24 Native Birds Of Cooper Island

Cooper Island, a small and isolated island located in the northernmost region of Alaska, is home to an array of wildlife species. Despite its harsh climate and challenging environment, Cooper Island serves as a breeding ground for a variety of bird species.

This remote island has been designated as an Important Bird Area due to the large number of seabirds that inhabit its rocky cliffs and shoreline. The bird species found on Cooper Island include the black-legged kittiwake, the common eider, the red-throated loon, and the glaucous gull, among many others.

The unique environment of Cooper Island provides an important habitat for birds in the region, making it a popular destination for birdwatchers and nature enthusiasts.

1. Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds are tiny birds found throughout the Americas, from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego. Most species measure between 3-5 inches in length and weigh less than an ounce.

The smallest hummingbird is only 2 inches long. Hummingbirds have a unique ability of hovering by rapidly flapping their wings up to 80 times per second.

They feed on nectar and insects, with some species even able to drink sap or eat pollen directly off flowers.

Their vibrant colors make them instantly recognizable as they dart through gardens in search of food and mates.

Hummingbirds truly bring joy into our lives as they remind us that nature’s beauty can be seen around every corner if we take the time to look for it.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Apodiformes
Family	Trochilidae Vigors, 1825

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2. Belted kingfisher

The belted kingfisher is a large, eye-catching bird native to North America. It belongs to the family Alcedinidae and has been divided into three subfamilies by recent research.

The species was first described in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in his Systema Naturae.

This water Kingfisher stands out for its size as well as its striking plumage; males are bright blue on top with white below and females have rusty brown backs and wings with a thick black breast band across their chest.

They also possess an impressive call which can be heard from quite far away.

Belted kingfishers feed mainly on small fish but will sometimes also eat crustaceans, insects or even amphibians if they come across them while hunting around rivers or streams.

All in all, this is truly one remarkable bird that deserves our admiration.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Coraciiformes
Family	Alcedinidae
Subfamily	Cerylinae
Genus	Megaceryle
Species	M. alcyon

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3. Osprey

The Osprey is a majestic bird of prey with an incredibly wide habitat range. It has distinctive brown upperparts and greyish head and underparts, making it easily identifiable in the skies above many regions across the world.

With a wingspan of up to 180cm (71in) and body length reaching 60cm (24in), this large raptor specializes in hunting for fish, soaring high over rivers as well as coasts searching for its next meal.

Despite living near water sources, they can also be found inhabiting mountainsides or even woodlands, proving their incredible adaptability. An impressive species that truly deserves admiration.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Accipitriformes
Family	Pandionidae
Genus	Pandion
Species	P. haliaetus

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4. Sanderling

The Sanderling is a small wading bird that can be found in the Arctic region. Its name comes from Old English, meaning "sand-ploughman". It has grey feathers and light legs which give it its distinct white coloration.

During summer breeding months, they are known to travel great distances - some wintering as far south as South America or Southern Africa. They typically feed on crustaceans such as shrimp and mollusks along coastal shores.

The Sanderling is an important species to watch out for because of their long migratory patterns and sensitivity to environmental change; if there's trouble with this species then other birds may also be affected.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Calidris
Species	C. alba

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5. Pied-billed grebe

The Pied-billed Grebe is a water bird found in ponds throughout the Americas. It has earned many nicknames, including American dabchick, rail, and Carolina grebe.

This species of grebe can be recognized by its distinctive bill which is pied or mottled with black and white markings.

Its brownish body is also covered in dark spots as well as having long legs for swimming underwater to catch food such as aquatic insects and crustaceans.

The Pied-billed Grebes are monogamous birds that pair up during breeding season from spring to summer where they build their nests together on vegetation near the shoreline of lakes or slow moving rivers.

These birds are solitary outside of mating season but will form small flocks when migrating south for winter months.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Podicipediformes
Family	Podicipedidae
Genus	Podilymbus
Species	P. podiceps

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6. Magnificent frigatebird

The Magnificent Frigatebird is the largest species of frigatebird, measuring between 89 and 114 cm in length and having a wingspan of 7-8 ft.

It can be found over tropical waters off America from northern Mexico to Peru on the Pacific coast, as well as Florida down south.

Its diet consists mainly of fish they take from other seabirds or snatch directly from the ocean surface while flying low above it.

They also feed on crustaceans and squid when available too.

This impressive bird has an unmistakable silhouette with its long pointed wings, forked tail feathers and male's red gular pouch which inflates during courtship displays.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Suliformes
Family	Fregatidae
Genus	Fregata
Species	F. magnificens

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7. Green heron

The Green Heron (Butorides virescens) is a small heron found throughout North and Central America.

It's scientific name comes from Middle English ‘butor’ meaning bittern, combined with the Latin term for its distinctive greenish color - 'virescens'.

For many years it was considered to be part of the same species as the Striated Heron (Butorides striata), commonly referred to as "green-backed herons".

The nominate subspecies inhabits wetlands across much of this range, where they can be spotted stalking about in shallow water looking for fish or frogs on which to feed.

They are fascinating wading birds that have even been known to use tools such as sticks or baited lines when fishing.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Butorides
Species	B. virescens

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8. Little blue heron

The Little Blue Heron is a small, darkly-colored heron with two-toned bill. Juveniles are completely white, similar to the Snowy Egret. In breeding season, adults develop unique coloration on their head and legs.

The bird has an expansive habitat range that covers much of the Americas from North America all the way down to South America.

They feed mostly in shallow water areas like tidal flats or marshes and eat small aquatic animals such as fish, frogs and crustaceans.

This species can also be found along coastal regions where they gather at night for roosting purposes during winter months when food sources become more scarce due to migration patterns of its prey animals.

These birds have adapted well over time allowing them to persist in most habitats throughout their wide range even despite environmental changes caused by human activities such as pollution or development projects near wetlands ecosystems which are essential for this species' survival.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Egretta
Species	E. caerulea

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9. Great blue heron

The Great Blue Heron is a majestic wading bird found in many parts of North America, Central America, the Caribbean and even as far away as the Galapagos Islands.

It has an impressive wingspan which can reach up to six feet wide. Its feathers are mainly bluish-gray with brownish streaks on both its neck and chest while its head displays white plumes.

The adult herons can also be identified by their yellow bill and legs.

They live near bodies of water such as lakes, marshes or rivers where they feed on fish using a spear like motion with their sharp bills.

An all-white population exists only in south Florida and the Florida Keys making it quite unique.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Ardea
Species	A. herodias

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10. Piping plover

The Piping Plover is a small shorebird that can be found along sandy or gravel beaches in North America.

It has yellow-orange-red legs and its distinctive features include a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, as well as a thicker chest band for males during breeding season.

They are threatened by human activity on their habitats such as increasing development of coastal areas, destruction of their nesting sites due to recreation activities like beach driving and off-leash dogs.

Conservation efforts aim at protecting these birds through habitat protection measures including fencing off areas where they nest and restricting access during breeding seasons.

The future looks brighter with conservation initiatives by local governments slowly bringing the population up again over time.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Charadriidae
Genus	Charadrius
Species	C. melodus

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11. Semipalmated sandpiper

The Semipalmated Sandpiper is a small shorebird belonging to the genus Calidris. It gets its name from Latin, with 'Calidris' meaning "grey-coloured waterside bird" and 'pusilla' translating as "very small".

This species was previously placed in the genus Ereun but it has since been moved into its own group called �stints�.

These birds are usually found near coastal areas or wetlands where they feed on insects, crustaceans, mollusks and other aquatic invertebrates.

They have brownish plumage with white underparts which helps them blend into their environment for camouflage purposes when predators come close by.

Despite being quite small compared to other shorebirds, these resilient little birds can fly long distances during migration season.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Calidris
Species	C. pusilla

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12. Oystercatchers

Oystercatchers are a family of waders forming the Haematopodidae, with one genus; Haematopus.

They live in coastal regions around the world excluding both polar and some tropical areas of Africa & South East Asia.

Eurasian, South Island & Magellanic oystercatcher species also breed far inland - breeding grounds being found much deeper than other members of the family.

They have long beaks used to feed on molluscs such as mussels, clams and oysters which they crack open using their strong bills.

Oystercatchers are usually quite vocal birds making various loud calls when disturbed or alarmed.

The males tend to display more brightly coloured plumage compared to females who share similar brown/black hues for camouflage purposes during nesting season.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Suborder	Charadrii
Family	Haematopodidae Bonaparte, 1838
Genus	Haematopus Linnaeus, 1758

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13. Black-crowned night heron

The Black-crowned night heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a medium-sized bird found in various parts of the world, including Europe, Asia and North and South America.

It has black crowns on its head with white feathers underneath. Its wings are greyish brown while its underparts are mostly white.

This species can be seen foraging near shallow water or along coastlines during dusk or dawn as it hunts small fish, amphibians and crustaceans.

They also feed on insects such as grasshoppers and beetles which they find in meadows close to freshwater bodies like lakes or ponds where they breed during springtime making nests using twigs lined with reeds and leaves near these waterside habitats.

In Australasia, this species hybridizes with the nankeen night heron that inhabits those areas instead; however both populations remain distinct from each other despite their overlap range regions.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Nycticorax
Species	N. nycticorax

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14. Snowy egret

The Snowy Egret is a small white heron native to North America. Its scientific name, Egretta thula, comes from Provençal French for the little egret and an incorrect reference to the Black-necked Swan by Chilean naturalist Juan Ignacio Molina in 1782.

This beautiful bird has black legs with yellow feet, and a long plume of feathers on its head that often appears as if it's wearing a crown.

It feeds primarily on insects and aquatic life like fish or frogs making it well adapted for both wetland habitats such as marshes or swamps plus coastal areas close to shorelines.

With their graceful movements they are truly delightful creatures to observe while out exploring nature.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Egretta
Species	E. thula

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15. White-tailed tropicbird

The White-tailed Tropicbird is a beautiful seabird that lives in the tropical waters of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans.

It is the smallest member of its order Phaethontiformes, measuring only 28 inches from head to tail.

Its wingspan can reach up to 45 inches wide. The bird has white plumage with black markings on its wings and tail feathers.

It also has an unmistakable long streamer which trails out behind them when they are in flight - a characteristic feature for all tropicbirds.

They nest mainly on remote islands throughout their range but have recently begun nesting on Little Tobago as well.

These birds feed primarily off flying fish or squid near the ocean's surface during daylight hours before returning back home at nightfall.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Phaethontiformes
Family	Phaethontidae
Genus	Phaethon
Species	P. lepturus

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16. Brown noddy

The Brown Noddy is a species of seabird in the Laridae family. It's the largest of its kind, and can be distinguished from others by its dark brown plumage, which stands out compared to other noddies with black feathers.

Found around tropical oceans worldwide, it inhabits areas such as Hawaii and Australia all the way to Tuamotu Archipelago in Polynesia.

During breeding season they form large colonies on remote islands where their nests are constructed using twigs and leaves situated atop trees or shrubs – typically located near water sources like lagoons or estuaries so they have access to food items like small fish and squid that make up their diet.

As highly social birds they often engage in synchronised flying displays over nesting sites before returning back home at nightfall.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Laridae
Genus	Anous
Species	A. stolidus

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17. Yellow-crowned night heron

The Yellow-crowned night heron is a beautiful and unique species of bird native to the Americas. It has distinctive yellow crowns on its head, making it easy to identify among other herons.

These birds are also larger than most other types of herons, reaching up to 70 cm in length and 850 g in weight.

They usually feed on small fish or crustaceans while wading through shallow waters with their long legs.

The yellow-crowned night heron can be found near marshes or lakes during breeding season when they will build nests made from twigs high above the ground for protection against predators like raccoons and foxes.

This majestic bird is an important part of wetland ecosystems as it helps keep populations of smaller aquatic animals balanced by preying upon them.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Ardeidae
Genus	Nyctanassa
Species	N. violacea

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18. Double-crested cormorant

The double-crested cormorant is a majestic bird with an impressive wingspan, found across North America from the Aleutian Islands all the way down to Mexico.

Its black plumage stands out against its bright orange-yellow facial skin and some extended patches of white feathers on each side of its throat.

It measures between 28 - 35 inches in length and has webbed feet that enable it to swim gracefully through rivers and lakes, as well as coastal areas.

These birds are known for their voracious appetite for fish, sometimes diving over 100 ft deep into water looking for food.

Despite this reputation they also feed on crustaceans, amphibians and insects when available.

Cormorants have been part of many cultures throughout history due to their remarkable ability to fly long distances making them valued messengers or companions during fishing expeditions at sea.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Suliformes
Family	Phalacrocoracidae
Genus	Nannopterum
Species	N. auritum

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19. Columbidae

Columbidae is a bird family that includes both doves and pigeons. These birds are characterized by their stout bodies, short necks, and small slender bills with fleshy ceres in some species.

They feed mainly on seeds, fruits, and plants found all around the world but have the greatest variety in Indomalayan and Australasian regions.

Columbidae have an unmistakable soft cooing sound which makes them one of the most beloved avian families worldwide - especially among city dwellers.

Whether it be feeding time or just hearing their soothing call throughout nature walks; these birds will remain a favourite for many more years to come.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Clade	Columbimorphae
Order	Columbiformes Latham, 1790
Family	Columbidae Leach, 1820

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20. Brown pelican

The majestic brown pelican is a dive-feeding bird that belongs to the pelican family. It is one of the three pelican species found in the Americas and is known to dive into water to catch its prey.

From the Atlantic Coast of New Jersey to the mouth of the Amazon River, and along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to northern Chile, including the Galapagos Islands, this bird can be found.

Its scientific name is Pelecanus occidentalis, and it has a colored brown plumage, which is its distinct characteristic.

The brown pelican belongs to the largest bird species that exist today, with a wingspan that can stretch up to seven feet long.

This bird helps maintain a balance in the ecosystem by eating smaller fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Pelecaniformes
Family	Pelecanidae
Genus	Pelecanus
Species	P. occidentalis

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21. American kestrel

The American kestrel, also known as the sparrow hawk, is a popular falcon species in North America. It is the smallest falcon and can come in different sizes based on subspecies and sex.

Its weight ranges from that of a blue jay to a mourning dove. In addition to North America, this bird species is also found in South America.

There are 17 subspecies of American kestrels, each adapted to different environments.

Although small in size, the American kestrel is a fierce predator, often preying on insects, rodents, and other small birds.

Its impressive hunting skills and stunning coloration make it a favorite among birdwatchers and falconers alike.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Falconiformes
Family	Falconidae
Genus	Falco
Species	F. sparverius

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22. Least sandpiper

The Least Sandpiper is a shorebird that holds the title for being the smallest of its kind. Its Ancient Greek genus name, kalidris or skalidris, referred to grey-colored waterside birds.

The breed's brown feathers with dark brown streaks, white underside, greenish legs, and short, thin, dark bill characterize adult Least Sandpipers.

The Medieval Latin name of the species, minutilla, further describes the breed's tiny size.

These birds are known to inhabit shallow water marshes and mudflats during the summertime, and they migrate to coasts during the winters.

Least Sandpipers mainly feed on insects and small crustaceans, often by running and pecking in shallow water or mud.

Despite their small size, these birds travel great distances during migration, making impressive journeys from their breeding and wintering grounds.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Calidris
Species	C. minutilla

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23. Pectoral sandpiper

The Pectoral sandpiper is a migratory wader that can be found in North America and Asia, but can be seen in South America and Oceania during the winter.

This small bird primarily feeds on small invertebrates. It creates a deep hole in the ground lined with thick materials to protect its four eggs from harsh weather conditions during breeding.

Measuring 21 cm (8.3 in) in length and with a wingspan of 46, the Pectoral sandpiper is a small bird that is easy to spot.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Calidris
Species	C. melanotos

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24. White-rumped sandpiper

The White-rumped sandpiper is a small shorebird that breeds in northern Canada and Alaska. This bird is often referred to as a "peep" or "stint" due to its similarity to other tiny shorebirds.

Despite its obscurity, it is a fascinating bird that is rarely seen during the summer breeding season.

White-rumped sandpipers are known for their distinctive white rump, which sets them apart from other similar-looking birds.

These birds are excellent fliers and are able to travel great distances during migration. They can be found in a variety of habitats, including mudflats, salt pans, marshes, and wet meadows.

Overall, the White-rumped sandpiper is a remarkable bird that is worth learning more about if you are interested in the natural world.

Scientific classification:

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Aves
Order	Charadriiformes
Family	Scolopacidae
Genus	Calidris
Species	C. fuscicollis

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