From diving loons to soaring eagles, lakes provide birds with some of the richest habitats in the natural world.
Lakes attract birds because water, fish, insects, plants, and protected shorelines provide many different sources of food and shelter. Some species live around lakes for much of the year, while others visit during breeding seasons or use them as important resting places during long migrations.
Ducks, geese, and swans are specially equipped for swimming, feeding, and resting on lakes.
Learn MoreLoons, grebes, and other skilled divers chase fish and aquatic animals beneath the surface.
Learn MoreHerons and egrets hunt along shallow shorelines using long legs and quick strikes.
Learn MoreEagles and ospreys patrol lakes from above in search of fish and other prey.
Learn MoreLakes can serve as vital refueling and resting stations during journeys covering thousands of miles.
Learn MoreIslands, reeds, trees, marshes, and quiet shorelines offer birds many places to raise their young.
Learn MoreDucks, geese, and swans are among the most familiar birds found on freshwater lakes. Their webbed feet work like paddles, allowing them to move efficiently across the water while their waterproofed feathers help insulate their bodies. Different species feed in different ways, with some tipping forward to reach underwater plants and others diving below the surface. This variety allows several species to share the same lake without depending on exactly the same food.
Loons and grebes are expert underwater hunters that can disappear beneath the surface while pursuing fish and other aquatic prey. Their legs are positioned far toward the rear of their bodies, making them powerful swimmers but sometimes awkward walkers on land. Loons can remain underwater long enough to chase fast-moving prey through open water. Because they depend heavily on healthy aquatic food webs, changes in fish populations or water quality can also affect these birds.
Herons and egrets often patrol lake edges where the water is shallow enough for their long legs. Instead of swimming after prey, they may stand nearly motionless before striking rapidly with their long bills. Fish, frogs, crayfish, insects, and other small animals can become part of their diet. Wetlands and vegetated shorelines are especially valuable because they provide both feeding areas and cover for many of the creatures these birds hunt.
Some large birds use lakes as hunting grounds rather than swimming habitats. Ospreys specialize in catching fish and can plunge feet-first toward the water before carrying prey away in their talons. Bald eagles also eat fish and may catch their own prey or take advantage of fish found near the surface or shoreline. Tall trees near open water can provide these large birds with excellent nesting and observation sites.
Many birds move between breeding and wintering areas as the seasons change. Large lakes, wetlands, and connected waterways can become important stopover sites where migrating birds rest and rebuild their energy. A bird traveling hundreds or thousands of miles may depend on a chain of suitable habitats rather than just one protected location. Losing an important stopover lake can therefore affect birds that spend most of the year far away.
Different lake birds choose very different locations for their nests. Some build floating or shoreline nests hidden among reeds, while others use islands, tree cavities, branches, or rocky ledges. Quiet nesting areas are important because repeated disturbance can cause adults to leave eggs or chicks unprotected. Healthy lakes therefore need more than clean water—they also need natural shorelines and surrounding habitats where wildlife can feed, rest, and reproduce.