Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s top bird spotting sites. Since the island is on the Atlantic Flyway (and is one of 18 sites along the Colonial Coast Birding Trail), it is visited by a variety of feathered aviators who migrate, like snowbirds, to better climates.
The best times to identify birds in Jekyll are the spring and fall seasons. One particularly good time is in October, during the Jekyll Island Nature and Bird Watching Festival.
What kind of birds can you see on Jekyll Island? There are several prominent species that visit the island or make it their home. This list, while not exhaustive, offers tips for recognizing some of the island’s winged visitors.
Wading birds:
- Wood Storks – These large wading birds (part of the stork family) are mostly white, with brown heads and black faces. When these birds are in flight, look for a black stripe on the trailing edge of their wings. Their long, downward curved beaks are yellowish.
- Sandhill Cranes – The Florida subspecies of this crane sometimes falls on Jekyll Island. Sandhills are tall, long-legged birds, generally gray in color, with white cheeks and bare red foreheads. These cranes are sometimes mistaken for the blue heron. Sandhill cranes, however, fly with their necks extended; herons fly with their necks curved into an “S” shape.
- Blue Herons – Another large wading bird, herons have slate-colored feathers, reddish-brown thighs, and white heads adorned with a pair of distinctive black feathers that trail from behind the eyes to the back of the head.
- Egrets – There are several different types of egrets, but most are white with gray legs and orange beaks.
Coastal birds:
- Seagulls – Several dozen species visit or live on Jekyll Island. Their sizes vary from medium to large. For the most part, they have white and gray feathers with black markings on their heads and wings. Seagulls like to hang out on the beach and sometimes rare seagulls appear.
- Cañeros plovers: this is a species of bird in danger of extinction. Plover Plovers are sandy in color and the size of a sparrow. Adults have orange-yellow legs, with black visor-shaped bands on the forehead that extend from one eye to the other. They also have black rings around their necks.
Other birds:
- Ospreys – Hawk-like raptors, Ospreys grow to about 2 ‘long. They are brown on the upper body and grayish on the head and underside. Osprey wings are black and they wear black “masks”.
- Bald Eagles – These majestic birds (our national symbol) have been seen around the causeway, along Jekyll Creek, and on Raccoon Key. They are large, with black bodies, white heads and necks, and strong, curved, yellowish-orange beaks.
- Songbirds: includes the yellow warbler; Cardinals; Tanagers; Grosbeaks; Mockingbirds; and many more.
There are too many species to mention in a short article. Your best bet for correctly identifying birds on Jekyll Island is to bring a good field guide, such as the Peterson Field Guide to the Birds of Eastern and Central North America.
You will also need a quality pair of binoculars or a spotting scope. A good digital camera is a must, as well as a journal to record the birds you identify.
Identifying birds is easy on Jekyll Island, and you will always have plenty of winged subjects to practice with. But don’t be arrogant, you can’t call yourself a true bird watcher until you learn to recognize a bird by its song.
However, being able to name a bird you are looking at gives a whole new dimension to bird watching. It will leave you with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for years to come.