Guide to selected species of: Marina Dunes Preserve  BirdsButterfliesFishesMammalsReptiles/AmphibiansSeashellsSeashore CreaturesTreesWildflowers     show all familiesAmerican VulturesAuks, Murres, PuffinsBarn OwlsBlackbirds and OriolesBushtitsCardinalsChickadees and TitmiceCormorantsCreepersCrows, Magpies, JaysCuckoos, Roadrunners, AnisDippersDucks and GeeseFalconsFinchesGrebesGulls and TernsHawks and EaglesHerons, Egrets, BitternsHummingbirdsIbises and SpoonbillsKingfishersKingletsLarksLoonsMockingbirds and ThrashersNew World QuailNew World SparrowsNightjarsNuthatchesOld World SparrowsOld World Warblers and GnatcatchersOwlsOystercatchersPelicansPheasants and GrousePigeons and DovesPloversRails, Gallinules, CootsSandpipersShearwaters and PetrelsShrikesSilky FlycatchersStarlings and MynasStilts and AvocetsStorm-PetrelsSwallowsSwiftsTanagersThrushesTyrant FlycatchersVireosWagtails and PipitsWaxwingsWood WarblersWoodpeckersWrensWrentits    27 Birds field check-list  |  1 2 3   © Sharon Cummings Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 16-18" (41-46 cm). Large shearwater. In the Atlantic, only one that appears uniformly dark sooty brown above, below, with silvery whitish wing linings. Bill, feet dark. Slender, narrow-winged, skims on stiff wings over waves, alternately gliding, flapping. © Tom Vezo Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 45-54" (1.1-1.4 m). W. 7'6" (2.3 m). Large, stocky bird, dark brown body, long flat bill. Only non-white pelican in the world. Head whitish in adults, dark brown on hindneck during breeding season. Young birds have dark brown head, whitish bellies. © Bates Littlehales Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata 17-21" (43-53 cm). Male black with white patches on crown and nape. Bill colorful, swollen at base, bearing large black spot. Female brownish black, with 2 whitish patches on cheek. Both sexes lack white wing patch. © Arthur Morris Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii 14-20" (36-51 cm). W. 28" (71 cm). Long tail, short rounded wings. Adult slate-gray above, with dark cap, and finely rust-barred below. Immature brown above, whitish below with fine streaks. Tail tip rounded, not squared-off. © Brian E. Small Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 16-24" (41-61 cm). W. 3'4" (1 m). Large, long-winged hawk with white barring on dark wings, rusty shoulders, pale underparts barred with rust, narrowly banded tail. In flight shows translucent area near tip of wing, visible from below. Young birds streaked below. © Kevin T. Karlson Snowy Plover Charadrius alexandrinus 5-7" (13-18 cm). A small whitish plover with pale brown upperparts, black legs, slender black bill, and small black mark on each side of breast. The similar Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) has stubbier yellow bill and yellow legs. © Kevin T. Karlson Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 9-11" (23-28 cm). Our largest "ringed" plover. Brown above and white below, with 2 black bands across breast, long legs, and relatively long tail. In flight, shows rusty uppertail coverts and rump. © Arthur & Elaine Morris Sanderling Calidris alba 8" (20 cm). A starling-sized shorebird with conspicuous white wing stripe. Summer adults have rufous head and breast, white belly. In winter, rufous areas replaced by pale gray, and birds look almost white. Bill and legs black. © Rod Planck Dunlin Calidris alpina 8 1/2" (22 cm). A starling-sized shorebird. Bill fairly long, with distinct droop at tip. Breeding adults have reddish back, whitish underparts, with black patch in center of belly. Winter birds are dull gray, paler below.    1 through 9 of 27 field check-list  |  Page 1 of 3 >