Migration Alert for the Month of July
July is a great month to catch some bird sightings along the water. Whether you’re at a lake, by the river, or at a pond at your local metro park, plenty of birds may be making an appearance in Ohio this month, foraging on or near the water! Here are a few.
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK
While American Black Ducks can be found in Ohio for much of the year, they are most rare between early May and late June while they breed further north. They return from their nesting migration in July and can be found wintering in Ohio through April of the following year. You are likely to see American Ducks in gregarious flocks in wetlands or other marshy areas, so look out for their large black and brown bodies with paler brown heads. They have a dark crown and a thin eyeline, but one tricky thing to watch out for is the similarity in size and color of American Black Ducks to female Mallards. To distinguish between their plumages, look for the speculum, or the brightly colored patch of feathers on their wings. If you see a bluish speculum with white borders, you’re looking at a female Mallard! In American Black Ducks, the speculum is more purple with a dark border instead. For those with a particularly keen eye, see if you can make out the color of the duck’s bill. Males have a yellow bill, while females have a duller, olive green bill.
GREEN-WINGED TEAL
Another duck returning from their northern breeding ground is the Green-winged Teal. This duck is the smallest dabbling duck in North America and can be distinguished by its green speculum, matching the patch behind the eye of the male. The males have an otherwise chestnut-colored head and dark bill, with a medium gray body that either has a vertical or horizontal white stripe on each side. Meanwhile, female Green-winged Teals can look similar to other female ducks. Fortunately, both males and females are a small size and have a white- or cream-colored diagonal stripe at the rear.
LITTLE BLUE HERON
A little closer to the water’s edge, you may be able to see a Little Blue Heron at the start of its breeding season. Rather rare in Ohio, these small herons are more typically seen in the Southeast United States. The small herons have many of the mannerisms of their larger egret and heron cousins by way of slowly stalking through the water’s edge on stilted legs. When they spot fish, amphibians, crabs, or insects in the water, they snap their neck suddenly, stabbing their long bills into the water to sword their prey. Besides their small size, they can also be distinguished by their deep grayish plumage, their bodies covered in muted blue and purple tones. By contrast, their faces are pale from their eye to the base-half of their bill.
SHOREBIRDS
In Ohio, Killdeer are a familiar sight from the shorebird family—even if you’re nowhere near a shore. They love large patches of grass like your lawn, golf courses, or other man-made fields. If you haven’t seen them, you’re likely to have at least heard them, crying their namesake “kill-deer!” wail repeatedly and excitedly, usually in flight. While these birds can be found across Ohio year-round, a handful of their shorebird cousins may make an appearance this July. These include the Semipalmated Plover, the Stilted Sandpiper, the Sanderling, the Pectoral Sandpiper, and the Semipalmated Sandpiper. Though the frequency of these shorebird appearances in Ohio peak in late August and early September, they can start arriving to the beaches of Lake Erie as soon as late July. Look for them along the shoreline, running around in short, speedy spurts!
TALK TO US!
What are some interesting birds you’ve seen this past June? Have you seen any of these anticipated July birds before? Send us your comments and photos through our contact page and stay tuned for more birds to watch out for!