Eurasian Kestrel: Small falcon, spotted rufous upperparts, brown-streaked buff underparts. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board. Their white plumage, buff-tinged heads, and black wingtips are distinctive for all three gannet species: northern gannet, cape gannet, and Australasian gannet. They are powerful swimmers and nest in large breeding colonies, typically on offshore islands or isolated northern coasts. ... this coastal jewel offers a dizzying array of fun … Many shorebirds are gregarious, and mixed flocks that include several different types of beach birds are common. All avocets are part of the Recurvirostridae bird family which also includes the stilts. Even vultures, eagles, and other raptors as well as the occasional heron, egret, and swallow may be found in beach and shoreline habitats. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, The Spruce Gardening & Plant Care Review Board, The Spruce Renovations and Repair Review Board, specialized flippers rather than feathered wings. Tail is black- and blue-gray banded with black tip. Because of those similarities, range is critical to tell the species apart. Birds called "petrel" are found in several scientific families. Oystercatchers are generally stocky, shorter shorebirds with long, thick, straight bills strong enough to pry oysters, clams, and mussels free from slippery rocks and crack these delicacies open. Avocets are relatively large wading shorebirds with small heads, very thin, sharply upturned bills, and exceptionally long, thin legs. She has over 16 years experience writing about wild birds for magazines and websites. Some plovers, such as the killdeer, however, can be found far from water, but still share physical and behavioral characteristics with their other plover relatives. There are only four species of avocet, and because there are so few, they are often target birds for birders who travel extensively. All boobies are part of the Sulidae family. Wings and tail are brown with darker bars. Shorebirds come in many shapes and sizes, but all of them share certain physical and behavioral traits. These are large birds that may circle slowly and elegantly before diving to steal fish from other birds. All auks are part of the Alcidae bird family. While there are many species that include “sandpiper” in their name, other species such as turnstones, stints, godwits, curlews, woodcocks, phalaropes, yellowlegs, snipes, and dowitchers are also classified as sandpipers. Melissa Mayntz has been a birder and wild bird enthusiast for 30+ years. These two types of shorebirds are often seen together, even in breeding areas. The plovers are a diverse group of smaller shorebirds with compact builds, short, thick necks, relatively short legs, and small, straight, thicker bills. Aptly named, the stilts are tall shorebirds with long, thin legs that resemble gangly stilts. All plovers, approximately 65 species worldwide including lapwings and dotterels, belong to the Charadriidae bird family. Sizes and colorations range greatly from tiny, bland birds to much larger, distinctly marked species. Shearwaters are part of the Procellariidae family. Gray head, black moustache stripe. Petrels are small seabirds are distinguished by their elongated, tubular nostrils and their low, wave-skimming flight. Murres, puffins, and guillemots are all types of auks. Here are some of the common birds you might encounter. A small bird, males stand out thanks to a dollop of red on their faces that diminishes as it stretches down their necks and breasts. During the breeding season, these birds are often shy and will engage in dramatic distraction displays to protect their ground-level nests and chicks. The 18 penguin species vary greatly in size and range, though several types of penguins are physically similar. There are 22 albatross species in the world, all of which are part of the Diomedeidae bird family. All three gannets are part of the Sulidae family along with their close relatives, the boobies. The black-necked stilt which is found worldwide, the banded stilt is in Australia, and the black stilt, which is critically endangered, is only found in New Zealand. These are larger, heavy birds that can seem awkward in flight, but are often seen perched on buoys, cliffs, or rocks. Other Florida Beach Birds. There are many types of auks, but with their compact bodies all are well adapted to northern seas and colder waters. Tail is … Shearwaters are small petrels with long wings that specialize in low, gliding flight. Their wingtips may brush the waves and "shear the water" as they fly, giving these birds their familiar name. Most have black and white plumage, and many also have colorful bills or distinct markings. By using The Spruce, you accept our, A Penguin Does Have Wings, But They Are Called Flippers. Puffins are large auks with broad, colorful bills and whimsical expressions. Albatrosses are tremendous pelagic birds. All of these birds have sensitive bills they use to probe through the sand or dirt when feeding, and they often eat insects, worms, mollusks, and similar prey. Boobies are named for their somewhat silly or stupid expressions and history of gullible behavior where hungry sailors are concerned. All oystercatchers are part of the Haematopodidae bird family and there are 10-12 total species throughout the world, depending on how individual species are split or lumped with their subspecies. There are only three species of tropicbird: the red-billed tropicbird, the white-tailed tropicbird, and the red-tailed tropicbird. More Guides & Resources John James Audubon's Birds of America Feeds on large insects, small rodents and birds… The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. Both are included in the Procellariidae family. These birds typically have upright posture on land but can be clumsy when walking.