A presentation by librarian and amateur birdwatcher Matt Latham on finding wild birds in New Jersey during the winter months. Includes which birds you can find, where/when to look and how to find them.

1. P R E S E N T A T I O N B Y
M A T T L A T H A M
Winter Birdwatching in New
Jersey

2. Skills of Identification
 1) Physical appearance
 Plumage
 Size
 Shape
 Variability sometimes between
sexes, ages and subspecies
 2) Voice
 Calls
 Songs
 3) Range
 Preferred habitats
 Geographic range of a species
 4) Behaviors – immediate
 Flight
 Hunting (food type)
 Breeding
 Idiosyncrasies
 5) Behaviors - larger
 Migration
 Breeding
 Nesting
 Nocturnal, diurnal and/or
crepuscular

3. Physical Appearance
 Things to study:
 Overall Shape
 Overall Size
 Colors
 Tail, under
side, topside, head, beak, legs
, wings (top and
bottom), patterns, variations
 Feather layout
 Wing shape
 Tail size
 Head size
 Beginner Tools
 Study silhouettes
 http://www.birds.cornell.ed
u/AllAboutBirds/birding123
/identify/silhouette -
 Study bird parts
 http://www.birds.cornell.edu
/AllAboutBirds/birding123/i
dentify/field_marks/docume
nt_view
 Relative to major families
 Field guides often provide
these tools (Sibley Guide)

4. Physical Appearance 2
Variations
 Using Plumage
 Plumage CAN vary by gender, age, subspecies, molting
and conditions
 Conditions meaning wear and tear on the feathers due to
weather, life conditions, etc.
 Molt variation – during, before, after, different stages of molting
 Size difference
 Individual birds simply have variation
 That‟s why plates are often better for studying than photographs

5. Voice
 Songs
 Mating rituals
 General communication
 Calls
 Position
 Warning
 Flight calls
 Basic communication
1) Recognition of voice can help distinguish similar species
example – Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Gre
ater_Yellowlegs.html
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Les
ser_Yellowlegs.html
2) Identify birds not in sight

6. The Alarm of the Forest
 Blue Jay example
 The Blue Jay is prone to making an alarm call when there are
any intruders, predators or most any movement in their area.
Thus, they are often known as the Alarm of the Forest, as they
let all other animals know of an intruder presence.
 http://www.birds.cornell.edu/AllAboutBirds/BirdGuide/Blue
_Jay.html

7. Range
 Deals with the geographic
range in which species can
normally occur
 Where birds
breed, nest, winter and
over what area they
migrate
 Includes large areas of
habitat that birds will use
 Important in helping to
locate birds first
 Also, very helpful in
making an identification
 A tricky ID may be solved if a
possibility for the ID would
be very far out of range and
habitat

8. Migration
 Why?
 Flying north for the
summer
 Less competition for
resources
 Less predators
 Flying south for the
winter
 Escape harsh
weather, loss of
food, resources

9. Immediate Behaviors
 Flying
 Gliding vs flapping
 Smooth vs erratic
 Bobbing up and down
 Goldfinch
 Breeding
 Calls
 Movements
 Prominence
 Positioning
 Ex: Perched on display
 Idiosyncratic behaviors
 Specific to individual species or
families
 Diurnal vs Nocturnal
 Nesting
 Type of nest
 Location of nest
 Ground, tree, etc.
 Materials used
 Hunting
 Hovering
 Perched
 chasing
 Mobbing
 Some species prone to this
behavior
 Crows, Jays, Red-winged
Blackbirds

10. Long-term Behaviors
 Migration habits
 Distance traveled
 All at once / in intervals
 Follow ridge tops / coasts
 Travel by night or day
 Breeding, Nesting and
Wintering habits
 Diurnal vs Nocturnal
 Pair for life vs other
breeding habits
 Mute Swan vs. Red-
winged Blackbird

11. Habitat
 Knowing the preferred
habitat for a species can
be one of the best ways to
locate AND identify birds
 Often, identifying a bird
can rely on whether that
species belongs in a
certain habitat
 Some species are very
adaptable to a variety of
habitats
 Some require a very
specific habitat
 Canada Goose vs. Bank
Swallow

12. Major Types of Habitats In the North America
 Forest
 Boreal
 Riparian Woodland
 Mixed Deciduous
 Northern Hardwood
 Wetlands
 Freshwater Marshes
 Saltmarshes and Tidal Flats
 Lakes and Ponds
 Rivers and Streams
 Ocean
 Upwelling
 Coastal
 Dunes, shoreline, bays, estuarie
s, etc.
 Estuary
 Mangrove
 Grasslands
 Few remaining areas in NJ
 Edge Habitat
 Successional
 Stages of growth between
forest and plains
 Shrub land important habitat
 Area between 2 different
habitats – transitioning
 Agricultural
 Human related
 Cities
 Urban parks
 Parking lots
 Killdeer
 Many more…
 Garbage dumps

13. The A.O.U. Check-list of North American
Birds, Seventh Edition
 American Ornithologists‟ Union
 Previously classified by visual and behavioral
similarity
 Now mostly derived from genetic connections
 http://www.aou.org/checklist/index.php3 -

14. My Bird Groupings -
Northeastern America
 Waterfowl
 Ducks, geese, swans, loons
and grebes
 Hawks and Allies
 Hawks, Falcons, Eagles, Vult
ures and Osprey
 Shore / oceanic
 Gulls, terns, shearwates, petr
als, pelicans, gannets, brandt
, sandpipers, etc.
 Owls
 Songbirds – Warblers
Forest dwelling
 Flycatchers, Jays, woodpecke
rs, tanagers
 Field dwelling / grassland
 Sparrows, finches, larks, bunt
ings
 Marsh dwelling
 Herons, ibis, sandpipers, coot
, egret
 Easy to remember
 Mostly black colored
 Crow, raven, blackbirds, cowb
irds, starling, grackle, catbirds
 Everything else

15. Know the Local Common Species
 American Robin
 Northern Cardinal
 Black-capped Chickadee
 Tufted Titmouse
 Cedar Waxwing
 Gray Catbird
 Brown-headed Cowbird
 American Crow
 Turkey Vulture
 Red-tailed Hawk
 Great Blue Heron
 Mallard
 Canada Goose

16. Invasive, Non-Native Species
 Invasive, non-native species can take habitat from
other native species, occupy niches that push other
birds out, and even steal nests.
 House Sparrow
 European Starling
 Mute Swan
 Rock Dove (pigeon)

17. Winter NJ Birding
 Where to go: coast, lakes, open
water, grasslands, and sometimes edge and forests
 What to see: waterfowl, sea birds, finches, owls and
wintering hawks, snow geese, larks, etc.
 Things to remember:
 you are looking for either WINTERING birds or YEAR
ROUND RESIDENTS
 At the beginning and end of winter, you can catch early/late
migrants (spring/fall)

18. Types of Habitats Good for birding in winter
 Unique wintering bird NJ habitats:
 Ocean
 Shore
 Lakes and Rivers
 Grasslands
 *Edge
 Can still find birds in every habitat type
 **Bird feeders

19. What Birds to See in Which Habitat
 Ducks, Geese, and related species
 Lakes, Shore, Ocean, rivers
 Sparrows, larks, buntings
 Grasslands, Edge habitat
 Wintering Hawks and Owls
 Edge, open fields, forests

20. Year Round Residents
 Northern Cardinal
 Blue Jay
 Black-capped Chickadee
 American Crow
 Mallard
 Great Blue Heron
 Red-tailed Hawk
 Canada Geese
 Cedar Waxwing
 American Robin
 Eastern Bluebird
 White-breasted Nuthatch
 Brown Creeper
 Woodpeckers
 Herring Gull
 And a few others…

21. Waterfowl – great time of year
 Many species Winter in New Jersey
 Southern Migration:
 September early, November peak
 Northern Migration
 February and March

22. Ducks and Allies to Look For
 Green-winged Teal
 Common Merganser
 Mallard
 Northern Pintail
 Bufflehead
 American Wigeon
 Gadwall
 American Black Duck
 Northern Shoveler
 Long-tailed Duck
 Red-head
 Harlequin Duck
 Canvasback
 Lesser and Greater Scaup
 White-winged and other Scoters
 Ruddy Duck
 Common Goldeneye
 Ruddy Duck
 Hooded Merganser
 Red-breasted Merganser
 Ring-necked Duck
 Common Eider
 King Eider

23. More Waterfowl
 Common Loon
 Red-throated Loon
 Brandt
 Snow Goose
 Northern Gannet
 Pied-billed Grebe
 Horned Grebe
 Red-necked Grebe

24. Other Species
 Finches
 Sparrows
 Wintering Hawks
 Red-tailed, Harriers, Rough-legged, Sharp-shined, Cooper‟s,
 Owls
 Snowy, Short-Eared, Barred, Screech, Saw-whet, Great Horned

25. Common, Hooded, and Red-breasted Merganser

26. Mallard and American Black Duck

27. Northern Pintail and Long-tailed Duck

28. Gadwall and American Wigeon

29. Green-winged Teal and Wood Duck

30. Northern Shoveler and Harlequin Duck

31. Common and King Eider

32. White-winged and Black Scoter

33. Canvasback and Redhead

34. Ring-necked Duck and Lesser Scaup

35. Common Goldeneye

36. Northern Gannet

37. Common and Red-throated Loon

38. Grebes – Pied-billed, Horned, Red-necked, Eared

39. Brandt and Snow Goose

40. Grassland and Shrub Birds
 Horned Lark
 Snow Bunting
 Swamp Sparrow
 …Sparrow

41. Snow Bunting

42. Horned Lark

43. Owls and Wintering Hawks + Allies
 Great-horned Owl
 Short-eared Owl
 Snowy Owl
 Barn Owl
 Long-eared Owl
 Barred Owl
 Eastern-Screech Owl
 Northern Saw-whet Owl
 Red-tailed Hawk
 Rough-legged Hawk
 Sharp-shinned Hawk
 Cooper‟s Hawk
 Northern Goshawk
 Northern Harrier
 Red-shouldered Hawk
 American Kestrel
 Peregrine Falcon
 Bald Eagle

44. Snowy and Great Horned Owl

45. Northern Harrier and Red-tailed Hawk

46. My Favorite Winter Locations in New Jersey
 Meadowlands
 Round Valley
 Merrill Creek
 Swartswood Lake / Culver‟s Lake
 Liberty State Park
 Shark River Inlet
 Cape May
 Various points along the shore
 Liberty Loop
 Layton/Walpack

47. Meadowlands
(Dekorte Park/Sawmill Creek)

48. Meadowlands (Dekorte/Sawmill Creek)
 What to see:
 A dozen species of duck
 Wintering hawks
 Rough-
legged, Harrier, Red-tailed
 Sparrows and allies
 Random rare birds
 Eurasian Green-winged
Teal
 Possible Snowy Owl
 In spring/fall/summer =
tons of wading and shore
birds too
 Description:
 Mudflats, large
marsh, open water, reed
marsh, some scrub and
tree area
 Great in many seasons
 Best place in Hudson
county
 *American Woodcock

49. Meadowlands
 Drive to Dekorte Park – park near the Meadowlands
Commission building and the observatory
 Walk along the water facing the highway – same side as
Meadowlands commission
 Teal, mallards, ring-necks
 Scan the open water near the building and then in the
next „pool‟ on the left
 Often mudflat in spring/summer – some of the best duck birding
 Continue and scan the pool to the right and then move
onto the 2 big pool areas
 More great duck birding / deeper water
 Spotting scope suggested

50. Liberty State Park

51. Liberty State Park
 What to see
 Ducks
 Wintering Raptors
 Some ocean birds
 *Snowy Owl
http://www.youtube.com/w
atch?v=pYiBTTSzxUc
 Description
 Field, edge, riverfront, me
adows, some marsh
 Good for some ducks and
ocean birds
 Recent years have hosted
a wintering snowy owl
along with the
Meadowlands

52. Round Valley

53. Round Valley
 Begin walk at entry
beach
 Walk around the
peninsula hugging the
water toward the
swimming area
 Scan water with
binoculars
 Spotting scope
recommended

54. Round Valley
 Hunterdon County
 Description: Deep, in-
land lake (reservoir)
 Good habitat for
dabbling and diving
ducks
 One of few inland places
to see ducks that require
deep water
 Long-tailed
Duck, Scoters, Eiders
(rare)
 What to look for:
 Ducks
 Long-tailed
Duck, Scoters, Eiders, Gre
bes, Loons
 Gulls

55. Spruce Run

56. Spruce Run
 Hunterdon County
 Description:
 Wandering glacier lake
 Forest and some open
fields
 Drive around lake and
stop at most points
where you can get a good
look at the water
 Spotting scope suggested
 What to see:
 Common Loon
 Pied-pilled Grebe
 Possible other Grebes
 Variety of wintering and
migratory ducks until
 Summer/Spring/Fall
 Marsh/shore birds
 Vireo/flycatchers
 warblers

57. Swartswood Lake

58. Swartswood Lake

59. Swartswood Lake
 Sussex County
 Description: Glacial lake surrounded by
woodland, and some marsh
 3 bodies of water: Swartswood Lake, Little
Swartswood Lake, Duck Pond
 Recreation, park, swimming, beach areas
 Ideal inland lake spot for migrating waterfowl

60. Swartswood Lake
 What to See:
 A dozen species of duck / mostly inland ducks
 Loons and grebes
 Colony of Cormorants on island
 Bald Eagle nest on Little Swartswood
 Forest birds
 Bluebird resident population
 Some field birds

61. Swartswood Lake
 Main Waterfowl to see:
 Redhead
 Mallard
 Bufflehead
 Common Merganser
 Hooded Merganser
 Green-winged Teal
 Ring-necked Duck
 American Wigeon
 Common Goldeneye
 Pied-billed Grebe
 Possibilities:
 Horned Grebe
 Common Loon
 Long-tailed Duck
 Common Eider

62. Merrill Creek

63. Merrill Creek
 Warren County NJ
 Description: large lake with surrounding woods and
some scrub area
 What to see: Snow Geese, ducks, sparrows
 Good site for seeing many different inland duck
species during migration.
 Excellent place to see migrating Snow Geese flocks
 Also the site of a Hawk Watch
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCBa4XfKtbk

64. Manasquan / Shark River Inlet
 Monmouth County
 Description: Large area in several towns surrounding
the estuary
 Large estuary
 Shoreline
 Ponds and small lakes
 Marshes
 Fields

65. Manasquan / Shark River Inlet
 Usually open water, even in middle of winter
 What to see: ducks, loons, grebes (Red-necked
Grebe), Purple Sandpipers, Gannets, Gulls, + lots
more
 Overall great place to go – lots to look at
 Suggested: car birding (especially in
winter), scope, warm clothes, map

66. Shark River Inlet

67. Shark River Inlet

68. Liberty Loop/Wallkill River National
Wildlife Refuge

69. Liberty Loop
 Northern Sussex County
 Description: large
marshlands, wetlands, riparian, and scrub area
surrounded by forest
 What to see: when not frozen – ducks, sandpipers.
Also, Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk Short-
eared Owl, sparrows
 Excellent place overall any time of year. One of only
places good for Rough-legged Hawk in NJ
 Walk the loop (2 miles)

70. Alpha Grasslands

71. Alpha Grasslands
 Warren County NJ
 Description: one of only “grassland” type habitats in
the state
 Good for Larks, buntings, and other grassland
species
 Farmland alongside a road –simply park along road
and wander up and down road – don‟t go on grass as
its private property

72. Brigantine

73. Brigantine
 Atlantic County
 Description: Huge tidal marsh and shoreline wetland
 What to see: when not frozen, huge #s of
shorebirds, sandpipers, and allies
 Also, wintering hawks, sparrows, wintering
shorebirds
 $5 donation – drive your car around the several mile
loop, pulling over to get out and scan
 Scope necessary
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j7YZ3XzQ3pk

74. Cape May

75. Cape May
 Cape May County
 Description: best place to birdwatch in NJ, possible
in North America
 Perfect location for nearly all migrants
 Lots of different habitats –
shoreline, wetlands, riparian, fields, scrubs, sand
dune forest, etc.
 In Winter: rare wintering birds, hawks, grassland
species, ducks, shorebirds, ocean birds, etc.

76. Good Books
 Peterson‟s Guide
 Sibley‟s Guide
 Bird Finding in New Jersey
 Stokes Audio Field Guide

77. Bird Watching Clubs and Environmental Centers
 Sussex County Bird Club
 Cape May Bird Observatory
 Great Swamp
 Sandy Hook
 Essex County Environmental Center
 Tenafly Nature Center
 Sherman-Hoffman

78. Online Resources
 Online Guides / General
Info
 AllAboutBirds – online guide
from Cornell Labs
 http://www.birds.cornell.edu
/AllAboutBirds/
 eNature – guide to many
animals, plants
 http://www.enature.com
 Weather / Predictions
 Woodcreeper blog -
http://www.woodcreeper.com/
 Birding forecast blog, Cape May Bird -
http://www.birdcapemay.org/forecast.sh
tml
 Informative / Reports /
Sightings
 Voice of NJ Audubon
 Birdingonthenet
 Jerseybirds
 http://www.princeton.edu/~l
larson/njb/jbird.html
 Sussex County bird club
 http://www.sussexbirdclub.org
 Rare Bird Alert (online AND
Hotline)
 Meadowlands Commission
Blog - http://www.meadowblog.net
 Delaware Valley -
http://www.dvoc.org/DelValBirding/Sigh
tings.htm
 eBird

79. Events Linked with Birdwatching
 Christmas Bird Count
 http://www.audubon.org/Bird/cbc/
 World Series of Birding
 http://www.birdcapemay.org/wsob.shtml
 Great Backyard Bird Count
 http://www.audubon.org/gbbc/
 Pelagics
 http://www.paulagics.com/
 ABA Big Day
 http://www.aba.org/bigday/

80. Local and NJ Events
 Pelagics
 Bird walks
 Nature Conservancy
 http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/newjersey/ev
ents/
 NJ Audubon
 http://www.njaudubon.org/calendar/
 Great Swamp
 http://www.friendsofgreatswamp.org/
 Sherman-Hoffman
 http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/Scherman/
 Sussex County Bird Club
 http://www.sussexbirdclub.org/
 Meadowlands Commission
 http://www.meadowblog.net/

81. Birdwatching Groups
 National Organizations
 Audubon Society
 NJ Chapter
 http://www.njaudubon.org/
 American Birding
Association
 http://www.americanbirding.org
 Local
 Sussex County Bird Club
 http://www.sussexbirdclub.org/
 Friends of the Great
Swamp
 http://www.friendsofgreatswamp.org/
 Scherman-Hoffman
 http://www.njaudubon.org/Centers/Sche
rman/