Gwaii Haanas Guest House and Kayaks Haida Gwaii / Queen Charlotte Islands, British Columbia, Canada Birds of Haida Gwaii (1) Family Gaviidae (Loons) All five members of this family occur in North America.  In all species, juvenile-like plumage is held through the first summer.  Loons are medium to large fish eating that capture prey by diving and pursuing underwater. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata Y>X L64cm uncommon common resident transient yes Pacific Loon Gavia Pacifica Y>X L66cm common common transient Winter   Common Loon Gavia Immer Y>X L81cm common uncommon common transient Summer Winter yes Yellow-billed Loon Gavia adamsii Y>X L86cm uncommon uncommon resident transient     Family Podicipedidae (Grebes) A worldwide family; seven species occur in North America.  Lobed toes make them strong swimmers.  Grebes are infrequently seen on land or in flight. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus L34cm uncommon common Spring Winter   Pied-billed Grebe Podiceps grisegena Y>X L34cm rare     Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena L51cm rare uncommon common resident Spring Winter   Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis L64cm common Western     Family Diomedeidae (Albatrosses) Gliding on extremely long, narrow wings, these largest of seabirds spend most of their lives at sea, alighting on the water when becalmed or when feeding on squid, fish and refuse.  Rarely can they be seen from shore.  Most species nest in large colonies on remote oceanic islands; pairs mate for life.  In flight, feet and legs may not be visible. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Laysan Albatross Phoebastria immutabillis Y>X L81cm W203cm casual     Black-footed Albatross Phoebastria nigripes Y>X L81cm W203cm common rare Summer Winter     Family Procellariidae (Shearwaters, Petrels) These gull-size seabirds have longer wings than gulls; bill are topped with large nostril tubes. Rapid wingbeats alternating with stiff-winged glides present a distinctive flight pattern as these birds skim the waves in search of food.  Pelagic; most species are rarely seen from shore. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis Y>X L48cm W107cm common resident   Buller's Shearwater Puffinus bulleri L41cm W102cm uncommon common Summer Fall   Pink-footed Shearwater Puffinus creatopus L48cm W109cm rare common transient Summer   Flesh-footed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes L43cm W104cm accidental     Short-tailed Shearwater Puffinus carneipes L43cm W99cm rare     Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus L43cm W101cm abundant uncommon Summer Winter     Family Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels) Sprightly fliers, these small seabirds hover close to the water, pattering or hopping across the waves to pluck up small fish and plankton.  Some species follow ships at night because the birds are attracted to strong lights similar to the behavior of moths which results in high mortality of some colonies.  Identification is often difficult.  Flight patterns may help to distinguish the various species, but flight can vary deceptively depending on weather. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Leach's Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa L20cm W46cm abundant Summer yes Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma furcata L22cm W46cm abundant rare Summer Winter yes   Family Fregatidae (Frigatebirds) These large, dark seabirds have the longest wingspan, in proportion to weight, of all birds. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Magnificent Frigatebird Fregata magnificens X>Y L102cm W229cm accidental       Family Phakacrocoracidae (Cormorants) Dark birds with set-back legs; long, hooked bill; and colourful bare facial skin and throat pouch.  Dive from the surface for fish.  May briefly soar, and may swim submerged to the neck. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Y>X L81cm W132cm rare uncommon Summer Winter   Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatus L89cm W122cm rare     Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus L66cm W99cm common resident yes Red-faced Cormorant Phalacrocorax urile L79cm W117cm accidental       Family Ardeidae (Herons, Bitterns) Wading birds; most have long legs, neck, and bill for stalking food in shallow water.  Graceful crests and plumes adorn some species in breeding season. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus L71cm W107cm casual     Cattle Egret Bulbulcus ibis L51cm W91cm casual Winter   Snowy Egret Egretta thula L61cm W104cm hypothetical     Great Egret Ardea alba Y>X L99cm W130cm accidental     Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Y>X L117cm W183cm unusual resident yes     Family Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans) Worldwide family.  Aquatic, web-footed, gregarious birds ranging from small ducks to large swans.  Most feed on water; geese, swans, and some "puddle ducks" such as Wigeons also graze on land. NAME SIZE ABUNDANCE RESIDENCE NESTING Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus Y>X L132cm rare     Trumpeter Swan Cygnus buccinator Y>X L152cm uncommon common transient Winter   Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Y>X L71cm uncommon rare Spring Fall/winter   Snow Goose Chen caerulescens Y>X L66-84cm W132-165cm rare Fall/Winter   Emperor Goose Chen canagica L66cm casual     Canada Goose Branta canadensis Y>X L64-114cm uncommon abundant Summer Winter yes Brant Branta bernicia Y>X L64cm abundant common Spring, transient Winter   Perching ducks These surface-feeding, woodland ducks are equipped with sharp claws for perching the trees.  They nest in tree cavities or nest boxes. Wood Duck Aix sponsa Y>X L47cm casual Winter   Dabbling Ducks Surface-feeding members of the genus Anas: the familiar "puddle ducks" of freshwater shallows and, chiefly in winter, salt marshes.  Dabblers feed by tipping tail-up to reach aquatic plants, seeds, and snails.  They require no running start to take off but spring directly into flight.  Most species show a distinguishing swatch of bright colour, the speculum, on the secondaries.  Many are known to hybridize. Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Y>X L58cm common resident yes Gadwall Anas Strepera Y>X L51cm rare     Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Y>X L37cm uncommon common Summer Winter yes American Wigeon Anas americana Y>X L48cm rare common Summer Winter   Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Y>X L51cm uncommon Winter   Northern Pintail Anas acuta XL51cm YL66cm common rare uncommon Spring, transient Summer Winter   Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Y>X L48cm uncommon Winter, transient   Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Y>X L39cm rare Summer   Cinnamon Teal Anas cyacoptera Y>X L41cm rare Spring/Summer   Pochards Diving ducks of the genus Aythya have legs far back and far apart, which makes walking awkward.  Heavy bodies requires a running start on water for takeoff.  Various species hybridize; seemingly rare birds sighted outside their normal range may in fact be hybrids. Canvasback Aythya valisineria Y>X L53cm uncommon Winter   Redhead Aythya americana Y>X L48cm rare Winter   Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Y>X L43cm uncommon Winter   Greater Scaup Aythia marila Y>X L46cm common uncommon common Spring, transient Summer Winter   Lesser Scaup Aythia affinis Y>X L42cm rare Winter   Eiders These large, bulky diving sea ducks have dense down feathers that help insulate them from the cold northern waters.  Females pluck their own down to line the nests. Common Eider Somateria mollissima Y>X L61cm accidental     King Eider Somateria spectabillis Y>X L56cm casual     Steller's Eider Polysticta stelleri Y>X L43cm casual     Sea Ducks Stocky, short-necked diving ducks, most species breed in the far north and migrate in large, compact flocks to and from their coastal wintering grounds. Black Scoter Melanitta nigra Y>X L48cm common uncommon Spring, transient Winter   White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca Y>X L53cm common uncommon abundant transient Summer Winter   Surf Scoter Melanitta fusca Y>X L51cm common abundant transient Winter   Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus Y>X L42cm uncommon common Summer/Fall Spring/Winter yes Oldsquaw Clangula hyemalis YL56cm XL41cm common common Spring, transient Winter   Barrow's Goldeneye Bucephala islandica Y>X L46cm uncommon Winter yes Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Y>X L47cm rare common resident Winter   Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Y>X L34cm rare common common resident Spring, transient Winter   Mergansers Long, thin, serrated bills help these divers catch fish, crustaceans, and aquatic insects.  Mergansers in flight show pointed wings and a distinctive profile:  Head looks like a bump between long neck and bill. Common Merganser Mergus merganser Y>X L64cm common resident yes Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Y>X L58cm rare uncommon resident Winter yes Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus Y>X L46cm rare uncommon resident Winter yes Stiff-tailed Ducks Long, stiff tail feathers serve as a rudder for these diving ducks.  In both species, male's bill is blue in breeding season. Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Y>X L38cm casual Winter   TO PAGE 2 Back to bird families list MAPS ACCOMMODATION KAYAK RENTAL BOAT EXCURSIONS TRANSPORTATION PRICES TO CONTACT US PHOTO ALBUM QUESTIONNAIRE WILDLIFE GWAII HAANAS NATIONAL PARK HAIDA GWAII TABLE OF CONTENTS

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