Marsh Birds

Marshes are low-lying wetlands that flood during high tides and wet seasons, creating vital habitats for a diverse range of wildlife, including birds. These wetlands can be categorized into salt marshes, found along coastlines, and freshwater marshes, which form in low-lying areas around rivers, lakes, and other water bodies.

Birds that live in marshes possess unique adaptations. Some have long legs that allow them to wade stealthily through tall grasses and cattails, while others have long toes that enable them to walk on vegetation floating on the water’s surface. Even sparrows and blackbirds, which inhabit marshlands, have longer limbs to navigate through the mud. Many marsh birds, particularly those more aquatic, rely on swimming or diving to evade threats rather than taking flight. Some species are so stealthy that they are rarely seen, earning the label ‘secretive,’ with their calls often being the only indication of their presence.

List of Common Marsh Birds

Name	Size (in)	Freshwater/Saltwater	Geographical Range
American Oystercatcher	17-21	Both	Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from Maine to Texas
Anhinga	29-37	Freshwater	Common in the southeastern U.S., especially in Florida and along the Gulf Coast
Belted Kingfisher	11-14	Both	Widespread across the U.S., often near rivers, lakes, and coasts
Jabiru	45-55	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands and marshes in Central and South America
Limpkin	19-23	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands in the southeastern U.S., especially Florida and Georgia, Central America, and northern parts of South America
Marsh Wren	5-6	Freshwater	Dense freshwater marshes in North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Northern Jacana	11-14	Freshwater	Tropical freshwater marshes in Central America and parts of northern South America
Osprey	20-24	Both	Worldwide, except polar regions, often near freshwater and coastal marshes
Purple Martin	7-8	Both	Wetlands and urban areas in North America
Sandhill Crane	40-48	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands in North America, especially in states like Nebraska, Georgia, Florida, and New Mexico, as well as Central America, and parts of South America
Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns
Black-crowned Night-heron	22-28	Both	Wetlands in the U.S., especially from the East Coast to the West Coast
Great Blue Heron	36-54	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands and marshes across North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Green Heron	16-18	Freshwater	Marshes and wooded wetlands in North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Least Bittern	10-14	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands and marshes in North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Snowy Egret	24-28	Both	Across North and Central America, the Caribbean, and parts of South America
Rails, Gallinules, and Coots*
Clapper Rail	12-16	Saltwater	Coastal marshes along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from New Jersey to Texas
Common Gallinule	9-11	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands across North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Common Moorhen	9-12	Freshwater	Freshwater wetlands in Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America
American Coot	12-14	Freshwater	Marshes and ponds across North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Sora	8-10	Freshwater	Across North America, from Nova Scotia and southern Yukon in Canada to US states like California and New Mexico, extending northeast to Pennsylvania and New England
Virginia Rail	8-10	Freshwater	North America, from Nova Scotia in Canada to southern British Columbia, as well as California and North Carolina in the US and Central America
Yellow Rail	7-8	Freshwater	Dense marshes and wet prairies in North America, from Canada to the Great Lakes in the US
Sandpipers and Allies
Greater Yellowlegs	13-15	Both	Wetlands in North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Wilson’s Phalarope	9-11	Both	Wetland habitats in the northern U.S. and Canada
Wilson’s Snipe	9-11	Freshwater	Across wet meadows in North America, Central America, and parts of South America
Grebes
Eared Grebe	12-16	Both	Freshwater and saltwater marshes in North America, Europe, and Asia
Pied-billed Grebe	10-13	Both	Widespread across freshwater ponds and marshes in North and Central America
Red-necked Grebe	12-17	Both	Freshwater and coastal marshes in North America, Europe, and Asia
Western Grebe	20-26	Both	Western North America
Swallows
Violet-green Swallow	5-6	Both	Near forests, cliffs, and wetlands in western North America, from Alaska in the US to Montana and Texas in the east and Mexico in the south
Barn Swallow	6-8	Both	Open fields and wetlands worldwide, except polar regions
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	6-8	Both	Near rivers, lakes, and wetlands in North America
Cliff Swallow	5-6	Both	Open fields and wetlands in North and Central America
Terns
Black Tern	9-12	Both	Across the northern U.S., migrates through the Gulf Coast
Forster’s Tern	12-14	Saltwater	Saltwater marshes and estuaries on the coasts of North America
Stilts and Avocets
American Avocet	14-17	Both	Wetlands and coastal marshes in North America, including Washington, Colorado, Utah, Montana, Idaho, North and South Dakota, Nebraska, and parts of New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas in the US
Black-necked Stilt	13-15	Both	Coastal and inland wetlands in North and Central America, especially along the Colorado River passing through California and Oregon
Sparrows*
Saltmarsh Sparrow	5-6	Saltwater	Along the Atlantic coast of the U.S., from Maine to South Carolina
Seaside Sparrow	5-6	Saltwater	Along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the U.S., from Hampshire to Texas
Swamp Sparrow	5-6	Freshwater	Across freshwater marshes and bogs in North America
Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbird	7-9	Both	Common across North America in a variety of wetland habitats, including marshes
Yellow-headed Blackbird	9-10	Both	Wetlands and marshes in the western U.S., especially Arizona and California, and Canada
Tricolored Blackbird	9-10	Both	Marshes and wetlands in western North America, especially in California
Brewer’s Blackbird	7-8	Both	Wetlands, agricultural areas, and open woodlands in North America
Swifts
White-throated Swift	7-8	Both	Near cliffs and open spaces, including wetlands in North and Central America, including California, Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico in the US, as well as Mexico
Black Swift	8-9	Both	Mountainous and wetland areas throughout the western Americas, from Canada to Brazil
Vaux’s Swift	7-8	Both	Forests and wetlands in the Americas from southern Alaska to Venezuela, encompassing California, Mexico, Panama, and the Yucatán Peninsula

*These are hard to spot and are considered to be secretive marsh birds. They often act as indicator species for their ecosystems.

Although many marsh birds are currently listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN, the ongoing loss of marshland habitats poses a significant threat to their survival. This decline is particularly concerning because these birds play a crucial role in maintaining the health and balance of their ecosystems, making their preservation essential.