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Geese, Swans, Loons and Cormorants of Lake Huron |
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Geese, Swans, Loons and Cormorants of Lake Huron |
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| There are only a few species in these categories but they can be confusing. Immatures often look like adults of other species and from a distance in the air or on the water, size is a difficult thing to judge. Accidentals are always possible. | Body shape and how the bird sits on the water or flies are important clues. Song can be relied on but only if singled out for the bird in the scope. Usually where these species are seen, the waters are open with wind and waves making matters worse. |
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The Snow Goose is all white and shows pronounced black wing tips when flying. It is an uncommon spring migrant but can be very abundant in the fall. A variety is the Blue Goose, which has an all dark body and white head. |  |
| The Canada Goose (above) is the most common large bird on Lake Huron, with the possible exception of the Cormorants. It has become very tame, inhabiting all our shoreside parks and wetlands; often creating quite a mess along the beaches and picnic areas. The white cheek patch is a reliable field mark on all adults. It breeds from the Arctic to the mid-South. |
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| The Tundra Swan (above) is one of two large, white birds with extremely long necks and small bills. It has an all black bill and shows no black under its wings like the Snow Goose. When young they show a brownish cast all over (right photo above). This is the only truly wild swan we have. Breeds near the Arctic and winters in parts of the Great Lakes and south. Used to be called Whistling Swan. |
 Mute Swans have orange to yellow bills. This is the common swan of the ponds and botanical gardens. Seldom seen on the Great Lakes or in fields in large numbers. Has a nasty temper when challenged, especially if young near by. |
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The Double-crested Cormorant nearly disappeared from the Great Lakes but has made a dramatic comeback with many thousands of nesting pairs on every lake today. It is a fish eater that can dive to great depths for its meals. They like to spread their wings to dry out after diving. Are all black with a yellow-orange throat patch. Immatures have brownish breasts. Swim with bill raised up. Usually confused with loons. |
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Here we see two stages of young Cormorants in the nest. They are voracious eaters, often consuming dozens of fish per day brought by the parents to the large nesting colonies on various islands. Sportsmen groups are lobbying for population control. |  |
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An adult Common Loon is a large bird that shows the speckled back, black head with white necklace, and red eye that distinguish it. Eats exclusively fish. While numbers have been coming back, it is still quite rare. Immatures are grey to dusty brown, making them hard to tell from young Cormorants and female mergansers. With the full development of northern lake shores, the loon has suffered from loss of breeding habitat. |
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White Pelicans are very rare but not unheard of in the Saginaw Bay area. Their large bills and tucked in neck distinguish them from the geese, and swans. |
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