Habitat - Swamps are wooded and found mainly east of the Mississippi River, such as the mangrove swamps of the southwest coast of Florida. Here, swamps replace tidal marshes. The vegetation of these wetlands is influenced by salinity and the tides. The pioneering red mangrove is the dominant tree and shows the familiar tangle of roots that extends downward like stilts from the trunks and branches. Falling leaves and droppings of birds help build the soils to high-tide level. Vines and shrubs are always associated with mangrove swamps. The Barred Owl can be heard calling from deep within these areas and the Wood Duck can be heard flying through the maze of trees.
In northern areas swamps are typically small bodies of standing fresh-water, usually covered with at least one foot (0.3 meters) of water. They may have shrubs and often dead trees. Typical plants may include alder, willow, dogwoods, buttonbush, tamarack, arborvitae, spruce, red maple, and silver maple. In southern areas water oak, overcup oak, tupelo, and swamp black gum may be the dominant vegetation. Usually drainage is poor and water is present throughout the year. Most northern swamps freeze solid in winter.
These provide perches for the noisy Belted Kingfisher, nesting sites for the Wood Duck and Common Grackle, and hunting areas for the Barred Owl.
