Feathered Friends of Tybee Island and the Low Country
A Cormorant diving for fish underwater
A Guide to the Birdlife of Coastal Georgia
When you are on the beach or exploring Tybee Island and the Low Country of coastal Georgia there is something incredibly relaxing about watching the beauty of nature right before your eyes. This remarkable area by the shoreline is an absolute haven for bird and wildlife enthusiasts. The region offers a diverse array of bird species, from the tiniest songbirds to the grandest birds of prey. Its varied ecosystems, which include marshes, beaches, maritime forests, and open waters, provide essential habitats for these avian treasures. In this story, we'll explore some of the different types of birds that you can encounter on Tybee Island and the Low Country, including tips for spotting them and information about their unique characteristics.
Shorebirds
The sandy shores and tidal marshes of Tybee Island and the Low Country are home to a multitude of shorebird species. These birds are well-adapted to the coastal environment and can often be seen probing the mud or sand for their favorite prey: invertebrates.
American Oystercatchers on Tybee Island
American Oystercatcher: This striking bird is known for its bright orange bill and contrasting black and white plumage. It can be spotted on the shores of Tybee Island, using its specialized bill to pry open oysters, clams, and other mollusks.
Red Knot: The Red Knot is a medium-sized sandpiper with a reddish-brown breeding plumage. This long-distance migrant can be seen feeding on horseshoe crab eggs along the beaches during spring and fall migration.
Sanderling: A small, energetic sandpiper, the Sanderling is often seen running along the shoreline, chasing the receding waves in search of food. Their white and gray plumage makes them stand out against the sand.
Sanderlings at sunrise
Seabirds
The open waters around Tybee Island and the Low Country are teeming with seabirds that spend most of their lives far from shore. These birds are built for a life at sea, with specialized bills and salt glands that allow them to consume fish and other marine life.
Brown Pelican’s can be see on Tybee Island and surrounding Savannah area low country
Brown Pelican: One of the most iconic seabirds of the region, the Brown Pelican is known for its large size, throat pouch, and spectacular dives. You can often spot them flying in formation along the coast or perched on piers and docks.
Royal Tern: With its distinctively forked tail and orange-tufted black crest, the Royal Tern is an easily identifiable bird. They can often be found congregating in large groups on sandbars and beaches, diving for fish in the nearby waters.
Black Skimmer: The Black Skimmer is an unusual seabird with a unique feeding technique. It skims the water's surface with its elongated lower mandible, scooping up small fish as it flies. Look for them in flocks along the shoreline or resting on sandbars.
Wading Birds
The marshes and tidal creeks of the Low Country provide essential habitats for a variety of wading birds. These long-legged, long-necked birds can often be seen stalking the shallows in search of fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic prey.
A Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron: This large, statuesque wading bird can be found throughout the Low Country, often standing motionless in the shallows or slowly stalking its prey. Its blue-gray plumage, long neck, and dagger-like bill make it easy to identify.
Snowy Egret: The Snowy Egret is a medium-sized wading bird with striking white plumage, black legs, and yellow feet. It can often be found in the marshes and tidal creeks, using its unique "golden slippers" to stir up prey from the mud.
Roseate Spoonbill: This stunning wading bird is known for its bright pink plumage. The pink coloration some from the foods they eat which include crustaceans and other aquatic invertebrates. Often seen in small flocks these wading birds feed in shallow waters. Their bills often have a spoon like characteristic when seen from the front.
Roesate Spoonbill
Both the Georgia and South Carolina low country is teaming with wildlife. Whether you are observing while relaxing on the beach or while exploring the area marshes you are in the middle of a remarkable habitat and eco-system that should be loved and cared for. Peruse a gallery of beautiful imagery below to explore more about the birds shared above along with even more species you are likely to see in your exploration of Savannah, Tybee Island, and surrounding low country.
