Birds
A tall, patient wader that hunts the shallows of nearly every Indiana wetland.
Field facts
HabitatMarshes, lake edges, rivers
RangeStatewide
When to lookMost of the year; some winter over
StatusLeast Concern (IUCN Red List)
Look-alikesSandhill crane — bulkier, flies with neck straight
Field note: It flies with its neck folded into a tidy S.
Lesson
Watching responsibly
Rookeries are sensitive. Keep 300 feet away and never land a drone nearby.
Where you might find it
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife refuge · 71 mi
Chain O'Lakes State Park
State park · 55 mi
Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve
Nature preserve · 38 mi
Your records
Jul 28, 2026Muscatatuck NWR, Jackson County · Confirmed