

The long orange-yellow bill, whitish head, and black plumes punctuate the grayish-blue plumage of this heron. Great blue herons generally move slowly, searching for almost any animal they can swallow, including frogs, fish, and small mammals. However, you could see them hunting in fields and different terrestrial habitats too. Standing motionless on a riverbank, coastline, or lakeside is where you’ll likely see the graceful great blue heron. These roundish songbirds are found throughout the United States during winter.ĭue to their small size, they mainly feed on insects and sometimes supplement their diet with seeds. This little bundle of energy lives high up in deciduous and coniferous forests located in swamps, riversides, and urban areas. The golden-crowned kinglet is one of the smallest crested birds, with its standout features being the bright yellow crest and the black-and-white striped face that punctuates the olive upperparts and grayish underparts. This waterbird feeds almost exclusively on fish but may also eat amphibians, crustaceans, and insects.


They are a migratory species that can be seen in most of the United States. They are most noticeable when they dry their wings on rocky outcrops and artificial structures over or near water. Search lakes, lagoons, other water bodies, and along coastlines if you want to find them. Their small head tufts are only visible during the breeding season. The double-crested cormorant is a large, long-necked, brownish-black waterbird with orangy-yellow facial skin. They use their heavy beaks to scavenge on carrion, but they also eat a range of live prey, from mammals and insects to fish. You’ll find these birds in open areas like grasslands and deserts in the southern United States and further south into Central and South America. Possibly the most recognizable raptor in North America – they have long yellow legs and yellow-orange faces, contrasting with their black crowns and bodies, as well as the white neck and cheeks. See also 21 Incredible Black And White Birds In Colorado Looking and behaving like something between a vulture and a hawk, the crested caracara is a large falcon and one of the largest birds with a crest on the head. They live in extreme environments, having to dive below the surface to catch krill and other planktonic organisms.Ĭrested auklets aren’t easy to see, as you’ll have to travel to the Bering Sea and North Pacific Ocean to have a chance of finding this impressive crested bird on their rocky breeding islands. They are dark overall with an orange bill, pale eyes, and white whiskers. The crested auklet is an incredible-looking, tiny, dumpy seabird with an extravagant crest that hangs over its face during the breeding season. You’ll likely see them feeding on fruits like berries in residential areas during fall and winter. They inhabit coniferous and deciduous woodlands, as well as orchards and suburban areas. These medium-sized migratory birds are found throughout the United States and in Canada. They also have a beautiful black face mask with a white outline and red wing tips. They have a smooth appearance of browns on the head, which mixes into grays on the back and wings, a yellow belly, and a gray, yellow-tipped tail. They live in multiple forest types, woodlands, scrublands, and suburban areas where they are familiar visitors to feeders.Ĭedar waxwings are always a dashing treat to observe. When it comes to food, they are not fussy, feeding on anything from fruit to nestling birds.

They are large and distinct, with their blue upper parts and whitish-gray underparts interspersed with black barring on the wings, a white wing bar, and a black necklace. These brilliant birds have highly complex social systems, and family members have tight bonds. The blue jay is an intelligent, common, well-known species throughout the United States and Canada, especially in the east. Their diet comprises insects such as moths, beetles, and flies, as well as berries, acorns, and seeds. Luckily, they are common in their preferred habitats of woodlands, parks, suburbs, and orchards – particularly those containing oaks. They have a small geographic range in Texas and northern Mexico, so you may have to travel to find them. Their most prominent feature is the black crest that stands out against their white forehead, gray upperparts, whitish undersides, and buff flanks. The black-crested titmouse is one of the more dashing titmouse species.
