SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL USED OCCUrreNCE USED OCCUrreNCE USED OCCUrreNCE BIRDS OF THE alaudidae: larks bombycillidae: waxwings (Emberizanae: Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, Longspurs, Cont.) NEBRASKA SANDHILLS  Horned Lark 4, 9, 11 R  Bohemian Waxwing 1, 3 W *  Vesper Sparrow 3, 5, 11, 14 S  Cedar Waxwing 1, 3 M, R *  Lark Sparrow 3, 11, 14 S hiruninidae: swallows Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest  Lark Bunting 5, 11 S  Tree Swallow 14, 6 M laniidae: shrikes  Savannah Sparrow 2, 5 (wet meadow) 8, 11 M, S ? and Nebraska National Forest  N. Rough-winged Swallow (N) 10, 6 S  Northern Shrike 1, 3, 14 W *  Grasshopper Sparrow 5, 11 S (Bessey Ranger District)  Bank Swallow (N) 10, 6 M, S ?  Loggerhead Shrike 1, 3, 14 S  LeConte’s Sparrow 5, 7 (wet meadow+short) M ?  Cliff Swallow (N) 10, 6 S sturnidae: starlings  Song Sparrow 2, 3, 7 M, R ? Fi e l d Ch e c k l i s t  Barn Swallow (N) 12, 6 S  European Starling 14, 12, 11 R  Lincoln’s Sparrow (N) 2, 3 M This checklist includes 235 corvidae: Jays and crows vireonidae: vireos  White-throated Sparrow 2, 3, 11 M bird species found in the  Blue Jay 1, 14 R  Bell’s Vireo (N) 2, 3 S (b)  Fox Sparrow 3, 11 M * 116,000-acre Samuel R.  Black-billed Magpie 14 R  Harris’ Sparrow 3, 11 M, W *  Solitary Vireo (N) 1, 3 M, S ? McKelvie National Forest and  American Crow 14 R  Yellow-throated Vireo (N) 1 S ? (b)  Dark-eyed Junco 3, 11, 14 W  adjacent portions of the Nio- paridae: titmice  Warbling Vireo (N) 1 S Lapland Longspur 4, 5, 9, 11 M, W *  Chestnut-collared Longspur 4, 5, 9, 11 M brara River, as well as Merritt  Black-capped Chickadee 1, 12 (feeders) R  Red-eyed Vireo (N) 1, 3 S Reservoir in Cherry County, sittidae: nuthatches emberizidae: warblers, sparrows, blackbirds, etc. (Icterinae: Meadowlarks, Blackbirds and Orioles) and the 90,000-acre Nebraska  Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, 12 (feeders) R (Sub-family Parulimnae: Wood Warblers)  Bobolink 5 (wet meadow), 11 M, S ? National Forest near Halsey  Red-winged Blackbird 3, 7, 11 S  White-breasted Nuthatch 1, 12 (feeders) R  Tennessee Warbler (N) 1 M and the adjacent portions of the  Orange-crowned Warbler (N) 1, 3 M  Eastern Meadowlark 5 (wet meadow), 11 M, S ? certhidae: creepers Dismal and Middle Loup Rivers in Thomas County and Blaine  Nashville Warbler (N) 1, 2, 3 M  Western Meadowlark 4, 5, 9, 11 S  Brown Creeper 1, 13 W  Yellow-headed Blackbird (N) 7, 11 M, S County. Both units are located in the sandhill grasslands of  Yellow Warbler (N) 1, 3 S north central Nebraska and both contain large areas of planted troglodytidae: wrens  Chestnut-sided Warbler (N) 2, 3 M *  Rusty Blackbird 2, 3, 11 M * coniferous forest.  Rock Wren 10 M * S ? (m)  Cape May Warbler (N) 1 M *  Common Grackle 14, 11 S  House Wren (N) 1, 12 S  Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, 3 1, 3 M  Brown-headed Cowbird ALL S The 20,000 acres of planted trees on the Bessey District is   Winter Wren 2, 3 M *  Black-throated Green Warbler (N) 1, 3 M * Orchard Oriole 1, 3 S the largest man-made forest in the United States and some  Northern Oriole (N) 1, 3 S  Marsh Wren 7 (tall) S *  Bay-breasted Warbler (N) 1, 3 M * natural riparian woodlands occur in both units, as do shrubs in  Sedge Wren 7 (short) 2 ? (b)  Blackpoll Warbler (N) 1 M Fringillidae: finches “sandhill thickets” but still, the dominant vegetation of these  Black and White Warbler (N) 1, 3 S * muscicapidae: kinglets and thrushes  Purple Finch 1, 3, 12 (feeders) W * areas is typical of sandhill prairie. Land uses include a variety  American Redstart (N) 1 S  Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 M, W *  Red Crossbill 1, 12 (feeders) M, R * of outdoor and wildlife related recreation as well as livestock   Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, 3 M Ovenbird (N) 1, 3 M, S *  White-winged Crossbill 1, 12 (feeders) W *  grazing.  Eastern Bluebird 13, 14 M, S * Northern Waterthrush (N) 2, 3 M  Common Redpoll 3, 11, 12 (feeders) W *   Mountain Bluebird 13, 14 M, W * Mourning Warbler (N) 3 M *  Pine Siskin 1, 2, 11, 12 (feeders) R Many people have provided the observations that have been   Townsend’s Soltaire 1, 3 W Common Yellowthroat 2, 3, 7 S  American Goldfinch 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 (feeders) R used to compile this checklist, and the Nebraska National   Veery (N) 2, 3 M * Wilson’s Warbler (N) 1, 3 M  Evening Grosbeak 1, 12 (feeders) W * Forest wishes to thank all contributors. Special thanks go to  Yellow-breasted Chat (N) 3 S  Gray-cheeked Thrush (N) 1, 3 M * Passeridae: weaver finches Wayne Mollhoff and James E. Ducey for their comments, and  Swainson’s Thrush (N) 1, 3 M (Thraupinae: Tanagers)  House Sparrow 11, 12 (feeders) R to Richard A. Peterson who was responsible for compiling the  Hermit Thrush 1, 3 M *  Western Tanager (N) 1 M * completed list.  Wood Thrush (N) 1, 3 M *, S ? (b)  Scarlet Tanager (N) 1 S * (b)  American Robin 14, 1, 3 R Observers are encouraged to report observations of species (Cardinalineae: Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings) listed as rare or uncertain occurrence status, and species not mimidae: mockers and thrashers  Northern Cardinal 1, 3 R * listed to:  Gray Catbird (N) 1, 3 S  Rose-breasted Grosbeak (N) 1, 3 M, S ? (b) Bessey Ranger District Office near Halsey (Phone:  Northern Mockingbird 14, 3 S ?  Black-headed Grosbeak (N) 1, 3 S 308-533-2257) or the Ranger Station, 19 miles south  Brown Thrasher 1, 3 S  Blue Grosbeak (N) 3 S of Nenzel (Phone: 402-823-4154). motacillidae: pipits  Lazuli Bunting (N) 1, 3 M  Indigo Bunting (N) 1, 3 S  American Pipit 4, 5, 8, 11 M Ch e c k l i s t Sy m b o l s  Sprague’s Pipit 5, 11 M *  Dickcissel (N) 3, 5, 11 S * (Emberizanae: Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, Longspurs) NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS:  Rufous-sided towhee 3 S This term describes species that breed in North America and  American Tree Sparrow 3, 11 W spend their nonbreeding period primarily south of the United  Chipping Sparrow (N) 3, 11, 14 S States. It is limited to species that use that use terrestrial habi-  Clay-colored Sparrow (N) 3, 11 M tats. These species are designated with an (N) after the species  Field Sparrow 3, 11, 14 S name. The populations of some of these species are declining, USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. and studies are underway to determine the causes. RELATIVE ABUNDANCE: SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL species HABITAT SEASONAL species HABITAT SEASONAL Most species listed in this checklist occur regularly within the USED OCCUrreNCE USED OCCUrrence USED OCCUrrence area described above, however, some species are designated as GAVIIDAE: LOONS accipitridae: kites, eagles, hawks, (continued) laridae: gulls and terns rare (*) because they occur irregularly, and/or in very low num-  Common Loon 6 M * (m)  Red-tailed Hawk 14, 5, 9 R  Franklin’s Gull 6, 7, 8 M  Ferruginous Hawk 4, 5, 9, 11, 14 M, W *  Ring-billed Gull 6, 8 M (m) bers. A few species are thought to be regular, but are listed as PODICIPEDIDAE: GREEBES  Rough-legged Hawk 5, 14 W  Herring Gull 6, 8 M (m) uncertain (?) because of few reports and/or the difficulty of  Pied-billed Grebe 6, 7 S (m)  Golden Eagle 10, 14, 9, ALL W, R ? (m)  Common Tern 6, 8 M ? identification.  Horned Grebe 6 M  Forster’s Tern 6, 7, 8 M, S ?  Eared Grebe 6, 7 M (m), S ? falconidae: falcons  Least Tern 6, 8 M * (b) anag e m e n t ivisions  Western Grebe 6 M (m)  American Kestel 13, 14, 11 R M D  Black Tern 6, 7, 8 M, S ?  Clark’s Grebe 6 M ?  Merlin (N) 13, 11, 8 M, W * Species that primarily occur in the area of the Nebraska Na-  Peregrine Falcon (N) 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 M* Columbidae: pigeons and doves PELICANIDAE: PELICANS tional Forest (Bessey Ranger District) = (b).  Prairie Falcon 10, 4, 5, 9, 11 M, R ? (m)  Rock Dove 10, 11, 12 R (b)  American White Pelican 6, 8 M (m) Species that primarily occur in the area of the Samuel R. McK- phasianidae: pheasant, grouse, turkey, quail  Mourning Dove 14, 3, 5 S elvie National Forest = (m). phalacoracidae: cormorants  Ring-necked Pheasant 3, 5, 7, 11 R  Double-crested Cormorant 6, 8, 1 M (m), S ? cuculidae: cuckoos  Greater Prairie Chicken 5, 11 R (b)  Black-billed Cuckoo (N) 1, 3 S Se a s o na l Occurr e nc e ardeidae: bitterns and herons  Sharp-tailed Grouse 3, 5, 11 R  Yellow-billed Cuckoo (N) 1, 3 S  American Bettern 7 M, S *  Wild Turkey 3, 11, 14 R M = Migrant (primarily spring and fall or transient anytime)  Great Heron 7, 8, 1 S  Northern Bobwhite 1, 3, 11, 14 R (b) tytonidae: barn owl  Barn Owl 10, 11, 12, 14 S * W = Winter Visitor (primarily Dec, Jan, Feb occurrence)  Green-backed Heron 7, 8, 1 S (b) S = Summer Resident (indicates nesting, June, July occurrence) rallidae: rails and coots  Black-crowned Night Heron 7, 8, 1 M, S ?  Virginia Rail 7 S * strigidae: typical owls R = Permanent Resident (found year round)  Eastern Screech Owl 1, 3 R anatidae: swans, geese, ducks  Sora 7 S *  Great Horned Owl 14, ALL R  Trumpeter Swan 6, 7 M *  Americn Coot 6, 7 S  Burrowing Owl (N) 4, 9 S Ma j o r Ha b i t a t s Us e d  Greater White-fronted Goose 6, 8, 11 M * gruidae: cranes  Long-eared Owl 14 R *  Snow Goose 6, 8, 11 M TERRESTRIAL HABITATS  Sandhill Crane 8, 11 M  Short-eared Owl 5, 7, 1 R *  Ross’ Goose 6, 8, 11 M ? 1. Trees: Ponderosa pine, red cedar and jack pine in the  Whooping Crane 8, 11 M *  Northern Saw-whet Owl 1, 3 M *, R ? planted coniferous forest; green ash, boxelder, elm,  Canada Goose 5, 6, 8, 11 M, S * hackberry in the planted deciduous and the few natural  Wood Duck 6, 7, 1 S charadriidae: plovers caprimulgidae: goatsuckers  Black-bellied Plover 8 M ? woodlands, and cottonwood and peachleaf willow in  Green-winged Teal 5, 6, 7, 8 M  Common Nighthawk (N) 4, 5, 11, 1 S  Mallard 5, 6, 7, 8 S, R *  Semi-palmated Plover 8 M * (m)  Common Poorwill 10, 1 S riparian areas. Some hackberry occurs in the “sandhills  Northern Pintail 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)  Piping Plover 8 M ? apodidae: swifts thickets”.  Blue-winged Teal 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)  Killdeer 4, 8, 9 S  Chimney Swift (N) 12 S (b) 2. Riparian Shrubs: Willow  Cinnamon Teal 5, 6, 7, 8 S ?  American Avocet 6, 7 (short), 8 M, A * 3. Other Shrubs: Snowberry, wild rose, chokecherry and  Northern Shoveler 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m) trochilidae: hummingbirds American plum. scolopacidae: sandpipers and phalaropes *  Gadwall 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)  Greater Yellowlegs 8 M (m)  Ruby-throated Hummingbird (N) 12 (feeders) M * (b) 4. Short Grass: Hairy grama, blue grama and bluegrass.  American Wigeon 5, 6, 7, 8 S * (m)  Lesser Yellowlegs 8 M (m) alcedinadae: kingfishers 5. Mid and Tall Grasses: Prairie sandreed, sand bluestem,  Canvasback 6, 7 M (m)  Solitary Sandpiper 8 M  Belted Kingfisher 6, 10 R little bluestem, switchgrass, and porcupine grass.  Redhead 6, 7 M, S ? (m)  Willet 5, 7, (short), 8 M S *  Ring-necked Duck 6, 7 M (m)  Spotted Sandpiper 8 S picidae: woodpeckers AQUATIC HABITATS  Red-headed Woodpecker 13, 14 S  Lesser Scaup 6, 7 M (m)  Upland Sandpiper (N) 5 S 6. Open Water: Occurs in streams, stockponds and reser-  Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 M, R ?  Common Goldeneye 6 M, W *  Long-billed Curlew (N) 4, 5(wet meadow), 8, 9 S voirs (mostly frozen December to March).  Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 M * (b)  Bufflehead 6 M *  Marbled Godwit 5, 7 (short), 8 M ? 7. Marsh: Primarily sedge, rush, cattails and bulrushes.  Downy Woodpecker 1 R  Hooded Merganser 6 M *  Sanderling 8 M ?  Hairy Woodpecker 1, 13 R 8. Shorelines: Bare ground around reservoirs, lakes, and  Common Merganser 6 M, W *  Semi-palmated Sandpiper 8 M (m)  Northern Flicker 13, 14 R along streams.  Ruddy Duck 6, 7 S (m)  Western Sandpiper 8 M ? 9. Prairie Dog Colonies: Limited to Nebraska National cathartidae: vultures  Least Sandpiper 8 M (m) tyrannidae: tyrant flycatchers Forest.  Turkey Vulture 10, 12, 1, 3, 4, 5 S  White-rumped Sandpiper 8 M (m)  Western Wood Pewee (N) 1 S 10. Cliffs, steep banks, cutbanks, blowouts, gullies.  Baird’s Sandpiper 8 M (m)  Eastern Wood Pewee (N) 1 M,S ? 11. Cropland (very limited), weed patches and ditches. accipitridae: kites, eagles, hawks  Pectoral Sandpiper 8 M (m)  Willow Flycatcher (N) 2, 3 S (b)  Osprey 6, 1 M 12. Buildings, bridges and various structures.  Stilt Sandpiper 8 M ?  Least Flycatcher (N) 1, 3 M  Bald Eagle 6, 1, 9, ALL W 13. Burned areas with standing dead trees.  Buff-breasted Sandpiper 4, 8 M ?  Eastern Phoebe 1, 12 S *  Northern Harrier 3, 5, 7 R  Short-billed Dowitcher 8 M ?  Say’s Phoebe 5, 10, 12 S * 14. Woodland/Forest Edge: Trees with adjacent grass-  Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, 3 M, S * lands.  Long-billed Dowitcher 8 M (m)  Great Crested Flycatcher (N) 1 S *  Cooper’s Hawk 1, 3 M, R ?  Common Snipe 5 (wet meadow), 7, 8 M, S ?  Western Kingbird (N) 14 S  Northern Goshawk 1, 3 W *  Wilson’s Phalarope 6, 7 (short), 8 M, S ?  Eastern Kingbird (N) 14 S  Broad-winged Hawk (N) 1, 3, 5, 8 M *  Swainson’s Hawk (N) 14, 5, 9, 11 S