ocean life species identification
birds
THE PARK ALSO SERVES AS A BIRD SANCTUARY, a great place for birding
bald eagle
Scientific name: Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Family: Accipitridae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: Body: 1 meter, Wingspan: up to 2 meters
Description: The adults have a white head and tail. Bodies are brown with yellow claws and a yellow beak. Juveniles, up until age 4 or 5, do not have the characteristic white head, but their entire body is brown.
Habitat and behavior: Prefer areas near water with nearby forests. They hunt by swooping down and clasping their prey in their talons.
california gull
Scientific name: Larus californicus
Family: Laridae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 1/2 meter long
Description: A gull with a white head, and body. Its wings are grey and tail feathers are black with some spots of white.
Habitat and behavior: They mainly live from the middle to the West coast of North America around lakes, ponds and the ocean. They eat most aquatic invertebrates.
common murre
Scientific name: Uria aalge
Family: Auk
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: Body: 1 meter, Wingspan: 1.5 meters
Description: A penguin-like bird with a white belly, and a blackish-grey body. Also has a black pointy beak.
Habitat and behavior: Prefer oceans and large bays by sea cliffs . Favors colder water and can dive up to 50 meters underwater to forage for food.
great blue heron
Scientific name: Ardea herodias
Family: Ardeidae
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: 1 meter tall
Description: A very tall bird with a long neck. It is grayish-blue in color and a yellow-orange beak. It has a black feathers coming off the back of its head.
Habitat and behavior: They live from all over the U.S., in some areas of Canada and in South America. They live in marshes and will go to the ocean or lakes to catch fish to eat.
Pelagic cormorant
Scientific name: Phalacrocorax pelagicus
Family: Cormorants
Phylum: Chordata
Typical size: Body: 60 to 80 centimeters, Wingspan: 1 meter
Description: Long, slender, black bodies with a curved neck and a dark orange beak.
Habitat and behavior: They stay close to shorelines and prefer bays and sounds. The birds nest on sea cliffs and sometimes on structures such as abandoned piers and ships. They catch most of their prey underwater and are less social than other birds.