Simmons Island is a picturesque location in Kenosha, Wisconsin, offering a serene retreat to visitors. The island has many bird species and a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
The island’s tranquil environment and natural beauty provide an ideal habitat for different birds. Bird enthusiasts and nature lovers flock to the island to observe and discover these feathered creatures.
With its varied ecosystems, Simmons Island boasts many bird species that can be found flying around. From migratory birds passing through the city to the permanent inhabitants, the island is a popular location for birdwatching and exploring the avian diversity.
This paper will provide insights into the different types of birds found on Simmons Island, highlighting their characteristics and habitat characteristics.
24 Simmons Island Birds You Should Know
Simmons Island is a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers. The island is home to a diverse and colorful array of birds, some of which are endemic to the island and some of which are migratory visitors.
Here are 24 Simmons Island birds.
1. Rock Dove
Rock dove, also known as Rock Pigeon or Common Pigeon, is a member of the bird family Columbidae.
It is considered an important creature worldwide due to its domestication by humans centuries ago, resulting in the modern-day Domestic pigeon, which descends from this species.
Its population has increased because some domestic pigeons have escaped captivity and joined wild populations.
The rock dove can most easily be identified by its prominent blue-grey feathers, darker bars on the wings and tail, and two black bands on each wing.
They are typically found in large flocks near cliffs or buildings but may also inhabit rural habitats such as open fields and meadows if there’s enough food available for them nearby.
Although they don’t migrate far distances like other birds, their numbers increase significantly during winter.
When more food sources become available, they won’t need to travel too far away from their home base for nourishment.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Columba |
| Species | C. livia |
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2. American Goldfinch
The American goldfinch is a small North American bird in the finch family. Males are vibrant yellow with black wings and tails, while females are duller in coloration.
It migrates from mid-Alberta to North Carolina during the breeding season, south of Canada–United States border to Mexico for its wintering grounds.
The only finch that undergoes complete molt every year displays sexual dichromatism, where males have brighter colors than their female counterparts.
They feed mainly on seeds but also eat insects such as aphids and caterpillars when raising young; they often occur near thistles or other plants that produce viable seed heads.
Their call consists of various chirps and trills, making them quite conspicuous.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Fringillidae |
| Subfamily | Carduelinae |
| Genus | Spinus |
| Species | S. tristis |
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3. Blue Jay
The Blue Jay is a beautiful bird that resides in the eastern and central United States, as well as Newfoundland, Canada.
They have an unmistakable blue plumage with white markings on their heads and wings.
These birds are highly adaptable to habitats ranging from deciduous forests to urban areas.
As part of the Corvidae family, they are known for being intelligent problem solvers who often use tools or mimic vocalizations of other species, like hawks, when defending their territories.
Their diet consists mostly of insects, seeds, and nuts but can also include small vertebrates such as frogs or lizards if food resources become scarce.
Overall, these birds provide much-needed color to our environment while playing important roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems through pollination services and seed dispersal activities.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Corvidae |
| Genus | Cyanocitta |
| Species | C. cristata |
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4. Mourning Dove
The Mourning Dove is a breathtakingly beautiful bird. It has stunning gray and brown feathers with white-tipped wings, giving it an elegant appearance. Its long tail also adds to its graceful look in flight.
A symbol of peace and serenity, they are abundant across North America and can be found in gardens or open fields throughout the year.
As well as being popular game birds for hunters, they feed on grains such as wheat and millet, providing important food sources for wildlife species, including foxes, coyotes, skunks, and raccoons.
These doves have a distinctive cooing sound that can often echo through woodlands during summer evenings, making them one of nature’s greatest treasures.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Columbiformes |
| Family | Columbidae |
| Genus | Zenaida |
| Species | Z. macroura |
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5. Yellow-Rumped Warbler
The Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) is a migratory bird species throughout North America.
It has an extensive range, from the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of the US to Canada and Central America, with a concentration in northern areas during the breeding season.
These birds migrate southwards for wintering grounds, where they find plentiful food sources such as insects and berries.
They are easily identified by their yellow patches on either side of their tails, white underparts, gray back feathers, and two distinct crown stripes.
One black or greyish-brown above the eyes extends towards its neck, banded in yellow or light brown.
Furthermore, these warblers have strong legs, which allow them to cling onto branches while hunting for prey, making them adept at maneuvering through tree cover quickly.
Altogether, this makes the Yellow-rumped Warbler an attractive backyard visitor year-round.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Parulidae |
| Genus | Setophaga |
| Species | S. coronata |
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6. Sanderling
The Sanderling is a small wading bird found in the Arctic region. Its name comes from Old English, meaning “sand-ploughman”. It has grey feathers and light legs, giving it its distinct white coloration.
During summer breeding, they 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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7. American White Ibis
The American white ibis is a medium-sized bird with white plumage and long legs. It has a bright red-orange downward curved bill and black wing tips, usually only visible in flight.
This species of ibis can be found from Virginia south through most of the coastal New World tropics.
They have been known to inhabit marshes, swamps, ponds, lakeshores, and mangrove forests near water sources where they feed on crustaceans such as crabs and shrimp, among other aquatic animals like insects or snails.
The American white ibis plays an important role in its ecosystem by helping to control insect populations, which helps maintain balance within these environments.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Threskiornithidae |
| Genus | Eudocimus |
| Species | E. albus |
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8. Reddish Egret
The Reddish Egret is a medium-sized heron that breeds in Central America, The Bahamas, the Caribbean, Texas, and Mexico.
It prefers mud flats as its habitat due to its unique foraging behavior, which differs from that of other herons.
In the past, it was hunted widely for its feathers used to make fashionable hats, but thankfully, this practice has now been stopped.
They have white or grey plumage with pink legs, and Bill gives them their name.
These birds feed mainly on fish, which they catch by quickly darting in shallow water or running rapidly through shallows, stirring up prey to snatch them easily with their bills.
Their long wings enable them to fly quickly when hunting and during migration season, when many travel southwards towards warmer climates.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Egretta |
| Species | E. rufescens |
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9. Cattle Egret
The Cattle Egret is a heron of the family Ardeidae found worldwide in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate areas. It has two subspecies: western cattle egret and eastern cattle egret.
They have white plumage with buff plumes on their head, neck, and back. The beak is yellowish-orange with a black tip, while the legs are orange or yellow colored depending on species variation.
This bird usually feeds near large herds of animals, such as cows, horses, etc., where it finds plenty of insects, like grasshoppers, crickets, etc.
Its presence benefits these animals by removing ectoparasites from them, which leads to a healthier livestock population.
It nests colonially in trees or shrubs located close to water bodies during breeding season which generally takes place between March-June every year.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Bubulcus Bonaparte, 1855 |
| Species | B. ibis |
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10. Great Egret
The Great Egret is a large, white bird found in many regions of the world. It has four subspecies reside across Asia, Africa, the Americas, and southern Europe.
This species usually lives near bodies of water such as lakes and marshes. They are also spreading into more northern areas of Europe due to climate change.
These birds have long yellow legs with an impressive wingspan, allowing them to soar majestically through the sky, hunting for fish or amphibians in shallow waters below.
Their feathers have been used historically by Native Americans as part of traditional garments or ceremonies. Still, this practice should be avoided today so these amazing creatures can thrive without harm from humans.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Species | A. alba |
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11. White-Throated Sparrow
The White-throated Sparrow is a small passerine bird of the New World sparrow family, Passerellidae.
It has distinctive yellow and black stripes on its head, white throat and chest, grey back and wings, and light brown legs.
The scientific name “Zonotrichia albicollis” comes from Ancient Greek for ‘band’ (ζώνη), referring to its distinctive striped crown, and Latin for ‘white neck’ (albus collum).
These birds are usually found in wooded areas such as coniferous forests or deciduous habitats in North America, where they feed mainly on insects during the summer months, transitioning to seeds during winter.
They build their nests near ground level using grasses, twigs, or moss lined with feathers.
White-throated Sparrows may be solitary but also form flocks when migrating southward each fall season, which typically occurs over mid-late October through November, depending on location within range.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Passerellidae |
| Genus | Zonotrichia |
| Species | Z. albicollis |
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12. 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 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, feeding 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 unique.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Pelecaniformes |
| Family | Ardeidae |
| Genus | Ardea |
| Species | A. herodias |
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13. Piping Plover
The Piping Plover is a small shorebird 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 and a thicker chest band for males during the breeding season.
They are threatened by human activity in their habitats, such as the increasing development of coastal areas and the destruction of their nesting sites due to recreation activities like beach driving and off-leash dogs.
Conservation efforts aim to protect 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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14. Black Skimmer
The Black Skimmer is a seabird that belongs to the skimmer genus Rynchops and Laridae family.
It breeds in North and South America, while Northern populations migrate south for winter towards warmer climates such as the Caribbean or Pacific coasts.
The Southern American races have adapted to annual floods by migrating shorter during this time.
These birds are easily identified by their unique long red bill with an upper mandible longer than their lower mandible.
They feed mainly on small fish caught at night when they skim across shallow water using their beak like a knife cutting through waves of water.
Their dark grey back contrasts against white belly feathers, creating beautiful patterns in flight, aiding them in catching prey easier due to their camouflage effect above and below the water’s surface.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Laridae |
| Genus | Rynchops |
| Species | R. niger |
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15. Blue Grosbeak
The Blue Grosbeak is a medium-sized North American passerine bird from the Cardinalidae family. It has striking plumage, with males showing off an impressive blue coloration and two brown wing bars.
Females are mainly brown with scattered blue feathers on the upperparts, but they also have two brown wing bars like males.
During summer, these birds can be found in northern Mexico and the southern United States, where they breed, while during wintertime, they migrate to Central America for resting purposes.
This beautiful species of bird is easy to spot due to its vibrant colors, making it a popular sight amongst wildlife observers.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cardinalidae |
| Genus | Passerina |
| Species | P. caerulea |
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16. Long-Tailed Duck
The long-tailed duck, also known as the oldsquaw, is a medium-sized seabird found in the tundra and taiga regions of the Arctic during the breeding season.
It winters along the northern coastlines of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
This bird was formally described by Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The body length of this species varies from 44 to 57 cm, with wingspan extending up to 80 cm long and unique tail feathers nearly twice their body length.
They have an elongated head, which can be easily spotted when they swim on a water surface or fly high above it.
Their diet consists mainly of fishes, mollusks, and aquatic insects, which they hunt while swimming beneath the water’s surface using their strong feet for propulsion into deeper waters, unlike other ducks, which feed on land surfaces near lakes or ponds.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Clangula Leach, 1819 |
| Species | C. hyemalis |
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17. Wood Stork
The Wood Stork is a large wading bird found in subtropical and tropical habitats throughout the Americas, including the Caribbean. Its distinctive white head and neck feathers stand out from other storks.
The wood stork has an impressive wingspan of up to 6 feet wide, making it one of the largest birds in North America.
Although usually seen near water sources such as swamps or wetlands looking for food like fish, crabs, frogs, and even small reptiles, they can sometimes be spotted far away from their natural habitat during migration season.
This species is also one of few breeds annually in North America, with nests typically built on platforms made by humans or animals near water bodies or ponds.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Ciconiiformes |
| Family | Ciconiidae |
| Genus | Mycteria |
| Species | M. americana |
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18. Scarlet Tanager
The Scarlet Tanager is a beautiful medium-sized bird in North and South America. It belongs to the Cardinal family and has striking red plumage with black wings and tail feathers.
Its song is similar to other cardinals yet also unique in its way – it’s recognizable by its high whistles that become lower towards the end.
The species feeds mainly on insects and berries from trees or shrubs during the breeding season, when they may form loose flocks over open woodlands foraging for food.
They are highly territorial birds during nesting season between April and June each year; both males and females fiercely defend their nests against intruders such as cats or squirrels.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cardinalidae |
| Genus | Piranga |
| Species | P. olivacea |
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19. House Wren
The House Wren is a small bird of the Wren family found in Canada and South America. It’s quite common in suburban areas and is one of the most widely distributed native birds in North and South America.
Its taxonomy can be complicated, with some subspecies groups considered separate species.
The House Wren has a brown back, grey head, white eyebrow stripes, light chestnut belly, and buffy flanks.
They often inhabit old or abandoned buildings and shrublands near fields or open woods for nesting sites.
During the breeding season, they are highly territorial, so make sure you create an inviting environment if you wish to invite them into your yard.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Troglodytidae |
| Genus | Troglodytes |
| Species | T. aedon |
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20. Marsh Wren
The Marsh Wren is a small bird native to North America, belonging to the Wren family. It has a long bill and can be distinguished from other species of marsh birds, such as the sedge wren, by its size.
The Marsh Wren was first described in 1810 by Alexander Wilson under the binomial name Certhia palustris and now belongs to the genus Cistothorus.
This songbird prefers wetland habitats like marshes, swamps, or wetlands with dense vegetation for sheltering and nesting activities.
They build nests on grasses near water bodies made of twigs attached at one end, forming an enclosed cup-like structure lined with feathers or fur, making it look like a woven basket.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Troglodytidae |
| Genus | Cistothorus |
| Species | C. palustris |
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21. Painted Bunting
The Painted Bunting is an eye-catching bird from the Cardinal family, native to North America. Carl Linnaeus first described it in his eighteenth-century Systema Naturae.
The males of this species are particularly striking; they have brightly colored plumage, which only appears after their second year of life and can be distinguished from female birds through close inspection.
These colorful songbirds delight any avid birder, with their vibrant hues bringing joy to nature lovers everywhere.
They often inhabit woodland areas where plenty of seeds and insects are available for them to feed on – as well as some shrubbery so they can hide away safely when needed.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Passeriformes |
| Family | Cardinalidae |
| Genus | Passerina |
| Species | P. ciris |
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22. Willet
The Willet is a large and robust bird of the Scolopacidae family. It belongs to the genus Tringa, and it is much larger than its closest relative – lesser yellowlegs, which its fine neck pattern can easily distinguish.
The willet has brown upperparts, white patches on the wings, and grey underparts. Its bill is thick, long, and straight in shape, with black coloration at the tip, while the legs are also long but greenish-grey.
They feed mainly on insects, worms, or crustaceans that they find near coastal waters or wetlands and grains or seeds when they are available during winter.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Scolopacidae |
| Genus | Tringa |
| Species | T. semipalmata |
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23. Wood Duck
The wood duck, also known as the Carolina Duck, is a species of perching duck native to North America. It is renowned for its beautiful plumage and vibrant colors.
On average, an adult wood duck stands 19-21 inches long with a wingspan ranging from 26 to 29 inches. Its weight typically falls between 454–800 grams, depending on gender and seasonality.
This medium-sized bird can be seen swimming or perched atop branches near bodies of water like lakes, ponds, and rivers – where it feeds mostly on aquatic plants and insects.
The female builds nests inside cavities in trees close to these waters, while the male protects her eggs during the incubation period until they hatch into adorable little chicks.
Wood ducks are beloved by many due to their stunning looks, which make them popular subjects among photographers, too.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Anseriformes |
| Family | Anatidae |
| Genus | Aix |
| Species | A. sponsa |
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24. Wilson’s Plover
Wilson’s plover is a bird belonging to the Charadriidae family. His friend George Ord named The species after the ornithologist Alexander Wilson.
This small bird is typically found along the coasts of the Americas and breeds on both sides of the equator. Its range extends northward, including much of the U.S.
Eastern seaboard and the Pacific coast of Mexico. Wilson’s plover is a coastal wader who loves inhabiting sandy and rocky shores, beaches, and salt marshes. They feed on crustaceans, insects, and other small creatures near the shoreline.
This bird’s male and female have a similar appearance, with brownish-grey upperparts and white underparts. They are known to defend their nests and young against predators fiercely.
The Wilson’s plover is a unique bird species that plays a significant role in the coastal ecosystem.
Scientific classification:
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Aves |
| Order | Charadriiformes |
| Family | Charadriidae |
| Genus | Charadrius |
| Species | C. wilsonia |
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Conclusion
Simmons Island likely hosts a variety of bird species typical of coastal or island habitats. While the specific species present may vary depending on factors such as time of year and habitat characteristics.
Common birds you might encounter include seagulls, pelicans, terns, herons, plovers, ospreys, bald eagles, cormorants, ducks, geese, oystercatchers, brown thrashers, American robins, and northern mockingbirds.
Exploring the island and observing its avian residents can provide valuable insights into the local ecosystem and biodiversity.
