With more than 450 bird species observed, the “Yellowhammer State” is a paradise for avian enthusiasts. Bird watching, as well as waterfowl hunting, provide a huge source of economic revenue for the state, as well as enjoyment for both visitors and residents of Alabama. However, in addition to threats such as habitat loss and degradation, Alabama’s birds are threatened by hurricanes and shifting weather patterns. As such, important areas for conservation have been identified, with efforts to protect vulnerable birds including land protection and habitat restoration.
Birding hotspots in Alabama include Fort Morgan, Dauphin Island, Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, and Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge. The state also boasts many popular public waterfowl hunting areas. Though some birds can be seen year-round in Alabama, migration season can be an especially interesting time to observe a wide variety of species. Due to its location in the Mississippi Flyway, Alabama is particularly unique in its diversity of waterbirds that use marshes, wetlands, and coastal habitats for overwintering, migration, or breeding. Some of the more common Alabama waterbird species are described in the list below.
A very common waterbird in Alabama and much of the US, the mallard is probably one of the most easily recognizable ducks in the world. Adult males display a distinctive emerald green head with a white collar, while females and juveniles are mostly brown with an orange and brown bill. Both sexes can be identified by their bright blue secondary wing feathers. Mallards often hybridize with other duck species, leading to a variety of unusual color morphs.
Male mallard hybrids typically retain curled tail feathers which can help narrow down the identity of an unusual-looking duck. Found throughout the state, mallards are often more comfortable around humans than other birds and can be easily observed and or attracted with appropriate foods (not bread).
Primarily found in marshes along the Gulf Coast, the mottled duck is similar in appearance to the female mallard, though with a darker overall color, lighter-colored head, and distinct black patch at their bill opening. Male and female mottled ducks share a close resemblance, though males can be distinguished by their brighter yellow bills in comparison to the darker olive or orange bills of the females.
Though they can hybridize with mallards, pure mottled ducks can be identified by their dark tails (without any white) and lack of curled tail feathers in males. Unlike other ducks, the mottled duck is almost entirely non-migratory and is specially adapted for nesting in southern marshes. These ducks are seldom found in large or mixed flocks, preferring to travel in pairs.
Wood duck drakes are among the most strikingly colorful waterbirds in North America. These medium-sized ducks are close relatives of the mandarin duck (which includes the famous Central Park visitor). Male wood ducks have a stunning pattern of multi-colored plumage, with a unique green crested head, chestnut-colored breast, and bold white markings. Females display a slight crest with gray-brown plumage and a white teardrop marking.
In flight, blue secondary wing feathers with a white stripe can help differentiate the female wood duck from other species. Though less striking than adult males, juvenile males resemble females and can also be identified by their red eyes. Occasionally found perching in trees, wood ducks usually nest in cavities and will use artificial nest boxes. In Alabama, wood ducks are common year-round residents.
The American wigeon is a compact duck with a round head and short bill. Males have a cinnamon-colored body with a striking green stripe behind the eye. The occasional moniker “baldpate” references the white stripe on the top of the male’s head, said to resemble a balding man.
In flight, a white upper wing patch and green secondaries are visible among males. Females have a brown head and body with a dark eye smudge. Both sexes can also be identified by their pale gray, black-tipped bills. The short bills of the American wigeon are adapted for their diet, which includes more aquatic vegetation and other plants, such as grasses and grains, in comparison to other ducks.
The genus name of the ruddy duck — derived from the Greek oxus meaning “sharp” and oura, meaning “tail” — reflects one of the most distinguishing features of this small duck. In addition to their upwardly pointed, fan-shaped tails, ruddy ducks have scooped bills that are a striking blue color among breeding males. The body plumage of breeding males is also a deep chestnut color, which reverts to a duller brown color in the nonbreeding season although their black caps and white cheek patches persist year-round. Females are brownish and have a whitish cheek patch with a blurry brown stripe running across it.
In flight, the tops of the wings of both sexes are solid and dark. In Alabama, ruddy ducks are usually found during the nonbreeding season except for in the northeast portion of the state, where they can also be found during migration.
The largest diving duck in North America, the canvasback is a favorite of both duck hunters and bird watchers due to its size and striking appearance. Breeding males have a chestnut-colored head and neck, a black chest and rear, with a whitish body and red eyes. Females are a pale or light brown color, often with a dark chest and rear separated by a paler body.
Both sexes have a unique silhouette, with a sloping forehead, stout neck, and compact body. These ducks are often found in large rafts during migration, which contributes to their popularity as game birds. Given the title “King of the Ducks”, canvasback populations declined in the 1980s but have recently rebounded in response to conservation efforts focusing on habitat restoration.
A close relative of the canvasback, but smaller in size, male redheads are easily identified by their cinnamon-red or copper-colored head. Males also have a black chest and rear with a gray body, and a gray bill tipped in black. Females are medium brown in color with a paler face, with a grayish wing stripe visible in flight. Both sexes have a uniquely steep forehead that meets their bill at a sharp angle.
In addition to occasionally hybridizing with canvasbacks, redheads often practice a sneaky behavior called brood parasitism — that is, laying eggs in another duck’s nest (sometimes of other duck species and sometimes of other redheads). Female redheads can be highly flexible in their behaviors, switching from laying eggs in their own nest to brood parasitism or even using both strategies in a single season.
True to their name, both sexes of northern pintail have long, pointed tail feathers, which are longer and more prominent among breeding males. Breeding males also display a bright white breast with a notable white line that delineates their chocolate-brown colored head and neck.
In flight, males display green secondary feathers, while females have bronze or brown secondaries. Females are mottled brown and white, resembling other species, but can be identified by their unmarked pale face and their slender, sleek appearance. In addition to occurring throughout North America, the northern pintail has a wide range that includes Europe, the Middle East, and parts of Asia. A fast, graceful flyer, northern pintails are among the most common winter migrants that travel all the way to Hawaii.
The northern shoveler is easily recognized by its large, spatula-shaped bill. Breeding males have bold dark green heads, dark black bills, a white chest, and rust-colored flanks. In flight, breeding males also have powdery-blue shoulder patches as well as green secondary feathers. Females and nonbreeding males are mottled brown with an orange bill and powdery-blue shoulders that can be seen in flight or occasionally at rest.
Northern shovelers use their bills — which have hundreds of comb-like projections called lamellae — to feed on aquatic invertebrates and seeds. They can often be observed swinging their heads from side to side to strain their food from the water.
True to their name, blue-winged teals display a powdery-blue patch on their upper wings. Breeding males are light brown with dark speckling and a gray-blue head, with a distinct white crescent in front of their eye. Their green secondaries are visible in flight. Females, nonbreeding males, and juveniles are brown with a darker cap and darker brown line running through the eye.
They often flock with other species such as mallards but can be readily distinguished due to their much smaller size. These long-distance migrants are one of the first to head south in the fall, with some individuals traveling all the way to Central and South America.
The green-winged teal is the smallest dabbling duck in North America, and debates continue over whether it is a separate species from the Eurasian teal (A. crecca). The American green-winged teal differs visibly from the Eurasian teal, as it has a vertical white shoulder stripe instead of a horizontal white back stripe.
In comparison to other ducks, breeding males have a cinnamon-colored head with a wide green streak from their eye to the back of the neck. Females and nonbreeding males are brown with a yellow or cream streak along the tail. Both sexes display bright green secondary wing feathers which can be seen in flight and are occasionally visible at rest.
In Alabama, black-bellied whistling ducks are found only in coastal marshes and have expanded their range in recent years. One of only two whistling ducks in North America, these birds are known for being noisy and for behaving differently than all other ducks, often hanging out in trees.
Black-bellied whistling ducks lack sexual dimorphism, with females and males both identifiable by their long necks or bright pink legs and red-orange beak. Their bodies are chestnut-colored with a gray head, black belly, and a white wing patch. Juveniles lack a dark belly and have a black bill with paler legs. These ducks are typically not long-distance migrants, but they may occasionally travel short distances in large flocks.
Known for its adaptability to human environments, the Canada goose is so common that it is occasionally considered a pest and some individuals have entirely lost their instincts to migrate. These large geese are easily identified by their black head and neck with white cheek patches. Their backs are brown with a paler tan breast and white undertail. Though rare, they can hybridize with domestic geese, yielding unusual color morphs.
In flight, flocks of Canada geese often form a V-shaped formation which increases energy efficiency during migration. In Alabama specifically, Canada geese — which can drop a pound of feces per day on average — were once in peril due to overharvesting, but are now often considered a nuisance.
Snow geese have smaller bodies than Canada geese, with two color phases observed in both males and females. In both color phases, the head and neck are white, the bill and feet are pink, and the wingtips are black. The white morph has a white head and white body, while the blue or dark morph has a white head and dark body. Dark morphs can be highly variable, with occasional intermediate morphs that have a mixed plumage.
The face or head may occasionally appear orange due to staining from foraging in mud containing iron oxides. Snow geese breed in the Arctic tundra but can be found in western Alabama during the winter months. In some parts of their range, snow geese are threatened by diseases such as avian cholera.
Known for its soft, eerie calls, the common loon is a favorite of many birders and can be identified by its size — smaller than a Canada goose, but larger and longer than a mallard. In the summer, both males and females have a black head and bill, with a black and white checkered back striped collar, and white breast, sometimes described as a “tuxedo”. Common loons have a dagger-like bill with red eyes. In their nonbreeding plumage, they are plain grey with a white throat and belly.
Young chicks — which are fluffy and brownish-black — are often seen riding on the backs of adults. In Alabama, common loons are present statewide during migration and can be found in coastal areas during the winter. Expert fishers, common loons can dive up to 200 feet deep.
If it looks like a duck and acts like a duck…it might actually be a coot. American coots have a rounded head, with a dark gray body, white bill tipped in black, and red eyes. In the water, their long, lobed toes are well adapted for swimming. On land, however, their true status as a member of the rail family is readily apparent due to their chicken-like posture.
Immediately after hatching, chicks display notable red spots on their head, with rusty-colored down feathers on their necks. Ornamented chicks with brighter colors are preferentially fed by their parents, with male and female coots in a pair choosing favorites that receive extra food. American coots are also highly susceptible to brood parasitism by other conspecifics, although they are capable of counting their own eggs and identifying imposters as a defense mechanism.
A tiny marsh bird, yellow rails in Alabama can be found near the coast during the winter, where they use habitats such as wet meadows and marshes with low vegetation. About the size of a robin, adults have short tails, bills, and necks, with legs that are long for their size. Their yellow-brown plumage has darker streaks on their backs, with a lighter yellow underside and a dark smudge on the cheek. Though they are rarely seen in flight, their secondary feathers are distinctly white.
Due to their secretive habits, population trends are difficult to assess, but the loss of wetland habitat is a likely threat, and as such these birds are considered to be under high conservation concern in the Gulf Coast region.
Found in the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic coast of the US, and some Caribbean islands, the clapper rail is a saltmarsh specialist. As an adaptation to drinking saltwater, clapper rails have a special gland that allows them to concentrate and secrete excess salts. They are larger in size than other rails, with a long, slightly downcurved bill. Their plumage is variable, ranging from cinnamon-brown to gray, but typically with gray cheek patches and dull striped flanks.
Along the Gulf Coast, clapper rails can be lighter brown in plumage. Though common and present year-round on Alabama’s coast, like many rails they are secretive and seldom fly, thus making conservation assessments challenging. Clapper rails are so named because of their clacking or grunting vocalizations, and biologists occasionally play or mimic these calls and await a response — a method called a call-response survey — to estimate population numbers.
Pied-billed grebes are small and compact with a short, thick bill and a very short tail. In Alabama, they can be found year-round swimming in freshwater areas. They are brown with a darker back and a more tawny-colored underside. In the breeding season, their bill is white with a black band, but at other times of the year, it is yellowish-brown. They have lobed feet that help with swimming, and they are able to adjust their buoyancy to swim more easily underwater.
Found in Alabama during the winter, the horned grebe’s nonbreeding plumage is gray and white with a black cap and white cheek patch. However, in their breeding plumage, horned grebes transform into a bright cinnamon color on the body, with a gray or black head and back and long, wide golden tufted streak behind the eye.
In both seasons, they have red eyes and a straight, narrow bill in shades ranging from black to gray. In addition to hunting for fish, crustaceans, and aquatic invertebrates, horned grebes also ingest their own feathers, which is thought to aid in digestion.
The large size, snowy white plumage, and yellow feet and bill of the white pelican are unmistakable. In flight, their black wingtips are visible. In the spring, white pelicans may display a small patch of yellow on their chest. White pelicans can be found near the Alabama coast during the winter, but as they are excellent and powerful flyers, they can be found many miles from the water. Unlike in cartoons, pelicans never carry food in their bill pouches — they scoop up food but swallow it before taking flight.
The largest heron in North America, great blue herons have long necks, thick bills, and shaggy blue-gray plumage. A pair of slate or black plumes from above the eye to the back of the head creates a noticeable streak. In flight, they curl their neck into an “S” shape and flap their wings slowly and gracefully. They can be found year-round in freshwater or saltwater habitats throughout the state of Alabama. In southern Florida, a white form of the great blue heron can be found, which resembles a great egret but can be distinguished by its larger size and heftier bill.
These small, dark herons are a deep green color on the back with gray-black wings, a streaked chestnut neck, and short yellow legs. Green herons can be found throughout Alabama during the breeding season, and near the coast year-round. They are small and stocky, and in flight extend their thick necks in a pterosaur-like, top-heavy posture. One of the few tool-using birds in the world, green herons can use fishing lures such as small pieces of vegetation or other food to lure small fish to the water’s surface.
With its pure white feathers, tall stature, and black legs, the great egret is a regular but elegant wetland resident. In the breeding season, great egrets can develop a bright green patch of skin on their face and grow long feather plumes from the back. Demand for using these plumes as hat decorations nearly drove the great egret to extinction by the late 1800s, until the effects of the plume trade eventually sparked interests in bird conservation leading to population recovery.
Great egrets use their yellow bills to stab and capture prey such as fish, small mammals, and frogs. Found in many places across the globe, in Alabama specifically, the great egret resides year-round near the coast and can be found during the breeding season elsewhere in the state.
With a breeding range along the Atlantic and Gulf Coast, the American white ibis can be found in freshwater marshes, coastal estuaries, and other wetlands where they use their long beaks to probe for crustaceans, frogs, snakes, and insects. In Alabama, they are usually found along the coast but are less common during the winter.
American white ibises are mostly bright white with black-tipped wings. The skin around their eyes is reddish-pink, as are their beaks and long legs. Juveniles and immatures have streaks or patches of brown, with lighter pink appendages. In folklore, the American white ibis is a symbol of danger and optimism, as they are said to be the last birds to seek shelter before a storm and the first to return after the storm has passed.
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