Jekyll Island is one of Georgia’s top sites for bird identification. 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 migrating feathered fliers, such as snowbirds. to a better climate.

The best times to identify birds in Jekyll are spring and fall. A particularly good time is in October, during the Jekyll Island Nature and Birding 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 complete, does provide tips for recognizing some of the island’s winged visitors.

wading birds:

1. 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-curving bills are yellowish.
2. Sandhill Cranes – The Florida subspecies of this crane sometimes appears on Jekyll Island. Sandhills are tall, long-legged birds, gray in color overall, with white cheeks and bare red foreheads. These cranes are sometimes confused with the great blue heron. Sandhill cranes, however, fly with their necks extended; herons fly with their necks curved in an “S” shape.
3. Blue Herons – Another large wading bird, herons have slate-colored feathers, reddish-brown thighs, and white heads adorned with a distinctive pair of black feathers that trail from behind the eyes to the back of the head.
4. Egrets – There are several different types of egrets, but most are white with gray feet and orange bills.

shorebirds:

1. Gulls – Several dozen species visit or live on Jekyll Island. Their sizes range from medium to large. For the most part, they have white and gray feathers with black markings on the head and wings. Seagulls like to hang out on the beach, and sometimes rare seagulls appear.
2. Whistling Plovers – This is an endangered species of bird. Piping plovers are sandy in color and about the size of sparrows. Adults have yellow-orange legs, with black, visor-like bands on the forehead that extend from eye to eye. They also have black rings around their necks.

Other birds:

1. Ospreys – Hawk-like raptors, ospreys grow to around 2 feet in length. They are brown on the upper body and greyish on the head and underside. The osprey’s wings are black and they wear black “masks”.
2. 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 bills.
3. Songbirds: include the yellow warbler; cardinals; tanners; 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 carry a good field guide, such as the Peterson’s 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 is a journal to record the birds you identify.

Identifying birds is easy on Jekyll Island, and you’ll always have plenty of winged subjects to practice on. But don’t be arrogant: you can’t call yourself a true birder until you learn to recognize a bird by its song.

However, being able to name a bird you’re looking at brings a whole new dimension to birding. It will leave you with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment for years to come.