P P h h o o t t o o P © © h R R P P o o o h h t o o o b b t t © C C o o J u u © © o rt rt B B h is is r r n , T , T ia ia Ca h h n n ss e E e E Ta Ta ad ar ar ng ng y ly B ly B irder irder eastern whip-poor-will Kentucky warbler wood thrush bobolink Henslow’s sparrow Caprimulgus vociferus Geothlypis formosa Hylocichla mustelina Dolichonyx oryzivorus Ammodramus henslowii P h o t o © S t e p h e n P P J P P . h h h h M o o o o a to to to to x s © © © © o D D B B n r r s av av ia ia m i i n n a d d T T xs Br Br an an on ew ew g g ph er er oto [email protected] loggerhead shrike upland sandpiper American golden-plover Bewick’s wren brown thrasher Lanius ludovicianus Bartramia longicauda Pluvialis dominica Thryomanes bewickii Toxostoma rufum P h o P P t h h o o o © P t t h o o R P o o h © © t o b o t A A C © o d d u © e e r Jo le le ti h B H H s, n ri o o T C an d d he a T de de E ss an , ID , ID arl ad g NR NR y B y irder northern bobwhite northern flicker prairie warbler red-headed woodpecker yellow-billed cuckoo Colinus virginianus Colaptes auratus Setophaga discolor Melanerpes erythrocephalus Coccyzus americanus P P P P h h h h o o o o t t t t o o o o © © © P © h R R R R o o o o o b b b to b C C C © C u u u J u rt rt rt o rt is is is h is , T , T , T n , T h h h Ca h e E e E e E ss e E ar ar ar ad ar ly B ly B ly B y ly B irder irder irder irder bald eagle common gallinule king rail least tern lesser scaup Haliaeetus leucocephalus Gallinula galeata Rallus elegans Sternula antillarum Aythya affinis P h o t o P © h o I P l h P t P l o in o h h t o © o i o Im to A to © d a D © e © g a B l B e v r e r s id ia H ia b n od n y Br Ta d Ta St ew n e, n ev er g ID g e P NR att DRAFTerson little blue heron marsh wren sandhill crane willow flycatcher yellow-headed blackbird Egretta caerulea Cistothorus palustris Grus canadensis Empidonax trailli Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus “Species of concern” refers to species that may be in need of conservation actions based Open Water/Wetland This poster was made possible by: upon current research. The actions vary due to the type of threat and health of the Species List American golden-plover Pluvialis bald eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus populations and may include monitoring the populations, threats and habitats; presenting Forest dominica common gallinule Gallinula galeata a proposal to list the species as threatened or endangered; or other actions. Species of Shrub/Savanna Illinois Department of eastern whip-poor-will Caprimulgus king rail Rallus elegans Natural Resources concern are not legally protected by the Endangered Species Act or the Illinois Endangered vociferus Bewick’s wren Thryomanes bewickii least tern Sternula antillarum Division of Education Species Protection Act unless they are also listed as threatened or endangered by the Kentucky warbler Geothlypis formosus brown thrasher Toxostoma rufum lesser scaup Aythya affinis appropriate entity (federal, state or both) though all birds are afforded some protections wood thrush Hylocichla mustelina northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus little blue heron Egretta caerulea by other state and federal laws. Identifying a species as one of concern can help underscore Grassland northern flickerColaptes auratus marsh wren Cistothorus palustris the need for data collection, increase public awareness, encourage research projects and bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus prairie warbler Setophaga discolor promote voluntary efforts to conserve the species. The 25 species depicted on this poster sandhill crane Grus canadensis Henslow’s sparrow Ammodramus henslowii red-headed woodpecker Melanerpes were selected by Jeff Walk of The Nature Conservancy to represent the birds in greatest willow flycatcherEmpidonax trailli erythrocephalus Funding for this poster was made possible need of conservation in Illinois. More information about these birds can be found on the loggerhead shrike Lanius ludovicianus yellow-headed blackbird Xanthocephalus in part by a donation from the Illinois yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus back of the poster. upland sandpiper Bartramia longicauda xanthocephalus Audubon Society. ILLINOIS BIRDS: Volume 3 “Species of concern” is an informal term that is applied to species that may be in need of conservation actions based upon current research. The actions vary due to the type of threat and health of the populations. They may include periodic monitoring of the populations, threats and habitats; presentation of a proposal to list the species as threatened or endangered; or other actions between these two extremes. Species of concern are not legally protected by the Endangered Species Act or the Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act unless they are also listed as threatened or endangered by the appropriate entity (federal, state or both). A few of the species on the poster only visit the state during migration or winter here. The American golden-plover may have more than half of its worldwide population in a few eastern Illinois counties as it passes through in migration. Identifying a species as one of concern can help underscore the need for data collection, increase public awareness, encourage cooperative research efforts and promote voluntary efforts to conserve the species. Habitats provide food, water, shelter and space for species. A good habitat must have all of these components and in the proper configuration. Habitat loss and degradation are the two main factors causing species decline. If a habitat is eliminated or altered to make it unsuitable for a species, then members of that species must die, seek out and find a new habitat or survive as best they can with habitats that may be very marginal. Even habitat alteration in other parts of the world can have effects on birds that live in Illinois. Those species that migrate for the winter or return to areas north of Illinois for nesting can be seriously impacted by changes in their migratory routes and homes. Other factors affecting bird species are competition from invasive species, historically low populations due to being on the edge of the species’ range, habitat fragmentation and human actions/inactions. Humans are the main cause for habitat loss and degradation. Humans, however, can be the solution to these issues. Length measurement refers to bill tip to tail tip in preserved specimens and varies somewhat from that of live birds. Species Descriptions ** = endangered in Illinois * = threatened in Illinois ^ = federally endangered American golden-plover common gallinule** Illinois Habitat: The preferred habitat includes rivers and lakes northern flicker Migration: Spring migrants begin arriving in Illinois in mid-May. Pluvialis dominica Gallinula galeata with sandbars or sand islands where it feeds on fishes, insects Colaptes auratus Fall migrants start their journey from Illinois in late September. Size: 10.5” Size: 14” and other aquatic macroinvertebrates. Size: 12-14” Willow flycatchers winter in Central and South America. Identifying Features: The breeding adult is black below and Identifying Features: The red bill that extends to a red plate Reasons for Concern: This species prefers to nest on sandbars Identifying Features: A large, white rump patch shows when Illinois Habitat: It may be found in willow thickets and scrub areas dark with black and yellow markings on the upper side. A white between the eyes, yellow bill tip and white stripe along the sides or sand islands, habitats that are rare and vulnerable to flooding, the bird flies. Its back is brown with dark bars. There is a black where it eats insects. stripe in a question-mark shape extends from above the eye to are characteristic traits of this bird. The bill in immature gallinules dredging, dumping and human disturbance. patch on the upper chest and a red patch on the back of the head. Reasons for Concern: Habitat destruction and degradation are the neck. The nonbreeding bird is gray-brown, with the back and is not brightly colored. The male has a black patch below each eye. the main reasons for its decline. upper side darker than the underside of the bird. Illinois Range: This bird is an uncommon migrant and local sum- lesser scaup Illinois Range: This species is a common migrant, summer mer resident in northern Illinois. It is occasionally seen migrating Aythya affinis resident and winter resident statewide. wood thrush Illinois Range: This bird is a common migrant in Illinois. It is Hylocichla mustelina most numerous in central Illinois during spring migration and less in central and southern Illinois and may be a summer resident in Size: 15-18” Migration: Those flickers that migrate out of Illinois for the winter these locations. Size: 8” common during fall migration when most sightings are along Identifying Features: There is a white stripe on the back edge go to the southern United States. Spring migrants begin arriving in Illinois in March. Fall migration begins in July. Identifying Features: This bird has a brown back with a rust-red Lake Michigan.