Types of Beach Birds: Uncover Gulls, Terns, Sanderlings & Other Coastal Avians (2024)

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You’ll spot a variety of types of beach birds as you explore coastal areas!

Gulls like Laughing Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls are expert scavengers, often squabbling over food scraps.

Terns like Royal Terns and Sandwich Terns dive gracefully into the surf to snatch small fish.

Shorebirds like Sanderlings, Dowitchers, and Willets scurry along the water’s edge probing sand for tiny invertebrates.

Herons and egrets like the Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret stalk shallow waters for fish and crustaceans.

Let’s take a closer look at some of these fascinating coastal avians.

Gulls

You’ll often spot laughing gulls, distinguished by their long, slender bills and distinctive laughing calls that echo across the shore. Ring-billed gulls are another common sight, recognizable by their contrasting gray backs, white bodies, and the black ring encircling their yellow bills.

Laughing Gull

You’ll recognize the laughing gull by its:

• Distinct black head in summer
• Boisterous "ha-ha-ha" call
• Tendency to scavenge picnic scraps
• Graceful gliding near beaches

These social gulls nest in colonies, feasting on fish, insects, and garbage. While adaptable, their coastal habitat faces threats from development and pollution. Supporting conservation protects this iconic beach bird.

Ring-billed Gull

You can spot the Ring-billed Gull with its distinctive black ring around a yellow bill. These social gulls gather in parks and parking lots, where they:

• Squabble over french fries and bread scraps
• Strut around with heads bobbing confidently
• Soar overhead on stiff, angled wings
• Perch on rooftops and light posts

Their adaptable nature helps these resilient coastal avians thrive in human-altered landscapes.

Herring Gull

You’re likely to spot the Herring Gull, a large coastal bird with:

• Gray back and wings
• White head and underparts
• Red spot on yellow bill
• Pink legs

These gulls breed across northern North America, migrating south for winter. Their diet includes fish, insects, and human food scraps found near beaches and parking lots.

Great Black-backed Gull

You’ll spot the massive Great Black-backed Gull, the largest gull, easily recognizable with its:

• Black back and wings contrasting its pale gray body
• Formidable yellow bill ideal for scavenging and preying
• Aggressive behavior staking claim on coastal areas
• Adaptation to thrive in rocky, sandy beach habitats

These apex coastal predators breed in colonies, their distinctive "laughing" call echoing along shorelines.

Terns

Keep your eyes peeled for the graceful terns gliding along coastal areas. The Caspian Tern, Royal Tern, and Sandwich Tern are a few species you might spot, with their distinctive pointed wings and forked tails as they soar over the waves in search of small fish.

Caspian Tern

Those imposing Caspian Terns, the largest of their kind, swooping down with bright red bills and black caps! Watch them:

• Plunge into the waves, diving for fish
• Soar with gray backs and forked tails
• Migrate along coastal routes
• Nest on remote beaches and islands

These beachy birds will dazzle you with their skilled hunting and graceful flight.

Royal Tern

Like their cousin the Caspian Tern, Royal Terns thrive near beaches. You’ll spot them:

• Hovering over coastal waters with bright orange beaks
• Diving headfirst for small fish near shore
• Nesting colonially on barrier islands and sandy dunes
• Sporting a shaggy black crest and gray back in breeding plumage

Their aerial acrobatics and loud calls add excitement to any beach outing. Merida hosts tropical birds like the Hooded Oriole and Plain Chachalaca.

Sandwich Tern

Moving on from the graceful royal terns, you’ll often spot sandwich terns on coastal beaches. These slender seabirds have:

1. Black crested heads
2. Yellow-tipped black bills
3. Forked tails

Sandwich terns feed by plunge-diving for small fish in coastal waters. Their breeding grounds stretch from Massachusetts to Florida, though many migrate further south for winter.

Sanderlings, Dowitchers and Willets

You’ll spot the sprightly Sanderlings scurrying back and forth along the water’s edge, probing the sand for tiny crustaceans and marine worms with their straight, slender bills.

Keep an eye out for the distinctive Short-billed Dowitcher, bobbing its shorter bill as it feeds in shallow water pools or mudflats.

And the boldly patterned Willet, foraging in the wet sand with its long, straight bill while uttering its unmistakable "pill-will-willet" calls.

Sanderling

As you stroll the beach, you’ll spot sanderlings: small shorebirds running swiftly along the water’s edge. Watch as they:

1. Poke their thin, black bills into wet sand
2. Snatch tiny crustaceans and marine worms
3. Fly in tight, wheeling flocks

These long-distance migrants breed in the Arctic tundra but winter on Florida’s shores, exhibiting impressive stamina and resilience.

Short-billed Dowitcher

After marveling at the Sanderling’s sandy camouflage, you’ll spot the Short-billed Dowitcher probing mudflats, its:

1. Short, straight bill
2. Mottled brown back
3. White belly and barred tail
4. Orange legs

This unassuming shorebird forages by inserting its bill into the mud, extracting tasty invertebrates. Its subtle brown hues allow it to blend seamlessly with the Yucatan’s coastal habitats like Tulum and Progresso, home to the striking Green Jay.

Willet

You’ll recognize the Willet’s distinctive loud "pill-will-willet" call echoing across sandy beaches. This large sandpiper sports:

• Gray plumage in summer
• White wing patches in flight
• Upturned bill for probing mud

Observe their probing motions and wading behaviors as they forage for crustaceans and insects in coastal areas like Gulf Islands National Seashore. Their nesting success depends on preserving these important beach habitats.

Herons and Egrets

Herons and egrets are wading birds commonly seen stalking fish and crustaceans in shallow coastal waters and wetlands.

The Great Blue Heron is a large, bluish-gray bird with a long, pointed bill and slender neck.

While the Snowy Egret is smaller with pristine white plumage and black legs.

The Tricolored Heron has a striking blue-gray body with chestnut and white markings.

Great Blue Heron

As you scan the coastline, your gaze locks onto a magnificent great blue heron:

1. Statuesque and regal
2. Patiently stalking its prey
3. S-curved neck striking with lethal precision

These iconic birds are a breathtaking sight, fishing in shallow waters and nesting high in trees. Learn about their unique behaviors and conservation needs to appreciate nature’s grandeur.

Snowy Egret

The snowy egret dances with grace, shuffling its yellow feet to stir up prey. You’ll spot this elegant wader:

• Hunting small fish and crustaceans in coastal marshes
• Nesting in colonies amid swaying reeds and mangroves
• Flashing black legs and brilliant yellow feet in breeding plumage

Admire its buoyant feathers as it takes flight, embodying the wild allure of Florida’s pristine wetlands.

Tricolored Heron

Like the snowy egret, you’ll find the tricolored heron stalking along Florida’s shorelines and marshes. With its:

1. Striking blue-gray wings
2. Reddish-brown neck and belly
3. White stripe running down its chest

This small, colorful wader probes shallow waters for fish, frogs, and crustaceans. Spot tricolored herons and learn about their lives on the Great Florida Birding & Wildlife Trail.

Other Florida Beach Birds

You’ll frequently encounter three distinct seabirds on Florida beaches:

The iconic Brown Pelican, distinguished by its massive bill and ability to plunge into the water for fish.

The slender Double-crested Cormorant, often seen swimming low in the water before diving to hunt for prey.

The majestic Osprey, a raptor adept at hovering over the waves before plunging feet-first to seize fish in its talons.

Brown Pelican

You can’t miss the brown pelicans diving for fish along Florida’s beaches! Watch them:

• Plunge from impressive heights, stretching their enormous wings
• Skim low over the waves in V-formations or lines
• Nest in noisy colonies on coastal islands and forage in groups

Their prehistoric appearances and skillful fishing make them icons of shoreline living.

Double-crested Cormorant

You’ll spot the dark, sleek double-crested cormorant swimming low in the water, diving for fish. Once its feathers are soaked, it perches with wings spread to dry.

• It breeds in coastal areas and on islands
• Its diet consists mainly of fish and crustaceans
• Predators include gulls, hawks, and raccoons

Observe these fascinating diving birds from hiking trails like Marco Island’s Tigertail Beach.

Osprey

You’ll spot Ospreys hovering over coastal waters, keen eyes scanning for prey below. When a fish surfaces, they:

1. Dive feet-first at breathtaking speed
2. Plunge talons into the water
3. Emerge grasping their catch
4. Consume it mid-flight

These fish hawks nest atop platforms, trees, even channel markers, migrating annually along coastlines. Their striking appearance and impressive hunting skills make Ospreys a must-see coastal raptor.

Birds Nesting on the Beach

While strolling along the sandy shores, you may encounter some of nature’s most fascinating avian nesters. The Least Tern, Wilson’s Plover, and Snowy Plover are prime examples of beach-nesting birds that skillfully create shallow, well-camouflaged nests directly on the sand, where their downy chicks will begin their remarkable journey into the world.

Least Tern

You’ll spot the tiny least tern hovering over the shoreline, its yellow bill and black cap distinct. It dives headfirst to catch small fish, then returns to its sandy nest:

• Lays eggs in shallow scrape
• Nests in colonies on beaches
• Hovers and plunge-dives for prey
• Agile flier and daring diver

This pint-sized coastal dweller exemplifies perfectly adapted beach bird behavior.

Wilson’s Plover

You’ll spot the Wilson’s plover scurrying across the beach, its:

1. Distinctive black bill
2. Dark brown upperparts
3. White underparts with black breast band

These plovers nest right on sandy coastal habitats, and their eggs are well-camouflaged. Unfortunately, human disturbance and coastal development threaten their breeding success.

Snowy Plover

You’ll often find the snowy plover scurrying along sandy beaches, its pale gray back and white belly blending seamlessly with the surroundings. This delicate shorebird:

1. Nests in shallow scrapes on open beaches
2. Faces habitat loss from coastal development
3. Benefits from conservation efforts like beach closures

Protect this vulnerable species by respecting nesting areas and supporting responsible beach management practices.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)