SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS U.S. & Wildlife Service Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers Nightjars (Goatsuckers) Larks Nashville Warbler R R Dark-eyed Junco 1977 Black-legged Kittiwake R R Common Nighthawk * C C U Horned Lark 1994 Northern Parula * C U C R Lapland Longspur 1988 Merritt Island Sabine's Gull 2009 Chuck-will's-widow * C C O Yellow Warbler U U R Snow Bunting 1999 National Wildlife Refuge Swallows and Martins Bonaparte's Gull 0 U U Whip-poor-will R R Chestnut-sided Warbler O 0 Titusville, Purple Martin * U U R Black-headed Gull 2008 Magnolia Warbler 0 0 Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, and Allies Swifts C R C C Laughing Gull* C C C C Cape May Warbler U O Summer Tanager OOO Chimney Swift U U U Northern Rough-winged Swallow U R U Franklin's Gull 2003 Black-throated Blue Warbler U U O O Bank Swallow O O Northern Cardinal * C C C C Ring-billed Gull C R C C Hummingbirds Yellow-rumped Warbler C C C Herring Gull U R U U Ruby-throated Hummingbird U U U R Cliff Swallow O O Black-throated Green Warbler O OO Rose-breasted Grosbeak O O Lesser Black-backed Gull U U U Barn Swallow C 0 C Townsend's Warbler 2002 Blue Grosbeak * OOO Kingfishers Indigo Bunting* U U U Glaucous Gull 1991 Chickadees and Titmice Blackbumian Warbler O O Great Black-backed Gull U 0 U U Belted Kingfisher* C R C C Yellow-throated Warbler U U U Painted Bunting * U O U U Carolina Chickadee 1976 Dickcissel R R R Brown Noddy R R Woodpeckers and Allies Tufted Titmouse * U U U U Pine Warbler* OOOO Sooty Tern R R R Red-headed Woodpecker R R Prairie Warbler* U U U U Blackbirds, Orioles, Cowbirds, and Allies Bridled Tern R R R Red-bellied Woodpecker* C C C C Creepers Palm Warbler C C C Bobolink U U Least Tern* C C 0 (FL-T) Yellow-bellied Sapsucker U U U Brown Creeper R Bay-breasted Warbler R O Red-winged Blackbird * C C C C Gull-billed Tern OOOO Blackpoll Warbler U O Downy Woodpecker * U U U U Wrens Eastern Meadowlark * C C C C Caspian Tern' COCO Cerulean Warbler R R CHECKLIST Hairy Woodpecker R R R Carolina Wren * C C C C Western Meadowlark 1972 Black-and-white Warbler U U U Black Tern O U U Red-cockaded Woodpecker 1976 (E) (FL-SSC House Wren U C C Rusty Blackbird R R R Roseate Tern R R (T) (FL-T) American Redstart U R C R Northern Flicker* U U U U Sedge Wren U U U Brewer's Blackbird R Common Tern O U U R Prothonotary Warbler O O PileatedWoodpecker* U U U U Marsh Wren* U U U Common Grackle * C C C C Forster's Tern C O C C Worm-eating Warbler U O Boat-tailed Grackle * C C C C Royal Tern* C C C C Tyrant Flycatchers Kinglets Swainson's Warbler R R Brown-headed Cowbird * U U U U Sandwich Tern OOOO Olive-sided Flycatcher 2003 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2007 Ovenbird U U R Orchard Oriole O R O Black Skimmer* C C C C (FL-SSC) Eastern Wood-Pewee U U Ruby-crowned Kinglet U U U Northern Waterthrush U U U Bullock's Oriole 1988 Yellow-bellied Flycatcher 2004 Louisiana Waterthrush O O O OR Skuas and Jaegers Acadian Flycatcher O O Old World Warblers and Gnatcatchers Kentucky Warbler R R South Polar Skua 2009 Alder Flycatcher R Blue-gray Gnatcatcher * C U C C Connecticut Warbler R R Finches and Allies Pomarine Jaeger O U O Willow Flycatcher R House Finch R R R R (FL-NNS) Thrushes Common Yellowthroat * C C C C Parasitic Jaeger O U O Least Flycatcher R R Pine Siskin R R Eastern 0 0 0 Hooded Warbler O O Long-tailed Jaeger R R Eastern Phoebe C C C American Goldfinch O U C Veery 0 O Wilson's Warbler R Ash-throated Flycatcher R R Warbler R R Auks, Murres, Puffins, and Allies Gray-cheeked Thrush 0 O Old World Sparrows Great Crested Flycatcher C C U R Dovekie 2007 Swainson's Thrush O O Yellow-breasted Chat R R Western O R House Sparrow* U U U U (FL-NNS) Hermit Thrush O U U Pigeons and Doves * U U U R Sparrows, Towhees, and Allies R R Rock Pigeon* C C C C (FL-NNS) Gray Kingbird * U U O Eastern Towhee * C C C C Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge U C C Bachman'sSparrow* R R R R Eurasian Collared-Dove * OOOO (FL-NNS) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher 2005 Phone: 321/861-0667 White-winged Dove R R R R (FL-NNS) Fork-tailed Flycatcher 1985 Mimics (Mockingbirds, Thrashers, and Catbirds Chipping Sparrow O O O Mourning Dove * C C C C Gray Catbird C C C Clay-colored Sparrow R R Shrikes Common Ground-Dove * C C C C Northern Mockingbird * C C C C Field Sparrow R R R Loggerhead Shrike * U U U U Brown Thrasher * U U O O Vesper Sparrow R R R Cuckoos and Anis Lark Sparrow R R Vireos Yellow-billed Cuckoo' U 0 U Starlings Savannah Sparrow C C C White-eyed Vireo * C C C C Black-billed Cuckoo R R European Starling * C C C C (FL-NNS) Grasshopper Sparrow O O 0 Yellow-throated Vireo O OR Smooth-billed Ani 1991 Henslow's Sparrow R R Blue-headed Vireo U U U Wagtails and Pipits Nelson's Sparrow O O 0 Barn Owls Warbling Vireo 2009 American Pipit R R R Saltmarsh Sparrow 0 0 0 Barn Owl* R R R R Philadelphia Vireo O Seaside Sparrow R R Red-eyed Vireo * U O C Waxwings Typical Owls Fox Sparrow R R Black-whiskered Vireo * R R R Cedar Waxwing U O U Eastern Screech-Owl * C U C C Song Sparrow O 0 O ' U U U U Jays and Wood-Warblers Lincoln's Sparrow R R Burrowing Owl 1976 (FL-SSC) Blue * C C C C Blue-winged Warbler O O Swamp Sparrow C C C * U U U U Florida Scrub-Jay * C C C C (T) (FL-T) Golden-winged Warbler O White-throated Sparrow R R Short-eared Owl R R American 1989 Tennessee Warbler U U White-crowned Sparrow R OR * C C C C Orange-crowned Warbler U U U Birds of Merritt Island National The list is in accordance with the "Checklist Status SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS SP SU FA WN STATUS of Florida Birds" as updated by the Florida Upland Game Birds Limpkins Wildlife Refuge Ornithological Society's Records Committee in Listed by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Great Egret* C C C C September 2008. Wild Turkey* 0 0 0 0 Snowy Egret* C C C C (FL-SSC) Limpkin R R R (FL-SSC) (E) - Federal endangered Northern Bobwhite * U U U U Little Blue Heron * C C C C (FL-SSC) Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, (T) - Federal threatened species. Cranes located just east of Titusville, shares a common Seasonal Occurrence Loons Tricolored Heron * C C C C (FL-SSC) Sandhill Crane 0 0 0 0 (FL-T) Reddish Egret* C C C C (FL-SSC) boundary with the John F. Kennedy Space Center. Red-throated Loon R R SP - Spring March - April - May Listed by the Florida Wildlife Commission Cattle Egret* C C C C Lapwings and Plovers Its coastal location, tropic-like climate, and wide Pacific Loon 2008 SU - Summer June - July - August (FL-E) - FL endangered species U 0 C Green Heron* C C C C Black-bellied Plover C 0 C C variety of habitat types contribute to Merritt FA - Fall September - October - November (FL-T) - FL threatened species Black-crowned Night-Heron * U U U U American Golden-Plover R R R Island's diverse population. The Florida Grebes Wilson's Plover* 0 0 0 0 WN - Winter December - January - February (FL-SSC) - FL species of special concern Yellow-crowned Night-Heron 0 0 0 0 Ornithological Society Records Committee lists (FL-NNS) - FL non-native species Pied-billed Grebe * C U C C Semipalmated Plover CROC 503 species of birds statewide. To date, 358 You may see some species outside the seasons Horned Grebe U U U Ibises and Spoonbills Piping Plover R R (T) (FL-T) White Ibis* C C C C (FL-SSC) species have been identified on the refuge. indicated on the check list. This phenomenon is quite SP SU FA WN STATUS Red-necked Grebe 1994 Killdeer* C C C C common for many birds. However, the check list is Eared Grebe 1978 Glossy Ibis* C C C C Of special interest are breeding populations White-faced Ibis 2009 Oystercatchers designed to indicate the general trend of migration Ducks, Geese, and Swans Western Grebe 1979 of Bald , Brown Pelicans, Roseate Black-bellied Whistling-Duck R R R R Roseate Spoonbill * C C C C (FL-SSC) American Oystercatcher * R R R R (FL-SSC) Spoonbills, Reddish Egrets and Mottled Ducks. and seasonal abundance for each species and, Flamingos therefore, does not account for unusual occurrence. Fulvous Whistling-Duck R R R Storks Stilts and Avocets Spectacular migrations of birds, Greater White-fronted Goose 2005 Greater Flamingo 1992 (FL-NNS) Wood Stork C C C C (E) (FL-E) Black-necked Stilt * C C U R especially warblers, occur during spring and fall. Snow Goose 0 0 Abundance Designation Shearwaters and Petrels American Avocet C R C C Winter peak concentrations of waterfowl often Ross's Goose 2009 Northern Fulmar 2008 New World Vultures exceed 100,000. Eight species of herons and C - Common These birds are present in large Brant R R R Cory's Shearwater U 0 U R Black Vulture * C C C C Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies egrets are commonly observed year-round. numbers, are widespread, and R Greater Shearwater 0 0 0 Turkey Vulture * C C C C Spotted Sandpiper U U U should be seen if you look in the Mute Swan 2009 (FL-NNS) Sooty Shearwater 2009 Solitary Sandpiper U OR right habitat. Tundra Swan 2010 Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies Greater Yellowlegs C U C C Tips on Birding Manx Shearwater 2004 Osprey* C C C C U - Uncommon These birds are present, but Muscovy Duck 2007 (FL-NNS) Audubon's Shearwater 0 0 0 Willet* C C C C A good field guide and binoculars provide because of their low numbers, Wood Duck* 0 R 0 0 Swallow-tailed Kite 0 0 0 Lesser Yellowlegs* C U C C White-tailed Kite 1992 the basic tools useful in the observation and behavior, habitat, or distribution, Gadwall U U U Storm-Petrels Upland Sandpiper R R Snail Kite 2004 (E) (FL-E) identification of birds. While marshes and they are not usually seen. Eurasian Wigeon R R R Wilson's Storm-Petrel 0 0 0 Whimbrel 0 0 0 Mississippi Kite 2007 shallow impoundments are the most productive However, an average bird watcher American Wigeon C R C C Leach's Storm-Petrel 0 0 0 Long-billed Curlew 2005 Band-rumped Storm-Petrel R R Bald * C 0 C C Black-tailed Godwit 1996 birding areas, in order to find the widest variety should be able to find them by R R R looking in the right places at the Mallard 0 0 0 Northern Harrier U R C C Hudsonian Godwit 1999 of bird species you should also visit mangrove- Tropicbirds right time. Mottled Duck* C C C C Sharp-shinned Hawk 0 U U Bar-tailed Godwit 1995 rimmed shorelines, cabbage palm and hardwood White-tailed Tropicbird 1981 Cooper's Hawk* U U U U O - Occasional These birds are present in low Blue-winged Teal C0CC Marbled Godwit U U U Red-shouldered Hawk * C C C C hammocks, palmetto and pine uplands, scrub numbers and are not expected to Cinnamon Teal 2000 Boobies and Gannets Ruddy Turnstone* C C C C Broad-winged Hawk R OR and the beach. The refuge has provided trails and be seen without a special effort Northern Shoveler C R C C Masked Booby R R R Red Knot U 0 U Short-tailed Hawk 0 0 0 roads into each of these habitat types in order to to find them. At least a few are White-cheeked Pintail 1996 (FL-NNS) Brown Booby 0 0 0 Sanderling* C U C C Swainson's Hawk R R enhance bird watching opportunities. The cool seen each year. Northern Pintail U C C Northern Gannet C C C Semipalmated Sandpiper C R C Red-tailed Hawk* U U U U Western Sandpiper C 0 C C weather months (October-April) are generally the R - Rare These birds are not expected to Green-winged Teal U C C Pelicans Least Sandpiper C U C C best times of the year for birding. The best time be seen every year. They occur Canvasback 0 0 0 Caracaras and Falcons American White Pelican C R U C White-rumped Sandpiper 0 0 of the day is early morning and late afternoon. in low numbers, may also be Redhead U U U Crested 2011 fT) (FL-T) Brown Pelican * C C C C (FL-SSC) Baird's Sandpiper R R secretive or hard to identify, and Ring-necked Duck 0 C C American Kestrel U C C Pectoral Sandpiper U U R may be unreported for several Greater Scaup U U U Cormorants Merlin 0 U 0 Using This List Purple Sandpiper 2003 years. Lesser Scaup C U C C Double-crested Cormorant * C C C C U U 0 The checklist is arraigned taxonomically by Common Eider 2010 Great Cormorant 2001 Dunlin C R C C DATE A date indicates the most order (solid line) and family. Representatives from Harlequin Duck 1960 Rails, Gallinules, and Coots Curlew Sandpiper 1991 recent sighting of an accidental Darters Yellow Rail 2012 Stilt Sandpiper U R U 0 19 orders and 60 families have been identified on Surf Scoter 0 0 0 species, extremely rare species, White-winged Scoter 0 0 0 Anhinga* C C C C Black Rail* R R R R Buff-breasted Sandpiper R the refuge. The word family is a classification term or a species that has not been Black Scoter U U U Clapper Rail* U U U U Ruff R R that places birds of similar appearance and habits Frigatebirds seen on the refuge recently Long-tailed Duck R R King Rail* U 0 0 U Short-billed Dowitcher C C C Magnificent Frigatebird 0 0 0 R into one group. Closely related families make up due to changes in habitat Bufflehead 0 U U Virginia Rail R R R Long-billed Dowitcher U C C an order. All birds in the same order have some conditions. Their occurrence Common Goldeneye R R Herons, Bitterns, and Allies Sora R U U Wilson's Snipe 0 U U common characteristics. Learning to recognize here is considered so unusual Hooded Merganser U C C American Bittern 0 0 U Purple Gallinule 2007 American Woodcock R R families and orders can help in identifying new as not to be expected. Common Merganser 1995 Least Bittern * U U U R Common Gallinule * C C C C Wilson's Phalarope R R birds you may encounter at Merritt Island National * - Breeds on the refuge. Red-breasted Merganser U R U U * C C C C C 0 C C Red-necked Phalarope R R Wildlife Refuge. Ruddy Duck 0 0 U Red Phalarope R