with their necks retracted, unlike other long-necked birds such as storks, ibises, and spoonbills. Thirteen species have been recorded in Maryland. American bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus Least bittern, Ixobrychus exilis Great blue heron, Ardea herodias Great egret, Ardea alba Snowy egret, Egretta thula Little egret, Egretta garzetta (R) Little blue heron, Egretta caerulea Tricolored heron, Egretta tricolor (R*) Reddish egret, Egretta rufescens (R) Cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis Green heron, Butorides virescens Black-crowned night-heron, Nycticorax nycticorax Yellow-crowned night-heron, Nyctanassa violacea Ibises and spoonbills Order: PelecaniformesFamily: Threskiornithidae The family Threskiornithidae includes the ibises and spoonbills. They have long, broad wings. Their bodies tend to be elongated, the neck more so, with rather long legs. The bill is also long, decurved in the case of the ibises, straight and distinctively flattened in the spoonbills. Four species have been recorded in Maryland. White ibis, Eudocimus albus Glossy ibis, Plegadis falcinellus White-faced ibis, Plegadis chihi (R*) Roseate spoonbill, Platalea ajaja (R) New World vultures Order: CathartiformesFamily: Cathartidae The New World vultures are not closely related to Old World vultures, but superficially resemble them because of convergent evolution. Like the Old World vultures, they are scavengers. However, unlike Old World vultures, which find carcasses by sight, New World vultures have a good sense of smell with which they locate carcasses. Two species have been recorded in Maryland. Black vulture, Coragyps atratus Turkey vulture, Cathartes aura Osprey Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Pandionidae The Osprey is a medium-large fish-eating bird of prey or raptor. It is widely distributed because it tolerates a wide variety of habitats, nesting in any location that is near a body of water and provides an adequate food supply. It is the only member of its family. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus Hawks, eagles, and kites Order: AccipitriformesFamily: Accipitridae Accipitridae is a family of birds of prey which includes hawks, eagles, kites, harriers, and Old World vultures. These birds have large powerful hooked beaks for tearing flesh from their prey, strong legs, powerful talons, and keen eyesight. Fifteen species have been recorded in Maryland. White-tailed kite, Elanus leucurus (R) Swallow-tailed kite, Elanoides forficatus Golden eagle, Aquila chrysaetos Northern harrier, Circus hudsonius Sharp-shinned hawk, Accipiter striatus Cooper's hawk, Accipiter cooperii Northern goshawk, Accipiter gentilis (R) Bald eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus Mississippi kite, Ictinia mississippiensis Red-shouldered hawk, Buteo lineatus Broad-winged hawk, Buteo platypterus Swainson's hawk, Buteo swainsoni (R) Red-tailed hawk, Buteo jamaicensis Rough-legged hawk, Buteo lagopus Zone-tailed hawk, Buteo albonotatus (R) Barn-owls