Guide to the Wetland Birds of Virginia New Jersey Delaware & Maryland

Explore my Guide to the Wetland Birds of Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland 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 the wetland birds. 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 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 wetlands in the states of Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland . 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, mergansers, and shorebirds are not covered here; because they form such a large and prominent groups, they are presented in a separate guide dedicated entirely to them.

Wetlands in Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland

Situated along the Atlantic Flyway, state wetlands support a remarkable diversity of avian life. New Jersey, with 364,000 hectares (16% of its land area), and Delaware, with 121,400 hectares (24%), both feature wetlands along the Delaware Bay that are critical feeding grounds for birds.

Virginia’s wetlands, totaling 862,000 hectares (7.8%), are diverse, including coastal marshes along the Chesapeake Bay. Maryland, with 113,312 hectares (4%), also relies on the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which supports a third of the Atlantic coast’s migratory bird population.

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 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 Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland (>10 lb)

From the American White Pelican to the Sandhill Crane, this group includes 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: American White Pelicans are a regular sight on the East Coast, though their presence varies. In Virginia, they’re common transient and winter visitors on coastal bays and inland reservoirs. In Maryland and New Jersey, they’re uncommon but regular vagrants on large bodies of water, while in Delaware, they’re a rare but increasing sight on rivers and impoundments.
Migration: Pelicans primarily migrate in the fall. In Maryland and New Jersey, they are transient visitors and post-breeding dispersers. Delaware sees them as infrequent visitors, mostly in the fall but sometimes in the spring. Virginia’s population is unique, as they are a regular migratory transient and winter resident from fall to spring, with some non-breeders staying through the summer.
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: In Virginia, the Sandhill Crane is increasing in numbers, particularly in the eastern and southern areas during migration and winter. Maryland and New Jersey both see the crane utilize freshwater marshes and agricultural fields, with Maryland’s population concentrated in the western and northern parts of the state. In New Jersey, cranes are found in its northern and western regions. In Delaware, they are only occasionally observed due to limited suitable habitat.
Migration: Sandhill Cranes are primarily a transient migrant and increasing winter resident in Virginia, with sightings most common during the colder months. In New Jersey and Maryland, they are an uncommon but increasing migrant and rare summer resident, with occasional breeding records. Delaware’s sightings are infrequent, with the crane being a rare to uncommon migrant seen during both spring and fall.
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 Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland (5-10 lb)

Large birds of Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland 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: The Bald Eagle is a widespread and common near large bodies of water. In Virginia, they are widespread, especially along the Chesapeake Bay and major rivers. Maryland also has an abundant population, concentrated along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. In New Jersey and Delaware, they are found along coastal marshes, major rivers, and bays. The Delaware population is centered around the Delaware River and Bay. The New Jersey population is concentrated in coastal areas and the Delaware Bay. All states note that the birds prefer to nest in tall trees near these water sources.
Migration: Bald Eagles in these states are a mix of permanent residents and winter migrants. Virginia has a mix of year-round residents and winter visitors from the north. Similarly, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland all have healthy and stable resident breeding populations that remain throughout the year. These states also attract a significant number of wintering eagles from more northern regions, which seek out unfrozen waterways for food, particularly along the Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
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 widespread across all four states. They are common in Delaware and Maryland, where they utilize coastal marshes, estuaries, rivers, lakes, and other wetlands. In Virginia, they are also widespread, found in coastal estuaries, marshes, and inland waterways. New Jersey’s herons frequent coastal marshes, rivers, and wetlands.
Migration: The Great Blue Heron population in these states is predominantly resident, with some seasonal movements. In Delaware, they are largely permanent residents, showing only minor seasonal movements. The same is true for New Jersey and Maryland, where they are predominantly permanent residents, although some birds from the northern parts of these states may migrate south during cold winters. In Virginia, coastal and southern populations are permanent residents, while northern and mountain populations are more likely to migrate but may still overwinter in the area.
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 primarily post-breeding visitors in these states, with their presence varying from rare to increasing. They are increasingly seen in southeastern Virginia. In contrast, they are considered rare post-breeding dispersers in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, occasionally found in coastal marshes, estuaries, and other freshwater wetlands, with sightings often concentrated in southern Maryland.
Migration: Wood Stork sightings are almost exclusively related to post-breeding dispersal, not regular migration. They are considered accidental visitors in New Jersey and Delaware, with most records in late summer and early fall, as they disperse northward from their breeding grounds. This same pattern holds true for Maryland, where they are also considered accidental visitors with records concentrated in late summer and fall. Virginia sees them primarily as post-breeding dispersers and seasonal visitors, with occurrences increasing in recent decades, but they are not considered breeding residents.
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 Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland (3.7–1 lb)

From the versatile Double-crested Cormorant to the compact Pied-billed Grebe, 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: The Double-crested Cormorant is abundant and widespread in all four states, primarily frequenting coastal and major inland waterways. In Delaware and New Jersey, they are very common or abundant along the Atlantic coast, estuaries, and major rivers. Maryland also has an abundant population along the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries, while in Virginia, they are common along the coast, Chesapeake Bay, and inland reservoirs.
Migration: Migration patterns for the Double-crested Cormorant are a mix of permanent residency and seasonal movement. Virginia has permanent residents along the coast and in the Bay, while its inland populations are mostly migratory during the winter. In Maryland, New Jersey, and Delaware, the species is a primary summer breeding resident and migrant, with a significant number of individuals overwintering in the milder coastal and bay waters.
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: Ospreys are abundant in all four states, particularly in coastal and major inland waterways. They are found along the Chesapeake Bay, Atlantic coast, and major rivers in Maryland and Virginia. In Delaware and New Jersey, they are abundant along the coast and bay, as well as inland rivers and lakes. All states note their preference for nesting near fish-filled, open waters.
Migration: The Osprey is primarily a summer breeding resident in all four states. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, they arrive in the spring to nest and depart for southern wintering grounds from late summer through early fall. Virginia’s population follows a similar pattern, though some individuals may overwinter in coastal areas.
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: The Roseate Spoonbill is a rare to uncommon visitor in all four states, primarily found in coastal marshes, estuaries, and shallow bays. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, they are considered rare vagrants. Virginia is the only state where they are listed as an uncommon to rare visitor, favoring the coast and barrier islands.
Migration: The presence of Roseate Spoonbills in these states is primarily due to post-breeding dispersal. They are rare and irregular visitors in Delaware, Maryland, and New Jersey, with most sightings occurring in late summer and fall. Virginia sees them as seasonal visitors, most commonly in late summer and fall, as they wander northward after breeding.
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: The Anhinga is a rare vagrant across much of the region, except for Virginia, where it is a regular summer resident and breeder in the southeastern coastal plain, utilizing freshwater wetlands and major rivers. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is considered a rare accidental vagrant, occasionally found in various freshwater and coastal wetlands.
Migration: The Anhinga is primarily a summer resident and breeder in Virginia, with most individuals migrating south for the winter. In contrast, it is not a regular seasonal visitor or permanent resident in New Jersey, Delaware, or Maryland, where it is considered an accidental vagrant with no established migratory pattern.
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: The White Ibis is a regular visitor and increasingly observed resident in these states. It is a regular visitor to New Jersey’s coastal wetlands and an occasional summer resident in Delaware’s southern coastal marshes. In Maryland, it is a regular visitor and increasingly seen summer resident on the Eastern Shore, while in Virginia, it is a regular presence along the coastal plain and Chesapeake Bay region.
Migration: The White Ibis is primarily a seasonal visitor in these states, with some individuals becoming permanent residents. New Jersey sees the ibis as a seasonal visitor from late summer through fall. In Delaware and Maryland, it is a seasonal visitor and occasional summer resident, present from spring through fall. Virginia’s population is a mix, with some individuals being permanent residents in the southeastern coastal plain, while northern breeders are seasonal visitors from spring to fall.
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: The Black-crowned Night-Heron is widespread and common in all four states. They are abundant in New Jersey and Maryland, particularly in coastal marshes and around the Chesapeake Bay, respectively. In Delaware, they are common in coastal and inland wetlands, while in Virginia, they are widespread in coastal marshes, swamps, and wetlands along rivers.
Migration: The heron’s migratory patterns vary, but they are generally summer residents with some individuals overwintering. New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland all have a common summer breeding population that arrives in the spring and departs in the autumn, with a significant number or small number of individuals overwintering. In Virginia, coastal and southern populations are permanent residents, while populations in the northern and western parts of the state are primarily migratory.
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 is a common to abundant bird across the four states, found in a variety of freshwater and coastal environments. They are common in New Jersey’s marshes and ponds and are widespread in Virginia’s lakes, rivers, and estuaries. In Maryland, they are widespread in freshwater wetlands and the Chesapeake Bay, while in Delaware, they are abundant in marshes and impoundments, particularly in the southern and coastal regions.
Migration: The American Coot is largely a migratory and overwintering species in these states. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is primarily a migratory visitor and local breeder, with many individuals overwintering in the mild coastal and bay waters. Virginia’s population is a mix of a common winter visitor and migrant, with a smaller number being permanent residents, particularly in the southeastern part of the state.
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 a summer resident in all four states, primarily found in coastal and tidal wetlands. It is common in Virginia’s coastal plain and along major rivers, extending into inland swamps. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is an uncommon to fairly common summer resident, utilizing coastal marshes and forested wetlands, with populations concentrated in the southern half of New Jersey and the coastal plain of Maryland.
Migration: The Yellow-crowned Night-Heron is primarily a migratory species in these states. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it arrives in the spring to breed and departs in the late summer or early fall to winter further south. Virginia’s population is a mix, with some being permanent residents in the southeastern coastal areas, while the northern and inland populations are migratory.
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: In New Jersey, the American Bittern breeds locally, particularly in the coastal plain. Maryland also has breeding populations in similar habitats, especially on the Eastern Shore. In Delaware, it occurs across the state, and Virginia’s population utilizes marshes and dense vegetation statewide.
Migration: The American Bittern is primarily a migratory species. It is a breeder in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, arriving in spring and departing in the fall. A few individuals may overwinter in the coastal wetlands of these states during mild years. Virginia’s population, however, is primarily a passage migrant and winter resident, with only a very rare presence as a summer resident.
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 common bird across all four states, primarily in coastal and inland wetlands. It is common in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay region and New Jersey’s extensive coastline. In Delaware, it is widespread along the Delaware Bay and coasts, while in Virginia, it is common year-round in coastal areas and a widespread summer resident inland.
Migration: The Great Egret’s migratory patterns vary by location. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is a common summer breeding resident, arriving in spring and departing by late autumn to winter further south. Virginia’s population is a mix, with coastal areas having a permanent resident population, while inland populations are summer breeding residents and migratory transients.
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 Virginia, the Red-shouldered Hawk it is widespread across the coastal plain and piedmont. In Maryland, it inhabits similar habitats across both the eastern and western regions. New Jersey’s population is concentrated in the Pinelands and northern forested regions, while in Delaware, the hawk is found primarily in the southern and western parts of the state.
Migration: The Red-shouldered Hawk is a permanent resident in Virginia. Similarly, Maryland and Delaware have populations that are mostly year-round residents, though some northern birds may pass through or overwinter. In New Jersey, the species is a partial migrant, considered a summer breeding resident in the north, with some individuals overwintering in the southern coastal plain.
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 primarily found in coastal bays and estuaries in all four states. In Virginia, they also utilize barrier islands and large inland impoundments. They are common in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and coastal waters, and are regularly found in Delaware’s bay and marshes. The largest concentration in New Jersey is along the coast, in bays and estuaries.
Migration: The Caspian Tern is a seasonal visitor and summer breeding resident in all four states. In Maryland, they arrive in the spring to breed and migrate south in the late summer and early fall. New Jersey and Delaware also have populations that breed in the state and migrate south in late summer and fall. Virginia’s population is a mix, being a breeding summer resident, common winter visitor, and a migrant during spring and fall.
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 is a breeder and summer resident in southeastern Virginia. New Jersey’s population consists of regular post-breeding dispersers and visitors, while in Delaware, it is a regular visitor and occasional summer resident. The ibis is also a regular visitor and increasingly observed summer resident in Maryland, especially on the Eastern Shore.
Migration: The Glossy Ibis is primarily a seasonal visitor in these states. In New Jersey, it is a seasonal visitor from late summer through fall. Delaware and Maryland both see the ibis as a seasonal visitor, with some individuals staying as non-breeders or occasional residents from spring through fall. Virginia’s population is a migratory breeder and summer resident, with some birds lingering into early winter.
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 migratory breeder and summer resident in southeastern Virginia. In New Jersey, the grebe is a regular post-breeding disperser and visitor, while in Delaware, it is a regular visitor and occasional summer resident. In Maryland, it is a regular visitor and increasingly observed summer resident, particularly on the Eastern Shore.
Migration: In New Jersey, the Pied-billed Grebe is a seasonal visitor from late summer through fall. Delaware and Maryland both see the grebe as a seasonal visitor, with some individuals staying as non-breeders or occasional residents from spring through fall. Virginia’s population is a migratory breeder and summer resident, with some birds lingering into early 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 Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland (< 1 lb)

From the elegant Snowy Egret to the enigmatic Black Rail the group of small wetland birds varies in weight from 13 oz to 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: The Snowy Egret is a common bird across the four states. It is found along the entire coastline of New Jersey and in the coastal bays of Maryland. In Delaware, it is widespread and common in coastal salt marshes and estuaries. Virginia’s population is common along the Chesapeake Bay and other coastal marshes, with a scattered presence inland.
Migration: The Snowy Egret is primarily a summer breeding resident or visitor. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is a common summer breeding visitor, arriving in the spring and migrating south by early autumn. Virginia has a mix of permanent residents along the coast and seasonal breeders that migrate south for the winter.
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: In New Jersey, the King Rail is found in the southern coastal plain and Delaware River wetlands, while in Delaware, they are prevalent in the coastal plain and along the Delaware Bay shores. Maryland’s population is especially abundant in the Chesapeake Bay region, and in Virginia, they inhabit marshes and wet meadows along the coastal plain and less frequently inland.
Migration: The King Rail is primarily a summer resident and breeder, with most individuals migrating south for the winter. In New Jersey, Virginia, and Delaware, some individuals may overwinter in mild years or in the southern part of the state. Maryland also has a population that is primarily a summer resident, but some individuals are year-round residents, particularly in milder coastal areas.
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: The Tricolored Heron is primarily found in coastal salt marshes and estuaries. It is common along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic coast in Maryland. In New Jersey and Delaware, it is a common summer resident in the extensive coastal salt marshes and tidal impoundments. In Virginia, it is a common summer resident in the coastal plain and Tidewater region.
Migration: The Tricolored Heron is a migratory summer resident in all four states, arriving in the spring to breed and departing by early fall. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, winter sightings are rare or occasional in southern regions. Virginia’s population is a summer resident that migrates south for the winter.
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: The Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) is widespread in Virginia in pastures and coastal plain wetlands, often near livestock. In New Jersey and Delaware, it is an uncommon to locally common visitor in agricultural fields and coastal marshes. Maryland also sees the egret as a fairly common seasonal visitor, particularly on the Eastern Shore.
Migration: The Cattle Egret is a seasonal visitor and breeder, with most birds migrating south for the winter. In New Jersey and Delaware, it breeds in small numbers and stays from spring to fall present. Delaware’s population is a seasonal visitor and local breeder. Maryland’s population is a seasonal breeder and migrant, present from spring through fall. In Virginia, the egret is predominantly a breeding summer resident, but some individuals may linger or overwinter in the mildest coastal areas.
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 common in Virginia’s coastal plain, estuaries, and tidal wetlands. In New Jersey and Delaware, it is an uncommon to locally common visitor in agricultural fields, pastures, and coastal marshes. The heron is a fairly common seasonal visitor in Maryland, especially on the Eastern Shore.
Migration: The Little Blue Heron is primarily a migratory summer breeder. In New Jersey, it is a seasonal visitor that breeds in small numbers, appearing during post-breeding dispersal. In Delaware and Maryland, it is a seasonal visitor and local breeder, present from spring through fall, with most departing for winter. In Virginia, the species is a permanent resident in the extreme southeast but is primarily a migratory summer breeder elsewhere.
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 to uncommon visitor in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, with sightings concentrated in coastal marshes, mudflats, and impoundments, particularly in the Chesapeake Bay region. In contrast, it is primarily found along the coastal plain of Virginia, including barrier island wetlands and estuaries.
Migration: The American Avocet’s presence is primarily due to non-breeding seasonal movements. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is a non-breeding seasonal visitor or migrant, with most sightings occurring in the late summer and fall. Virginia’s population is a common migrant and winter resident, and it also has a small, localized breeding population.
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: The Common Gallinule is a localized summer resident found across all four states. In New Jersey, it is found in the southern coastal plain, while Delaware’s population is also concentrated in the southern parts of the state. Maryland’s gallinules are found in the coastal plain and lower Chesapeake Bay region, and in Virginia, they are predominantly found in the coastal plain and Piedmont.
Migration: The Common Gallinule is a summer breeder that migrates south for the winter. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, they arrive in spring and depart in autumn. Virginia’s population is a mix of permanent residents in the southeastern coastal plain and migratory breeders elsewhere, with most birds departing for the winter.
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: The Clapper Rail is common in New Jersey along the Atlantic coast and Delaware Bay. The species is widespread in Delaware’s salt marshes and is a common resident in Maryland’s Chesapeake Bay and coastal marshes. In Virginia, it is found in coastal marshes, estuaries, and tidal creeks along the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.
Migration: The Clapper Rail is a mix of permanent residents and migrants. In Virginia, it is primarily a permanent resident. New Jersey and Delaware have populations that are primarily summer residents and breeders, though some individuals may overwinter in protected coastal areas. In Maryland, the species is a permanent resident in southern areas, while northern populations are migratory, moving 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: The Purple Gallinule is a very rare vagrant in Delaware and Maryland, occasionally found in freshwater marshes and ponds. In New Jersey, it is a rare but irregular visitor in similar habitats. In contrast, it is a localized and uncommon bird in Virginia, found primarily in freshwater marshes of the coastal plain.
Migration: The Purple Gallinule is an accidental or casual visitor that does not regularly migrate through New Jersey, Delaware, or Maryland. In Virginia, however, it is a summer breeding resident that migrates south for the winter.
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 common and widespread bird across all four states. It is common in Virginia, frequenting marshes, rivers, and coastal estuaries, with a widespread presence in Maryland’s similar habitats. In New Jersey and Delaware, the heron is also common in marshes, swamps, and ponds.
Migration: The Green Heron is primarily a migratory breeding visitor. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, they arrive in the spring to breed and depart by early fall for southern wintering grounds. In Virginia, they are primarily a breeding summer resident, but some individuals may remain as permanent residents in the southeastern coastal plain.
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 a widespread breeder across New York. Its preferred habitats in New York are especially located in the Appalachian Plateau and Great Lakes Plain.
Migration: This species is a common summer resident and breeder in New York. It migrates south for winter, with significant migratory movements observed during both the spring and fall seasons.
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 common summer resident in Virginia. In New Jersey, it is a regular but uncommon summer visitor and migrant, with most sightings along the coast. In Delaware and Maryland, it is a rare to uncommon visitor or migrant, found in coastal impoundments, marshes, mudflats, and less frequently inland.
Migration: In Virginia the Black-necked Stilt is primarily a summer breeding resident, arriving in spring and departing for the winter. In New Jersey, it is a seasonal visitor with small breeding populations and a larger number of birds passing through. Delaware and Maryland have non-breeding seasonal migrants, with most sightings occurring in the fall as the birds move south for the winter.
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-tailed Grackle is a coastal bird found in the four states. In New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia it is a resident in coastal salt marshes. It is a rare but regular visitor to coastal impoundments.
Migration: The Boat-tailed Grackle is a year-round resident in Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware. Some birds move south in the winter and some stay year-round particularly during years with mild winters.
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 (Megaceryle alcyon) is a widespread in all four states. It is a common resident in New Jersey and widespread in Maryland and Virginia, utilizing both freshwater and saltwater habitats. In Delaware, the kingfisher is a widespread permanent resident found year-round along rivers and coastal areas.
Migration: The Belted Kingfisher is a permanent resident throughout the region, though migratory populations also contribute to their numbers. The Belted Kingfisher is a permanent resident in Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware with northern migrants augmenting the population in 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 common bird in all four states, primarily found along the coast in bays, estuaries, and salt marshes. It is common in Virginia’s coastal areas, with fewer sightings inland. The tern is a common summer resident in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, with a presence in similar coastal habitats across the states.
Migration: The Forster’s Tern is a seasonal visitor that arrives in the Fall as non-breeder and migrates north in the Spring. This is true for New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virgina. However, a few individuals seem to stay in the region year-round.
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: Widespread migrant in New Jersey and common winter resident in Delaware and Maryland’s coastal plains. In Virginia, occurs broadly, breeding locally in mountain bogs and wet meadows of the Piedmont and coastal plain. Breeding is rare in New Jersey, extremely rare or absent in Maryland, and absent in Delaware.
Migration: A common spring and fall migrant and regular winter resident across all four states. Breeding is localized in Virginia bogs and rare in northern New Jersey, but absent in Delaware and nearly absent in Maryland. Some overwinter in New Jersey’s southern coastal plain.
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 is a widespread and common permanent resident in all four states, found in a variety of open habitats. It is common in New Jersey and widespread in Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia, inhabiting fields, pastures, and coastal areas throughout the region.
Migration: The Killdeer is a permanent resident in New Jersey, Delaware, Virginia, and Maryland, with a greater presence during the colder months as northern birds pass through or overwinter.
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: The Least Bittern is an uncommon and localized breeder across all four states. In Virginia, they are predominantly found in the Coastal Plain, while in New Jersey, they are along the coast and major river systems. Delaware’s population is concentrated in the central and southern counties, and in Maryland, they are found along the coastal plain and inland.
Migration: The Least Bittern is primarily a summer breeding resident. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, they arrive in the spring to breed and depart for southern wintering grounds by early fall. Virginia’s population is also a summer breeding resident, but a small number may overwinter in the extreme southeastern coastal plain.
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: The Virginia Rail is found across all four states. In New Jersey and Maryland, it occupies marshes and swamps throughout the states, while in Delaware, it is found in the coastal plain and southern areas. In Virginia, it inhabits marshes, wet meadows, and dense vegetation across the state.
Migration: The Virginia Rail’s status is a mix of permanent and migratory residents. In New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and Virginia, this rail’s populations are year-round residents. Northern breeders arrive from northerly breeding grounds augmenting the resident populations during the winter.
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: The Sora is a migratory breeder in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, inhabiting freshwater marshes and wet meadows. In most of Virginia, the sora is a non-breeding winter visitor, although it may breed in the northern part of the state.
Migration: The Sora is a highly migratory bird arriving in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland in spring and departing in autumn to winter in the southern United States and beyond. In Virginia, it is a common passage migrant and winter resident, with only localized breeding occurring.
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 is a common and widespread permanent resident in all four states, found in a variety of open habitats.
Migration: The Red-winged Blackbird is a permanent resident in all four states, with populations increasing during the winter due to migration. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is a permanent resident, with an increase in numbers as northern birds migrate through or arrive for the winter. In Virginia, it is also a common permanent resident, with large numbers of northern migrants arriving for the colder months.
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: The Yellow Rail is a rare but regular migrant and winter resident in Virginia, particularly in coastal areas. In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is primarily a rare migrant, occasionally found during passage, with no current breeding records.
Migration: In New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, it is a rare transient visitor during spring and fall migration, with no breeding populations. Virginia’s population is a seasonal visitor, functioning as both a migrant and a winter resident.
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: The Black Rail is a extremely rare breeder in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, found in coastal salt and brackish marshes. In Virginia, it is found in similar habitats, including tidal salt and brackish marshes along the Atlantic coast and Chesapeake Bay, as well as some freshwater wetlands.
Migration: The Black Rail is a breeding visitor in New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, arriving in spring and departing in fall. In Virginia, the species is a resident in coastal areas, with northern populations migrating through or wintering, and some inland populations also being migratory.
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 Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland

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, 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 Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland

These four states boast an exceptional array of diverse wetlands, from vast coastal marshes to unique inland forested swamps. These crucial ecosystems offer fantastic birding destinations.

Virginia

Cypress-Tupelo Swamps; Characterized by their unique bald cypress and water tupelo trees standing in slow-moving or stagnant water, these “blackwater” habitats are enchanting. The Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge is an iconic example.

New Jersey

Coastal Salt Marshes: Vast tidal Spartina grass marshes host a wide variety of birds at different times of the day and tides. Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge is a prime example.

Delaware

Tidal Salt Marshes: Characterized by expansive Spartina grass beds and brackish waters, these marshes are prime habitats for specialized species. Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge and Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge offer excellent viewing opportunities.

Maryland

Forested Swamps (Pocomoke): Along the Pocomoke River, unique bald cypress swamps offer shaded habitats. Pocomoke River State Forest is a prime location.

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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