Wetland Birds of the WVBG

Omnivorous with wide variety of food. They don’t dive, but dabble to feed, tipping forward in the water to eat seeds, aquatic vegetation, or insects. They also forage on land for seeds and insects and will stop at farms during migration to feed on grain.

Mallards are the most widespread and abundant duck in North America. The ancestor of most strains of domesticated ducks. In many places this species has managed to domesticate itself, relying on handouts in city parks.

Males have a distinct green head and females are a light brown color. 

 The classic “quack” duck sound is that of a female mallard. Males do not quack, but give a quieter rasping, one or two-noted call.

Great Blue Herons eat nearly anything within striking distance, including fish, amphibians, reptiles, small mammals, insects, and other birds.

In flight the Great Blue Heron folds it neck into an “S” shape and trails its long legs behind. Great Blue Herons defend feeding territories from other herons with dramatic displays in which the birds approach intruders with their head thrown back, wings outstretched, and bill pointing skyward.

Large bird with blue/gray plumage, long legs, and distinct spear-like beaks.

Mostly quiet, but a rapid “frawnk” squawk if disturbed. May also greet their partners with a “roh-roh-rohs” at their nests during breeding season.

Mostly small fish but also crayfish, frogs, and other small aquatic animals.

Forages by plunging headfirst into water, capturing fish near surface with bill. Bones, scales, and other indigestible parts of prey are coughed up later as pellets.

Males are grayish-blue above, white below, with a gray chest band. Females also have a chestnut band across their chest.t

Both males and females give a distinctive machine gun-like rattle along with screams and harsh calls. 

Flying insects.

They chase prey in the air, with acrobatic twists and turns, and sometimes converge in large numbers in an insect swarm, swirling around like a living tornado.

Males have blue iridescent backs and white chests, pointed wings, and a short, squared tail. Females have brownish backs with slight blue iridescence.

Mating calls consist of high pitched chirps and gurgles. They use chatters, shrieks, and ticking sounds when disturbed.

Seeds, fruits, insects and other arthropods. When aquatic foods are unavailable they may eat acorns and other nuts or grains.

They get their name because they nest in tree cavities or nest boxes. Egg-dumping is common in Wood Ducks—females visit other Wood Duck cavities, lay eggs in them, and leave them to be raised by the other female.

Males are very showy with patterns on most of their feathers. Females have a distinctive white pattern around their eyes with mostly brown feathers.

Females make a loud “oo-eek, oo-eek” when disturbed and male calls have a rising and falling zeeting whistle. 

They eat mainly insects in the summer and seeds, including grass, corn and wheat, in the winter.

Adults are very aggressive in nesting territory, attacking larger birds and sometimes going after much larger animals, including horses and people.

Males are a glossy black with scarlet and yellow shoulder patches that they will display while singing. Females are a streaky dark brown.

 Males make a well-known “conk-la-ree”. Females will respond with a series of three to five “chit” notes.

Insects and other invertebrates that it finds mostly foraging on the ground, as well as seeds and fruits all year round, particularly in winter.

Watch for Song Sparrows moving along wetland edges, ducking into dense, low vegetation after short bursts of their distinctive, tail-pumping flight.

Russet and gray in color with dark streaks down their white chests, often forming a dark spot in the middle.

The male song consists of two to six phrases that start with short-spaced notes and finish with a trill.  Both sexes make a short “chip” note when disturbed.

Insects found foraging on the ground or gleaned from low shrub/tree branches.

Males are very defensive of territories and will fight for females during the mating season. Each male normally has only one mate in his territory during a breeding season. However, females sometimes mate with other males behind her mate’s back.

Males and females have olive plumage with a yellow throat. Males have a distinctive black mask on the face.

The male call is a very distinctive sound, “witchety-witchety-witch”.  Both give a strong “chuck” when alarmed.