NatureMapping - Estuaries/Habitats

Definition of "Wetlands" - General Code 500: Vegetated areas where plants are rooted in water or water saturated soil or that regularly tolerate flooding for extensive time periods.

Wetlands: Estuaries including all vegetation types (510)


Descriptive Habitat Code: Estuaries (5) are wetlands where plants are rooted in salt water (1) or that regularly tolerate tidal changes that include all wetland vegetation (0).
Photo: KMD

American wigeon
Anas americana
Code: ANAAM
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is distributed across North America from Alaska southward to Costa Rica

Diet:
It feeds primarily upon aquatic plants, such as wild celery.

Interesting fact:
The American wigeon can be found feeding on large grassy areas, such as golf courses,.

Gapper's red-backed vole
Clethrionomys gapperi
Code: CLGA
Photo: WDFW

Distribution and Habitat:
This species is found from sea level to the timberline on both sides of Washington State.

Diet:
They are herbivores and generally eat the green portions of a variety of plants.

Interesting fact:
Voles do not hibernate. They make tunnels under the snow during the winter.

Pacific harbor seal
Phoca vituline
Code: PHVI
Photo: KMD

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in coastal waters, marine estuaries and rivers in areas free from ice.

Diet:
It feeds largely on fish such as cod, flatfish, and salmon.

Interesting fact:
Pacific harbor seals have been known to live in captivity for well over 30 years. The earless seals, to which the Pacific harbor seal belongs, appeared in the fossil records about 15 million years ago.

Dunlins
Calidris alpina
Code: CAALP
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found in coastal areas as well as in the Great Lakes Region.

Diet:
It feeds primarily on insects, small crustaceans and worms.

Interesting fact:
Dunlins nest in small depressions in the ground near ponds, lakes and salt marshes. They fly in large flocks and seem to turn in flight--all at the same time.

Green heron
Butorides striatus
Code: BUST
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
The green heron is found in secluded wetlands, wooded sloughs, and along slow-moving water in ditches.

Diet:
It feeds largely on fish. Frogs and other small animals are also occasionally taken.

Interesting fact:
It is a good climber, adept at moving among the tangles of trees and bushes near the water while in search of food. This species is also known as the green-backed heron.

Ring-billed gull
Laurs delawarensis
Code: LADE
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It is found distributed across North America from southern British Columbia southward to southern Mexico, Cuba and Bermuda.

Diet:
It feeds upon small fish, worms and other small invertebrates, insects, carrion, and small mammals such as mice. They also commonly inhabit garbage dumps, where they scavenge for food.

Interesting fact:
Ring-billed gulls nest on the ground in grassy marshes.

River otter
Lutra canadensis
Code: LUCA
Photo: RA

Distribution and Habitat:
It can be found in coastal marine areas, rivers and lakes.

Diet:
It feeds largely on a variety of fish species.

Interesting fact:
The river otter is a member of the weasel family, but has webbed toes for swimming.

River Otter Fact Sheet >>