Birds
Hundreds of species of birds live in the Chesapeake Bay watershed and are some of the region's most beautiful—but vulnerable—species. Some live here year-round, while others migrate here to feed or nest.
Types of Birds:
-
Black-crowned Night Heron
Nycticorax nycticoraxThe black-crowned night heron is a small, stocky wading bird that lives year-round in marshes and wetlands throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.
-
Eastern Black Rail
Laterallus jamaicensis jamaicensisBlack rail is a small, secretive marsh bird. It is approximately the size of a sparrow with black, white-spotted feathers and red eyes.
-
Glossy Ibis
Plegadis falcinellusThe glossy ibis is a heron-like wading bird with dark green and purple plumage. It visits Chesapeake Bay marshes and wetlands from spring through autumn.
-
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodiasThe great blue heron is a tall, bluish-gray wading bird with a long, pointed bill and a graceful, S-shaped neck. It lives year-round in marshes and wetlands throughout the Chesapeake Bay region.
-
Great Egret
Ardea albaThe great egret is a large, white wading bird with long, lacy plumes on the back. It visits the Chesapeake Bay region’s marshes and wetlands from spring through autumn.
-
Green Heron
Butorides virescensThe green heron is a small, crow-like wading bird with a chestnut neck and grayish-green back. It visits the Chesapeake Bay region’s marshes and wetlands from spring through autumn.
-
Least Bittern
Ixobrychus exilisThe least bittern, the smallest heron found in the Americas, lives in marshes among thick vegetation. This bird visits the Chesapeake region in warmer months to breed and raise young.
-
Snowy Egret
Egretta thulaThe snowy egret is a medium-sized white heron with a slender black bill and distinctive yellow feet. It visits the Chesapeake Bay’s marshes, wetlands and shallow waters from spring through autumn.
-
Virginia Rail
Rallus limicolaThe Virginia rail is a small bird with a pig-like grunting call that can be found in the fresh and brackish marshes of the Chesapeake region year-round.