Water Birds Photo Gallery by Muskrat's Photos at pbase.com

Water Birds

Green Heron	Pie-billed Grebe	Sleeping Avocets	Wood Ducks
Tern	Gull	American Avocet	Hooded Merganser (Male)
Sandhill Crane	Heron Rookery	Great Blue Heron	Mallard Drake
Female Common Merganser	Female Mallard Close Up	Rainy Day Duck	Brown Pelican
Brown Pelican	Snowy Egret	White Ibis	Tricolored Heron
Little Blue Heron	Black Ducks	Redhead and Ringnecks	Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler	Ruddy Duck Female	Pie-billed Grebe	Duck and Ducklings
Redhead Duck	Horned Grebe (Winter Plumage)	Green Heron	Green Heron
Great Egrets Fishing	Great Blue Heron Pair	Loon in Bay	Black-crowned Night Heron
Black-necked Stilt	American Oystercatcher	Nesting Female Merganser	Great Blue Heron
Canada Goose in Duckweed	Snow Geese Taking Off	Black-necked Stilt and Young	Black-necked Stilt
Common Tern	Glossy Ibis Pair	Common Merganser	Common Merganser
Heron on the Prowl	Heron Portrait	Tundra Swans	Snow Geese
Snow Geese	Ring-billed Gull	Baby Ducks	Great Blue Heron and Fish
Wood Duck Female and Young	Pie-billed Grebe	Blue-winged Teal	American Coot
Heron and Carp	Great Egret	Glossy Ibis	Egrets Dancing
Snowy Egret	Great Blue Heron	Ring-billed Gull	Great Blue Heron
Heron with Sunfish	Belted Kingfisher	Belted Kingfisher	Ring-billed Gull
Great Blue Heron	Great Blue Heron	Great Blue Heron	Mallard Drake and Hen
Mallard Drake	Green Heron	Goose on Nest	Geese on Road
Sunset Migration (Composite)	Migrating Geese (Composite)	Wood Duck	Canada Goose
Ring-necked Duck	Snow Geese	Canada Goose	Goose Landing
Canada Goose	Ring-Billed Gull	Canada Goose	Great Blue Heron and Fish
Least Sandpiper	Least Sandpiper	Juvenile Night Heron	Sanderling
Forsters Tern	Greater Yellowlegs

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Liz		08-Apr-2018 20:35
I live in NW AL right by the Tennessee River. The other day I saw on the shore a heron-like bird, but it's body was medium gray, it had a white head and a yellow beak. Tall, thin, slim. Anyone know what bird this is? Thanks.

Patricia Phillips		14-Oct-2017 17:29
I am trying to identify a big sea bird I saw two weeks ago on Dalvay beach on the north shore of Prince Edward Island, in the National Park, Canada. The bird was very large, larger than a big seagull. He was standing at the water's edge as I was walking along the shore. He had a long flat pale grey beak, (not pointed, more square,)with a hooked neck, tall strait neck, covered with buttered yellow feathers, white feathers all over his body, a few black feathers for a tail, and webbed feet that looked grey through the water he was standing in.

GEMMA M SPRUIELL		29-Sep-2017 16:19
I need help identifying these birds that came to our pond in North Texas yesterday. Can you help me? I have looked until I'm frustrated.

Barb R.		17-Apr-2017 21:40
Black duck-like water bird (slightly more delicately built) with white wings and a narrow white band across the back that seems to connect the wings to form a white strip across the back. Hangs out in man-made pond in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, with Canadian geese and other ducks. What am I looking at? Tom Collens saw same thing 18 April 2006 in Ontario?

Nancy		13-Apr-2017 23:19
A gas well worker told me he saw a "large white birds with a black head nesting at the second beaver pond". We are in Northeast lower Michigan. I thought maybe he had seen the upland sandhill cranes nest but he said no red on the top of the head. "They were Huge like that though" I am wondering if he might be seeing Herons... There used to be a Rookery way back there years ago. Perhaps they looked all white to him with black heads. I don't know what else he could be describing. I forgot to ask if the were nesting ON the pond or in trees above it.

Judy Carr		14-Jan-2017 16:57
I have a picture of a white really fluffy goose like bird... all white ( looks like it would be great for down. Any idea on what it is? I also have a picture of another goose like bird that is tall, tannish and has a blue beak?

Arlene		09-Dec-2016 22:05
Small lake in Kansas.Birds are brownish gray some white on back. Birds form circle and go round and round. What are they doing?

Evie		02-Jun-2016 00:24
What bird looks exactly like a loon but is all gray?

Muskrat's Photos		19-Oct-2015 12:38
My Guess...without seeing a photo, would be a species of Egret.

Pizarro Jr		19-Oct-2015 10:02
would love to know the name of a large bird which is white in colour and has a long neck

Mark		06-Apr-2015 13:16
Recently in Spring Lake New Jersey I saw a large duck, or goose, with orange-ish tail feathers and orange highlights elsewhere, mostly grey-ish or light colored otherwise, with black circles around eyes. Appeared to be alone, grazing in the grass.

Les		16-Feb-2015 17:46
Very nice collection. Appreciate your efforts. I've been watching what I believe to be either a Grebe or a Loon in my lake, I'll try to photograph it on next occasion.

Peter Higgins		19-Nov-2014 01:57
Flock of long necked sea birds in Plymouth harbor. Resembled a Canada Goose, but smaller. Neck is black down to its body, and there is a small white ring maybe two thirds of the way down its neck. Can't find it in either Peterson or Smithsonian Guide. Was told by a "long time seaman" that they were Gannets, but I can't find any that match--none with that white ring. Help! Posting as guest.

ame		03-Jul-2014 15:13
A Great Blue Heron we witnessed returning regularly within a few feet of a walking path next to a man made fish stocked pond at the Johnston Memorial Park in RI is a sight I'll never forget. A truly glorious bird, and now identified.

diana		28-Jun-2014 23:44
Cape Cod Beach:: four ducks (?) swimming in water; two were black, white, black from back of head down; yellow bill that ran up to the eyes; two, I think were immatures so white was more mottled; never seen on this beach before. I think feet are yellow.

Jan		12-Jun-2014 19:19
We live in eastern/central Illinois and saw a cool bird today, brown with a red head, the body looked a lot like a morning dove, they were under our black seed feeder, been here 10 yrs and can't find out what it is? Thanks

PjRowe		06-Jun-2014 21:13
We live on a fishing lake in central Arkansas. We have seen birds swimming that are white with just a tinge of gray at the top of their feathers. Are these ducks?

Black Dog		15-May-2014 11:54
Last week near St. Louis, MO, I saw 5 very large (at least two feet tall)birds in a grassy field near a drainage ditch. I cannot identify them. They seemed very out of place. The body type was very Cormorant like, gray in color. The neck and head were black. Face had a wide white stripe on the cheeks and there was a simple white crown that laid close to the back of the head. I have looked at hundreds of photos on line and in books with no luck. Any ideas??

séamus		26-Apr-2014 20:50
My son thought he saw a herron but isn't sure he got a photo but isn't sure where to look for it

Muskrat's Photos		26-Apr-2014 15:10
Chris....could it possibly be a Snowy Egret?

Chris		26-Apr-2014 10:13
I saw a white fishing bird with a long black bill and white feathers coming out of it's head in a backwards direction. This was in Essex, I have never noticed a bird like this before, does anybody know what it is?

Muskrat's Photos		19-Mar-2014 13:27
Hi Gayle...could the birds that you are seeing be Green Herons or Night Herons? Both are stockier/shorter birds with thicker necks and the distinct Heron beak. The Green Heron is quite a bit smaller/lower to the ground.

Gayle		19-Mar-2014 12:36
To Jeff. I see the same birds where I live in California. They fly away before I can photograph them. They are alway seen around water. They definitely fit the description you gave.

Marta		25-Feb-2014 15:06
I saw a bird the other day. Grayish body....had red circles around eyes. Not the iris of the eye, on the outside of the eye. It was just standing there on the snow bank. I stopped and talk to it and it just looked at me. It was in Big Bay Ont. I have looked in the bird books and can't find anything....starting to think I'm going crazy.

Muskrat's Photos		15-Feb-2014 04:48
Possibly Double Crested Cormorants...many waterfowl of the Great Lakes have been spotted in strange places this winter due to the huge freeze. Over 80% of the Great Lakes are frozen over.

John Sherwood		14-Feb-2014 14:52
Live near Crossville Tennessee. Spotted 5 black water fowl yesterday. Larger than ducks, No white plumage visible. Black Swan is the only thing I can find that looks even close. Any Ideas on what I may have seen?

joseantonio		08-Jan-2014 05:30
Very nice collection.V.

Muskrat's Photos		04-Jan-2014 04:23
That was my suggestion as well, but I haven't heard back from her to confirm it.

Guest		04-Jan-2014 01:25
For Tiffany your bird is a hooded merganser

tiffany		18-Dec-2013 16:17
I have seen about 5 of these birds in the pond outside my apt building in orl fl. they are the size of a uck but are black and white. they dive into the water the white is on the side of the head. they have beaks not bills, chest is white as well. Kids want to know what they are. I did not see it in the gallery.

Cathy		19-Aug-2013 18:53
I spotted what I thought was a great blue heron except it had red feathers on it's head and traveling with a mate? of same in St. Petersburg, FL. Never saw this bird before and not in the books. Can you help? They were wading in fresh water.

Muskrat's Photos		06-Jun-2013 19:22
Nobody identified the duck...there are many hybrid varieties with domestic ducks which can make it tough.

Guest		06-Jun-2013 14:50
Did anyone identify the duck with large brown circles around eyes?

guest		18-May-2013 15:44
white duck with large brown circles around eyes and multi-colored back can you identify

Len		12-Apr-2013 14:16
A great and varied water bird gallery,all well taken and presented!!!!

Muskrat's Photos		08-Feb-2013 13:35
That would be the Black Heron of Africa...a quick Google of this topic will give you some good information! Thanks for viewing!

Guest		08-Feb-2013 02:51
Need to know name of black wading bird that spreads wings to shade water from glare of sun so that it can better spot its prey. Thank you.

Lauren		13-Dec-2012 13:25
I am trying to identify a water bird that looks very similar in coloring to a female mallard but is very slender with a very large wingspan and a beak that is straight and medium in length. I thought this was a duck but it definitely is not - while I have seen this bird perched on a boat or post, I have never seen him/her on land. This is a salt water canal in Florida. I can't identify from photos. A most interesting sight was this bird wading in the water with it's very large wings spread out. Any idea?

Eileen		15-Oct-2012 16:02
We live in the Texas hill country, and have seen what we think are geese but cannot identify. They are mostly tan with a darker brown ring on their neck and a black spot on chest with black, brown and white wings. Their legs and feet are orange and their bills are white or gray. They are about the size of snow geese. Does anyone know what they are. My Birds of Texas Field Guide does not have any information or pictures of this bird.

wil smith		11-Jun-2012 11:20
I live in chester county, and spotted a pair of birds but can not find out what they are .. they are black, or blue .. long neck, about 6 inches, long legs about 6 inches (orange) long beak, and skims the stream for food, but flys to the big tree to eat I suppose. anyone have any ideas? Let me know , Thanks, Wil -- wilsmith_8@msn.com

Guest		10-Nov-2011 19:41
I live in Hot Springs, AR on Lake Hamilton. We have a lot of American coot this fall. It's been years since I've see this many. They like to hang out with the geese and ducks which don't seem to mind. It,s amazing how long they can stay under water when they dive. Your picture gallery is wonderful.

Bob Logan		06-Nov-2011 23:29
Can't identify a small black bird (like a skinny robin) with a white band around its neck. Saw it today in SE PA (Berks Co.) on a lake shore. I've looked in two bird books but no luck. Any ideas?

Ali Allam		20-Oct-2011 14:43
Sure it was a beautiful photos and I hope watching more because the water birds life in lakes making a good reaction in self, Thanks for all frings

Ali Akhtar		26-Aug-2011 10:17
So Beautiful Birds. Add more

aileen		10-Aug-2011 02:56
they are all beautiful! big or small!

Laserita Jim		25-Apr-2011 22:48
My dad caught a Glossy Ibis on easter sunday morning. He saved it from the dogs that were chasing it. What does a Glossy Ibis eat? Need som info.

Jen		20-Apr-2011 22:33
Pensacola, FL: water fowl with startling orange red plate above yellow beak/bill. Black with white tail. Orange ring around upper "leg." What is it? For some reason this year we have had a plethora of unusual water fowl on our lake, 6 miles from the Gulf of Mexico.

P. MINCH		09-Apr-2011 20:35
A DUCK- BLACK BACK,WINGS, AND HEAD,WHITE BREAST,SMALLER THAN A MALLARD, ON ESTUARIES OF THE HUDSON RIVER, ABOUT 15 MILES NORTH OF NYC. WHAT IS IT???

Muskrat's Photos		26-Mar-2011 18:09
Check the photo in this gallery titled; "Heron Portrait". You will see the long black feathers that form the crest on the Great Blue Heron. Could this have been what you saw?

Guest		26-Mar-2011 16:07
I recently saw a tall bird in a pond in Minnesota. It looked somewhat like an heron, but taller. Most significantly, it had a black ring around it's head that became a curled black feather rising from the back of it's head that was approximately 6 inches long.

Muskrat's Photos		19-Jul-2010 17:50
Most likely a Roseate Spoonbill...They should be found near your area. Muskrat's Photos

Guest		19-Jul-2010 16:59
pictures are fantastic looking for name of bird seen in houston area pink in color but it is not a flamingo

Sue Rawley		23-May-2010 16:52
I live in Houston, TX and today my husband and I observed two birds that we couldn't identify standing in a large puddle of water. They had long necks, orange-red beaks, a black stripe down the back to the base of the neck, a brown body, with black wings topped with a white stripe. We think they are ducks or geese; most likely some type of waterbird. I have looked at a lot of bird pictures on the internet, but can't identify this one. Can you help?

janine fish		06-May-2010 17:29
i live in pa. been looking on computer for days to find out what bird i had trapped in a shed in by back yard. if it were late in summer i would say it was a young bird, body size of a robin, long neck, color tan/ brown smoothe, not like feathers and a very long green beak. didn't see it's feet or legs. he didn't try to peck at me, just was lookiing for a way out. when i moved into the shed, he must of flow out the same way i needed to get in. local wildlife rehab has no idea.it's way too early to have bay anything here. ruled out wood cock, snipe,willet, way too big for hummingbird. i say it looked young, as it was so smoothe, no different colored feathers or anything that looked like feathers around his neck or upper body. any ideas would greatly be appreciated janine

Rhonda		03-May-2010 23:02
We live in central louisiana on the south end of toledo bend lake and I have seen a bird that I can't identify. It is black with a white ring around it's neck and a long black beak.

annette		27-Mar-2010 15:53
I live in central Illinois. I saw a bird along the Illinois river that I can not identify. Please help. It was the size of a small Canadian goose with gray body and a reddish/brownish ring around the eyes. There was some iridescent coloring on the back side but closer to the upper part. Made me think of some kind of goose because of the way it moved and the fact that two were together the way geese will do. This is the end of March and we have a lot of birds migrating this time of year. Don't normally see this here. t

Amy Butler		20-Feb-2010 13:56
We live in Northwest Louisiana and have a pond in our back yard. We have recentely had some waterfowl appear which I cannot identify. They are black with long necks and orange beaks. They fly, but do not walk near the edge of the pond like the herons. They dive to fish and come up several yards from where they dived. Could you please help shed some light?

Stan Wojick		09-Aug-2009 23:29
Wonderful gallery! V. You have a great sense for light on your subjects

JOHN MARDOIAN		09-Jun-2009 01:25
WE LIVE IN THE MIDWEST, WADSWORTH, IL. OUR POND HAS A LITTLE BROWN BIRD WITH MEDIUM LENGTH LEGS & A BLACK RING AROUND HIS NECK, BROWN HEAD & WHITE STOMACH. HE MAKES A HIGH/SHRILL SOUND & ACUTALLY RESPONDS TO US WHEN WE TALK TO HIM. WHAT KIND OF BIRD IS HE? PLEASE ADVISE.

Guest		07-Jun-2009 12:50
we live in northern NJ in bergen County. We spotted a bird we would like help in identifying. We think it is new to the area since we haven't seen it before. We have two small ponds with some fish. We often have seen Blue Heron. It looks similar tot the Green heron in that it has longer reddish color legs and a long pointy beak about 2+ inches in length. It is a decent sized bird, much bigger than even the biggest Robin. Maybe about twice the size. I also note that it seemed to have some feathers that were pointed coming off the back of his head which appeared brown. I think it may have had a reddish or brownish breast coloring. Would anyone know what this may be.

Guest		08-Dec-2008 18:40
Does anyone know why a belted kingfisher has those bright white spots in front of its eyes? Is it to frighten other birds? Those spots sure make the face look slightly menacing. Thanks for any comments... Marcelle

Ron Johnson		21-Sep-2008 16:57
I saw a couple of loon like birds in the Brazeau resevoir in mid-September. The resevoir is located near the Rocky Mountain foothills in central Alberta. These birds were the size of a common loon, but had distinct brown heads and a broad white stripe across the back and back of the wings. They were timid and flew off when we got about 75 yards away. I know it is not much information, but do you have any suggestions as to what they might be?

Guest		08-Sep-2008 19:25
i love birds!

Margaret Wergley		05-Jul-2008 18:40
Hello, I was recently visiting my daughter in Irvine, CA. I saw a duck/goose at a nearby lake that I have never seen before and I am unable to locate it on any site for duck/goose identifcation online. It was beteen the size of a mallard and Canada goose. Large medium brown circles around the eyes. Medium-brown back, light breast above, with sort of mottled brown below. Anyone have any idea what this bird may be. It moved more like a goose on land, but I'm not really sure. THanks!

kailynn		16-Jan-2008 22:12
i love you pics!!!!!!!!!

Ilene		19-Nov-2007 03:09
Hi, I live in Southern California. I was playing golf this past Friday in Orange County and saw a pair of water fowl crossing the fairway near the lake. I think they are in the geese family, greyish/brown with a pronouced ring/eye patch. Any thoughts on what they might be? Just curious and thanks for any help. Ilene

Muskrat's Photos		27-Sep-2006 20:09
Hmmm...Where do you live?....I'm only familiar with the Belted Kingfishers that live in my part of the northeast, U.S....the bird you describe sounds somewhat like the female BK except the brown should appear more reddish...and the head is not really black, unless it was wet and dark looking.

Loren		27-Sep-2006 17:01
Definately a kingfisher at my pond, but its colors do not match anything I can find on line. There is no gray-blue belt, it has the white ring around it's neck, but then a dark brown on its chest, then patches of white, then a light brown area on its belly. Its head is black, with a white spot at the start of the beak. Under wings are white. Any ideas? Loren

Muskrat's Photos		14-Sep-2006 21:07
The bird you are describing sounds a bit like the Kingfisher. Check the photos in this gallery above. Muskrat

Johnny Carter		14-Sep-2006 19:00
Hi.I live in Northeastern Arkansas.I have about a 2 acre lake behind my condo.I have seen 3 times a large bird about the size of a crow body is dark gray,head is dark and looks over sized for its body,it has a white ring around its neck about 1 inch wide. haven,t seen it in the water it just flies over the water and lites on the small fishing dock. I haven,t been able to identify it.,can someone help. Thanks alot Johnny

Guest		04-Sep-2006 17:35
Was out fishing at a nearby river 12 miles from Dundee in Scotland. In the same day I seen a common merganser,an osprey,a buzzard,a kingfisher and a dipper!

jeff hall		05-Jul-2006 02:50
Hello, at our golf course in Las Vegas we have had 3 birds at our lake. They look like the blue heron but appear to be more stocky and not having a long neck. Larger than a gull but somewhat same coloring but a definite heron beak/face..Any help or answers

Lucky		06-May-2006 20:58
I saw a fledgling baby with a green head and body, white wings, grey legs and feet, and an orange beak. What was it?

Tom Collens		18-Apr-2006 09:11
HI,I live in Hamilton,Ontario we have some ducks in the harbor that we cannot identify We would really appreciate finding out there name.Although the buffle head keeps being the answer we keep getting these are not buffleheads.They have very distinct black and white divisions on thier bodies,blackhead to shoulder,very white middle and a black bum Thank you if you can help. Tom

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