Pennsylvania is home to a diverse array of bird species, some of which are characterized by their long, slender necks. Birds that have elongated necks are able to reach food sources that are inaccessible to other birds with shorter necks. Their specialized neck anatomy allows them to hunt in shallow waters for fish and other aquatic prey. Some long-necked birds are also adept at spearing frogs, small rodents, and other animals in marshes and wetlands.
Great Blue Heron
One of the most widely recognized long-necked birds in Pennsylvania is the great blue heron (Ardea herodias). As North America’s largest heron, it stands over 4 feet tall with a wingspan exceeding 6 feet. Its sinuous neck accounts for much of its height. Great blue herons live along rivers, lakes, wetlands, and coastlines throughout Pennsylvania. Theyoften nest in colonies called heronries, with nests built high up in trees. Great blue herons are patient hunters, standing motionless in shallow water waiting for prey such as small fish, amphibians, reptiles, and invertebrates to come within striking distance of their dagger-like bills.
Great Egret
Closely related to the great blue heron is the great egret (Ardea alba), another long-necked wading bird found in Pennsylvania. It is entirely white with contrasting black legs and bill. Although smaller than the great blue heron, the great egret is still a large bird at over 3 feet tall with a 4.5 foot wingspan. Great egrets forage in marshes, along shorelines, and in other wetland habitats. They use their long necks to abruptly jab at fish, frogs, snakes, and insects. In spring, great egrets grow long decorative plumes used in mating displays.
Green Heron
The smallest heron species in Pennsylvania is the green heron (Butorides virescens), also called a green-backed heron. Adults are only about 18 inches in height but have a proportionalately long neck. Green herons are widespread in swamps, ponds, and along slow-moving streams. Unlike the stately great blue heron, green herons often take cover and pause cautiously before striking out with their neck to capture small fish, frogs, insects, and other aquatic invertebrates. Green herons sometimes lure prey within reach by dangling bugs or bits of debris over the water using their elongated neck and bill.
Black-crowned Night-Heron
As its name suggests, the black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) is a largely nocturnal heron species. But it can sometimes be seen hunting in Pennsylvania wetlands during the day as well. Adults are about 25 inches tall and look pale gray and white from a distance. Up close, black-crowned night-herons display fierce red eyes and a black cap and back. They use their dagger-like bills at the end of a proportionally thick neck to spear fish, amphibians, crayfish, and other prey. During the day, these herons often roost in groups in trees.
American Bittern
The American bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) is a master of camouflage thanks to its streaked brown plumage. This well-camouflaged heron blends into marsh vegetation with its neck stretched upward to align with vertical plant stems. While nearly invisible, it patiently waits to ambush passing prey using lightning-fast strikes. American bitterns consume fish, frogs, insects, crayfish, and small mammals that live in freshwater marshes across Pennsylvania. They are most active hunting at dawn and dusk. Their deep “oonk-a-chunk” call is sometimes heard echoing across marshes.
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are not herons, but they do have extremely long necks proportional to their large body size. These tall gray birds stand over 4 feet high. They are most common in northwestern Pennsylvania, but increasing numbers now migrate across other parts of the state each fall and spring. Sandhill cranes often feed in freshly planted fields, probing the ground for seeds, shoots, tubers, worms, insects, snails, crayfish and small vertebrates. They grasp food by rapidly thrusting out their long neck and stabbing with their bill. Flocks of sandhill cranes fly with necks fully extended, sometimes calling to each other in loud resonant trumpeting.
Wood Stork
The wood stork (Mycteria americana) is an unusual-looking wetland bird that occasionally shows up in Pennsylvania during late summer. As the only stork breeding in North America, it is distinctive with its bald, dark gray head and thick downcurved bill. Wood storks are large wading birds that stand over 3 feet tall, with a 5 foot wingspan. They have a thick, sinuous neck that assists them in tactile foraging. By probing their bill into water or soft mud, wood storks can detect fish, amphibians, crayfish and other prey by touch. They nest colonially in tropical and subtropical wetlands, sometimes wandering north after breeding.
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Related to the black-crowned night-heron is the yellow-crowned night-heron (Nyctanassa violacea). As its name suggests, adults of this species have a yellow crown and black-and-white facial markings. These stocky herons reach about 25 inches in height thanks to their proportional neck and thick body. Yellow-crowned night-herons forage at dusk and night for crabs, crayfish, fish, frogs, and other aquatic creatures. During the day, they roost inconspicuously in trees and bushes near water. Although populations have declined, yellow-crowned night-herons still breed locally in parts of Pennsylvania.
Glossy Ibis
The glossy ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) is a type of wading bird that resembles a large, dark curlew in shape. It has a long, downcurved bill ideal for probing into muddy wetlands to catch crabs, crayfish, fish, frogs, and aquatic insects. This ibis gets its name from its iridescent plumage that shines reddish-brown in sunlight. Glossy ibis migrate through Pennsylvania in spring and fall, occasionally stopping to rest and feed in freshwater marshes, flooded fields, and along muddy shorelines where prey is abundant. Their flocks fly with necks outstretched in an undulating line.
White Ibis
Very rarely, the white ibis (Eudocimus albus) turns up along the Atlantic coast of Pennsylvania during the summer months. This wading bird’s plumage is bright white with black wingtips. It has brilliant red eyes and a long, downcurved red bill. White ibises feed tactilely by probing their bills into soft mud to find fiddler crabs, fish, shrimp, snails, insects and other invertebrates. They breed in tropical coastal colonies and appear in Pennsylvania after wandering north outside of the breeding season. Birdwatchers consider sightings of white ibises to be exceptional rarities in the state.
Whistling Swan
The whistling swan (Cygnus columbianus) is North America’s most common swan species, named for its melodious call. This large waterfowl has a remarkably long neck proportional to its bulky body, stretching 6 feet from bill to tail. Whistling swans migrate through Pennsylvania each spring and fall, stopping to rest and feed on aquatic vegetation in lakes, rivers and grain fields. Groups of whistling swans fly in diagonal lines with outstretched necks. Not technically long-necked birds, whistling swans are still admired for their extreme neck length and elegance in flight.
Tundra Swan
Closely related to the whistling swan is the tundra swan (Cygnus columbianus). Tundra swans are virtually identical to whistling swans in appearance. They have snowy white plumage and an exceedingly long, slender neck that distinguishes them in flight. Most tundra swans stay along the Atlantic coast during migration. But some traverse through interior Pennsylvania in spring and fall as they travel between Arctic nesting areas and more southern wintering sites. Listen for the tundra swan’s soft, tremulous whistling calls as flocks pass overhead.
Mute Swan
The mute swan (Cygnus olor) is an introduced species from Europe now well-established across Pennsylvania. It is the most familiar swan species seen regularly in parks, lakes, ponds, rivers and bays. Adult mute swans have an angular orange bill with a black base, unlike the rounded black bills of native swans. But like our native swans, the mute swan has an impressively long neck and gracefully arched posture whether drifting on the water or flying overhead. Mute swans can become aggressive, especially while nesting and feeding, characteristics which have fueled controversy over this exotic species.
Long-necked Bird Habitats in Pennsylvania
Birds with elongated necks occupy a variety of aquatic and wetland habitats in Pennsylvania. Great blue herons, great egrets, green herons, and black-crowned night-herons all frequent marshes, swamps, ponds, lakeshores, and slow-moving streams. Look for them patiently stalking prey in shallow water or perched elegantly along woody shorelines. American bitterns hide among reeds and cattails in freshwater marshes. Sandhill cranes use marshes as well as fields, particularly moist grain fields with waste corn or potatoes. White ibises and glossy ibises periodically stop in Pennsylvania marshes when wandering north of their typical range. Swans float gracefully in open water areas such as lakes, rivers and bays.
Best Places to See Long-necked Birds in Pennsylvania
Some of the top places in Pennsylvania to observe long-necked bird species include:
- Pymatuning Reservoir – Herons, egrets, cranes, swans
- Presque Isle State Park – Swans, herons, egrets
- Conneaut Marsh – Herons, egrets, bitterns
- John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum – Herons, egrets, night-herons, ibises
- Bald Eagle State Park – Herons, egrets, cranes
- Lake Wilhelm – Herons, egrets, swans
- Glades Wildlife Area – Cranes, herons, egrets
- Sembower Marsh – Herons, egrets, bitterns
- Erie National Wildlife Refuge – Cranes, swans, herons
- Canoe Creek State Park – Herons, swans
These sites provide excellent wetland and aquatic habitats where patient birdwatchers can often observe long-necked species fishing, feeding, and even nesting. Early morning and dusk typically offer the best viewing opportunities.
threats and conservation
Many long-necked bird populations suffered severe declines in the 20th century, primarily due to habitat loss. Marsh drainage, pollution, shoreline development and disturbance of nesting colonies all negatively impacted herons, bitterns, ibises and other wetland species. Conservation measures such as habitat protection, water quality improvements and management of sensitive nesting sites have aided recoveries more recently. But continued conservation vigilance is needed, especially for less common species like the yellow-crowned night-heron.
Collisions with power lines, cell phone towers and wind turbines also threaten certain long-necked bird species, especially swans and cranes. Public education can help reduce human disturbance at sensitive nesting areas. Careful siting and marking of tall structures in migration pathways may also help minimize collisions. Ongoing research and monitoring is important for detecting population changes and understanding how human activity and climate change affect the status of long-necked bird populations.
Spotting Tips
Here are some tips for spotting and identifying long-necked birds in Pennsylvania:
- Scan shorelines and marsh edges carefully using binoculars or a spotting scope to detect well-camouflaged bitterns and night-herons.
- Learn the characteristic behaviors of each species – for example, the neck-stretching posture of bitterns versus the statuesque stance of great blue herons.
- Pay attention to different flight styles – herons retract their neck in flight, while cranes and swans extend theirs.
- Listen for distinctive calls of sandhill cranes and bitterns which can reveal their presence.
- Use field guides and phone apps to compare feather patterns, bill shape, size, and colors of each species.
- Be patient – long periods of silent observation may reward you with sudden strikes as herons grab prey.
Conclusion
Although underappreciated by many, Pennsylvania’s diversity of long-necked birds is certainly worth exploring for nature enthusiasts. Great blue herons and mute swans may be familiar sights, but take a closer look at the state’s wetlands and waterways and you may encounter the elegant great egret, reclusive American bittern or even rare vagrant species like the yellow-crowned night-heron. Assembling a list of these avian oddities can turn into a gratifying lifelong quest. Just be sure to observe from a distance and respect sensitive habitats while enjoying your search for birds with surprisingly elongated necks.