*Geese are larger than ducks, feed mostly on land and are usually seen during migration flying at a height in regular ranks after a leader.
_Herons_ and _Bitterns_ belong among the _Wading Birds_. They have long, pointed bills, long legs, loose, baggy plumage, broad wings and long necks, curved s shaped in flight.
*Herons are tall, crested birds, with very long legs, bills and necks and small tails. Their notes are harsh and squawking. Large numbers sometimes nest together.
*Bitterns have shorter legs, necks and bills than herons and are very rarely crested. They utter hoarse, resounding calls, and are ordinarily solitary in habit.
_Rails and Coots_ are known as _Marsh Birds_, although the latter are fine swimmers.
*Rails as a rule are smaller than bitterns and frequent grassy marshes where they steal stealthily about, effectively concealed by their dull streaky plumage. Short turned-up tails, short wings and long legs are noticeable characteristics of these rapid runners.
*Coots are ducklike in appearance and smoothly plumaged. Lobed feet enable them to swim easily. Their bills spread out at the base in the form of a plate or shield which extends up on to the forehead.
_Plover_, _Sandpipers_ and the _Woodcock_ are strikingly different representatives of the great order of _Shore Birds_. The plover family have stout, short bills, while the sandpipers and woodcock belong to a family which have soft probing bills of greatly varying length, for obtaining their food in soft mud.
*Sandpipers have pointed wings, are dull-colored, and are usually found slipping gracefully along the water's edge in search of food. They skim rapidly over the water on outspread wings, and their clear, reed-like notes are distinctly musical.
*Plovers are small and plump, with long pointed wings, short necks and rather flat heads. They run and fly very rapidly, generally in flocks piping loudly but sweetly. They frequent the inland as well as the shore.
_Shore_ and _Water Birds_ are often extremely shy and they can detect the presence of an observer at a distance. The caution is therefore emphasized to approach them slowly and quietly.
*Note:--Owing to a lack of sufficient data the following _Shore_ and _Water Birds_ are arranged according to the American Ornithologist's Union order instead of their average first appearance. They have all been seen, however, in Lincoln Park by the authors.