of their wings. They are the only birds that can fly backwards. Ruby-throated hummingbird (), Archilochus colubris (A) Rufous hummingbird (), Selasphorus rufus (A) Rails, gallinules, and coots Order: GruiformesFamily: Rallidae Rallidae is a large family of small to medium-sized birds which includes the rails, crakes, coots, and gallinules. The most typical family members occupy dense vegetation in damp environments near lakes, swamps, or rivers. In general they are shy and secretive birds, making them difficult to observe. Most species have strong legs and long toes which are well adapted to soft uneven surfaces. They tend to have short, rounded wings and to be weak fliers. Virginia rail (), Rallus limicola (A) Corn crake (), Crex crex (A) Sora (), Porzana carolina (A) Common gallinule (), Gallinula galeata (A) American coot (), Fulica americana Purple gallinule (), Porphyrio martinicus (A) Yellow rail (), Coturnicops noveboracensis (A) Cranes Order: GruiformesFamily: Gruidae Cranes are large, long-legged and long-necked birds. Unlike the similar-looking but unrelated herons, cranes fly with necks outstretched, not pulled back. Most have elaborate and noisy courting displays or "dances". Sandhill crane (), Antigone canadensis (A) Stilts and avocets Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Recurvirostridae Recurvirostridae is a family of large wading birds which includes the avocets and stilts. The avocets have long legs and long up-curved bills. The stilts have extremely long legs and long, thin, straight bills. Black-necked stilt, Himantopus mexicanus (A) American avocet (), Recurvirostra americana (A) Oystercatchers Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Haematopodidae The oystercatchers are large, obvious, and noisy plover-like birds, with strong bills used for smashing or prying open molluscs. American oystercatcher (), Haematopus palliatus (A) Plovers and lapwings Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Charadriidae The family Charadriidae includes the plovers, dotterels, and lapwings. They are small to medium-sized birds with compact bodies, short thick necks, and long, usually pointed, wings. They are found in open country worldwide, mostly in habitats near water. Northern lapwing (), Vanellus vanellus (A) Black-bellied plover (), Pluvialis squatarola European golden-plover (), Pluvialis apricaria (A) American golden-plover (), Pluvialis dominica Killdeer (), Charadrius vociferus Semipalmated plover (), Charadrius semipalmatus Piping plover (), Charadrius melodus Sandpipers and allies Order: CharadriiformesFamily: Scolopacidae Scolopacidae is a large diverse family of small to medium-sized shorebirds including the sandpipers, curlews, godwits, shanks, tattlers, woodcocks, snipes, dowitchers, and phalaropes. The majority of these species eat small invertebrates picked out of the mud or soil. Different lengths of legs and bills enable multiple species to