CHECKLIST BIRDS OF SOUTHERN NEVADA Roadrunner The Nevada Division of Wildlife is divided into three administrative regions. The Southern Region situated in southern Nevada (see map), is composed of many different topographic and vegetative zones. Elevations range from 500 feet in the lower valleys to over 13,000 feet on some of the higher mountain peaks. Habitat types that are preferred by each species and the areas where birds are most likely to be observed are included in most field guides to bird identification. The following list contains 314 species of birds that may be observed within the Southern Region. Accidental occurrence of species that do not normally occur are presented at the end of the list. All birds in Nevada are protected by Federal and/or State law with the exception of the European starling, rock dove and house sparrow. The column at the left is to record your personal observations. The following legend describes the relative abundance of a species in preferred habitat and the season(s) of occurrence. A blank space denotes a season that the species is usually not present within the Region. a=Abundant ........Numerous individuals of the species can usually be observed in preferred habitat. c=Common .........A representative of the species can usually be observed in preferred habitat. u=Uncommon ......A species representative is usually difficult to locate in preferred habitat. r=Rare ...............A species representative is only infrequently found in preferred habitat. Sp=Spring ..........March—May. Su=Summer ........June—August. F=Fall ...............September—November. W=Winter ..........December—February. This bird list was compiled from field observations by Nevada Division of Wildlife biologists, local ornithologists and available literature. Special thanks to Vincent Mowbray and the late Chuck Lawson for their significant contributions to this list. Marian Cressman and Carolyn Kitchel Titus reviewed and helped improve this edition of the bird list. Literature that aided in defining occurrence and relative abundance included: The Birds of Nevada by J.R. Alcorn; Check-list of Birds of Nevada and Birds of the Great Basin by Fred Ryser, Ph.D., University of Nevada, Reno; Roger Tory Peterson’s Field Guide to Western Birds; and The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, Western Region. The common names used in this checklist are consistent with those presented in The American Ornithologists’ Union, 1998, Check-list of North American Birds, 7th edition. It is intended that this checklist, in conjunction with a bird identification guide, will increase your awareness and appreciation of Nevada’s avian wildlife. BIRD CHECKLIST SOUTHERN NEVADA ORDER: FAMILY: ........ ........ Sp Gaviiformes Gavidae (Loons) Pacific Loon..................... Common Loon.................. u ORDER: FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Podicipediformes Podicipedidae (Grebes) Pied-billed Grebe............... Horned Grebe................... Eared Grebe..................... Western Grebe .................. Clark’s Grebe ................... Two c u c c c Su c u-c u-c u-c F W u u u c c u c c c c u c c c Sp ORDER: Pelecaniformes FAMILY: Pelecanidae (Pelicans) ........ American White Pelican......................... u FAMILY: Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants) ........ Double-crested Cormorant .................... a Su F W u c a a u r c u c r u r-u r c r u u r c u c r c c u u-c r r c u c r FAMILY: Threskiornithidae (Ibises) ........ White-faced Ibis ................ c u c u u-c ORDER: Ciconiiformes FAMILY: Ardeidae (Bitterns, Herons, Egrets) ........ American Bittern ............... ........ Least Bittern .................... ........ Great Blue Heron .............. ........ Great Egret ...................... ........ Snowy Egret..................... ........ Cattle Egret ..................... ........ Green Heron .................... ........ Black-crowned NightHeron.......................... u Cactus Wren FAMILY: Cathartidae (New World Vultures) ........ Turkey Vulture .................. c ORDER: Anseriformes FAMILY: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, Swans) ........ Greater White-fronted Goose.......................... ........ Snow Goose ..................... ........ Ross’s Goose.................... ........ Canada Goose .................. ........ Tundra Swan .................... ........ Wood Duck...................... ........ Gadwall .......................... r r r u u r c r r u u u r c r r u r c c r c Three ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ American Wigeon .............. Mallard........................... Blue-winged Teal ............... Cinnamon Teal.................. Northern Shoveler.............. Northern Pintail ................ Green-winged Teal ............. Canvasback ...................... Redhead .......................... Ring-necked Duck ............. Greater Scaup................... Lesser Scaup .................... Surf Scoter ...................... White-winged Scoter .......... Oldsquaw ........................ Bufflehead ....................... Common Goldeneye ........... Barrow’s Goldeneye ........... Hooded Merganser............. Common Merganser ........... Red-breasted Merganser .................... ........ Ruddy Duck..................... Sp u c-a r c-a c c c u c u r u r r r u u Su c-a c u r-u u r c u c u F c c-a r c-a c c c u c u r u r r r u u r r c W c-a c-a r u c c c u c-a c r c r r r c c r r c u c u c ORDER: Falconiformes FAMILY: Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, Osprey) ........ Osprey............................ ........ Bald Eagle ....................... ........ Northern Harrier ............... ........ Sharp-shinned Hawk........... ........ Cooper’s Hawk ................. ........ Northern Goshawk ............. ........ Red-shouldered Hawk ......... ........ Swainson’s Hawk............... ........ Red-tailed Hawk................ ........ Ferruginous Hawk ............. ........ Rough-legged Hawk ........... ........ Golden Eagle.................... c u c u r u c u r u-c Falconidae (Falcons) American Kestrel............... Merlin ............................ Peregrine Falcon ............... Prairie Falcon ................... c-a u u c u c ORDER: Galliformes FAMILY: Phasianidae (Pheasants, Partridges, Grouse) ........ Chukar ........................... ........ Gray Partridge .................. ........ Ring-necked Pheasant ......... ........ Sage Grouse ..................... ........ Blue Grouse ..................... ........ Wild Turkey ..................... c-a r u u-c u-c u c-a r u u-c u-c u c-a c-a r r u u u-c u-c u-c u-c u u Odontophoridae (Quail) Mountain Quail................. r California Quail ................ c Gambel’s Quail ................. c-a r c c-a r c c-a r c c-a c u c u c c FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ u ORDER: Gruiformes FAMILY: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, Coots) ........ Virginia Rail .................... c ........ Sora ............................... u Four c u u u r r c u u-c c u r u c c c c c c u u u r u c-a c-a u u r u u-c u-c c-a u u c c u u c Sp ........ Common Moorhen............. c ........ American Coot ................. a ........ Yuma Clapper Rail............. u Su c a u FAMILY: Gruidae (Cranes) ........ Sandhill Crane .................. u Charadriiformes Charadriidae (Plovers) Black-bellied Plover ........... American GoldenPlover.......................... ........ Snowy Plover ................... ........ Semipalmated Plover .......... ........ Killdeer .......................... ORDER: FAMILY: ........ ........ F c a u W c a u u u r-u r-u r u u a a r u u a a FAMILY: Recurvirostridae (Stilts, Avocets) ........ Black-necked Stilt .............. c ........ American Avocet ............... c c r c c r r u c u u c u-c r u c r u r c-a c-a r u u u u c u-c c c r r u u r a c-a u u FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Scolopacidae (Sandpipers) Greater Yellowlegs ............. Lesser Yellowlegs .............. Solitary Sandpiper ............. Willet ............................. Spotted Sandpiper .............. Whimbrel ........................ Long-billed Curlew ............ Marbled Godwit ................ Red Knot......................... Sanderling ....................... Semipalmated Sandpiper ...... Western Sandpiper ............. Least Sandpiper ................ Baird’s Sandpiper .............. Pectoral Sandpiper ............. Dunlin ............................ Stilt Sandpiper .................. Short-billed Dowitcher ........ Long-billed Dowitcher ........ Common Snipe ................. Wilson’s Phalarope............. Red-necked Phalarope ......... Red Phalarope .................. FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Laridae (Gulls, Terns) Franklin’s Gull.................. Bonaparte’s Gull ............... Mew Gull........................ Ring-billed Gull ................ California Gull.................. Herring Gull .................... Thayer’s Gull ................... Sabine’s Gull.................... Black-legged Kittiwake........ Caspian Tern .................... Common Tern .................. Forster’s Tern ................... Black Tern ....................... c u r c u-c r u c r r r c-a c-a r u u u u c u-c c c r u r c u u a c-a u u u r r u r a c-a u u r u u c u r u u u u u c u ORDER: Columbiformes FAMILY: Columbidae (Pigeons, Doves) ........ Rock Dove (Domestic Pigeon)......................... a a a r r r u r a Five ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Band-tailed Pigeon ............. White-winged Dove ............ Mourning Dove................. Inca Dove........................ Common Ground-Dove ....... Sp u u c-a u-c r Su u c c-a u-c r F u W r c-a c-a u-c u-c r r ORDER: Cuculiformes FAMILY: Cuculidae (Cuckoos, Roadrunners) ........ Yellow-billed Cuckoo .......... r ........ Greater Roadrunner ............ c r c ORDER: Strigiformes FAMILY: Tytonidae (Barn Owls) ........ Barn Owl ........................ u-c u-c u-c u-c u u u u c c r r u u u u u-c u-c c u-c r c c Great Horned Owl Strigidae (Owls) Flammulated Owl .............. Western Screech-Owl .......... Great Horned Owl ............. Northern Pygmy-Owl ......... Burrowing Owl ................. Long-eared Owl ................ Short-eared Owl ................ Northern Saw-whet Owl ...... u u c r u-c u u r-u u c c r c u-c u-c r ORDER: Caprimulgiformes FAMILY: Caprimulgidae (Goatsuckers) ........ Lesser Nighthawk .............. ........ Common Nighthawk........... ........ Common Poorwill.............. ........ Whip-poor-will ................. u-c u-c u r c c c r u-c u c r c-a u a FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ORDER: FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ Six Apodiformes Apodidae (Swifts) Black Swift ...................... r Vaux’s Swift..................... r-u White-throated Swift........... c u-c Sp Su F u-c u u-c u c r r c c c u c c u-c u u-c r u-c c r u c u u u c r u c r u u c r u c r c u c c u c c u c c u c u c c u c c u u-c c r-u c c c u c c c u u-c u r-u c r u c r u u c r r u c r FAMILY: Laniidae (Shrikes) ........ Loggerhead Shrike ............. c ........ Northern Shrike ................ r c c r c c c u r u u c r c r c c c c u r c-a c c c c u c c-a FAMILY: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds) ........ Black-chinned Hummingbird ................ ........ Anna’s Hummingbird.......... ........ Costa’s Hummingbird ......... ........ Calliope Hummingbird ........ ........ Broad-tailed Hummingbird ... ........ Rufous Hummingbird.......... ........ Allen’s Hummingbird ......... ORDER: Coraciiformes FAMILY: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers) ........ Belted Kingfisher............... c Piciformes Picidae (Woodpeckers) Lewis’s Woodpecker ........... Williamson’s Sapsucker ....... Red-naped Sapsucker .......... Red-breasted Sapsucker ....... Ladder-backed Woodpecker ......................... ........ Hairy Woodpecker ............. ........ Northern Flicker ............... ORDER: FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Passeriformes Tyrannidae (Flycatchers) Olive-sided Flycatcher......... Western Wood-Pewee .......... Willow Flycatcher.............. Hammond’s Flycatcher........ Gray Flycatcher................. Dusky Flycatcher............... Cordilleran Flycatcher......... Black Phoebe ................... Say’s Phoebe .................... Vermilion Flycatcher .......... Ash-throated Flycatcher ....... Brown-crested Flycatcher..................... ........ Cassin’s Kingbird .............. ........ Western Kingbird............... ........ Eastern Kingbird ............... ORDER: FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Vireonidae (Vireos) Bell’s Vireo...................... Gray Vireo....................... Plumbeous Vireo ............... Cassin’s Vireo .................. Warbling Vireo ................. Red-eyed Vireo ................. FAMILY: Corvidae (Jays, Magpies, Crows) ........ Steller’s Jay ..................... ........ Western Scrub-Jay ............. ........ Pinyon Jay ....................... ........ Clark’s Nutcracker ............. ........ Black-billed Magpie ........... ........ American Crow................. ........ Common Raven................. c c c r c c c c c u c c-a W r r u c u u c r c u u-c u-c c c r-u r-u u c r c c c c u c c-a Seven Sp FAMILY: Alaudidae (Larks) ........ Horned Lark .................... a Su F W a a a r c-a a u c-a r c-a a u r c-a u a c-a c r a c c-a u c-a c r FAMILY: Paridae (Chickadees, Titmice) ........ Mountain Chickadee........... c ........ Juniper Titmouse ............... u c u c u c u FAMILY: Remizidae (Verdins) ........ Verdin ............................ c c c c FAMILY: Aegithalidae (Bushtit) ........ Bushtit............................ c c c c Sittidae (Nuthatches) Red-breasted Nuthatch ........ u White-breasted Nuthatch...... c Pygmy Nuthatch................ c u c c u c c u c c FAMILY: Certhiidae (Creepers) ........ Brown Creeper.................. u u u u c c c c u a c c c c c u c c c c c u u c FAMILY: Cinclidae (Dippers) ........ American Dipper............... u u u u FAMILY: Regulidae (Kinglets) ........ Golden-crowned Kinglet ...... u ........ Ruby-crowned Kinglet ......... c r c r c c FAMILY: Sylviidae (Gnatcatchers) ........ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher......... c ........ Black-tailed Gnatcatcher ...... u-c c u-c c u-c u u u u-c c c u u-c u-c c c u u u c c r r Hirundinidae (Swallows) Purple Martin ................... Tree Swallow.................... Violet-green Swallow .......... Northern Rough-winged Swallow ....................... ........ Bank Swallow ................... ........ Cliff Swallow ................... ........ Barn Swallow ................... FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Troglodytidae (Wrens) Cactus Wren..................... Rock Wren....................... Canyon Wren.................... Bewick’s Wren.................. House Wren ..................... Winter Wren .................... Marsh Wren ..................... FAMILY: Turdidae (Thrushes, Solitaires, Bluebirds) ........ Western Bluebird ............... ........ Mountain Bluebird ............. ........ Townsend’s Solitaire ........... ........ Swainson’s Thrush ............. ........ Hermit Thrush .................. ........ American Robin ................ ........ Varied Thrush................... c c c c c r c u u-c c u c c r FAMILY: Mimidae (Mockingbirds, Thrashers) ........ Northern Mockingbird ........ c ........ Sage Thrasher................... c Eight u c c c c c c c Sp ........ Bendire’s Thrasher ............. u ........ Crissal Thrasher ................ c ........ Le Conte’s Thrasher........... u Su u c u F u c u W FAMILY: Sturnidae (Starlings) ........ European Starling .............. c-a c-a c-a a FAMILY: Motacillidae (Pipits) ........ American Pipit.................. c u c-a FAMILY: Bombycillidae (Waxwings) ........ Bohemian Waxwing............ ........ Cedar Waxwing................. r r r r c FAMILY: Ptilogonatidae (Silky Flycatchers) ........ Phainopepla ..................... c-a u c-a c-a FAMILY: Parulidae (Warblers) ........ Tennessee Warbler ............. ........ Orange-crowned Warbler........................ ........ Nashville Warbler .............. ........ Virginia’s Warbler.............. ........ Lucy’s Warbler ................. ........ Northern Parula ................ ........ Yellow Warbler ................. ........ Black-throated Blue Warbler........................ ........ Yellow-rumped Warbler ....... ........ Black-throated Gray Warbler........................ ........ Townsend’s Warbler ........... ........ Hermit Warbler ................. ........ Grace’s Warbler ................ ........ Blackpoll Warbler .............. ........ Black-and-white Warbler........................ ........ American Redstart ............. ........ Ovenbird ......................... ........ Northern Waterthrush ......... ........ MacGillivray’s Warbler ....... ........ Common Yellowthroat......... ........ Hooded Warbler ................ ........ Wilson’s Warbler ............... ........ Painted Redstart ................ ........ Yellow-breasted Chat .......... FAMILY: ........ ........ ........ r c u c c r c c u c c c c u u r-u r c c c u c c u u u r c r u r r c c r c-a r c Thraupidae (Tanagers) Hepatic Tanager ................ r Summer Tanager ............... u Western Tanager ................ c FAMILY: Emberizidae (Sparrows, Towhees, Juncos) ........ Green-tailed Towhee ........... ........ Spotted Towhee ................. ........ Abert’s Towhee ................. ........ American Tree Sparrow....... ........ Chipping Sparrow .............. ........ Clay-colored Sparrow ......... ........ Brewer’s Sparrow .............. ........ Black-chinned Sparrow........ ........ Vesper Sparrow ................. ........ Lark Sparrow ................... r c c c u c r c u u u u c c u-c r u r r u-c c c r u c u c c c c u r u u u u u r c-a r c c c c c c c c u c r c u r u r c c r u u u Nine ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Black-throated Sparrow ....... Sage Sparrow ................... Lark Bunting .................... Savannah Sparrow.............. Grasshopper Sparrow.......... Fox Sparrow..................... Lincoln’s Sparrow.............. White-throated Sparrow ....... Harris’s Sparrow ............... White-crowned Sparrow....... Golden-crowned Sparrow ..... Dark-eyed Junco................ Lapland Longspur.............. Sp c-a c r c-a r r u r r-u c r c-a r FAMILY: Cardinalidae (Grosbeaks, Buntings) ........ Rose-breasted Grosbeak....... ........ Black-headed Grosbeak ....... ........ Blue Grosbeak .................. ........ Lazuli Bunting .................. ........ Indigo Bunting .................. ........ Dickcissel........................ r u c c u r FAMILY: Icteridae (Meadowlarks, Blackbirds, Orioles) ........ Bobolink ......................... ........ Red-winged Blackbird ......... ........ Western Meadowlark .......... ........ Yellow-headed Blackbird...... ........ Rusty Blackbird................. ........ Brewer’s Blackbird............. ........ Great-tailed Grackle ........... ........ Brown-headed Cowbird ....... ........ Hooded Oriole .................. ........ Bullock’s Oriole ................ ........ Scott’s Oriole ................... r c-a c c r c-a c c u-c c u FAMILY: Fringillidae (Grosbeaks, Finches) ........ Gray-crowned RosyFinch .......................... ........ Black Rosy-Finch............... ........ Purple Finch .................... ........ Cassin’s Finch .................. ........ House Finch..................... ........ Red Crossbill.................... ........ Pine Siskin ...................... ........ Lesser Goldfinch ............... ........ American Goldfinch ........... ........ Evening Grosbeak.............. r c-a c-a u u c u u-c FAMILY: Passeridae (Old World Sparrows) ........ House Sparrow ................. a Ten Su c-a u c c c c c u F c c r c-a r r u r r-u c r c r r u c u u r W u-c c r c-a r u r r-u c r c-a r r c-a u c-a r u c c u-c c c r c-a c-a c c c r r c-a c-a u-c u-c c c u u u c-a c u u u r c-a c u u c u u-c u r r c-a c u c c u u a a a Species that have been recorded in recent years but do not normally occur in southern Nevada. ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ ........ Yellow-billed Loon Red-throated Loon Red-necked Grebe Least Storm Petrel Blue-footed Booby Brown Booby Brown Pelican Neotropic Cormorant Magnificent Frigatebird Little Blue Heron Tricolored Heron Reddish Egret Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Roseate Spoonbill Wood Stork Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Fulvous WhistlingDuck Brant Trumpeter Swan Eurasian Wigeon American Black Duck White-tailed Kite Common BlackHawk Harris' Hawk Broad-winged Hawk Zone-tailed Hawk Yellow Rail Purple Gallinule Mountain Plover Spotted Redshank Wandering Tattler Upland Sandpiper Hudsonian Godwit Ruddy Turnstone Red-necked Stint Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Laughing Gull Heermann's Gull Yellow-footed Gull Western Gull Glaucous-winged Gull Glaucous Gull Red-legged Kittiwake Arctic Tern Least Tern Black Skimmer Ancient Murrelet ........ Ruddy GroundDove ........ Groove-billed Ani ........ Snowy Owl ........ Elf Owl ........ Chuck-will's-widow ........ Chimney Swift ........ Broad-billed Hummingbird ........ Magnificent Hummingbird ........ Red-headed Woodpecker ........ Acorn Woodpecker ........ Gila Woodpecker ........ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker ........ Red-breasted Sapsucker ........ Nuttall's Woodpecker ........ Downy Woodpecker ........ Gilded Flicker ........ Greater Pewee ........ Eastern WoodPewee ........ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher ........ Least Flycatcher ........ Pacific-slope Flycatcher ........ Eastern Phoebe ........ Dusky-capped Flycatcher ........ Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher ........ Tropical Kingbird ........ Thick-billed Kingbird ........ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher ........ Yellow-throated Vireo ........ Blue-headed Vireo ........ Hutton's Vireo ........ Philadelphia Vireo ........ Yellow-green Vireo ........ Gray Jay ........ Veery ........ Gray-cheeked Thrush ........ Wood Thrush ........ Gray Catbird ........ Brown Thrasher ........ Curve-billed Thrasher ........ Yellow Wagtail ........ Sprague's Pipit ........ Blue-winged Warbler ........ Golden-winged Warbler ........ Magnolia Warbler Eleven ........ Cape May Warbler ........ Black-throated Green Warbler ........ Blackburnian Warbler ........ Yellow-throated Warbler ........ Pine Warbler ........ Palm Warbler ........ Prairie Warbler ........ Bay-Breasted Warbler ........ Cerulean Warbler ........ Prothonotary Warbler ........ Worm-eating Warbler ........ Louisiana Waterthrush ........ Kentucky Warbler ........ Connecticut Warbler ........ Mourning Warbler ........ Hooded Warbler ........ Canada Warbler ........ Red-faced Warbler ........ Scarlet Tanager ........ Cassin's Sparrow ........ Rufous-crowned Sparrow ........ Field Sparrow ........ Le Conte's Sparrow ........ Swamp Sparrow ........ McCown's Longspur ........ Smith's Longspur ........ Chestnut-collared Longspur ........ Snow Bunting ........ Northern Cardinal ........ Pyrrhuloxia ........ Painted Bunting ........ Common Grackle ........ Bronzed Cowbird ........ Orchard Oriole ........ Streak-backed Oriole ........ Baltimore Oriole ........ Black Rosy Finch ........ Pine Grosbeak ........ White-winged Crossbill ........ Lawrences's Goldfinch Artwork by Craig Mortimore NOTES Date ................................................... No. Species ........... Observers .................................................................................... .................................................................................... Time Afield ................................................................................ Weather ........................................................................................ Remarks....................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... ...................................................................................................... (Rev. 7-99) (O) 2669 L
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