Breeding: Season: April-Mid August. Clutch: 1–5 whitish to pale green with brown spots eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 22 days | Nestling: 35–42 days.
Lifespan: At least 15 years, 10 months.
How many are there? There are approximately 11,000 Roseate Spoonbills in Florida and the U.S.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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Anhinga

Identification: Spear-like bill. Adult males black with silvery-white streaks on back/wings. Females/immatures have pale tan head, neck, breast.
Habitat: The Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) if found in shallow freshwater lakes, ponds, brackish bays; prefers perches for drying.
Range: A very rare accidental vagrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, occasionally recorded in freshwater wetlands and coastal ponds, far from its usual range.
Migration: An accidental vagrant, not a regular seasonal visitor or permanent resident in the state.
Behavior: Forages by stalking and spearing fish underwater. Nests in loose groups with other waterbirds.
Diet: Small to medium wetland fishes, crustaceans, invertebrates.
Nest: The Anhinga builds a bulky stick platform in trees near/over water; lined with leaves/twigs.
Breeding: Season: February-October | Clutch: 2–5 pale bluish green, chalky coating eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 26–30 days | Nestling: 14–21 days.
Lifespan: At least 12 years.
How many are there? Global breeding population ~2 million.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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White Ibis

Identification: Adult: All white with black wingtips, red/pink legs, face and bill. Juvenile: Brown above, white below, streaked brown neck, orange-pink legs and bill.
Habitat: The White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) inhabits shallow wetlands, swamps, mangroves, flooded pastures, lawns, and parks.
Range: Uncommon but increasingly regular visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, particularly in coastal marshes and estuaries, often as post-breeding dispersers.
Migration: A seasonal visitor to Rhode Island and Connecticut, observed mostly in late summer and fall during post-breeding dispersal.
Behavior: Forages, flies, and nests in flocks. Feeds by walking and probing muddy bottoms.
Diet: Insects, crayfish, earthworms, fish, frogs, lizards, and snails.
Nest: Messy stick platform built in trees or shrubs within colonies. Nest locations change yearly.
Breeding: Season: March-Mid-October | Clutch: 2-4 cream to blue-green with brown splotches eggs | Broods: 1-2 | Incubation: 21-23 days | Nestling: 40–60 days.
Lifespan: At least 16 years, 4 months.
How many are there? Global population is about 2.4 million.
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: Widespread along coastal salt marshes, estuaries, and larger inland freshwater wetlands, often forming significant breeding colonies.
Migration: Predominantly a summer breeding resident in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with most migrating south, but a small number may overwinter in protected coastal areas.
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: Utilizes freshwater marshes, ponds, and coastal impoundments across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with denser populations in the eastern and central regions.
Migration: Primarily a migratory visitor, breeding locally in summer, with significant numbers passing through and some overwintering in milder coastal 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: A rare to uncommon summer resident in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found primarily in coastal salt marshes, tidal creeks, and some southern inland wetlands for breeding.
Migration: A migratory species, arriving in spring to breed and departing in late summer/early fall for southern wintering grounds.
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: Breeds in freshwater and brackish marshes, bogs, and wet meadows across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, particularly in coastal plains and river valleys.
Migration: Primarily a migratory breeder, with some individuals occasionally lingering into early winter in coastal areas.
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: Widespread along the coast, estuaries, salt marshes, and major rivers; also utilizes larger inland wetlands and ponds.
Migration: A common summer breeding resident in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, present from spring through early fall, migrating south for the colder months.
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: The Red-shouldered Inhabits mature deciduous or mixed forests, often near wetlands or riparian areas, throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, being more common in the central and western parts.
Migration: They are mostly summer breeding residents, but a small number may overwinter in the southern coastal areas during mild winters.
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 is a regular but uncommon migrant and summer visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in coastal estuaries, harbors, and large inland lakes.
Migration: This species is a non-breeding seasonal visitor, with some individuals staying through the summer while others simply pass through during migration.
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: Uncommon but increasingly regular visitor, particularly in coastal marshes and estuaries in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, often as post-breeding dispersers.
Migration: A seasonal visitor to Massachusetts, appearing primarily in late summer and fall, with no breeding populations.
Behavior: Feeds and nests in flocks. Forages by probing wet substrates or gleaning.
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 and migrant in in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in freshwater habitats with emergent vegetation, and can be seen in winter along the coast.
Migration: It is a permanent resident in some areas, but most are seasonal residents that migrate through the state and winter in open water.
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 Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island (< 1 lb)

From the graceful Snowy Egret to the enigmatic Black Rail the group of small wetland birds of Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island varies from the Snowy Egret to the diminutive Black Rail, weighing 0.07 oz. This group includes some of the most secretive rails which are often heard but hardly ever 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: Abundant in coastal salt marshes, estuaries, tidal flats, and barrier islands across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island’s the state’s coastline.
Migration: A common summer breeding visitor, arriving in spring and departing by early fall for southern wintering areas.
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: A rare and localized breeder, found in extensive freshwater and brackish marshes in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, particularly in southeastern areas and coastal plain wetlands.
Migration: Primarily a rare summer resident and breeder, with most individuals migrating south for winter.
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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Tricolored Heron

Identification: Slim, medium-sized heron with blue-gray and lavender upperparts, white belly, and dagger-like bill. Breeding adults show pale plumes; juveniles have rusty neck and feather edges.
Habitat: The Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) forages salt, fresh, and brackish water wetlands, and ditches.
Range: Uncommon to rare visitor along coastal saltmarshes, estuaries, and tidal flats in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: Primarily a post-breeding disperser and rare summer visitor; occasional breeding has occurred, but not a permanent resident.
Behavior: Hunts by stalking, or chasing; often spins with sudden stops and wing flaps.
Diet: Mainly small fish; also other small vertebrates.
Nest: Tricolored Herons build a bulky stick platform in trees or shrubs; often in colonies.
Breeding: Season: May–July | Clutch: 3–5 pale greenish-blue eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 21–24 days | Nestling: 17–21 days.
Lifespan: At least 17 years, 8 months.
How many are there? About 194,000 breeding in the U.S.
Conservation Status: Low concern.

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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: Irregular visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, occasionally found in coastal marshes, open fields, or agricultural areas, sometimes in small flocks.
Migration: Primarily an uncommon post-breeding disperser or transient, mostly late summer to fall; very rare breeder in the past.
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: Irregular visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, occasionally found in coastal marshes, open fields, or agricultural areas, sometimes in small flocks.
Migration: Primarily an uncommon post-breeding disperser or transient, mostly late summer to fall; very rare breeder in the past.
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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American Avocet

Identification: Striking black-and-white body, long upturned bill, and bluish-gray legs. In summer, the head and neck are rusty; in winter, they turn grayish-white.
Habitat: Shallow freshwater and saltwater wetlands, rice fields, and flooded pastures.
Range: The American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a rare but regular migrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in coastal estuaries, salt marshes, and tidal flats.
Migration: This species is a non-breeding seasonal migrant, primarily seen during fall migration as it passes through the state on its way south.
Behavior: Forages by sweeping its bill side to side, pecking, or plunging. Often associated with other shorebirds in flocks.
Diet: American Avocets feed on aquatic invertebrates, plus small fish and seeds.
Nest: A shallow ground scrape, sometimes unlined, located on islands or dikes, with little or no vegetation.
Breeding: Season: late April-early August | Clutch: 3–4 greenish brown with dark spots eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 18–30 days | Nestling: able to walk within 24 hours.
Lifespan: At least 15 years.
How many are there? Global breeding population ~450,000.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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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: A localized summer resident, inhabiting extensive freshwater marshes, vegetated ponds, and slow-moving rivers, particularly in in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: A summer breeder, arriving in spring and departing in autumn to winter in warmer southern regions.
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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Clapper Rail

Identification: Chickenlike with a stout orange bill, stubby tail, and laterally compressed body. Barred sides and belly, pink legs. Chicks covered in black down with pied bills.
Habitat: The Clapper Rail (Rallus crepitans) inhabits saltmarshes with dense vegetation, mangroves, and shallow saltwater habitats.
Range: Found in coastal salt and brackish marshes, particularly in eastern areas in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: Primarily a summer resident and breeder, with most individuals migrating south for the winter.
Behavior: Forages hidden among marsh vegetation. Territorial, sometimes in loose colonies.
Diet: Eats small crabs, shrimp, fish, and plant material.
Nest: Bulky platform of marsh plants, often tall and camouflaged, sometimes with domes or ramps.
Breeding: Season: April-October | Clutch: 2–16 creamy white to buff with irregular brown blotches eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: 18–24 days | Chicks: Leave the nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: At least 7 years, 6 months.
How many are there? Global population about 210,000 individuals.
Conservation Status: Low conservation 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: A very rare vagrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, occasionally recorded in freshwater marshes, ponds, and vegetated wetlands, particularly during fall migration.
Migration: An accidental or casual visitor; it is not a resident or regular migratory species in Massachusetts.
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: Green Herons are widespread in freshwater wetlands, coastal marshes, ponds, and slow-moving waterways throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, including offshore islands.
Migration: They are a migratory breeding visitor, arriving in spring and departing in late summer or early fall for their southern wintering grounds.
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: The American Woodcock is established as a widespread or local breeder across all three states. In Massachusetts and Connecticut, the species is a widespread breeder, particularly occupying the western and central regions of the former and the eastern and western uplands of the latter. In contrast, breeding in Rhode Island is described as occurring locally within its preferred habitats, often near wetlands and open areas.
Migration: The Woodcock is classified as a common summer resident and breeder in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, migrating south for the winter. Migration timing shows specific nuances: Rhode Island arrives in March and departs by November, while Massachusetts experiences peak movements in March and October. Connecticut observes peak migration during both spring and fall generally.
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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Black-necked Stilt

Identification: Elegant black-and-white with long rose-pink legs, slender black bill, and a white patch around the eye. Females and juveniles show browner-black plumage in dark areas.
Habitat: The Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is found in shallow wetlands, mudflats, sewage or evaporation ponds, and mangrove swamps.
Range: The Black-necked Stilt is a rare but regular vagrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in coastal estuaries, salt marshes, and tidal flats.
Migration: This species is a non-breeding seasonal vagrant, primarily seen during post-breeding dispersal and migration periods.
Behavior: Forages by wading and pecking, sometimes swinging the bill through water. Loud alarm calls and group displays help deter predators.
Diet: Black-necked Stilts eat primarily aquatic invertebrates; also take small amounts of seeds and plant material.
Nest: Shallow ground scrape on islands, in vegetation, or on floating mats.
Breeding: Season: April-August | Clutch: 2–5 tawny olive, dark brown speckling eggs | Broods: 1 | Incubation: 24–29 days | Nestling: Able to run within ~2 hours.
Lifespan: At least 12 years, 5 months.
How many are there? Estimated global, 900,000 individuals.
Conservation Status: Low Concern.

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Boat-tailed Grackle

Identification: Males are glossy black with a long, V-shaped tail. Females are dark brown above and russet below. Juveniles look like females.
Habitat: The Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major) is found in coastal saltwater and freshwater marshes. It is also found in urban areas and cultivated fields.
Range: The Boat-billed Grackle is a very rare vagrant in in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, with sightings primarily along the coast in saltwater marshes and estuaries.
Migration: It is a non-breeding vagrant, with sightings being a result of post-breeding dispersal.
Behavior: Probes soil and water, dunks food before eating. Highly gregarious. Males employ a harem mating system.
Diet: Omnivorous scavenger; Boat-tailed Grackles feed on invertebrates, frogs, lizards, grains, seeds, and human food scraps.
Nest: A woven cup built in cattails or marsh grasses. Constructed as a woven cup with mud and lined with fine materials. Often breeds in colonies.
Breeding: Season: March-July | Clutch: 1–5 light blue with brown scrawls eggs | Broods: 1–2 | Incubation: ~13 days | Nestling: ~13 days.
Lifespan: At least 13 years, 1 month.
How many are there? Global breeding 2 million.
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 is a widespread summer resident and migrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found along rivers, lakes, and coastal areas year-round where open water exists.
Migration: It is a permanent resident, though northern populations migrate through the state and some birds migrate south for the winter.
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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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: The Forster’s Tern is a regular but uncommon migrant and summer visitor in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in coastal estuaries, harbors, and large inland lakes.
Migration: This species is a non-breeding seasonal visitor, with some individuals staying through the summer while others simply pass through during migration.
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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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: The Wilson’s Snipe is established as a widespread and common migrant. Both Massachusetts and Connecticut support small, localized breeding populations in suitable wetlands in the western and central regions of the former and the northern and eastern regions of the latter. However, in Rhode Island, the species is predominantly a migratory transient and is specifically noted as not a regular breeder.
Migration: The Wilson’s Snipe is classified as a common migratory transient in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, passing through the states typically arriving in spring and departing in fall. While Connecticut and Massachusetts host small, localized breeding populations, breeding in Rhode Island is considered very rare. All three states report that some individuals may overwinter, particularly in milder coastal areas.
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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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 widespread resident and migrant in in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in a variety of open habitats, including fields, golf courses, and shorelines.
Migration: It is a permanent resident, though northern populations migrate through the state and some birds migrate south for the winter.
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: Least Bitterns are uncommon, localized breeders in coastal and inland freshwater marshes with dense cattail and other emergent vegetation across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: They are a summer resident, arriving in April-May and departing for southern wintering grounds from August to September.
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: Nests in various freshwater and brackish marsh habitats with dense cover, including coastal and inland wetlands across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: Primarily a summer breeding resident, but some individuals may overwinter in milder coastal areas; most migrate south.
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: Breeds in freshwater marshes, wet meadows, and sedge fens throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, favoring areas with dense emergent vegetation.
Migration: A common migratory breeder, present from April to October before migrating to warmer climates for the winter.
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 widespread resident and migrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, found in freshwater marshes, fields, and wetlands.
Migration: It is a permanent resident, though northern populations migrate through the state and some birds migrate south for the winter.
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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Yellow Rail

Identification: Small, brownish-yellow plumage. Paler yellowish face and breast with a dark cheek smudge. Juveniles are duller with fine barring on the nape, sides, and breast.
Habitat: The Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) inhabits shallow freshwater sedge marshes, wet meadows, saltgrass marshes, agricultural fields, and grassy cover.
Range: Primarily a rare migrant in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, sometimes encountered in wet meadows and marshes during migration, with no confirmed breeding.
Migration: A rare transient visitor during spring and fall migration, with no regular breeding populations established.
Behavior: Walks quietly picking invertebrates and seeds. Rarely flies. Runs quickly through grass like a rodent.
Diet: Feeds on aquatic invertebrates, crustaceans, as well as seeds.
Nest: Yellow Rails nest on the ground. Build a small cup (~3.4 in across) covered with a canopy.
Breeding: Season: mid-May-early September | Clutch: 4–10 creamy buff with brown speckling eggs | Chicks: leave the nest within 1 day.
Lifespan: Not available.
How many are there? Global population over 12,000 individuals.
Conservation Status: Species of concern with more than 50% decline in the past 50 years.

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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: Critically endangered and extremely rare, with limited records from coastal salt and brackish marshes in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
Migration: Extremely rare breeding visitor, arriving in spring and departing in fall; highly localized.
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 Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island

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 Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, 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, snail kite

Where to find Wetland Birds in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island

Where to find Wetland Birds in Massachusetts

Massachusetts boasts diverse wetland habitats, from extensive coastal salt marshes to serene inland bogs.

• Coastal Salt Marshes: Vast tidal grasslands of cordgrass occur at Plum Island (Parker River NWR) and Duxbury Bay are prime locations for wetland birds.
• Freshwater Marshes & Ponds: nland wetlands with cattails and open water can be found at Great Meadows NWR and Quabbin Reservoir.
• Estuaries & Mudflats: Where rivers meet the sea, brackish mudflats offer rich feeding grounds to many birds at Cape Cod Bay and Plymouth Harbor.
• Red Maple Swamps & Bogs: Forested wetlands (Red Maple swamps) or acidic sphagnum bogs host unique birds at Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary and Myles Standish State Forest.

Where to find Wetland Birds in Connecticut

Connecticut’s diverse landscape features a remarkable array of wetlands, from its extensive Long Island Sound coastline to its numerous inland rivers, lakes, and marshes.

• Coastal Salt Marshes: Vast cordgrass expanses and tidal influence characterize the brackish environments Hammonasset Beach State Park and Barn Island WMA.
• Tidal Flats and Estuaries: Mudflats exposed at low tide and nutrient-rich estuarine waters at Milford Point Coastal Center.
• Freshwater Marshes and Ponds: Inland, non-tidal wetlands, rich with cattails and emergent vegetation at White Memorial Conservation Center.
• Riparian Wetlands (Riverine): Find forested or shrub-dominated wetlands along the Connecticut River and its tributaries.

Where to find Wetland Birds in Rhode Island

Rhode Island, despite its small size, boasts diverse coastal and freshwater wetlands.

• Coastal Salt Marshes: These tidal ecosystems supporting Clapper Rail and many other birds can be found at Trustom Pond National Wildlife Refuge and the marshes around Ninigret Pond.
• Freshwater Marshes & Ponds: Inland, these non-tidal areas feature cattails, rushes, and open water at The Great Swamp Management Area and Caratunk Wildlife Refuge.
• Estuaries & Tidal Rivers: Where rivers meet the sea, these nutrient-rich zones provide abundant food, especially on exposed mudflats at Narragansett Bay shores and the Sakonnet River.
• Barrier Beach Lagoons & Coastal Ponds: Separated from the ocean by barrier beaches, these shallow, brackish to saline ponds are found at Quonochontaug Pond and Block Island’s coastal ponds.

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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