Featured Species

The refuge boast hundreds of different animal and plant species that are endemic to the Connecticut coast. Our focus is to conserve and protect the most at-risk species that live on the refuge, a sampling of which you will see listed here. 

A roseate tern on Falkner Island
Image Details
A small white bird with light grey wings, orange legs and a black cap

The roseate tern is about 40 centimeters in length, with light-gray wings and back. Its first three or four primaries are black and so is its cap. The rest of the body is white, with a rosy tinge on the chest and belly during the breeding season. The tail is deeply forked, and the outermost...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Subspecies
Grey, white and black bird on sand in the foreground

Size: 18 cm (7.25 in) in length. Color: Breeding season: Pale brown above, lighter below; black band across forehead; bill orange with black tip; legs orange; white rump. Male: Complete or incomplete black band encircles the body at the breast. Female: Paler head band; incomplete breast band....

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species
A dark bird with an orange bill and a white stripe in the wings flies in front of the ocean

Identification Tips: Length: 16 inches Large shorebird Bright orange, long, thick bill Head and breast black Dark gray back and wings White belly Large white patch on inner wing White uppertail coverts and dark tail Pink legs Adult: Yellow eye Orange orbital ring Juvenile: Eye dark and orbital...

FWS Focus
Species
Kingdom
Animalia
Taxonomic Rank
Species

Our Species