30 BIRDS WITH LONG LEGS identification and Pictures

Long-legged birds

Welcome to an interesting journey across the varied habitats and long legs of birds. Birds with long legs have demonstrated their adaptability to a variety of situations by hobbling across vast fields or wading in shallow seas. This article reveals some of the most amazing species of elongated-limbed birds, along

with the locations across the globe where you may observe their elegant motions and intriguing habits. So get ready for an engrossing voyage as we explore the world of long-legged birds and the wonderful settings they call home.

Why are the legs of birds so long?

To wade in shallow water in quest of food: Some birds, including storks and herons, have long legs that allow them to wade in shallow water.
To reach food: Long-legged birds can more easily reach into taller plants in search of food.
For improved balance: When perching or moving around, birds with longer legs have a wider base of support, which aids in maintaining balance.

For simpler running: Some birds, like emus and ostriches, have long legs that facilitate swift and effective running.
Long legs are often an adaptation that makes birds more effective in their settings by making it easier for them to move around, get to food, and evade predators.

1. WOOD STORK

The only stork in the Ciconiidae family to breed in North America is the wood stork, or Mycteria americana, a big wading bird native to the United States.

• Formerly called the “wood ibis,” it is not an ibis.
• Found in subtropical and tropical habitats in the Americas, including the Caribbean; resident in South America and may disperse as far as Florida in North America.
• Head and neck bare of feathers, dark grey; plumage mostly white with black tail and some wing feathers with a greenish-purplish sheen.
• Habitat varies but requires a tropical or subtropical climate with fluctuating water levels.
• Nests, about one meter in diameter, found in trees, especially mangroves and Taxodium trees, usually surrounded by water.
• Nests colonially; made from sticks and greenery.
• Breeding season initiated when water levels decline (November to August); clutch of 3-5 eggs incubated for around 30 days.
• Chicks hatch underdeveloped, requiring parental support; fledge 60-65 days after hatching, with a low success rate.
• Chicks fed fish of increasing size as they age; adult diet varies with seasons, including fish, insects, frogs, and crabs.
• Forages by touch, needs shallow water for effective feeding; breeds when water levels fall.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Ciconiiformes	Ciconiidae	Mycteria	Mycteria americana

2.SOUTHERN CASSOWARY

The big, flightless black bird known as the southern cassowary (Casuarius casuarius), also called the double-wattled cassowary, Australian cassowary, or two-wattled cassowary

• Cassowaries are large, flightless birds native to New Guinea and northern Australia.
• The two main species are the southern and northern cassowary, distinguished by location.
• Enormous in size, reaching up to 5.8 feet in length with a 6.5-foot wingspan.
• Unable to fly, cassowaries have long, powerful legs used for movement and defense.
• Commonly found in eucalyptus forests, savannas, and swamps.
• Considered shy but can defend themselves with powerful legs and toe claws.
• Capable of swimming, jumping, and running at speeds up to 50 kilometers per hour.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Palaeognathae	Casuariidae	Casuarius	Casuarius casuarius

3. JABIRU

The jabiru, also known as the Jabiru mycteria, is a big stork.It is the sole individual in the Jabiru genus. The name “swollen neck” is derived from the Tupi-Guaraní language.

• Jabiru, or black-necked stork, is a large stork found from Mexico to Argentina, residing near rivers and ponds.
• Tallest flying bird in Central and South America, reaching up to 4.5 feet in height with a 7-9 feet wingspan.
• White bodies, long skinny black legs, black beak, head, and neck, with a single red patch at the base of the neck.
• Wading birds with long legs to walk through mud while searching for prey.
• Use long bills to detect and swiftly catch fish, frogs, snakes, insects, and mollusks.
• During the dry season, Jabirus also consume dead animals.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ciconiidae	Jabiru	Jabiru mycteria

4. GRAY HERON

The grey heron (Ardea cinerea) is a long-legged wading bird in the heron family, Ardeidae, native to temperate Europe, Asia, and parts of Africa. Resident in much of its range, some northern populations migrate southwards in autumn.

• frequently found near ponds, rivers, lakes, marshes, and the seaside.
• Eats aquatic life, capturing it by creeping through shallows or remaining motionless in the water.
• With a white head, black stripe extending from eye to crest, grey body and wings, and a pinkish-yellow beak, adults can reach heights of up to one meter and weigh between one and two kilograms.
• Breeds in heronries in the spring, constructing nests high in trees and producing a clutch of three to five bluish-green eggs.
• For about 25 days, both parents incubate the eggs; the babies fledge after 7-8 weeks. A large number of youngsters die during their first winter.
• In New Kingdom art from ancient Egypt, the heron was shown as the god Bennu.
• The heron was connected to divination in ancient Rome.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Ardea	Ardea cinerea

5. GREAT EGRET

The great egret (Ardea alba) is a large, widely distributed egret that is often referred to as the common egret, large egret, or (in the Old World) great white egret[2] or great white heron.

• Throughout North America there is a bird with long legs called the Great Egret.
• White overall, with dark legs and a yellow bill; long, wispy white plumes that are employed for courtship displays sprout during breeding season.
• Prior to its prohibition in 1910, human hunting for plumes was a hazard; today, the biggest threat is habitat loss and degradation.
• Prefers areas close to ponds, marshes, and streams in order to capture fish, insects, or frogs.
• saunters or stands motionless while hunting, jabbing prey with its sharp bills when it gets close enough.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Ardea	Ardea alba

6.OSTRICH

Large, flightless birds are called ostriches. With adult common ostriches weighing between 63.5 and 145 kg and depositing the largest eggs of any living land animal, they are the heaviest and largest birds still in existence. Being able to run at speeds of up to 70 km/h (43.5 mph), these birds are the quickest on land.

• Around the world, ostrich farming is a major industry in Namibia and the Philippines.
• The huge feathers of ostriches are utilized as plumes for ceremonial headdress ornamentation, and their leather is a valuable product.
• Humans have been using ostrich eggs for millennia.
• As members of the infra-class Palaeognathae, ostriches are classified as members of the genus Struthio in the order Struthioniformes.
• The group Palaeognathae is home to a variety of flightless birds, or ratites, including kiwis, emus, rheas, cassowaries, and extinct species like moas and elephant birds.
• The common ostrich, which is indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa, and the Somali ostrich, which is native to the Horn of Africa, are the two extant species of ostrich.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Struthioniformes	Struthionidae	Struthio	Struthio camelus

7. SNOWY EGRET

Little white herons like the snowy egret (Egretta thula) are common. The genus name, aigrette, is derived from Provençal French and means “little egret.” It is a diminutive of aigron, which means “heron.”

• A common long-legged bird in North, Central, and South America is the snowy egret. It stands 1.6-2.25 feet tall with a wingspan of 3.4 feet.
• builds nests in colonies, frequently with other herons.
• They grow gorgeous plumes throughout the breeding season, much like the great egret, and were formerly sought for fashion but are now successful in conservation.
• Known for its mostly white plumage, which contrasts with its black legs and yellow feet. It is mostly active at dawn and twilight and feeds on worms, insects, and amphibians in shallow water inlets.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Egretta	Egretta thula

8. AMERICAN FLAMINGO

Large flamingos, such as the American flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), are indigenous to the Yucatan Peninsula, northern South America, and the West Indies, including the Galápagos Islands.

• The American Flamingo is a large wading bird found in the Caribbean and along the South American coasts.
• They inhabit large colonies, sometimes containing up to 24,000 individuals.
• Notable characteristics include long pink legs with webbed feet, used for walking and stirring mud to resurface small animals, a significant part of their diet.
• They live in shallow brackish or saltwater environments and forage for small fish, worms, mollusks, and crustaceans.
• The pink coloration of flamingos is acquired from eating small crustaceans containing carotenoid pigments.

Flamingos exude an indescribable charm as if they were works of art carefully crafted by nature. And its image is also deeply rooted in people’s hearts. Many products will refer to its image, such as keychains, pins, and neon signs.

When the night is getting darker, elegant flamingo Custom Neon Signs can be very eye-catching. In addition to the classic flamingo image, you can also design unique elements on the neon signs, such as your favorite natural elements and sayings. Custom neon signs are a good choice for decoration and gifts. It can add an artistic sense to the environment and convey your special taste.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Phoenicopteriformes	Phoenicopteridae	Phoenicopterus	Phoenicopterus ruber

9. CATTLE EGRET

Within the family Ardeidae, the cow egret (Bubulcus) is a widely distributed genus of heron that inhabits the warm-temperate, subtropical, and tropical regions.

• Despite plumage similarities to Egretta egrets, it is more closely related to Ardea herons.
• Originally native to parts of Asia, Africa, and Europe, the cattle egret has rapidly expanded its distribution, successfully colonizing much of the world in the last century.
• White birds with buff plumes in the breeding season; nest in colonies near bodies of water and often with other wading birds.
• Nest is a platform of sticks in trees or shrubs; exploits drier and open habitats more than other heron species.
• Feeding habitats include grasslands, pastures, farmlands, wetlands, and rice paddies; often found with cattle or large mammals, catching prey disturbed by them.
• Some populations are migratory, and others show postbreeding dispersal.
• Adult cattle egrets have few predators; nests may be raided by birds or mammals, and chicks may be lost to various factors.
• Maintain a special relationship with cattle, removing ticks and flies, which benefits both but has been linked to the spread of tick-borne diseases.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Bubulcus	Bubulcus ibis

10. WHOOPING CRANE

Due to its distinctive “whooping” sounds, the whooping crane (Grus americana), a native of North America, is an endangered species of crane.

• The whooping crane, the tallest bird in North America, with a wingspan of seven feet and stands around five feet tall. Once common in wetlands in both Canada and the United States, it is currently listed as a federally endangered species.
• The population has expanded from 20 birds in 1941 to about 800 presently thanks to intensive conservation efforts.
• The only populations that can support themselves migrate between the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge in Texas and the Wood Buffalo National Park in Canada. nearly all white, with a splash of maroon crimson on the face and black legs.
• They provide an amazing spectacle during their courtship dance, which consists of leaping, wing sweeping, and kicking.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Gruiformes	Gruidae	Grus	Grus americana

11.EMU

After its ratite relative, the ostrich, the emu (Dromaius novaehollandiae) is the second-tallest bird alive.

• The emu can grow up to 6.2 feet tall, making it the second largest living bird after the ostrich. Their wings are too tiny for flight, and they are covered in shaggy brown feathers. Emu’s native Australia is home to a variety of environments, including as savannahs and grasslands.
• With their long legs and strong pelvic muscles, emus are able to run at speeds of up to 30 mph and defend themselves against predators with powerful kicks.
• Even though they are solitary animals, emus are inquisitive and like to peck at objects and animals to discover more about their environment. Depending on what is available during the season, they eat a wide range of plant materials and insects.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Palaeognathae	Dromaiidae	Dromaius	Dromaius novaehollandiae

12. BLACK-NECKED STILT

In American wetlands and along beaches, the black-necked stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) is a shorebird that is abundant locally.

• Black-Necked Stilts live in mudflats, marshes, and ponds where they eat fly larvae, tiny fish, snails, and aquatic invertebrates. Their body is slim and black and white, and they are perched on long, delicate pink legs that are 8 to 10 inches long. Their legs are around 1.5 feet long.
• Wading through muddy waters in search of food is known as foraging. In case of a predator encounter, they might do a “popcorn display” wherein a group of them would hop, flap, and leap like popcorn kernels to frighten the predator away.

Scientific Classification

Domain	Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Eukaryota	Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Recurvirostridae	Himantopus	Himantopus mexicanus

13. SECRETARY BIRD

Sagittarius serpentarius, also known as the secretary bird or secretary bird, is a big, primarily terrestrial bird of prey.

• The secretary bird has a noticeable crest on its head, very long legs, and a tall, slender build. It appears as though the bird is wearing shorts because of the dark color on its upper limbs.
• Their robust and well-adapted legs allow them to easily capture swift and formidable snakes.
• In Africa, secretary birds live in plains, grasslands, and wide savannahs. To get rid of prey like rodents, lizards, snakes, birds, and big insects, they trample through tall grass.
• While most other prey is grabbed with the feet, insects are scooped up with their beaks.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Accipitriformes	Sagittariidae	Sagittarius	serpentarius

14.GLOSSY IBIS

Water birds belonging to the ibis and spoonbill family Threskiornithidae and order Pelecaniformes include the glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus). The terms “sickle” and “distinctive shape“—ancient Greek plegados and Latin falcis—are the sources of the scientific name.

• From Maine to Texas, the east coast of the United States is home to the Glossy Ibis.
• When seen under ideal lighting conditions, its plumage displays a stunning deep maroon color with tones of metallic green, violet, and bronze on the wings.
• Up close, they may appear dark blackish. As colonial nesters and group feeders, glossy ibises are gregarious birds.
• They follow other wading birds as they move slowly over shallow water, probing muddy patches in search of food.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Threskiornithidae	Plegadis	falcinellus

15. AMERICAN AVOCET

Within the avocet family, the American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) is a big wader.It forages in shallow water or on mud flats for much of its life, frequently sweeping its bill back and forth in the water to find prey such as crustaceans and insects.

• The American Avocet is a small, slender shorebird that stands out for having a long, upturned, black bill. After the breeding season, the rusty color on their head and neck turns into a grayish-white hue, but their black-and-white plumage stays the same all year long.
• Then are located in western North America during the mating season, and then migrate to the southeastern coast of the US during the winter.
• They live in a variety of shallow wetland environments, such as freshwater and saltwater marshes, evaporation ponds, impoundments, and salt ponds.
• They skillfully look for aquatic invertebrates by wading through shallow water and sweeping their bill from side to side as part of their foraging technique.
• Furthermore, the American Avocet frequently shakes its foot after every stride, which helps to clear dirt and other debris.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Recurvirostridae	Recurvirostra	americana

16.ROSEATE SPOONBILL

Within the ibis and spoonbill family, the gregarious roseate spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) is a wading bird.

• The Roseate Spoonbill is native to coastal Florida, Texas, and southwest Louisiana.
• They prefer to roam in small flocks, often associating with other spoonbills and waders.
• Feeding in shallow waters, they use their distinctive flat bills to sift the muck by swinging their heads from side to side, utilizing their long legs for wading.
• This beautiful bird is rare and increasingly so, facing vulnerability due to the degradation of their feeding and nesting habitats, a consequence of pollution.
• Historically, they were nearly eliminated from the United States in the 1860s by plume hunters, and only in the 20th century did they begin to re-colonize Texas and Florida.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Threskiornithidae	Platalea	ajaja

17. LESSER YELLOWLEGS

The shorebird known as Ringa flavipes, or lesser yellowlegs, is a medium-sized bird. It reproduces in North America’s boreal forests.

• The Lesser Yellowlegs, similar to the Greater Yellowlegs, is found throughout the Americas in various habitats like marshes, mudflats, shores, ponds, and open boreal woods during the summer.
• Breeding Lesser Yellowlegs are characterized by grayish-brown plumage and striking yellow legs, while in the non-breeding season, they exhibit a more subdued appearance with gray-brown coloration and fewer streaks and spots.
• They share a graceful high-stepping gait with the Greater Yellowlegs and forage in shallow water, skillfully picking at items on or just below the water’s surface, occasionally swinging their heads back and forth.
• Unlike the Greater Yellowlegs, the Lesser Yellowlegs is often found in smaller ponds, forming larger flocks, and their behavior tends to be more approachable and less wary.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Scolopacidae	Tringa	flavipes

18.LONG-BILLED CURLEW

A huge shorebird in the Scolopacidae family found in North America is the long-billed curlew (Numenius americanus). The names “sicklebird” and “candlestick bird” were both used to this species.

• The Long-billed Curlew, also known as the sicklebird or candlestick bird, is the largest shorebird in North America.
• It breeds in central and western regions of the continent, migrating southward and coastward for the winter.
• Adults display a pale rust-colored plumage with speckles and bars in various shades of brown on the upper body and neck.
• One of its distinctive features is its exceptionally long and curved bill.
• Known for efficient foraging, it traverses grasslands and mudflats with a quick-paced walk, using its long bill to pick insects or probe beneath the surface of soft mud or soil for deep-burrowing prey.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Scolopacidae	Numenius	americanus

19.GREATER YELLOWLEGS

Within the family Scolopacidae, the greater yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) is a big shorebird.

• The Greater Yellowlegs are found throughout most of North America in bogs, marshes, and the areas surrounding different bodies of water. They build their nests in the north during the mating season, then throughout the winter they migrate south.
• Breeding Greater Yellowlegs have strongly streaked underparts, while nonbreeding animals have a pale underside and an upperside checkered in dark colors.
• They are exceptionally adept at foraging, deftly navigating mudflats and marshes as they search the mud and water for a variety of tiny animals and invertebrates.
• Greater Yellowlegs are occasionally observed sprinting to capture their meal.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Scolopacidae	Tringa	melanoleuca

20.AMERICAN BITTERN

Within the heron family, the American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a species of wading bird.This is a lone, brown bird that blends in with the rough vegetation that borders lakes and ponds and marshes. It is well-camouflaged.

• American Bitterns are characterized by a plump body, long beak and legs, and a well-camouflaged appearance.
• Native to Canada, as well as the northern and central United States, they spend their time hunting for food by wading into shallow water.
• They primarily hunt for fish but are also known to catch amphibians and small reptiles that cross their path.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Botaurus	lentiginosus

21.GREEN HERON

A tiny heron found in North and Central America is called the green heron (Butorides virescens). The words “bittern” in Middle English and “resembling” in Ancient Greek are butorides and “greenish” in Latin is virescens.

• Unfortunately, this heron species is not green but is more of an olive or grayish-brown color, with occasional records of greenish sightings, likely influenced by recent feeding on aquatic vegetation.
• Like many other herons, it feeds by wading into fast-moving streams and rivers, using its long legs to fish for prey.
• Unlike many birds, this heron exhibits a unique hunting behavior, using its environment as tools by dropping small amounts of bait into the water to attract fish.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Butorides	virescens

22.TRICOLORED HERON

Originally called the Louisiana heron, the tricolored heron (Egretta tricolor) is a tiny heron species indigenous to the coastal regions of the Americas. The species consumes largely tiny fish and is more solitary than other heron species in the Americas.

• The Tricolored Heron lives along the Gulf and Atlantic Coasts as far north as Maine. It breeds in southeast Texas and New Mexico.
• They go as far south as the West Indies and northern South America during the winter.
• They use their lengthy stilt legs to search for fish in a variety of environments, including as bayous, coastal ponds, salt marshes, mangrove islands, mudflats, and lagoons.
• Their white belly sets them apart from other dark-colored herons, making it easier for bird watchers to identify them.
• The Louisiana Heron was the previous name for Tricolored Herons, which are widely distributed throughout the Deep South. This change caused controversy among Louisiana’s ornithologists.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Egretta	tricolor

23.PURPLW HERON

One of the most cosmopolitan heron species is the purple heron (Ardea purpurea).It looks like the more popular grey heron, but with darker plumage and a little smaller, more slender build.

• Contrary to its name, the Purple Heron is more tawny brown and white, resembling the Blue Heron in its blue-gray stripes.
• It has a characteristic black line running across its face and beneath its eye, along with a tall black plume and black crown.
• The bird is difficult to identify because of its long orange legs, which help it blend in with the long-stemmed plants in its natural habitat.
• To shield their eggs from predators like snakes, purple herons construct their nests on stick platforms close to the ground and bodies of water.
• Using “tools” to drop a feather or leaf on the water’s surface and wait for an interested fish to examine, they display intriguing behavior.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Ardea	purpurea

24 .LIMPKIN

The only living species in the family Aramidae is the limpkin (Aramus guarauna), also known as the carrao, courlan, and sobbing bird. It is a big wading bird related to rails and cranes.

• The Limpkin is a large, recognizable marsh bird that resembles an ibis in appearance with its slightly decurved beak.
• They are found in southern Mexico and the Florida peninsula. They stand in the water by using their long legs, and their main food sources include freshwater insects, mussels, frogs, and snails.
• Their habitat, which consists of forested and brushy freshwater swamps and marshes, is found throughout South America, east of the Andes, except regions below the Equator.
• given their name due to the lame, jerky beats of their wings and drooping legs during flying.
• The reduction of its principal food source, the Florida apple snail, has led to their listing as a species of special concern in Florida, where they were once widespread.
• A “hobbling” of Limpkins is the collective term for a group of Limpkins.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Gruiformes	Aramidae	Aramus	guarauna

25.SCARLET IBIS

The Threskiornithidae family of birds includes the scarlet ibis, sometimes known as the red ibis (Eudocimus ruber).This medium-sized wader is a resilient, common, and abundant bird.

• The Scarlet Ibis is a stunning orange-red ibis with black wingtips, featuring black bills during the breeding season and pink bills at other times.
• Inhabiting mangrove swamps and adjacent muddy estuaries in South America and the Caribbean islands.
• Their long legs are used for expert navigation of mangrove roots hidden beneath the water, as they wade in these swamps.
• Despite being previously hunted for its brilliant red plumage, the Scarlet Ibis now has protected status worldwide, having made a full recovery and is of least concern to the ecological community.
• For safety, they build nests in trees above the water to avoid predators, creating a style described as “artless” or “a loose platform of sticks.”

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Threskiornithidae	Eudocimus	ruber

26.PURPLE GALLINULE

The medium-sized Purple Gallinule gets its name from its vivid and unusual plumage. It can make noises that are comparable to those of a chicken, but calls that low and grating are not typically heard in the middle of a lake.

• Anhingas are found in the Florida peninsula year-round and breed along the coasts of the southern states.
• During winter, they migrate south and settle in the Yucatan peninsula and throughout Central America along coastal shallow wetlands and swamps.
• Foraging involves walking along vegetation at the water’s edge, using long toes and powerful legs to balance on lily pads and other plants.
• They are also known to forage while swimming.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Gruiformes	Rallidae	Porphyrio	martinicus

27.REDDISH EGRET

The medium-sized heron known as the reddish egret (Egretta rufescens).The egret is well-known for both its peculiar foraging habits in contrast to those of other herons and its preference for mud flats as a habitat.

• There are two extremely rare variations of the Reddish Egret: a light variety that is white with a black bill that is bicolored and has pink tips, and a scarcer dark form that has a grayish-blue body and reddish feathers on the head and throat.
• Its more rotund body and slightly knobbier knees allow it to shift its center of balance lower than other herons, making it plumper for its size and easier for it to “squat” over the water than other egrets.
• Most likely the least well-known heron in North America, the Reddish Egret lives almost entirely in coastal lagoons along the Gulf Coast. It uses a special kind of hunting where it draws fish to the surface with shadows and then quickly stabs at them in an attempt to catch them.
• Considered the most varied and active of any North American heron in foraging techniques.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Pelecaniformes	Ardeidae	Egretta	rufescens

28.SANDHILL CRANE

One kind of huge crane is the sandhill crane (Antigone canadensis).This bird’s common name alludes to an area similar to that near the Platte River, on the border of the Sandhills of Nebraska in the American Great Plains. Particularly in Central Florida, sandhill cranes are known to congregate near the edges of bodies of water.

• The Sandhill Crane is distinguished by its beauty, featuring a red patch on the head and white patches on each cheek.
• Often mistaken for the Great Blue Heron from afar, it flies with its neck extended rather than folded in.
• Renowned for its long legs, the Sandhill Crane has a distinctive silhouette, with local beliefs associating its flight overhead with good luck.
• Emitting a low, rattling call similar to the American crow, which is the first clue to the presence of a flock of these birds.
• Opportunistic foragers, they consume more vegetation than many larger birds, but the animal portion is crucial for essential amino acids in their diet.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Gruiformes	Gruidae	Antigone	canadensis

29.NORTHERN JACANA

The jacana spinosa, also known as the northern jacana or jaçana, is a wader. Because it seems like it can walk on water, this bird is sometimes referred to as the “Jesus bird” in Jamaica.[3] The scientific Latin spelling of the Tupi name for the bird, jacana, is Linnaeus’ translation of the Brazilian Portuguese jaçanã, which is pronounced [ʒasaˈnɐ̃].

• Northern jacanas are rare north of Mexico, but their extraordinary legs, featuring the longest toes in proportion to body size globally, make them noteworthy.
• Their unique feet allow them to walk on floating vegetation like water lily pads in search of food, earning them the nicknames “Jesus bird” or “lily trotter” in Jamaica for appearing to walk on water.
• While more common in Central and South America, they have a patchy distribution and have been known to appear in various southern states in the US.
• According to the Sibley Guide to Birds, Northern Jacanas have been recorded nesting in Texas.

Scientific Classification

Kingdom	Phylum	Subphylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Vertebrata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Jacanidae	Jacana	spinosa

30 Willet

A huge shorebird belonging to the Scolopacidae family is the willet (Tringa semipalmata). The biggest of the so-called “shanks” in the Tringa genus, it is a sturdy and reasonably large sandpiper. The nearest relative of this species is the lesser yellowlegs,

a somewhat smaller bird with a totally different appearance, save from the neck pattern, which is fine, clear, and dense in both species’ breeding plumage.

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family	Genus	Species
Animalia	Chordata	Aves	Charadriiformes	Scolopacidae	Tringa	Tringa semipalmata

FAQs

1. What are long-legged birds?
   • The expanded legs of long-legged birds, a diverse collection of avian species, are an adaptation for walking and wading in shallow waters. Wetland habitats are frequently linked to these birds.
2. Which bird species are considered long-legged?
   • Among the well-known long-legged birds are flamingos, cranes, ibises, storks, egrets, and herons. Coastal locations, rivers, lakes, ponds, and marshes are common habitats for these birds.
3. What is the purpose of long legs in these birds?
   • These birds’ long legs facilitate their ability to wade through water and aid in their food-gathering. Their long legs give them an elevated position that reduces disturbance while enabling them to maneuver through shallow waters.
4. What do long-legged birds eat?
   • While the composition of long-legged birds’ diets varies by species, small animals, fish, amphibians, and crustaceans are frequently included. Certain animals, like as flamingos, graze on algae and small invertebrates through filters.
5. Are all long-legged birds water-dependent?
   • Although a large number of long-legged birds are linked to aquatic environments, not all of them are totally dependent on water. Certain animals can be found in a range of habitats, such as grasslands and agricultural areas; one such species is the crane.
6. How do long-legged birds reproduce?
   • Nests constructed by long-legged birds are usually found in high places like trees, cliffs, or tall grasses. They lay eggs, and frequently both parents help with egg incubation and chick care.
7. Are long-legged birds migratory?
   • Between their breeding and wintering habitats, several long-legged bird species migrate great distances. Their migration allows them to adapt to seasonal variations in the environment and food sources.
8. Are there any endangered long-legged bird species?
   • Indeed, a number of long-legged bird species are regarded as endangered or threatened because of many factors like pollution and habitat loss. To safeguard and maintain these species, conservation initiatives have been put in place.
9. Can long-legged birds fly?
   • Yes, most long-legged birds are competent flyers. Although they have excellent wading and walking adaptations, they may also fly during migration, to avoid predators, or to find new food sites.