Birds of North America Home Page

Field Guide for all the Birds of North America


Marsh Birds

Oiseaux des marais

Bitterns, Cranes, Gallinule, Jacana, Jabiru, Limpkin, Moorhen, Rails, Sora & Swamphen

Rallidae

Information, images and range maps on over 1,000 birds of North America, including sub-species, vagrants, introduced birds and possibilities



North American Bird Search Box

There are different types of marsh birds seen in North America. The species include the Common Moorhen, cranes, Limpkin, rails, Sora and Purple Swamphen.

North American marsh birds

Marsh birds use their environment to the fullest. These skulking birds use the tall grasses and cattails as cover in their habitat. They are able to move about most times totally unnoticed.

Most marsh birds have long toes which gives them the ability to walk or run if necessary, on top of the plant life on the surface of the water. Other birds such as the American Coot prefer marsh waters deep enough to be able to swim on the surface and reach down into the water in search of its food.

Click on the bird images or names to see pictures of the Marsh Birds seen in North America

References to Other Bird Sites:

Avibase - the world bird database This site provides the user with a complete list of bird species, broken down per country, or in the example of the US or Canada, per state and province. Here, bird species names are available in other languages, a great asset to be used as a translation of foreign bird names.

ABA - American Birding Association This site represents an organization that maintains official records of all birds species that have been proven to have been seen inside the perimeters of the North American Continent and the surrounding bodies of water. Regular revised versions are posted to keep the bird list current at all times. This is the list used by all serious birders over their lifetime. You may be aware of the movie called the "Big Year". It was with this list that all the competing birders used in an attempt to set a new record as to how many bird species that could be seen by an individual birder in one calendar year.

I hope you will take advantage of these suggested websites. I have used each of them, in one way or another, throughout the years in my quest to better identify and understand our fine feathered friends.


Classic Collection of North American Birds

CCNAB