5 large birds you can easily spot along the Potomac River

July 12, 2022 Daniela Jungova

You may actually be able to see these even if you’re not looking

Blue heron standing on a rock at great falls

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The geology and hydrology of the Potomac River region attract an incredible variety of wildlife.

Roughly 120 bird species thrive here thanks to an abundance of critters that provide ample opportunities for nourishment, and a plethora of local plants serve as nest-building material. In fact, the Potomac Gorge boasts about 1,400 types of plants, some of which have adapted to forest areas, others to the rocky cliffs and shoreline.

With such favorable conditions, the Potomac region is a true bird haven!

As an accredited land trust, Potomac Conservancy partners closely with small family farms to permanently protect critical wildlife habitat in the headwaters regions. We also work in and around the DMV to strengthen river protection laws that conserve lands and streams that local wildlife depend on—including the region's rich bird population.

Check out these 5 large bird species that you can easily spot today during a thirty-minute walk along the river!

BALD EAGLE. IMAGE COURTESY OF DANIEL RAUCH

Bald eagle

This majestic raptor thrives in our region because of plentiful food sources and prime habitat options—bald eagles like to nest in tall trees near large bodies of water. Currently, three bald eagle nests are between Great Falls and Crystal City. Interestingly, none were found on Theodore Roosevelt Island, likely due to the noise caused by air traffic.

Bald eagles are opportunistic feeders, and will find a meal if they have to hunt, scavenge, or steal (see below!). They mostly feed on fish but will also eat birds, small mammals, and crustaceans.

Bald eagles usually mate for life, building large nests and feeding their young by tearing their catch into pieces. They usually lay about 2 eggs that are incubated by both parents. When food is scarce, only the largest eaglet may survive.

Did you know: Scientists regularly collect blood samples from eagle chicks (temporarily removed from their nests) to check for exposure to contaminants such as heavy metals and PCBs, monitoring the species’ health as well as the health of their natural environment. They also tag them using aluminum bands to monitor their movement.

GREAT BLUE HERON. IMAGE COURTESY OF DANIEL RAUCH

Great blue heron

Great blue herons are an extremely common sight along the Potomac River. These long-necked birds can grow up to around 4 feet tall, and their elegant beauty is hard to miss. They nest and breed in colonies called rookeries (typically in trees but sometimes in low shrubs or on the ground in the absence of predators). They usually select a new mate every year, and both parents do their part in incubating eggs and feeding their young (by regurgitation). Hatching takes place in mid-spring to mid-summer and baby herons usually leave their nests in about 2 to 3 months.

Great blue herons live in the Mid-Atlantic region year-round and like to forage in shallow, calm waters. They can be fiercely protective of their fishing spots and will chase off their rivals. Most of their time is spent hunting (day or night thanks to special photoreceptors that make it possible for them to see well in the dark). Their diet consists mostly of fish, but they’ll also eat amphibians like salamanders or frogs, small birds, rodents, crustaceans, snakes, or insects. They swallow their prey whole.

Did you know: Great blue herons can live as long as 15 years! That said, they have a high mortality rate and most great blue herons actually don’t survive into adulthood. Their predators include crows, hawks, eagles, and raccoons.

BLACK VULTURE. IMAGE COURTESY OF MR. TIN MD VIA FLICKR CC

Black vulture

Black vultures are well-known scavengers that play an important role in local ecosystems by feeding almost exclusively on carrion (like cattle, poultry, raccoons, armadillos, or skunks). Occasionally, they’ll kill their prey or eat food scraps like rotting vegetables. They roost in tall trees but forage in open country. There are several black vulture roosts along the Potomac River where they gather each night. Sometimes these roosts are in antenna towers or on buildings (which can cause issues). Black vultures enjoy the proximity of water where they can feed on floating carcasses, and they are known to harass their close relatives, turkey vultures, away from their food so they can take over.

Black vultures maintain strong social bonds and form pairs that often stay together for years. In flight, they appear a bit wobbly as their pectoral muscles are not as well developed—this is largely due to the fact that they feed on the ground (unlike, for example, bald eagles, who need stronger muscles to pick up and carry prey). They nest in places like shrubs, tree cavities, caves, or abandoned buildings, and they lay their eggs directly on the ground (no actual nest is built).

Did you know: Earlier this year, several black vultures entered a cooling system at Sibley Memorial Hospital in NW DC and ended up causing an emergency radio communication outage. These birds have incredibly sharp nails and beaks and can cause significant damage to buildings and vehicles by tearing, scratching, and ripping various materials, as well as droppings and bringing carcasses into residential areas. Vulture management is best consulted with wildlife professionals.

OSPREY. IMAGE COURTESY OF DANIEL RAUCH

Osprey

Ospreys are commonly found hovering over water, then plunging with their feet outstretched to catch their prey. Their feet have grippy soles (to prevent fish from slipping) and when flying, they carry their catch headfirst for aerodynamic purposes. Bald eagles often harass ospreys in flight, causing them to drop their catch which they then proceed to grab themselves. Most ospreys that breed in the U.S. migrate to Central or South America for the winter. Those that come back to the Potomac River region begin appearing in early spring when shad—their favorite meal—are coming up.

For osprey pairs, the male typically arrives first from migration with the female arriving within the next day or two so the breeding season can begin. At an osprey nest near the National Airport, a male was seen flying upriver from his long journey, kicking two American crows out of his nest. The female arrived 15 minutes after he did. That is some incredible timing!

Ospreys typically nest by the water, high up in the sky—in tall trees, on utility poles, or other tall structures. Like people, they enjoy prime riverfront property, but with rapid development surrounding the river, their habitat options are changing. Man-made osprey platforms are an effective tool for reestablishing ospreys in areas they had previously abandoned.

Did you know: Ospreys mate for life. When building their nests, they start small and keep adding material as years go by. After several years, their nests can be quite large! Ospreys typically lay 3 eggs per year, and chicks are ready to test out their wings at about 7 weeks old.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT. IMAGE COURTESY OF DANIEL RAUCH

Double-crested cormorant

Double-crested cormorants are conspicuous, matte-black birds with piercing blue eyes and a small orange spot on the face. They get their name from the double crest of black feathers (that look like two little horns) that they sport during breeding season. Cormorants can most often be seen standing around with their wings spread out as they dry after foraging in water (their glands produce less preen oil than other birds which means their plumage can get soaked). They are extremely skilled divers thanks to their slender bodies, webbed feet, and little oil on their feathers.

Cormorants eat a wide variety of fish species, but they seem to have a special love for American eels. You can sometimes find cormorants pulling eels out of underwater rock crevices and struggling to gulp them down.

These waterbirds build their nests on rocks, in trees, or on the ground. They often incorporate lots of debris. When on the water, you can almost always only see their necks—they swim very low. When landing on the ground, they can be easily recognized thanks to their characteristic ritual hopping.

Did you know: Cormorants breed in colonies (sometimes with thousands of individuals) and produce large amounts of droppings that can cause significant damage—to the trees they are nesting in, to entire islands, or to bridges that can corrode. Their guano can also temporarily impair local water quality.

🦅 In addition to these hard-to-miss large birds, the Potomac River region is home to hundreds of species of smaller birds that you may need to actively look out for.

On a recent bird walk with fisheries and wildlife biologist Daniel Rauch (also known as Dan the Bird Man), we counted 41 different species seen within two hours! So, next time you’re near the river, sitting in a comfortable camping chair, strolling, or hiking, take out a pair of binoculars and see how many of these beautiful birds you can spot: