Unit IX: Water Birds in Kansas Information

1
Unit IX Water Birds in Kansas Information
2
American Coot
3
American Coot

• Family Rallidae, the Rails, Gallinules and
  Coots.
• Found in every county in Kansas.
• Most common from late February through November,
  but has been seen all year.
• Found in marshes, ponds, rivers and lakes.
• Not nearly as shy as the other rails.
• Also called mudhen.
• Eats mostly plants, but sometimes insects and
  molluscs.

4
Canada Goose
5
Canada Geese
6
Canada Goose

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Several subspecies, characterized by different
  sizes and coloration.
• Found across Kansas, breeds locally, main
  migrations occur in fall with groups staying
  until the water freezes, then they move south and
  return again when water thaws. Then main groups
  return north in the spring.
• Usually pair for life.
• Eats primarily natural grasses or cultivated
  cereals such as wheat, often at some distance
  from their resting areas. Also eat aquatic
  plants by dipping in shallow water.

7
Greater White-fronted Goose
8
Greater White-fronted Goose

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Seen on ground, they look like small, dark geese,
  up close you can see the pink bill, white face
  and speckled belly.
• Peak migrations in mid-November and late
  February.
• Graze on grasses, millet, wheat, waste grain,
  submerged roots.

9
Bufflehead
10
Bufflehead

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Main migration in mid-November, and again in late
  March-early April.
• Some will stay around in winter until water
  freezes.
• Looks like it has a very large head, and is
  easily identified by the large white patch
  (females have a smaller patch on sides of head).
• Diving duck, dives for invertebrates and some
  fish, also eats a some aquatic vegetation.

11
Gadwall
12
Gadwall

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Found across Kansas.
• Peak migration is in late March and early April,
  and again in late October. Some stay in winter
  until water freezes. Some may nest in summer,
  especially in western half of state.
• Eats primarily pond weeds, and seeds of grasses
  and sedges.

13
Common Goldeneye
14
Common Goldeneye

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Winter resident, mostly found mid-December
  through mid-March, as long as water is not
  frozen.
• Green sheen to head, gold eye, and white patch
  between eye and bill is distinctive.
• Strong diver, eats mostly crustaceans, mollusks,
  insects, some fish, and also some seeds and
  aquatic plants.

15
Hooded Merganser
16
Hooded Merganser

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• More common in eastern half than western half of
  state.
• Found during migration in spring and fall.
• Prefers quiet waters with trees nearby.
• Mergansers have characteristically small, thin,
  dainty bills.
• Eats fishes, frogs, crustaceans, insects obtained
  by diving.

17
Mallard
18
Mallard

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Found throughout the state, nests here and is
  found in winter until water freezes.
• Our most wide-spread duck.
• Peak migrations in late February early March,
  and then again in late November.
• Eats mostly seeds and other plant parts, will
  also eat insects and other invertebrates.

19
Northern Pintail
20
Northern Pintail

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Found across state, nests here and can be found
  in winter when water is not frozen.
• Peak migration in early March and early November.
• A slim, elegant, well-known duck in Kansas.
• Eats primarily vegetations, with some
  invertebrates.

21
Ringneck Duck
22
Ringneck Duck

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Common spring migrant across state, uncommon in
  fall, and can sometimes be found in winter when
  water is not frozen.
• Peak migration in late March, and in late October
  and early November.
• Birds are said to choose their favorite ponds or
  areas in a marsh and return to them consistently.
• Eats mostly aquatic vegetation, along with some
  invertebrates caught while diving.

23
Redhead
24
Redhead

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• A common migrant statewide, can also be found
  occasionally in summer and winter.
• Peak migration in mid-March, and again from
  mid-October to mid-November.
• Eats mostly aquatic plants and algae, with some
  insects.

25
Greater Scaup
26
Greater Scaup

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Very similar to Lesser Scaup, which is much more
  common.
• A migrant and winter resident.
• In very good lighting conditions, the male
  Greater Scaup has a green sheen to its head, and
  a more smoothly rounded head than the purple head
  of the Lesser Scaup.
• 60 of diet is seeds and other parts of
  pondweeds, aquatic plants, sedges, and grasses.
  Remainder is animal food, chiefly amphipods,
  snails, other molluscs, and insects.

27
Common Merganser
28
Common Merganser

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Common across Kansas during migration.
• Most arrive in early November, and remain as long
  as there is open water. When water freezes, they
  move south, and then return when water thaws.
  They depart northward in late March.
• Recognized by their loon-like appearance, and
  long, slim bill.
• Eats mostly animal food it catches while diving.

29
Lesser Scaup
30
Lesser Scaup

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Found across Kansas.
• Common migrant in spring and fall, occurs
  occasionally in summer and winter.
• Peak migration in late March and mid-December.
• In very good lighting conditions, the male has a
  purple sheen to its head, and has a more peaked
  crown than the Greater Scaup.
• 60 of diet is seeds and other parts of
  pondweeds, aquatic plants, sedges, and grasses.
  Remainder is animal food, chiefly amphipods,
  snails, other molluscs, and insects.

31
American White Pelican
32
American White Pelican
33
American White Pelican

• Family Pelecanidae, the Pelicans
• Common bird found at Cheyenne Bottoms and on the
  large reservoirs.
• Migration peaks in April, and again in late
  September to early October. Have been found in
  summer and winter.
• Unmistakable because it is so large (10-17 lbs),
  white and has a large orange bill.
• Has a 9-foot wingspan and can soar for hours.
• Feeds in shallow waters on mostly fish.

34
Double-crested Cormorant
35
Double-crested Cormorant

• Family Phalacrocoracidae, the Cormorants
• Regular spring and fall transient, especially in
  eastern and central Kansas.
• Migration peaks in mid-April and early October.
• Have been found in summer and winter.
• Normally occur in flocks and prefer lakes or
  ponds with snags and dead trees.
• Perch upright, often with wings extended in a
  drying posture.
• Has a 9-foot wingspan and can soar for hours.
• Feeds almost entirely on fishes captured when
  they swim underwater.

36
Pied-billed Grebe
37
Pied-billed Grebe

• Family Podicipediae, the Grebes.
• Common throughout Kansas, has been found in all
  months of the year.
• Most migration falls in March, April and May
  some remain to breed migrates again in
  September, October and November some remain
  through winter as long as water is open.
• Usually dives when disturbed, but can also sink
  out of sight.
• Eats small fish and invertebrates, caught while
  diving, and also eats some plants.

38
Ring-billed Gull
39
Ring-billed Gull

• Family Laridae, the Gulls, Terns and Skimmers.
• Common throughout state, especially in central
  Kansas.
• Have been reported all months of the year, but
  most common mid-April to mid-June and late
  September to late November.
• Found around lakes, rivers, marshes, sometimes
  garbage dumps.
• Opportunistic feeder, eats anything from garbage
  to insects, rodents and other small vertebrates.

40
Franklins Gull
41
Franklins Gull

• Family Laridae, the Gulls, Terns and Skimmers.
• Common throughout state, especially in central
  Kansas.
• Have been reported all months of the year, but
  most common mid-April to mid-June and late
  September to late November.
• A familiar sight to most Kansans, especially in
  spring when thousands cross our state heading
  north.
• Feeds primarily on insects, invertebrates, and
  sometimes small rodents, often found as flocks of
  birds follow tractors that are working fields.
  Also hunt in burned prairies and along marshes.

42
Blue-winged Teal
43
Blue-winged Teal
44
Blue-winged Teal

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Abundant migrant across the state, nests at
  Cheyenne Bottoms, and is casual in winter.
• Migration peaks from early to mid-April, and then
  from mid-September to mid-October.
• Breeding males are unmistakable with the white
  crescent on their face, and males and females
  both have blue patch on forewing.
• Eats mostly seeds of aquatic plants, sedges and
  grasses, but also their stems and leaves, along
  with mollusks, crustaceans and insects.

45
Northern Shoveler
46
Northern Shoveler

• Family Anatidae, the Ducks, Geese and Swans.
• Common throughout Kansas, has been seen all
  months but rare in winter.
• Migration peaks in mid-April and early November,
  some breed in the summer.
• Eat by straining the surface of the water through
  their bills.
• Easily recognized by large sloping head and
  oversized bill.
• Eats mostly seeds and other plant parts strained
  from the water surface, also some invertebrates.

47
References

• National Geographic Field Guide to North American
  Birds.
• Birds in Kansas, Volumes I and II, by Max
  Thompson and Charles Ely.