Beached Bird Guide for Northern Lake Michigan

Prepared by Common Coast Research & Conservation

In association with the Grand Traverse Bay Botulism Network

© 2008 Common Coast Research & Conservation How to use this guide

This guide was developed to aid with the field identification of the most common waterbird species implicated in botulism E die-offs on northern Lake Michigan.

The guide is not intended to be a comprehensive treatment of all species you may encounter in the field. For birds not treated in this guide please document with photographs and/or submit carcasses to the nearest Michigan Department of Natural Resources Field Office for identification and/or testing for botulism (see manual).

The emphasis of this guide is on differences in bill structure among the various waterbird species. The bill plates are drawn to actual size - we recommend laminating the guide for use in the field. Placing the bills of unknown species directly on the plates will facilitate identification. Please keep in mind some variation among individuals is to be expected. Photographs of unknown species are helpful for later identification.

Bird Topography tarsus crown

bill (upper and lower mandibles) foot

bill margin cheek throat

wing coverts (lesser)

secondaries

webbed foot lobed foot primaries (loons, ducks, gulls) (grebes)

feet webbed feet , bill smaller , bill yellowish heavier, not upturned

feet lobed feet lobed

webbed black and white plumage on head neck; has not been recorded but is possible (collect if found) smooth wide at base. Face darker, bill slightly upturned Rarely encountered. Photograph and collect all all collect and Photograph encountered. Rarely Western/Clarke's Grebe (western species) – sharp Horned Grebe – distinctly smaller, dark bill bill large, dagger-like, mandible edges smooth feet webbed tarsus narrow, flat Adult – well-defined white "windows" (see photo) Juvenile - lacks defined white "windows" Red-throated Loon – bill smaller (rarely found) – Grebe Red-necked bill dagger-like, slightly upturned, mandible edges feet bill narrow, yellowish feet lobed Common/Red-throated loons – small body bill short; depth and width at base equal feet lobed well-defined white cheek patch than deeper bill species)– (western Grebe Eared Red-necked Grebe – distinctly larger, bill yellowish tarsus narrow, flat Common Loon - larger; bill Red-necked Grebe – Grebe Red-necked

ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Description: Plumage variation (adult vs. juvenile): Similar species: Description: Description: Similar species: Description: Similar species: Similar species: NOTE: individuals Look at wing coverts: Adult

Horned Grebe Common Loon Red-throated Loon Red-necked Grebe Loons and Grebes Birds with dagger-like bills

with red with spot tip near

throat pouch (adult) or pink (young of year)

yellow Herring Gull) bicolored with pink base subadult darker than subadult Ring-billed Gull (usually) dark in young birds in adults on head (breeding) (breeding) on head Non-breeding and subadult Herring Gulls can Adult – bill yellow with dark ring (however, see see (however, ring with dark yellow – bill Adult Subadult – plumage varies by age; bill usually Herring Gull – larger body and bill; legs pink; large body bill large, hooked legs pink Adult – hooked bill yellow Subadult – plumage varies by age; bill uniformly Ring-billed Gull – smaller body and bill; legs yellow bill medium-sized, slightly hooked legs bill long, hooked orange facial skin and tail distinctly long feet webbed tufts two white with overall black – plumage Adult Subadult – plumage varies but paler and brownish

ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Plumage variation (by age class): Similar species: Description: Plumage variation (by age class): Similar species: NOTE: show dark markings on bill that are easily confused with adult Ring-billed Gulls. Identification should be based on bill structure and size. Description: Description: Plumage variation (by age class): Adult Adult Adult Subadult Subadult

Herring Gull Ring-billed Gull Double-crested Cormorant Gulls and Cormorants Birds with hooked bills serrations serrations

lack white

saw-like saw-like throat and neck (female) condary feathers ; different bill shape,rarely encountered. encountered. yellow-orange base and orange tip eye “comma” behind white cheek patch (female) (female) guide) field head and neck, white throat shallow;less contrast in (female) orange head and neck deeper than Red-breasted; less contrast in throat and neck (female); head more reddish (female) secondaries Common Goldeneye – bill much smaller; feet much smaller; – bill Common Goldeneye orange bill long & slender with orange bill long & slender with Bill large with distinct shape, male with knob at se conspicuous white Bill shows comb-like plates (serrations) Male – larger knobby bill; velvet black plumage with Female/Juvenile – brownish plumage with whitish Other Scoter species (Surf, Black) – demarcation between and neck well-defined head (see plumage black/white male – distinct Breeding Female/Juvenile/Non-breeding male – reddish Red-breasted Merganser – base of upper mandible demarcation between and neck head poorly defined guide) field (see plumage male – distinct Breeding Female/Juvenile/Non-breeding male – reddish- Common Merganser – base of upper mandible

ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Description: Description: Description: Plumage variation: Similar species: Plumage variation: Similar species: Plumage variation: Similar species: Male Female-type Female-type Female-type Female-type Female-type

Male Female Common Merganser White-winged Scoter Red-breasted Merganser Mergansers and Scoters birds with webbed feet and serrated bills

front of eye of eye front with white oval face patch; male has iridescent head with white extending around crown around crown cheek patch; male face patch small and located between eyeand bill on secondary feathers white secondary patch bill dark with yellow tip (female) white secondary feathers webbed feet yellow-orange Male – head iridescent black; round white spot in Female/Juvenile – head brown, lacks white spot feet dark – much larger; Scoter bill White-winged Long-tailed Duck – bill smaller; wings all dark Bufflehead – bill smaller; female has brown head bill small and uniformly dark white patch on secondary feathers extends patch white large irridescent; –head Male Female/Juvenile – head brown with white face patch white female lacks larger; – bill Common Goldeneye Long-tailed Duck – bill much smaller; lacks white bill small & gray with pink mid-section (in males) dark wings contrasting dark and light plumage distinct long tail streamers;– Male breast black Female/Juvenile – short tail with larger wing larger; – bill Common Goldeneye Bufflehead – bill similar; head pattern distinct

ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ ƒ Description: Plumage variation: Similar species: Description: Plumage variation: Similar species: Description: Plumage variation: Similar species:

e yp Male Male Female Female-type Female-t

Male

Bufflehead Long-tailed Duck Male Common Goldeneye Female Male Female Ducks birds with webbed feet and bills comb-like plates