What are the big birds on the water?

There are several types of large birds that can be frequently seen on bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and oceans. The most common large water birds include swans, geese, herons, egrets, pelicans, gulls, cormorants, loons, and albatrosses. These birds are adapted to life around water in various ways – with webbed feet for swimming, long legs and necks for wading, or waterproof feathers that help them float on the surface. Identifying which species you see can be done by observing key characteristics like size, shape, color patterns, and behavior.

Swans

Swans are very large waterfowl in the family Anatidae. There are 6-7 species of swan worldwide, depending on taxonomy. In North America, the most widespread swans are the Trumpeter Swan and Tundra Swan. Swans have long necks and large, rounded bodies with all-white plumage. Their legs are black and their feet are webbed. They are one of the largest flying birds in the world, weighing 15-30 lbs with wingspans around 6 feet. On the water, swans hold their necks upright in an S-shape. They can often be seen drifting slowly in bays, marshes, and along shorelines.

Key Facts About Swans:

• Large all-white waterfowl with long necks and rounded bodies
• Webbed feet for swimming
• Wingspan around 6 feet across
• Weight between 15-30 lbs
• Most common species in North America are Trumpeter and Tundra Swan
• Often seen drifting slowly on bays, marshes, lakes

Geese

Geese are water birds in the family Anatidae, closely related to swans and ducks. There are many species of geese in North America, including Canada Geese, Snow Geese, Ross’s Geese, Greater White-fronted Geese and more. Geese have long necks and rounded, stocky bodies. They are smaller than swans but larger than ducks. Their plumage is gray-brown to white with black legs and feet. Geese have webbed feet for swimming and are very social, often seen swimming and flying together in flocks. When on the water, they bob their heads back and forth while swimming.

Key Facts About Geese:

• Waterfowl smaller than swans but larger than ducks
• Long necks, rounded bodies, webbed feet
• Common plumage colors: gray-brown, white, black
• Social birds that live and migrate in flocks
• Bob their heads while swimming
• Common North American species include Canada Goose, Snow Goose, Ross’s Goose

Herons

Herons belong to the family Ardeidae and are wading birds common along shorelines, marshes, rivers, and wetlands. They have long legs, long necks, and spear-like bills used for catching fish. Most species are gray or blue-gray in color. The most widespread heron in North America is the Great Blue Heron, which stands over 4 feet tall with a wingspan over 6 feet across. When wading, herons often stand motionless waiting to ambush prey. Other common heron species include Great Egrets, Green Herons, and Black-crowned Night Herons.

Key Facts About Herons:

• Wading birds with long legs, necks, spear-like bills
• Expert fishers, often seen waiting motionless to ambush prey
• Mostly gray or blue-gray plumage
• Largest is the Great Blue Heron at over 4 feet tall
• Other common species are Egrets, Green Herons, Night Herons
• Found along shorelines, marshes, rivers, wetlands

Pelicans

Pelicans are very large water birds with huge throat pouches used for catching fish. They belong to the family Pelecanidae. The most widespread pelican in North America is the American White Pelican, which has bright white plumage and a 9-10 foot wingspan. Brown Pelicans also occur along the coasts. Pelicans fly with their necks retracted, giving them a hunched appearance, and they float high on the water thanks to air sacs under their skin. Pelicans work together to herd fish into shallow water before scooping them up in their elastic pouches.

Key Facts About Pelicans:

• Large water birds with huge throat pouches
• Float high on the water due to air sacs under skin
• American White Pelican has bright white plumage, 9-10 foot wingspan
• Brown Pelicans found along coasts
• Fly with necks retracted in a hunched posture
• Work together to herd fish into shallow water

Gulls

Gulls are seabirds in the family Laridae. They are medium to large birds with webbed feet, rounded bodies, stout bills, and typically gray and white plumage. Due to their scavenging nature, they are often viewed as pests at beaches and wharfs. Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull, and Laughing Gull are common North American species. When floating on the water, gulls will face into the wind to stay stationary. In flight, they hold their wings in a shallow V-shape. Gulls have waterproof feathers and can swim when needed, making them highly adaptable to coastal habitats.

Key Facts About Gulls:

• Medium to large seabirds with gray and white plumage
• Webbed feet, rounded bodies, stout bills
• Common species include Herring, Ring-billed, and Laughing Gulls
• Known for scavenging, viewed as pests at beaches and wharfs
• Hold wings in shallow V-shape when flying
• Swim with waterproof feathers, highly adaptable to coasts

Cormorants

Cormorants are medium-large water birds belonging to the Phalacrocoracidae family. They have short legs set far back on their bodies, hook-tipped bills, and long necks. Their plumage is predominantly black or dark gray. They are expert swimmers/divers and chase fish underwater. When perched, cormorants are often seen holding their wings open to dry. The most common species in North America is the Double-crested Cormorant. Pelagic Cormorant, Great Cormorant, and Neotropic Cormorant also occur.

Key Facts About Cormorants:

• Medium-large, predominantly dark water birds
• Short legs, hook-tipped bills, long necks
• Expert swimmers and divers
• Often seen perched with wings spread open
• Common species include Double-crested, Pelagic, Great, and Neotropic Cormorants

Loons

Loons are diving birds in the genus Gavia. They are streamlined fish-eaters with rounded bodies and dagger-like bills. Their legs are set far back on their bodies, making them awkward on land but excellent swimmers. In flight, loons have flat, straight bills and necks extended. Common Loon and Red-throated Loon are the most widespread North American species. Loons make eerie, wailing cries that echo across lakes. To dive, they slowly sink underwater without leaping.

Key Facts About Loons:

• Specialised diving birds with rounded bodies, dagger-like bills
• Legs set far back, awkward on land but excellent swimmers
• In flight, extend neck and hold bill flat and straight
• Common North American species are Common Loon, Red-throated Loon
• Known for haunting, echoing cries
• Slowly sink underwater without leaping to dive

Albatrosses

Albatrosses are very large seabirds in the Procellariiformes order. They have the longest wingspan of any living bird at 8-12 feet across. Albatrosses are pelagic, spending most of their lives soaring far out at sea. They have short legs, webbed feet, hooked upper bills, and tube-like nostrils. In calm winds they must flap frequently, but they are masters at dynamic soaring in stormy weather. They nest on isolated islands and have elaborate mating dances. Only a few species, like the Laysan Albatross, are found in North America.

Key Facts About Albatrosses:

• Largest wingspan of any living bird at 8-12 feet
• Pelagic species that live far out at sea
• Short legs, webbed feet, hooked upper bills
• Masters of dynamic soaring in windy conditions
• Nest on isolated islands, elaborate mating dances
• Rarely seen from shore, few species in North America

Identification Tips

To identify large water birds, look at:

• Overall size – From tiny Grebes to huge Albatrosses
• Bill shape – Broad bills for straining food or hooked bills for catching fish
• Foot type – Webbed feet, lobed feet, long dangling legs
• Behaviour – Wading, plunging diving, surface diving, scavenging
• Plumage – Color patterns, wing and tail shape
• Habitat – Ocean, lakes, rivers, marshes, etc.

Use field guides and apps that allow you to search by location and filter by characteristics. Look for key identification points for each group of birds. Pay attention to behavior, as foraging methods can be distinguishing. With practice, bird identification gets much easier!

Population Trends

Many water bird species have faced population declines due to habitat loss, pollution, hunting, and disturbance. However, conservation measures have helped stabilize and recover some populations. Here are population trends for common large North American water birds:

More research and monitoring is needed for species with unknown or declining trends. Habitat protection, pollution controls, sustainable harvesting, and responsible ecotourism can support healthy water bird populations.

Conclusion

Large water birds occupy diverse ecological roles in aquatic habitats. Groups like swans, geese, herons, pelicans, cormorants, loons, and albatrosses have evolved for specialized modes of fishing, diving, and foraging. Characteristics like body size and shape, bill form, foot type, and behavior are clues to identification. Learning to recognize these birds by field marks and actions takes practice. Some species remain common and widespread, while others need more habitat protections and monitoring to maintain populations. Appreciating the beauty and adaptations of large water birds can inspire greater environmental stewardship.