What Does a Trumpeter Swan Look Like? Trumpeter swans are large white water birds with black bills. As the largest native waterfowl species in North America, trumpeter swans have an average wingspan of 8 feet and weigh more than 25 pounds, with males larger than the females. These large white birds have black bills and feet. To get airborne, these swans require a running start of some 100 yards on open water. “You’ll hear the bat, bat, bat, bat, bat of their feet slapping the water as they go,” says Dan Casey, a wildlife biologist in Somers, Montana, who sits on the board of directors for The ..read more

What Does a Golden Eagle Look Like? Adult golden eagle in flight The golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) is one of North America’s largest bird of prey and an impressive hunter and flier. Adults can measure up to 33 inches long and weigh over 13 pounds, with a 6-foot wingspan. Both males and females are primarily dark brown in color. Look for the golden feathers on their nape (back of the neck) that give the species its name. Golden Eagle vs Bald Eagle Golden eagles are most commonly spotted in the western states. It’s a thrill to see one, but frequently the large dark brown raptor soaring above ..read more

What Does a Western Meadowlark Look Like? A western meadowlark has bright yellow breast and a black chest patch. Juli Bosmoe, senior range ecologist for Audubon Great Falls in Fargo, North Dakota, points out that the easiest feature to spot on the western meadowlark is the yellow breast with the cute, little black bib. She also says to look for the white outer tail feathers that flash when the bird flushes from a perch. A little larger than a robin, Juli says, “They’re big for a songbird, for sure.” They have long, slender bills, and despite their bright chest, the brown and black colorations ..read more

What Does a Green Heron Look Like? A green heron is much smaller than a great blue heron At first glance, this diminutive wading bird doesn’t immediately look like other herons and egrets. Those birds are usually easy to recognize by their long legs and equally long curving necks. Green herons (Butorides virescens) , on the other hand, tend to stand with their heads and necks tucked in, and their legs are relatively short. But when they stretch out their necks to capture prey (and sometimes while in flight), it suddenly becomes clear that they are indeed a member of the heron family. This is o ..read more

Look and Listen for Marsh Birds in Wetlands Female common yellowthroat with nestlings Though some are secretive and others boisterous, there’s one thing that all marsh birds have in common: a need for a specialized wetland for breeding, nesting and rearing young. Marshes are low lying, mostly open ground covered for long periods by shallow fresh-, salt- or brackish water, and filled with vegetation ranging from low-growing grasses to 10-foot-tall cattails. Here, birds can hide in the dense vertical vegetation, hunt in shallow waters, build nests over water and project their unique calls. “A lo ..read more

What Does a Little Blue Heron Look Like? Adult little blue heron at Merritt Island, Florida Little blue herons are about half the height and have half the wingspan of great blue herons. Like most wading birds, these herons are typically spotted near water, looking for prey. It’s their dark color that really sets them apart. Erika Zambello, communications director for Audubon Florida, says, “Adult little blue herons are very distinctive. Their feathers are dark blue and purple, giving them a very dark silhouette as they forage in wetlands. Despite their name, Erika says these birds are more clo ..read more

What Does an Albino Crow Look Like? White crow in Colorado City, Colorado This American crow (above), photographed by Birds & Blooms contributor SeEtta Moss, has white feathers and pink feet, legs, and a pink bill…but that doesn’t necessarily make it an albino crow. According to Kevin McGowan, senior course developer with the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, color variations in crows can occur for a variety of reasons. “Having a normal-plumaged bird is a complicated system,” he says, likening the factors that influence a bird’s coloring to starting a car. “If you turn your key and the car won’t ..read more

Birding Challenge: Rufous vs Allen’s Hummingbird To identify a Rufous hummingbird, look for an orange back and tail. You might call these hummingbird lookalikes a real humdinger. It’s tricky to tell rufous vs Allen’s hummingbirds apart, largely because of their orange plumage and overlapping ranges. Thankfully, there are a few tricks you can use to determine whether you’re looking at an rufous or Allen’s hummingbird. Here’s how. Learn to identify 15 types of hummingbirds found in the United States. Rufous Hummingbird Identification A male rufous hummingbird Adult male rufous hummingbirds have ..read more

What Does a Broad-Billed Hummingbird Look Like? Male broad-billed hummingbird are strikingly colorful Even for hummingbirds, broad-billed hummingbirds are stunning little creatures. The males sport vibrant emerald bodies, iridescent sapphire throats and bright red bills tipped with black. The females deserve equal admiration with their sleek gray bodies and a distinct white line next to each eye.  “This is the wow hummingbird of North America,” says Dan Weisz, an expert naturalist, photographer and volunteer presenter at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.  And they’re not all that har ..read more

What Do Northern Saw-Whet Owls Look Like? Northern saw-whet owl One of the cutest birds ever, (as voted on by Birds & Blooms readers) is the northern saw-whet owl, and Phil Brown, Bird Conservation Director at the Harris Center for Conservation Education in Hancock, New Hampshire, agrees. “They are one of the most charismatic species,” he says. The micro sized owls stand around 8 inches tall, roughly the size of a robin. According to Phil, “saw-whets weigh about the same as a stick of butter.” Although they are fairly common, saw-whets are highly nocturnal and rarely seen. Round faces with ..read more