Their broad, dark wings make a striking silhouette overhead as they hunt for food. Ospreys, also called fish hawks, have a more slender, M-shaped flying silhouette. Found around coastal and freshwater habitats, ospreys nests are huge piles of sticks that can be seen in the tops of dead trees, on bridges and utility poles. A special treat is watching an osprey dive from high in the air into the water. They usually fly off with a large fish clutched in their powerful talons.
Atlantic puffins are a popular seabird that can be encountered only on islands off the Maine coast.
They have colorful, clown-like beaks and a comic nature that endear them to all. Puffins use several Maine islands for summer nesting sites. Coastal outfitters offer puffin cruises from early summer through August. Graceful great blue herons and snowy egrets can be observed wading in the shallows of ponds, lakes, rivers, and freshwater and coastal wetlands. The large and boisterous pileated woodpecker, which lives throughout Maine s woods inland and along the coast, is a thrilling sight for any bird enthusiast.