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Common Name: Double-crested Cormorant.

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Key Markings: 

• Prehistoric-looking, matte-black bird

• Yellow-orange facial skin

• Small heads on long, kinked necks

• Dives beneath pond surface to feed

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​​Common Name: Pied-billed Grebe.

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Key Markings: 

• Small pigeon-sized, brown waterbird

• Short, thick bill with a vertical black stripe

• Dives beneath pond surface to feed

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Common Name: Ring-necked Duck.

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Key Markings: 

• Gleaming black, gray, and white body

• Faint brownish ring around neck

• Peaked head shape with sloping forehead

• White ring around the bill

• Dives beneath pond surface to feed

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Common Name: Caspian Tern.

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Key Markings: 

• White with a light gray mantle

• Large bright red-orange bill

• Shallowly forked tail

• While in-flight, dives into pond to feed

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Common Name: Bufflehead.

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Key Markings: 

• White body with black back

• Large dark head with distinguishing white patch

• Constantly diving and resurfacing as it feeds

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Common Name: Hooded Merganser.

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Key Markings: 

• Large head with unusual crest or "hoodie"

• Drakes have large black head with white patch

• Females are brownish with cinnamon crest

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Common Name: Common Goldeneye

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Key Markings: 

• Large head with sloping bill

• Drakes have large black head with bright yellow eye

• Females are chestnut brown with yellow eye

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The Carillon at Stonegate community is very fortunate to have a variety of wetland, forest and prairie environments conducive to a variety of birds and other wildlife, plants and insects. Our community and the Kane County Forest Preserve do an exceptional job in maintaining this natural environment – both for the benefit of the birds and wildlife and for our residents to enjoy.

 

Take a hike and see what you can find – and identify!