Ten bird species have been selected to serve as ambassadors and help tell the story of the importance of water to birds, representing not only the diversity of birds but also the variety of ways in which birds depend on healthy aquatic ecosystems. Northern Shoveler and American White Pelican remind us that many species need wetlands and open water for migration, wintering, and breeding. Some birds require specific types of water habitats, such as the salty lakes that Wilson’s Phalarope uses during migration and winter, the swampy woodlands favored by Northern Waterthrush, or the shaded streams along which the Yellow-billed Cuckoo nests. Water is essential for the survival of insects pursued by the Barn Swallow, the growth of nectar-producing plants frequented by the Rufous Hummingbird, and the health of grasslands inhabited by the Dickcissel. The Magellanic Penguin represents the oceans that make up 97% of all water on earth. Finally, the Osprey serves as a conservation success story, reminding us that bird population declines can be reversed when we work together to conserve and protect our planet. Learn more about each species below. Original art by Augusto Silva.
Northern Shoveler
Anas clypeata
American White Pelecanl
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Rufous Hummingbird
Selasphorus rufus
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Magellanic Penguin
Spheniscus magellanicus
Dickissel
Spiza americana
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Coccyzus americanus
Wilson’s Phalarope
Phalaropus tricolor
Northern Waterthrush