Birding in Black and White

By Gail Jackson

When you drive around Black Point Drive do you marvel at all of the black and/or white birds? Do you look sky ward and see a large flock of black and white birds flying over and wonder what species they are? You notice they are in a “V” formation and have black wing tips on a white body and perhaps wonder what they are? After reading this article you may have the answer! In actuality there are eight different black and/or white birds seen at the refuge and this article may help you identify exactly which species you are looking at. Like humans, each species has its own distinct characteristics and behavior patterns and this is what make them unique. Learning to identify each species can be challenging and rewarding.

The smallest white bird is the cattle egret. Rarely seen in the water these birds are usually seen running behind the mowing equipment or along side your car looking for bugs next to your wheels; those delicious morsels that your tires have stirred up in the grass. In breeding plumage they have honey brown streaking down their back and crown . They usually pull in their short neck in anticipation of “springing loose’ to catch a bug. They are also seen next to the cattle where they catch bugs that have been stirred up by the cattle. Thus the term “cattle egret.”

The next largest species is the snowy egret. Usually in water or perched nearby the snowy egret hunkers down ready to extend his neck like a spring to catch small fish. His definitive black legs and yellow feet (some call them snowshoes!) cause him to be called the snowy.

Next in size is the white ibis. He often stands in the mud flats probing for food with his distinct pinkish red curved bill. When in flight he has black tips on his white wings. The immature white ibis is mottled white and brown; his shiny, black cousin in the glossy ibis.

The next species is the great egret. It is all white and bearing a beautiful plume on the top of his head and on his chest, which was the envy of hat makers in the 1900s. Standing majestically in the water, he stands ever so still with his long neck and yellow bill extended waiting to strike at the nearest fish.

The next largest is the wood stork. It has a fat white body, gray bald head, long thick bill and pink feet. He usually works his way along the drainage ditches. When in flight he has black on the trailing edge of his white wings.

Our largest black and white bird is the white pelican. With his large yellow bill and stately white body he floats on the water and catches his fish by scooping them up with his large pink yellow bill. This is the opposite of his cousin the brown pelican who catches his fish by diving. These two have the territory nicely covered. One dives and the other scoops. It is fun to watch them work as a fishing team when a school of mullet pass by. In flight the white pelicans looks like a long line of 747s gracefully floating through the air. Their black wing tips and trailing black wing edge are a dead give away–and a sight to behold.

An exciting pair of black and white birds is the bald eagle and his copy-cat relative the osprey. The osprey has a white head with a black “Lone Ranger mask” while the eagle is a much larger bird and has a totally white face. The body of the adult eagle is black and the tail white while the osprey has a white and black body and tail. Recognizing the difference between this fish crow (the osprey) and the bald eagle is a challenge at first, but once you have mastered this distinction you will be rewarded. Nothing beats the thrill of sighting the magnificent bald eagle and sharing its glory!

Now that you have these clues, here is the answer to the bird identification question mentioned above. The “V” formation is a give away since only the white ibis flies in a “V.” The white pelicans fly in a straight line, as do the wood storks. Also, the ibis is the one that has only black on the wing tip. The pelican and wood storks have the black on tips and wing edges. Next month I will talk about birding in gray, blue, and brown. Get your binoculars ready and enjoy these beautiful sights.