30 Birds You’ll See Along Virginia’s Coastline and Beaches

Whether you are a birdwatcher from Virginia or are merely vacationing at its beaches, you will wish to take a look at the regional birds. Many of the coastline birds seen in Virginia are migratory, suggesting they fly south for the cold winter season and go back to Virginia when the temperature levels heat up in the spring. Some coastline birds can just be seen in Virginia on a stopover as they prepare to continue their trek south. You will see whatever from standard sandpipers at the beach to hooded mergansers along the calmer seaside waterways and noise. The variety of colors and musical notes of these birds of Virginia’s shoreline will fill any nature-loving individual with pleasure and peace.

Mallards are one type of duck that is very comfortable around humans and can often be seen anywhere from marshes to the pond in your backyard. They are also one of the most recognizable of our feathered friends. They are medium-sized dabbling ducks at 20-26 inches long and have a wingspan of 32-39 inches long. The quack of the female mallard is the universally recognized “duck sound.” Contrary to popular belief, ducks should steer clear of bread but feed on cereal, seeds, and other human snacks.

The American coot is a unique-looking bird with round red eyes, a white bill, scaled feet, and a chicken-like body. They almost look like someone stuck parts from several different types of birds together to make one plump and odd-looking little feathered friend. They are slight at 16 inches in length and have tiny tails and a small wingspan of 23-28 inches. These odd little fellows have been recorded living to the ripe old age of 22 years. During the summer breeding season, you can see them having just migrated to the Virginia coast.

The American Woodcock is a bird with a funny name and even funnier nicknames; bogsucker, timberdoodle, and hokum poke, to name a few. Adults are undersized at 10-12 inches long and have a wingspan of 16.5-18.9 inches. The males perform a spectacular dance during mating season and display magnificent head plumage. The females are a bit larger than the males, and though they are related to the sandpiper, they prefer the brush in the marsh over the sandy beaches.

Bald Eagles symbolize the United States and our freedom, but their grace and beauty far surpass their symbolism in the human world. These large birds of prey are known for their enormous nests (13+ feet deep!), tight bonds with their mates, and exceptional predatory abilities. Bald eagles are giant at 28-40 inches long with a wingspan of 5 feet 11 inches – 7 feet 7 inches. These beautiful birds weigh 10-15 pounds as adults. During mating season, these large birds can be found along any body of water, favoring marshes and coastal areas.

This small and widely seen seabird is native to the West Indies but is in coastal areas throughout the United States. Black-capped petrels are relatively small coastal birds with lengths of 16 inches and wingspans of 37 inches, but they are more significant than most other petrels. Their nickname is Diablotín, meaning little devil, due to their nighttime activities and odd-sounding mating call, making locals believe them to be evil spirits in the dark. When these birds are seen in Virginia coastal lands, it is during the non-breeding season. The petrels tend to nest on tall cliffs in small caves. Sadly, they have become one of the most endangered types of birds of the North Atlantic, in addition to its relative, the Bermuda Petrel.

Black-necked stilts are cute black and white birds upon long pink stilt-like legs. These slim and stylish animals are plentiful amongst the seaside lands of the eastern Americas. They are 13.8-15.9 inches in length and have a wingspan of 28.1-29.7 inches. The little white area above their eyes appears like an eyebrow. These long-legged seaside birds look for shellfishes and anthropods in shallow waters. You will probably see them in Virginia breeding in late April through August.

These little berry-eating birds are 5-7 inches long and have 8.7-11.6 inches wingspan. Frequently seen on the coast, these are not beach birds and tend to have a comparable diet plan to inland birds, consisting of worms, berries, seeds, and other pests. These are really social birds and frequently groom each other.

This small bird is carefully associated to the sparrow and has actually 15 subspecies determined. The dark-eyed junco is generally 5.1-6.9 inches in length and has a wingspan of 7.1-9.8 inches. They can typically be seen year-round at seaside Virginia birdfeeders.

The dunlin is little, determining 6.3-8.7 inches in length, and has a wingspan of 14.2-15 inches. On the idea of the dunlin’s expense is a soft area that fills with blood and nerve endings and help them in discovering invertebrates in the muddy and sandy banks. Their nests are shallow holes in marshy plant life surrounded by branches. Though their population worldwide is still considerable, it is reducing.

The terrific blue heron is the most popular heron belonging to North America. They are two times the size and weight of white egrets at 36-54 inches long and have a wingspan of 66-79 inches. They can be discovered year-round near Virginia seaside waters. Blue herons have a remarkable method of walking 8 inches at a time in a close-to-perfectly straight line.

The charming higher yellowlegs is a year-round homeowner of the Virginia coast. Its somewhat upcurved, darkly colored expense is longer than its head. It varies from 11-16 inches and has a wingspan of roughly 24 inches. They nest on the ground in wetland locations, and their offspring leave the nest 24 hr after they hatch. That’s some extremely rapid parenting tasks!

This flamboyant fish-eating duck isn’t simply a quite face; they are likewise outstanding scuba divers. They tend to hunt by sight while undersea. These medium-sized seaside birds are usually 15.8-19.3 inches in length and have a wingspan of 23.6-26 inches. The males have plumage that they can raise and lower while looking for a mate. These birds are seen year-round on the coast of Virginia.

These little reddish-orange-eyed Virginia birds enjoy to hang out on the coast, however you will not discover them nesting there. Instead, they tend to nest simply put yard or roofs. They are not big at 7.9-11 inches in length and have a wingspan of 23-25 inches. These little people are really singing and called for among their lots of noises.

This feathered friend comes from the sandpiper family and searches for its food by sewing a sewing pattern undersea to figure out the little mollusks and invertebrates. They likewise have an amazing breeding display screen as they go after the women while in flight. The length of the long-billed dowitcher is 11.5 inches, and their wingspan is 18.5-19.3 inches. You can identify these birds as they move from Canada to Florida for winter season.

Gannets are uncommon and striking-looking birds. Not just are they striking looking, however they are great scuba divers when trying to find their next meal. They can dive approximately 200 feet and appear to do so without rhyme or factor. These huge seaside birds are 34 -39 inches long and have a wingspan of 67-71 inches. These comprehensive feathered artworks are belonging to Canada and parts of Europe and resemble boobies. Gannets make their nests from plants, sea particles, and seaweed. They tend to be aggressive towards each other when nesting.

The piping plover is an extremely little, sparrow-sized seaside bird that can be discovered on sandy Virginia beaches near the browse. You see these little birds whenever you check out the beach. They are understood for their brief burst of speed as they hunt for shellfishes as the tide declines. As the tide is available in, they run on their small stilt-like legs as quick as they can to prevent it. Plovers tend to nest really near to the ocean in the dunes. They are just 5.9-7.5 inches long and have a wingspan of 14-16 inches. During the winter season, these little birds move to the Bahamas.

This little warbler is understood for nesting in synthetic or natural cavities. Sometimes they can be discovered in old woodpecker holes. They are roughly 5 inches long with a wingspan of 8.75 inches. They are huge fans of wood swamps and tend to stay with those in the eastern United States for breeding premises. However, their migratory map is not popular, however they spend months in Belize annual throughout spring migration.

These fancy-looking birds come geared up with serrated costs for capturing fish. However, their name’s red breast just explains the types’ males. The mergansers regular the seaside waterways in the winter season. They are roughly 20-25 inches long with a wingspan of 26-29 inches. During courtship, the males “meow” at the women. They do not breed while in Virginia, so you may need to take a trip north to see or hear that.

Each year the red knot takes a trip 9000 miles on its migratory journey from the Artic to the southern idea of South America. The red knot is among the farthest-traveling migratory birds. These Virginia birds on vacation are the 2nd biggest sandpiper at 9.1-10.2 inches in length, and they have a wingspan of 19-21 inches. Both moms and dads breed the eggs, once they have actually hatched, the female leaves the parenting to the male. Their main source of food is anthropods, spiders, and little crabs. One of their preferred treats is horseshoe crab eggs.

The royal tern is a belonging to the Americas and can be seen in Virginia year-round, particularly throughout mating season, April through July. They are a big bird and the 2nd biggest tern at 18-20 inches with a wingspan of 49-53 inches. These Virginia birds usually remain near to coast or stay with little remote bodies of water when hunting for food. They lay a couple of eggs in a little hole they make on predator-free beaches without much human traffic.

The ruddy turnstone is a little cosmopolitan wading bird that is little and stocky. They are usually 8.7-9.4 inches long with a wingspan of 20-22 inches. Non-breeding grownups are a somewhat duller color than breeding grownups though they both constantly have some degree of black and white on their plumage. These birds are seldom discovered even more than a couple of miles from the ocean, specifically throughout the breeding season. They delight in a diet plan of eggs, carrion, and fish. They have actually regularly been identified dining on the eggs of other bird types at the beach.

These plovers delight in life on the beaches and flat locations of Alaska and Canada and fly south in migration annual. You can see them on the Virginia coast throughout the spring and summertime breeding seasons. They are little birds with a length of 5.5-7.9 inches and have a wingspan of 14-22 inches. Plovers have a unique technique that assists tempt predators far from their nests. They imitate they are hurt or have a damaged wing and hobble along till the predator follows them far from their nest.

The snow goose is belonging to North America. You can see them with white, dark, or often even blue plumage, though white is the most typical. When the birds are still immature, they have a bluish tint and end up being white as they grow. These appealing geese form couple bonds in their 2nd year however just usually mate in their 3rd year. They stay long-lasting partners, breeding annual. Often the young stay with their moms and dads where they were born till they reach maturity. These are geese that stay in a flock for feeding and migratory requirements.

The trumpeter swan is the heaviest native bird in North America. It is likewise among the biggest, with a length of 4 feet 6 inches through 5 feet 5 inches and a wingspan of 6 feet 2 inches through 8 feet 2 inches. Their call sounds similar to a trumpet which is their name. In 1933 these swans were seriously threatened, and less than 70 were said to exist. Their numbers are at the least cornered level on the threatened types list. In 2010 there were over 46,000 swans in North America. They choose to nest and breed in peaceful ponds, remote marshlands, and other undisturbed seaside waterways. Their diet plan includes marine plants and pests.

Tundra swans are typically seen in Virginia seaside waters. These birds are monogamous till their partner passes away; even then, they might never ever breed once again. Generally, they make huge nests in the marshes, and both moms and dads protect the 3-7 eggs. They can be extremely aggressive when securing their young. However, these swans do not reach maturity till 3 or 4 years of age and stay with their households till then. They are big birds with a length of 45-59 inches and a wingspan of 66-83 inches. They are a smaller sized swan types.

These small birds are typically seen regardless of the decrease in their natural environment. However, they are really deceptive and tend to be heard more than seen in the wild. Adults step 7.5 -10 inches in length and have a wingspan of 12-15 inches. These little birds have the greatest ratio of leg-to-flight muscles of all birds. Also, they are geared up with long toes to help support them as they walk on drifting plant life. The rails are seen in freshwater and brackish marshes along the coast and often in saltwater marshes in the winter season.

The fast willet races along the winter season coastline capturing little shellfishes.
This big shorebird, a huge sandpiper, tends to winter season in the southern United States and can frequently be discovered in the seaside Virginia waterways. These Virginia birds are 12-16 inches long and have a wingspan of 27 inches. The willet gets its name from its territorial call, “pill-will-willet.” They tend to make their nests in freshwater marsh turfs and wetlands. They can be seen on sandy or rocky beaches in the winter season. Among their preferred foods are mole crabs, fiddler crabs, little invertebrates, and worms.

The little, speckled Wilson’s snipe forages for worms and plant life along the riverbank.
This little, stocky shorebird is charming and has a long expense, which allows it to be an outstanding forager. Adults are just 9-11 inches long and have a wingspan of 15-18 inches. Their breeding premises include bogs, marshes, and wetlands in the northern United States and Canada. They tend to move south in the winter season when you will probably see them on the sandy beaches of Virginia. Wilson’s snipes are really shy birds and tend to prevent people whenever possible. They have a wonderful in-flight technique of zig-zagging to sidetrack and puzzle predators.

A yellow-rumped warbler can regularly dine on fruits from toxin ivy and oak.
This bird is extensive in North America, on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts year-round. These quite bit Virginia birds choose pests however likewise delight in consuming juniper berries, specifically in the winter season. The typical length of the yellow-rumped warbler is 4.7-5.9 inches, and they have a wingspan of 7.5-9.4 inches. They are seen sweeping like flycatchers in diving movements to scoop up the optimum quantity of pests from their perches. These little birds usually move during the night.