New Jersey Bird Identification

When it comes to which raptor most veteran birders would like to see, the bald eagle has to be near the top of the list, and when a nesting pair has been discovered, bird watchers are sure to break out the spotter scopes. In a given habitat, nests are usually located in the tallest tree that is closest to the water. Because bald eagles often use the same nest year after year, observing them can be simple. Nesting pairs of bald eagles are found in 17 of New Jersey's 21 counties, with many of these nests located along the Delaware, Cohansey and Maurice rivers in the southern part of the state.

While the bald eagle is quickly recognized by its white head and tail, other raptors like ospreys and hawks are often identified by their size, color and the marking of their wings, particularly the undersides--the part most visible to birders as the birds glide overhead.

New Jersey is an excellent place to observe shorebirds such as red knots, ruddy turnstones and sanderlings. In late May, on their way from wintering grounds in South America to their breeding grounds in the Arctic, these birds make a stopover in the Delaware Bay area to feast on horseshoe crab eggs that provide the energy necessary to continue their long trip. All three species are smallish (approximately 7 to 11 inches), and the ruddy turnstone is most identifiable by its harlequin patterns of elongated diamonds and squares, while the red knot is known for its brownish color and reddish breast. The sanderling is brown, with a white wing stripe. Many shorebirds' feathers become considerably pale in winter, taking on a whitish color. Cumberland and Cape May Counties on the Delaware Bay are well-known place to observe these shorebirds.

Other birds found in coastal environments include fish and crustacean-eating herons and egrets, most identifiable by their long necks, thin legs and pointed beaks.

The habitat around your own home is a haven for backyard birds, many of which are easily identifiable by their color and song. Northern cardinals with their red plumage and blue jays with their blue feathers--and trademark call--are birds nearly everyone has seen in their backyards. Robins, of course, are known by their rust-colored breast, and song sparrows can be identified by their small size, brown coloration and often musical voice. Setting up a feeder outside a window allows for closer and lengthier observation of these species for more accurate identification, and it just might lead to the sighting of an eastern goldfinch--the state bird of New Jersey.