Seabirds of the Salish Sea Marine Life Guide

Download the Salish Sea Field Guide

We see many different kinds of birds on our tours - way too many for us to simply list as we are travelling along. This page is dedicated to all of our commonly spotted species. Each entry lists the species’ common name followed by their scientific name.

Belted Kingfisher - Megaceryle alcyon

Female belted kingfisher perched on a metal post
Female belted kingfisher perched on a boat railing above the water
Belted kingfisher perched on a tree branch near the shoreline

Black Oystercatcher - Haematopus bachmani

Black oystercatcher standing on a rocky shoreline beside the ocean
Black oystercatcher calling from a lichen-covered coastal rock
Flock of black oystercatchers gathered on a rocky coastal islet

Black Turnstone - Arenaria melanocephala

Black turnstone standing on driftwood beside the water
Black turnstone standing on a seaweed-covered coastal rock
Flock of black turnstones foraging on rocks beside resting sea lions

Bonaparte’s Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia

Bonaparte’s gull in breeding plumage swimming on calm water
Two Bonaparte’s gulls interacting on the water with one bird’s wings raised
Two Bonaparte’s gulls perched on a floating log

Canada Goose - Branta canadensis

Canada goose standing on a grassy coastal bluff
Close-up of a Canada goose’s head and upper body
Canada goose standing on shoreline rocks beside the ocean

Cliff Swallow - Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Cliff swallows nesting in cavities along a lichen-covered rock face
Cliff swallows flying around nesting cavities in a coastal cliff
Flock of cliff swallows flying beneath a rocky nesting overhang

Common Loon - Gavia immer

Common loon in breeding plumage flying with wings fully extended
Common loon in non-breeding plumage swimming on coastal water
Common loon in breeding plumage swimming through choppy water

Common Merganser - Mergus merganser

Female common merganser swimming on coastal water
Male common merganser in breeding plumage swimming on the water
Female common merganser running across the water with wings raised during takeoff

Common Murre - Uria aalge

Common murre in non-breeding plumage swimming on coastal water
Common murre in breeding plumage swimming on calm water
Group of common murres swimming together on the ocean

Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus

Double-crested cormorant flying over coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Double-crested cormorant drying its spread wings on a rocky Vancouver Island shoreline
Double-crested cormorant swimming in coastal waters near Vancouver Island

Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias

Great blue heron flying low over coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Great blue heron flying with wings fully extended
Great blue heron standing in shallow coastal water

Gulls - Larus argentatus, Larus brachyrhynchus, Larus californicus, Larus glaucescens, Larus occidentalis

 
 

Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus

Male harlequin duck swimming with four females in coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Male and female harlequin ducks swimming together in the Salish Sea
Male harlequin duck standing on rocky shoreline near Vancouver Island

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus

Osprey flying over a forested Vancouver Island coastline
Osprey in flight with wings fully extended
Osprey perched on a branch beside a rocky coastal cliff

Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica

Pacific loon swimming in choppy coastal water
Pacific loon swimming through rough ocean water
Pacific loon swimming in coastal waters near Vancouver Island

Parasitic jaeger - Stercorarius parasiticus

 
Parasitic jaeger flying over coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Parasitic jaeger pursuing a gull in flight over the Salish Sea
 

Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus

Pelagic cormorant taking flight from a rocky coastal ledge
Two pelagic cormorants standing on a rocky coastal islet
Pelagic cormorant flying with nesting material in its beak

Pigeon Guillemot - Cepphus columba

Pigeon guillemot swimming with a fish in its beak in coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Pigeon guillemot standing on coastal rocks with bright red feet and a white wing patch
Pigeon guillemot swimming in calm coastal waters near Vancouver Island

Red-necked Grebe - Podiceps grisegena

Two red-necked grebes swimming together
Red-necked grebe swimming on calm water
Two red-necked grebes swimming across coastal water

Red-necked Phalarope - Phalaropus lobatus

Red-necked phalarope swimming on gently rippled water
Red-necked phalarope swimming across calm coastal water
Red-necked phalarope swimming among floating seaweed

Rhinoceros Auklet - Cerorhinca monocerata

Rhinoceros auklet swimming on blue coastal water
Rhinoceros auklet swimming through choppy ocean water
Rhinoceros auklet with a bright orange bill swimming on the ocean

Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata

Surf scoter lifting off from coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Flock of surf scoters flying low over coastal waters near Vancouver Island
Surf scoter running across the water during takeoff near Vancouver Island

Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura

 
 

Violet-green Swallow - Tachycineta thalassina

 
Violet-green swallow flying past tree branches
Violet-green swallow perched on a branch against a rocky backdrop