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Seabirds of New Jersey

New Jersey is home to a diverse array of seabirds, with a variety of species inhabiting the state's coastline and offshore waters. From the majestic Atlantic Puffin to the graceful Common Tern, these birds play a vital role in the state's marine ecosystems and provide a spectacular show for birdwatchers and nature lovers alike.


Whether you're exploring the rocky cliffs and beaches along the New Jersey coast or boating out to the state's offshore islands, you're likely to encounter a variety of seabirds. These birds can be seen diving into the ocean in pursuit of fish, flying overhead in flocks, or nesting on the cliffs and beaches.


In this article, we'll take a closer look at some of the seabirds native to New Jersey, exploring their unique characteristics, habitat, and behavior. Whether you're an experienced birdwatcher or just starting to learn about these amazing birds, you'll discover something new and fascinating about the seabirds of New Jersey.

Black-Crowned Night Heron

The Black-Crowned Night Heron is a species of wading bird that is native to New Jersey. This medium-sized bird is known for its distinctive appearance, with a black crown and back, white underbelly, and red eyes.


Black-Crowned Night Herons breed in colonies in wetlands and near bodies of water, where they lay their eggs in nests built in trees or on the ground. They feed on a variety of prey, including fish, frogs, and crustaceans, which they catch by stalking through the water or by waiting motionless for their prey to come to them.


The Black-Crowned Night Heron is an important part of New Jersey's wetland heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling aquatic prey populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, pollution, and disturbance. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, wetland enthusiast, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Black-Crowned Night Heron is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Atlantic Puffin

The Atlantic Puffin is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This distinctive bird is known for its colorful beak and large, round head.


Atlantic Puffins breed in colonies along the coast, where they dig burrows in which to lay their eggs. They feed on small fish and other seafood, which they catch by diving into the water from the air. During the non-breeding season, Atlantic Puffins can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Atlantic Puffin is a charismatic species that is beloved by many people, and is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs.

Common Tern

The Common Tern is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This graceful bird is known for its long, narrow wings and its striking appearance.

Common Terns breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs on sandy beaches and offshore islands. They feed on small fish, which they catch by diving into the water from the air. During the non-breeding season, Common Terns can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.

The Common Tern is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Atlantic Puffin and Common Tern are fascinating and important parts of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Sandwich Tern

The Sandwich Tern is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This striking bird is known for its distinctive black cap and forked tail, as well as its elegant flight.


Sandwich Terns breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs on sandy beaches and offshore islands. They feed on small fish, which they catch by diving into the water from the air. During the non-breeding season, Sandwich Terns can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Sandwich Tern is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Sandwich Tern is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Black Skimmer

The Black Skimmer is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This distinctive bird is known for its large, red bill and its unique feeding behavior, in which it skims the surface of the water with its bill open to catch small fish.


Black Skimmers breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs on sandy beaches and offshore islands. They feed on small fish and other seafood, which they catch by skimming the surface of the water. During the non-breeding season, Black Skimmers can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Black Skimmer is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Black Skimmer is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage

Double-Crested Cormorant

The Double-Crested Cormorant is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This large bird is known for its distinctive double crest of feathers on its head, as well as its sleek, black body and hooked bill.


Double-Crested Cormorants breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs in nests built in trees or on the ground. They feed on fish and other seafood, which they catch by diving into the water from the air or by swimming on the surface. During the non-breeding season, Double-Crested Cormorants can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Double-Crested Cormorant is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Double-Crested Cormorant is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Great Cormorant

The Great Cormorant is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This large bird is similar in appearance to the Double-Crested Cormorant, but can be distinguished by its larger size and lack of a double crest of feathers on its head.


Great Cormorants breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs in nests built in trees or on the ground. They feed on fish and other seafood, which they catch by diving into the water from the air or by swimming on the surface. During the non-breeding season, Great Cormorants can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Great Cormorant is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Great Cormorant is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

American Oystercatcher

The American Oystercatcher is a species of shorebird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This large, striking bird is known for its long, red bill and its distinctive, piercing call.


American Oystercatchers breed along the coast, where they lay their eggs on sandy beaches and offshore islands. They feed on mollusks, which they open by pounding them with their bill. During the non-breeding season, American Oystercatchers can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The American Oystercatcher is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling mollusk populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the American Oystercatcher is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Willet

The Willet is a species of shorebird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This large, striking bird is known for its long, blue-gray bill and its distinctive, "pill-will-willet" call.


Willets breed along the coast, where they lay their eggs on sandy beaches and offshore islands. They feed on small marine invertebrates, which they pick from the surface of the water or the shore. During the non-breeding season, Willets can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Willet is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling marine invertebrate populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Willet is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Laughing Gull

The Laughing Gull is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This medium-sized bird is known for its distinctive, cackling call, as well as its gray back, white head and neck, and black wingtips.


Laughing Gulls breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs in nests built on the ground. They feed on fish and other seafood, which they catch by diving into the water from the air or by swimming on the surface. During the non-breeding season, Laughing Gulls can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Laughing Gull is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Laughing Gull is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Herring Gull

The Herring Gull is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This large bird is known for its distinctive, "herring gull" call, as well as its gray back, white head and neck, and black wingtips.


Herring Gulls breed in colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs in nests built on the ground. They feed on fish and other seafood, which they catch by diving into the water from the air or by swimming on the surface. During the non-breeding season, Herring Gulls can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Herring Gull is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Herring Gull is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

Royal Tern

The Royal Tern is a species of seabird that is native to the coastal waters of New Jersey. This large bird is known for its striking appearance, with a black cap, orange bill, and white body.


Royal Terns breed in large colonies along the coast, where they lay their eggs on sandy beaches and offshore islands. They feed on fish, which they catch by diving into the water from the air. During the non-breeding season, Royal Terns can be found far out to sea, where they feed and rest.


The Royal Tern is an important part of New Jersey's coastal heritage, and is a valuable species for its role in controlling fish populations. However, the population of this bird has declined in recent years, due to a variety of factors including habitat loss, overfishing, and pollution. Conservation efforts are underway to protect this species, including habitat restoration, public education initiatives, and research programs. Whether you're a birdwatcher, beachcomber, or simply enjoy exploring the outdoors, the Royal Tern is a fascinating and important part of New Jersey's natural heritage.

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