Top 25 Water Birds in Alaska (+Photo Guides)

Listen to American Wigeon

Scientific Name: Mareca americana

Length: 17–23 in

Wingspan: 30–36 in

Weight: 1 –3 lb

The American Wigeon is a medium-sized duck species that is a popular sight in wetlands, ponds, and lakes and is often seen in mixed flocks with other ducks.

Males of the species are recognized by their distinctive appearance. They sport a unique white forehead and crown, coupled with a green band stretching from the eye to the back of the head. The body is mainly gray with a pinkish hue on the chest. Females are more subdued in color, with primarily gray and brown tones.

Diet: comprising mainly plant material like aquatic vegetation and grasses, but it also includes insects and other small invertebrates. They are known for a feeding behavior called “kleptoparasitism,” where they often snatch food from other ducks.

American Wigeons usually breed in the northernmost parts of North America. The females create their nests on the ground, often hidden in tall grass near water bodies. They lay a clutch of 6 to 11 eggs which they incubate for about three to four weeks and the ducklings feed on small aquatic invertebrates and aquatic insects.

Listen

Scientific Name: Clangula hyemalis

Length: 17.5–23.5 in

Wingspan: 28 in

Weight: 1 –2 lb

The Long-tailed Duck is an intriguing sea duck, best recognized for its long, slender tail feathers and its unique, changing plumage.

Appearance: True to its name, the male Long-tailed Duck sports a pair of lengthy, slender tail feathers that trail behind him in flight. Their plumage changes with the season, transitioning between summer and winter. In winter, males exhibit a striking contrast of white with dark cheek patches, while the summer plumage features a dark chest and light-colored cheeks. Females have less distinctive plumage, primarily brown and grey.

Diet: The diet of Long-tailed Ducks mainly consists of small fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. They are extraordinary divers, able to dive deeper than most other duck species, sometimes up to 200 feet, to forage on the sea floor.

Reproduction: Long-tailed Ducks breed in the tundra of the far north, where they nest on the ground, often near water. The female lays a clutch of about six to eight eggs and is primarily responsible for incubation.

Listen to Northern Pintail

Scientific Name: Anas acuta

Length: 23–30 in

Wingspan: 31–37 in

Weight: 1 –3 lb

The Northern Pintail is a graceful species of duck recognized for their elegance in flight and their sleek bodies and long tails which is pin-shaped.

Male Northern Pintails are celebrated for their distinctive appearance, featuring a chocolate brown head, a white neck, and a grayish body. The most notable characteristic is the long, pointed tail feathers, which give this species its name. Females are more understated in color, sporting a mottled brown plumage.

Diet: Consists primarily of plant matter, including seeds and aquatic vegetation. They are also known to eat insects, especially during the breeding season. The Northern Pintail is often seen dabbling and upending in water bodies to forage for food.

Reproduction: Northern Pintails usually nest on the ground, near water bodies. The female lays a clutch of 7 to 9 eggs and is solely responsible for their incubation, which lasts for about three weeks.

Listen to Northern Shoveler

Scientific Name: Spatula clypeata

Length: 16 in

Wingspan: 22 in

Weight: 14 oz

The Northern Shoveler is a distinct species of dabbling duck celebrated for its long, spoon-shaped bill, a feature that sets it apart from other ducks and gives the bird its name.

Appearance: Male Northern Shovelers are particularly striking, boasting a green head, yellow eyes, a large black bill, and a white chest, complemented by a chestnut-colored body. Females, on the other hand, feature a more muted color scheme, primarily displaying mottled brown feathers across their bodies and a slate-gray bill.

Diet: The Northern Shoveler’s unique bill is perfectly adapted for its feeding habits. The edges of the bill are furnished with comb-like structures that enable the bird to filter food from water. Their diet predominantly consists of aquatic invertebrates and plant matter, including seeds and algae.

Reproduction: Northern Shovelers typically nest on the ground, concealed within dense, grassy areas close to water bodies. The female lays a clutch of about 9 to 12 eggs and is solely responsible for their incubation, which lasts for about three to four weeks.

Listen to Blue-winged Teal

Scientific Name: Spatula discors

Length: 16 in

Wingspan: 23 in

Weight: 13 oz

The Blue-winged Teal is a small species of dabbling duck known for its striking plumage and its extensive migratory habits.

Appearance: Male Blue-winged Teals are quite colorful, with a slate gray head and neck, a white crescent in front of the eyes, and a predominantly brown body with specks of black. The name “Blue-winged” comes from the patch of blue feathers visible on their wings during flight. Females, in contrast, are primarily brown and subtly mottled to provide camouflage.

Diet: The Blue-winged Teal feeds mainly on plant matter, such as seeds and aquatic vegetation. However, they also supplement their diet with small invertebrates, especially during the breeding season. They are known for their “dabbling” behavior, where they feed at the surface of the water rather than diving.

Reproduction: Blue-winged Teals prefer to nest on the ground in grassy areas near water. The female typically lays a clutch of 9 to 13 eggs, which she incubates alone for about three weeks. After hatching, the ducklings can feed themselves but remain under the mother’s protection until they are capable of flying.

Listen to Bufflehead

Scientific Name: Bucephala albeola

Length: 13–16 in

Wingspan: 21.6 in -23.2 in

Weight: 9.5–19.4 oz

The Bufflehead is a small, compact species of diving duck known for its striking appearance and large heads and unique nesting habits.

Appearance: Male Buffleheads are easily recognized by their large, bulbous head with a green-purple iridescent sheen, a large white patch across the back of the head, and a predominantly black and white body. Females are more subtly colored, primarily in gray-brown tones with a smaller white cheek patch.

Diet: As diving ducks, Buffleheads feed by diving beneath the water’s surface. Their diet consists largely of aquatic invertebrates, such as insects, crustaceans, and mollusks, as well as some plant matter.

Reproduction: Uniquely among ducks, Buffleheads often nest in tree cavities, especially those made by Northern Flickers, a type of woodpecker. The female lays a clutch of about 6 to 11 eggs, which she incubates alone for roughly a month.

Listen to Hooded Merganser

Scientific Name: Lophodytes cucullatus

Length: 15.8-19.3 in

Wingspan: 23.6-26.0 in

Weight: 16.0-31.0 oz

The Hooded Merganser is a distinctive species of diving duck known for its showy crest and its excellent diving skills.

Appearance: Male Hooded Mergansers are especially striking with a large, fan-shaped, black and white crest, which can be expanded or contracted. They have bright yellow eyes, a dark back, and a white chest. The females have a more understated appearance with a brownish body, a smaller, reddish-brown crest, and dark eyes.

Diet: Consists of small fish, aquatic insects, and crustaceans. Their eyes are specially adapted for underwater vision, allowing them to spot and catch prey while diving.

Reproduction: Similar to Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers often nest in tree cavities near water bodies. The female lays a clutch of about 10 to 12 eggs and incubates them alone for about a month.

Canada Goose Sound

Scientific Name: Branta canadensis

Length: 30 to 43 in

Wingspan: 50–73 in

Weight: 5.7–14.3 lb

The Canada Goose is a large, well-known species of waterfowl noted for its distinctive appearance, familiar “honk,” and migratory behavior.

Appearance: Both male and female Canada Geese have a similar appearance, featuring a black head and neck with distinctive white patches on the cheeks and chin. The body is primarily brown with a lighter, often white, underbelly.

Diet: Canada Geese primarily feed on plant matter, including grasses, aquatic vegetation, and grains. They can often be seen grazing in parks, lawns, and fields, as well as dabbling in water bodies.

Reproduction: Canada Geese typically nest on the ground near water bodies, often on islands or other isolated areas to avoid predators. The female lays a clutch of about 4 to 6 eggs, which she incubates alone for around a month.

Snow Goose Sound

Scientific Name: Anser caerulescens

Length: 25 to 31 in

Wingspan: 53 to 65 in

Weight: 4.5 to 6.0

The Snow Goose is a large species of waterfowl known for its vibrant white plumage and significant migratory flights.

Appearance: True to their name, Snow Geese are predominantly white with black wingtips. They also have a pink bill, pink legs and feet. A color morph, known as the “Blue Goose,” displays a bluish-gray body with a white head, but is considered the same species.

Diet: Snow Geese primarily feed on plant matter, such as grasses, sedges, and small grains. They can often be seen in large flocks foraging in fields and marshes, and during migration and winter, they can cause considerable damage to agricultural fields due to their feeding habits.

Reproduction: Snow Geese typically nest on the tundra, near water bodies. The female builds the nest and lays a clutch of about 3 to 5 eggs, which she incubates alone for approximately three weeks. Once hatched, the goslings can feed themselves but stay with their parents for protection until they can fly.

Listen to Tundra Swan

Scientific Name: Cygnus columbianus

Length: 45–55 in

Wingspan: 18.5–21.6 in

Weight: 13 – 20 pounds

The Tundra Swan is a large, graceful species of waterfowl known for its elegant appearance, long migratory journeys, and melodic calls.

Appearance: Tundra Swans, as the name suggests, are predominantly white, which aids in camouflage against the snowy landscapes of their breeding grounds. They have a long neck, a black bill, and black feet. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Tundra Swans is a small yellow spot near the eye, which can vary among individuals.

Diet: Tundra Swans primarily feed on plant matter, including aquatic vegetation, roots, tubers, and grains. They forage by dipping their long necks under the water in shallow areas, or by upending in deeper waters.

Reproduction: Tundra Swans breed in the high Arctic tundra, near ponds and lakes. The female builds the nest and lays a clutch of about 3 to 5 eggs, which she incubates alone for roughly a month.

Listen to Artic Loons

Scientific Name: Gavia arctica

Length:23 to 29 in

Wingspan: 39 – 51 in

Weight: 2.9–7.5 lb

The Arctic Loon is a captivating species of waterbird noted for its elegant appearance, skilled diving capabilities, and far northern habitat.

Appearance: Arctic Loons are medium-sized birds with a streamlined body, sharp beak, and a distinctive black-and-white checkered back during breeding season. The head and neck are gray to black, and they display a striking greenish or purplish sheen, depending on the light. In winter, their plumage is more subdued, with the upperparts gray and the underparts white.

Diet: Arctic Loons are excellent divers and primarily feed on a diet of fish and invertebrates, such as crustaceans and mollusks. They dive beneath the water’s surface, often for a minute or more at a time, to catch their prey.

Reproduction: Arctic Loons breed in the tundra regions near freshwater lakes and ponds. The female typically lays two eggs, which both parents incubate. Within a couple of days after hatching, the young chicks can swim and often ride on the backs of their parents.

Listen to Northern Fulmar

Scientific Name: Fulmarus glacialis

Length: 18 in

Wingspan: 40 – 44 in

Weight: 16 – 35 oz

The Northern Fulmar is a sturdy seabird recognized for its robust body, tubed nostrils, and impressive gliding flights.

Appearance: Northern Fulmars are medium-sized birds with a robust body, a thick neck, and a strong, short bill. They come in two main color morphs: a light one, where birds are primarily white with a grayish back and wings, and a dark one, where birds are uniformly gray. Their bill is yellow with a distinctive tubed nostril structure on top, an adaptation shared by all birds in the Procellariiformes order.

Diet: Northern Fulmars are excellent foragers and their diet primarily consists of small fish, squid, and marine zooplankton. They often feed by picking up prey from the water’s surface while in flight or while swimming.

Reproduction: Northern Fulmars nest on cliff ledges in large colonies. The female lays a single egg, which both parents incubate for about seven weeks.

Listen to Artic Term

Scientific Name: Sterna paradisaea

Length: 11 – 15 in

Wingspan: 26 – 30 in

Weight: 3.5-4.5 oz

The Arctic Tern is an extraordinary seabird known for its astonishing long-distance migratory flights, making it one of the farthest traveling species on the planet. Each year, these birds journey from their Arctic breeding grounds to the Antarctic and back, a round trip of over 24,000 miles, experiencing two summers and more daylight than any other creature on Earth.

Appearance: Arctic Terns are medium-sized birds with a slender body, a long, pointed bill, and a deeply forked tail. They display a bright white underbody, a pale gray back and wings, and a black cap on the head. During the breeding season, their bill turns a vibrant red.

Diet: Arctic Terns primarily feed on a diet of small fish and invertebrates. They often catch their prey by performing a swift, plunging dive into the water from flight.

Reproduction: Arctic Terns breed in open, tundra-like habitats or on rocky islands. The female typically lays one to three eggs, and both parents share the incubation duties.

Listen

Scientific Name: Uria aalge

Length: 15 – 18 in

Wingspan: 24 – 29 in

Weight: 1.5-2.4 lbs

The Common Murre is a large seabird known for its streamlined body, fast flight, and cliffside nesting habits.

Appearance: Common Murres have a sleek, penguin-like shape with a dark back and wings, and a white underside. They have a thin, pointed bill and during the breeding season, they sport a black face and throat. In the non-breeding season, their face and throat become white.

Diet: Common Murres primarily feed on fish and invertebrates. They are exceptional divers and can plunge below the sea surface from the air or while swimming to catch their prey. Their dives can be remarkably deep, reaching up to 100 meters or more.

Reproduction: Common Murres breed in large colonies on cliff ledges, where the female lays a single, pointed egg directly on the bare rock. Both parents share incubation duties and care for the chick once it hatches. Interestingly, the egg is uniquely shaped to prevent it from rolling off the cliff.

Listen

Scientific Name: Fratercula cirrhata

Length: 13 – 15 in

Wingspan: 23 – 24 in

Weight: 18.4 to 35.3 oz

The Tufted Puffin is a charismatic seabird recognized for its striking appearance, exceptional swimming skills, and distinct nesting habits.

Appearance: Tufted Puffins are medium-sized birds characterized by their black body, large orange bill, and white face. What makes them truly stand out are the long, yellow tufts that curve backward from each side of their head during the breeding season, giving them their name.

Diet: Tufted Puffins primarily feed on a diet of small fish and invertebrates. They are excellent divers and can plunge into the sea from flight to catch their prey. When foraging for their chicks, they are known to carry multiple fish crosswise in their bills.

Reproduction: Tufted Puffins breed in large colonies on cliff tops or slopes. They nest in burrows, which the female digs with her bill and feet. The female lays a single egg, and both parents share the incubation duties.

Listen

Scientific Name: Ardenna tenuirostris

Length: 15 – 16 in

Wingspan: 18 – 22 in

Weight: 18.4 to 35.3 oz

The Short-tailed Shearwater is a medium-sized seabird recognized for its proficient gliding skills, migratory habits, and characteristic short tail. Every year, these birds embark on a long journey from their breeding grounds in Australia to the Bering Sea near Alaska, a round trip of approximately 15,000 miles.

Appearance: Short-tailed Shearwaters have a streamlined body with a dark brown to sooty coloration overall. Their name derives from their relatively short, rounded tail. They have a thin, pointed bill which is adapted for their feeding style.

Diet: Short-tailed Shearwaters primarily feed on small fish, squid, and krill. They are excellent divers and can dive up to 70 meters deep into the ocean to catch their prey. They often feed while on long flights by swooping down to the water’s surface and catching prey with their bill.

Reproduction: Short-tailed Shearwaters breed in large colonies on sandy islands, laying a single egg in a burrow dug into the ground.

Listen

Scientific Name: Larus glaucescens

Length: 20 – 27 in

Wingspan: 47 – 59 in

Weight: 1.61–3.73 lb

The Glaucous-winged Gull is a large, adaptable seabird known for its broad range, resilience, and characteristic wing coloration.

Appearance: As the name implies, Glaucous-winged Gulls possess ‘glaucous’ or light gray coloration on their wings, matching the color of their body. They have a sturdy build, with a heavy bill and a rounded head. In adult birds, the bill is yellow with a red spot near the tip, and the legs are pink.

Diet: Glaucous-winged Gulls are opportunistic feeders with a diet that primarily includes fish, invertebrates, carrion, and human food waste. They often scavenge along shorelines, in harbors, and around human habitation, making them a common sight in coastal cities and towns.

Reproduction: These gulls nest in colonies on the ground, cliffs, or in low trees. The female typically lays two to three eggs in a nest built from grass, seaweed, and other plant materials.

Listen

Scientific Name: Fratercula corniculata

Length: 8 in

Wingspan: 23 in

Weight: 18oz

The Horned Puffin is a distinctive seabird known for its bold facial markings, powerful swimming skills, and unique nesting practices. Horned Puffins are an emblematic sight along the coasts of the North Pacific Ocean, particularly in Alaska and Siberia.

Appearance: Horned Puffins get their name from the small, fleshy black ‘horn’ above each eye. They have a large, orange, parrot-like bill, which becomes brightly colored during the breeding season. Their body is black on the back and white on the belly. These birds also have a small but noticeable white ‘eyebrow’ and a dark eye-line extending towards the back of the head, giving them a striking appearance.

Diet: Horned Puffins primarily feed on small fish and, to a lesser extent, invertebrates. They are excellent divers and catch their prey by diving from the surface of the water and swimming using their wings for propulsion.

Reproduction: Horned Puffins breed in colonies on cliff faces or rocky islands. They nest in crevices or burrows where the female lays a single egg.

Listen

Scientific Name: Stercorarius parasiticus

Length: 16 – 19 in

Wingspan: 42 – 49 in

Weight: 11oz – 21oz

The Parasitic Jaeger, also known as the Arctic Skua, is a robust seabird renowned for its predatory and kleptoparasitic behavior, meaning it often steals food from other birds.

Appearance: Parasitic Jaegers have a variable coloration that ranges from dark brown to a combination of chocolate brown and cream. They feature pointed wings and a slightly rounded tail with projecting central feathers. During the breeding season, adults sport a distinctive patch of yellow or creamy color at the side of the neck.

Diet: The diet of Parasitic Jaegers primarily consists of small mammals, birds, fish, and insects. However, they’re best known for their strategy of relentlessly pursuing other birds in flight until the distressed prey drops or regurgitates their food, which the jaeger then catches and eats – a behavior known as kleptoparasitism.

Reproduction: Parasitic Jaegers breed in the Arctic tundra, where they nest on the open ground. The female typically lays one to three eggs.

Listen

Scientific Name: Phoebastria nigripes

Length: 27 – 29 in

Wingspan: 6.2–7.2 ft

Weight: 5.7–9.5 lb

The Black-footed Albatross is a large seabird known for its exceptional flying and foraging skills, as well as its long-distance oceanic travels. They are capable of flying thousands of miles across the ocean to forage for food while expending very little energy, a trait known as dynamic soaring.

Appearance: Black-footed Albatrosses are notable for their overall dark plumage, which is brownish-black, contrasting with a white patch around the base of the bill and behind the eye. As their name suggests, they have dark feet. Their bill is large, pinkish, and hooked, well adapted for catching prey.

Diet: These albatrosses primarily feed on squid, but also eat fish and other marine invertebrates. They are known to follow ships to pick up scraps and are proficient divers, able to plunge into the ocean to capture their prey.

Reproduction: Black-footed Albatrosses nest on remote islands in the North Pacific Ocean, laying a single egg in a ground nest made of sand and vegetation.