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Download all Bird Statewide Maps (21 MB may be slow to download) |
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BIRD CWCS
SPECIES (81 SPECIES)
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Common name |
Scientific name |
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Botaurus lentiginosus |
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Anas rubripes |
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Pluvialis dominica |
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Pelecanus erythrorhynchos |
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Scolopax minor |
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Aimophila aestivalis |
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Haliaeetus leucocephalus |
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Riparia riparia |
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Tyto alba |
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Vireo bellii |
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Thryomanes bewickii |
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Chlidonias niger |
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Dendroica fusca |
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Nycticorax nycticorax |
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Vermivora pinus |
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Dolichonyx oryzivorus |
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Certhia americana |
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Tryngites subruficollis |
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Wilsonia canadensis |
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Dendroica cerulea |
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Gallinula chloropus |
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Corvus corax |
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Sterna hirundo |
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Spiza americana |
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Calidris alpina |
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Vermivora chrysoptera |
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Ammodramus savannarum |
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Ardea alba |
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Tympanuchus cupido |
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Ammodramus henslowii |
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Lophodytes cucullatus |
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Podiceps auritus |
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Sterna antillarum athalassos |
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Oporornis formosus |
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Rallus elegans |
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Chondestes grammacus |
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Ixobrychus exilis |
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Empidonax minimus |
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Tringa flavipes |
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Egretta caerulea |
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Lanius ludovicianus |
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Asio otus |
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Seiurus motacilla |
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Ictinia mississippiensis |
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Colinus virginianus |
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Circus cyaneus |
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Anas acuta |
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Pandion haliaetus |
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Falco peregrinus |
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Podilymbus podiceps |
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Charadrius melodus |
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Dendroica discolor |
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Protonotaria citrea |
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Sitta canadensis |
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Picoides borealis |
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Melanerpes erythrocephalus |
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Pheucticus ludovicianus |
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Euphagus carolinus |
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Calidris alba |
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Passerculus sandwichensis |
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Cistothorus platensis |
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Calidris pusilla |
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Accipiter striatus |
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Limnodromus griseus |
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Asio flammeus |
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Tringa solitaria |
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Calidris himantopus |
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Limnothlypis swainsonii |
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Elanoides forficatus |
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Cygnus buccinator |
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Bartramia longicauda |
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Pooecetes gramineus |
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Calidris mauri |
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Grus americana |
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Empidonax traillii |
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Phalaropus tricolor |
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Gallinago delicata |
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Hylocichla mustelina |
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Helmitheros vermivorus |
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Coturnicops noveboracensis |
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Nyctanassa violacea |
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CLASS AVES
American Bittern Botaurus
lentiginosus
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N H G4 SHB G4 S1
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Widespread
distribution but populations are declining (NatureServe 2004).
Comment Population estimate due pending Version 2 of the
Waterbird Plan (Kushlan et
al. 2002).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend
Comment
Habitat / This is a transient
bird that uses dense, emergent marshes with patches of open
Life History water. It
will also use lake and pond edges with cattails and sedges for stop
over habitat.
Key Habitat condition is POOR (emergent marshes) to
FAIR (lake and pond edges)
Habitat overall in Kentucky.
No key habitat to identify;
the species will use appropriate habitat where
available range
wide.
Guilds Emergent and shrub-dominated wetlands,
grassland/agricultural, standing water.
Statewide AmericanBittern.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
American Bittern Botaurus
lentiginosus
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration . Loss of dense emergent shallow water
wetlands
2N Eutrophication (eg. of wetlands)
Point and non-point source pollution
4A Acid mine drainage other coal mining impacts
4E Agricultural runoff – including
fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides,
4F Urban runoff
Siltation and increased turbidity
1B Agriculture
1D Urbanization/Development General Construction
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc).
Conversion to,
draining of wetlands
3F Urban/residential development. Recreational development
3G Shoreline development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain)
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes. Natural succession of wetlands
CLASS AVES
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N N G5 S4N G5 S4
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Declined from 7
million in 1955 to 3 million in 1985 (NatureServe 2004).
Comment
S-Trend Decreasing
S-Trend Waterfowl harvest
data show declines in the Mississippi Flyway (Fronczak
Comment 2004).
Habitat / This is a wintering
duck that primarily uses forested wetlands: buttonbush
Life History sloughs, flooded bottomland hardwoods, and beaver
ponds. It will also use
shallow water
wetlands and flooded fields, as well as loaf on larger bodies of
water (which provide
little foraging habitat).
Key Habitat condition ranges from POOR (forested
wetlands, shallow water
Habitat wetlands) to GOOD (larger bodies of water).
No key habitat to
identify; this species will use appropriate habitat statewide.
Guilds Emergent and
shrub-dominated wetlands, forested wetland, running water,
standing water.
Statewide AmericanBlackDuck.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
American Black Duck Anas rubripes
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
Biological/ consumptive uses
5D Competition from introduced/invasive or native
species. With Mallards
5E Hybridization with closely related species. With Mallard on breeding
5N Hunting.
Possible effects of over harvest, especially in areas where
hybridization
commonly occurs
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc).
Conversion of
wetlands
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3M Timber harvest
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain).
Acid precipitation
CLASS AVES
American Golden-plover Pluvialis dominica
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N N G5 SZN G5 S3
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Species thought to
be in decline in the U.S. but statistical verification is lacking
Comment (Brown et al. 2001).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend
Comment
Habitat / This is a transient
bird that uses shallow water wetlands, wet prairies, flooded
Life History agricultural fields, and shoreline, mudflat, and
sandbar habitat of lakes and rivers.
Key Habitat condition
ranges from POOR (shallow water wetlands, wet praries) to
Habitat FAIR (flooded agricultural fields, shoreline
habitats).
Key Habitat Locations
(and their conditions):
1. Transient lakes
in Warren (good) and Christian (unknown) counties.
2. Shoreline of
Kentucky and Barkely lakes (good). Extending summer pool to
Labor Day (as
proposed Tennessee Valley Authority) would leave the
shoreline unexposed
until after peak shorebird migration (Ritchison and Ranalli
2004).
Guilds Emergent and shrub-dominated wetlands,
grassland/agricultural, standing water.
Statewide AmericanGolden-plover.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
American Golden-plover Pluvialis dominica
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2F Riparian zone removal (Agriculture/development)
2G Water level fluctuations. Alteration of natural drawdown cycle
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
2N Eutrophication (eg. of wetlands)
Point and non-point source pollution
4E Agricultural runoff – including
fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides,
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc).
Conversion of
wetlands
3F Urban/residential development
3G Shoreline development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain)
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes. Of wetlands
CLASS AVES
American White Pelican Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N N G3 SZN G3 S4
G-Trend Stable
G-Trend Kushlan et al.
(2002) lists the species as having an apparently stable
Comment population.
North American breeding bird estimate: >120,000 breeders
(Kushlan et al.
2002).
S-Trend Increasing
S-Trend Species has been
observed in increasing numbers over the past several decades
Comment (Palmer-Ball 2003).
Habitat / This is a transient
bird that primarily uses reservoirs, but will also use other
Life History bodies of water that support fish, such as bald
cypress wetlands.
Key Habitat condition
ranges from POOR (bald cypress wetlands) to GOOD
Habitat (reservoirs).
No key habitat to
identify; the species will use appropriate habitat range wide.
Guilds running water,
standing water.
Statewide AmericanWhitePelican.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
American White Pelican Pelecanus
erythrorhynchos
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
Miscellaneous Mortality Factors
6D Human disturbance (spelunking,
destruction/disturbance of nest sites)
6D Human disturbance (spelunking,
destruction/disturbance of nest sites).
at
feeding site
6E Illegal killing
Point and non-point source pollution
4E Agricultural runoff – including
fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides,
4F Urban runoff
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain)
CLASS AVES
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N N G5 S4S5B G5 S4
,SZN
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Species thought to
be in decline in the U.S. but statistical verification is lacking
Comment (Brown et al. 2001).
S-Trend Stable
S-Trend Kentucky Department
of Fish and Wildlife Resources singing ground surveys
Comment indicate stable populations.
Habitat / Resident bird that
breeds in young forests and other early successional habitats
Life History that are a result of forest disturbance. Habitat structure for adequate feeding
cover,
display/roosting grounds and nesting must be provided during the
breeding season and
a diversity of habitat types must be provided for wintering
birds (NatureServe
2004).
Key Habitat condition ranges from UNKNOWN (young
forests) to POOR (early
Habitat successional forests).
No key habitat to
identify; the species will use appropriate habitat statewide.
Guilds grassland/agricultural,
savanna/ shrub-scrub, upland forest.
Statewide AmericanWoodcock.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
American Woodcock Scolopax minor
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3B Mowing regimes.
During nesting
3C Lack of newly abandoned farmland
3E Livestock grazing. Especially of woodland edges and through
forests
3F Urban/residential development
3G Shoreline development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3I Conversion of native forest to short-rotation
crop trees (pine, sycamore,
cottonwood, etc.)
3M Timber harvest.
Lack of timber harvest
3O Reforestation
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain).
Prey contamination
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes
CLASS AVES
Bachman's Sparrow Aimophila aestivalis
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N E G3 S1B G3 S1
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data show decreases survey-wide but
Comment were not significant (Sauer et al. 2004). Partners in Flight North American
Landbird
Conservation Plan gives population estimate of 250,000 in the U.S.
and Canada (see Rich
et al. 2004 for accuracy and precision ratings).
S-Trend Decreasing
S-Trend Species has declined
substantially in the past 35 years. The
atlas survey
Comment yielded only one probable record in priority
blocks surveyed (Palmer-Ball
1996).
Habitat / The species is a
habitat specialist (NatureServe 2004).
In Kentucky, it is a
Life History breeding bird that formerly inhabited a variety
of early successional habitats,
including old fields
and pastures, young pine plantations, and regenerating clear-
cuts (Palmer-Ball
1996). Mengel (1965) described the
species as having rather
rigid habitat
requirements, inhabiting an area only if it possessed the right
combination of
conditions: preferably (but not always) a hillside, some bare
ground, some native
grasses and forbs, patches of blackberry briars, and
scattered small
trees. Although the presence of pines
was not essential, red
cedars and other
evergreens were frequently associated with such habitats. In
the young pine
plantations where the species was once found, the trees ranged
from 1 to 10 feet in
height, and ground cover included a mixture of grasses,
forbs, and patches
of bare ground. NatureServe (2004)
describes the species as
requiring a
well-developed grass and herb layer with limited shrub and
hardwood midstory
components. The species is able to
colonize recent
clearcuts and early
seral stages of old field succession but such habitat remains
suitable only for a
short time.
Key Habitat condition is
POOR overall in Kentucky.
Habitat
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1. Only known
current nesting population is on Fort Campbell Military
Reservation, Trigg
County (fair); subject to military maneuvers and burning.
Guilds savanna/
shrub-scrub.
CLASS AVES
Bachman's Sparrow Aimophila aestivalis
Statewide Bachman'sSparrow.pdf
Map
Conservation Issues
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3C Lack of newly abandoned farmland
3F Urban/residential development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3I Conversion of native forest to short-rotation
crop trees (pine, sycamore,
cottonwood,
etc.). Conversion to short-rotation
pines (planted too densely)
3M Timber harvest.
Long-term rotation incompatible
3S Fire suppression/fire regime management. Negative impacts by fire
suppression
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes. Of early successional habitat
CLASS AVES
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus
leucocephalus
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
PS:LT, T G4 S2B,S G4 S2
PDL 2S3N
G-Trend Increasing
G-Trend Compared to 1974, the
number of occupied breeding areas in the lower 48
Comment States has increased by 462 percent, and since
1990, there has been a 47 percent
increase.
The species is doubling its breeding population every 6-7 years since
the late 1970's
(U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Federal Register 1995). Partners
in Flight North
American Landbird Conservation Plan gives population estimate
of 330,000 in the U.S. and Canada (see Rich et
al. 2004 for accuracy and
precision ratings).
S-Trend Increasing
S-Trend Numbers of nesting
pairs has increased from 0 in early 1980's to 40 known
Comment nesting pairs in 2003 (Vorisek 2003).
Habitat / This is a resident
and wintering bird that utilizes forested floodplains,
Life History bottomland hardwoods, bald cypress wetlands, and
riparian forests along large
rivers and
reservoirs. Breeding season requirements
include adequate nest site
and food
availability. Utilizes similar habitat
during winter where food
availability and winter
roost sites are important.
Key Habitat condition ranges from FAIR (forested
wetlands) to GOOD (reservoirs).
Habitat
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1. Wetland forests
along the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers (fair)
2. Land Between the
Lakes National Recreation Area (good)
3. Ballard and
Sloughs Wildlife Management Areas (good)
4. Winter roosts at
Turner Lake Ballard Wildlife Management Area and Duncan
Lake/Bay at Land
Between the Lakes (good)
Guilds forested wetland, running water, standing water.
Statewide BaldEagle.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Bald Eagle Haliaeetus
leucocephalus
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2F Riparian zone removal
(Agriculture/development). Riparian
corridor
development
2G Water level fluctuations
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
Biological/ consumptive uses
5L Parasitism and disease. West Nile virus, possible Avian vacuolar
myelinopathy (AVM)
Miscellaneous Mortality Factors
6C Powerlines
6D Human disturbance (spelunking,
destruction/disturbance of nest sites).
At
nest and roost sites
6E Illegal killing
6G Stochastic events
(droughts, unusual weather, pine beetle damage, flooding
etc.). Nest loss during storms, decrease food
sources during floods, etc.
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3F Urban/residential development
3G Shoreline development. Riparian corridor development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3M Timber harvest
3N Removal of dead trees
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain).
Heavy metals,
poisoning (direct and indirect)
CLASS AVES
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N S G5 S3B G5 S3
G-Trend Unknown
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data show nonsignificant decreases in the
Comment eastern and western regions and increases in
the central Breeding Bird Survey
region for 1966-2003
(Sauer et al. 2004).
S-Trend Decreasing
S-Trend Numbers have most
likely decreased during the last century (Palmer-Ball 1996).
Comment
Habitat / This is a breeding
bird that is a colonial nester and uses natural riverbanks for
Life History nest burrows.
Gravel pits have been colonized in recent years (Palmer-Ball
1996).
Key Habitat condition ranges from FAIR (gravel pits)
to POOR (riverbanks).
Habitat
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1) Banks of
Mississippi and Ohio Rivers (poor).
Guilds running water.
Statewide BankSwallow.pdf
Map
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2B Gravel/sand removal or quarrying (e.g., mineral
excavation)
2E Stream channelization/ditching
2F Riparian zone removal (Agriculture/development)
Miscellaneous Mortality Factors
6D Human disturbance (spelunking,
destruction/disturbance of nest sites).
Of
colonies
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3G Shoreline development
3U Loss, lack and degradation of special and unique
microhabitats. Nesting at
gravel pits
CLASS AVES
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N S G5 S3 G5 S3
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Population declines
have been evident in the Midwest and Northeast U.S. and
Comment have been reported in several other areas
(NatureServe 2004).
S-Trend Increasing
S-Trend Observations of
breeding pairs has increased over the last few years.
Comment
Habitat / This is a resident
bird that inhabits a variety of semi-open and open habitats.
Life History Mengel (1965) considered them to be most
frequently found in farm country,
and it is likely
that rural farmland continues to harbor a persistent breeding
population. Today these owls are also reported regularly
from older residential
areas of cities and
towns, where large shade trees provide nest sites. Small
numbers are also
reported occasionally from larger cities (Palmer-Ball 1996) and
recently young birds have been documented from
grain silos. The species
requires large tree
cavities and old structures for nesting.
Key Habitat condition
throughout Kentucky is UNKNOWN for this species.
Habitat
No key habitat to
identify; the species will use appropriate habitat range wide.
Guilds grassland/agricultural,
savanna/ shrub-scrub, urban/suburban.
Statewide BarnOwl.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Barn Owl Tyto alba
Conservation Issues
Biological/ consumptive uses
5D Competition from introduced/invasive or native
species. For nest sites
5K Lack of suitable habitat for spawning, nesting,
or breeding. Nest site
availability
Miscellaneous Mortality Factors
6D Human disturbance (spelunking,
destruction/disturbance of nest sites).
Of
nest sites (i.e.,
silos, buildings, etc.)
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc)
3B Mowing regimes
3C Lack of newly abandoned farmland
3D Switch to cleaner agricultural practices
3E Livestock grazing
3F Urban/residential development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3N Removal of dead trees
3Q Invasive/exotic plants (including fescue). Fescue
3S Fire suppression/fire regime management
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes
3U Loss, lack and degradation of special and unique
microhabitats. Abandoned
building and other structures for nesting
CLASS AVES
Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
PS S G5 S2S3B G5 S2
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data from 1966-2003 indicate significant
Comment survey wide declines averaging 2.9 percent per
year (Sauer et al. 2004).
Partners in Flight
North American Landbird Conservation Plan gives population
estimate of 1,100,000 in the U.S. and Canada
(see Rich et al. 2004 for accuracy
and precision
ratings).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend
Comment
Habitat / This is a breeding
bird found in large tracts of early successional habitat
Life History dominated by deciduous shrubs and small
trees. All such sites represent altered
habitats that have been cleared and are in
early stages of reforestation (Palmer-
Ball 1996).
Key Habitat condition is generally GOOD (reclaimed
mines), although the habitats
Habitat are altered from their original composition.
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1. Muhlenburg County
(good)--Peabody Wildlife Management Area and the
Wendell H. Ford
Regional Training Center.
Guilds savanna/ shrub-scrub.
Statewide Bell'sVireo.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Bell's Vireo Vireo bellii
Conservation Issues
Biological/ consumptive uses
5B Predation from native species
5M Brood parasitism (Brown-headed Cowbird)
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc)
3B Mowing regimes
3C Lack of newly abandoned farmland
3D Switch to cleaner agricultural practices
3E Livestock grazing
3F Urban/residential development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3K Surface mining.
Remining of reclaimed mine lands
3S Fire suppression/fire regime management
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes
CLASS AVES
Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N S G5 S3B G5 S3
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data reveal that the species has been
Comment declining in parts of the U.S. for some
time. Populations in the central and
eastern parts of the
range are smaller than they were in the past.
Eight states
(Wisconsin,
Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North
Carolina, and South
Carolina) reported declines between the 1950s and the
1980s from rare or
local breeders (or "common" in the case of North Carolina)
to near or certain
extirpation. During the period of 1965
to 1979 severe declines
occurred in Eastern and Central regions while
the West was stable. In the
1980's the decline
in the central states subsided, while the population in the
eastern states
continued to decline to the point that Breeding Bird Survey data
was no longer
reliable for use in trend analysis (NatureServe 2004). Partners in
Flight North
American Landbird Conservation Plan gives Global population
estimate of
6,000,000 (see Rich et al. 2004 for accuracy and precision ratings).
S-Trend Decreasing
S-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data for the period 1966-2003 show
Comment declines of 9.1% per year (Sauer et al.
2004). Kentucky Breeding Bird Atlas
resulted in confirmed
nesting in 7 priority blocks (Palmer-Ball 1996). Partners
in Flight estimates
a population of 1,800 individuals (see Rosenberg 2004 for
assumptions);
however, recent studies documented only one breeding pair and a
few unpaired males in the state (Ritchison and
Hodge 2003).
Habitat / Although this
species can occur year round, recent observations are limited to
Life History the breeding season. Bewick's Wrens are encountered in a variety
of semi-open
habitats. Although evidence suggests that the species
formerly inhabited
natural forest
openings, it is primarily a bird of altered habitats today. These
wrens are most
conspicuous in rural farmland and settlement, but small
numbers also inhabit
suburban yards of towns, brushy forest margins, and
forest clear-cuts
(Palmer-Ball 1996). The most recent
nesting record came from
a pair utilizing a
grill in Scott County (Ritchison and Hodge 2003). Although
suitable habitat
seems to persist, it is unknown why the species continues to
decline. The Appalachian subspecies has most likely
been extirpated from the
state.
CLASS AVES
Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii
Key Habitat condition appears FAIR, except for
Appalachian subspecies where
Habitat habitat is likely POOR.
No key habitat to
identify; the species will use appropriate habitat in the
western and central
part of the state.
Guilds savanna/ shrub-scrub.
Statewide Bewick'sWren.pdf
Map
Conservation Issues
Biological/ consumptive uses
5D Competition from introduced/invasive or native
species. Competition from
House Wren, Starlings, House Sparrows,
Carolina Wrens, and Song
Sparrows are all
potential competitors
5F Low population densities
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc)
3B Mowing regimes
3C Lack of newly abandoned farmland
3D Switch to cleaner agricultural practices
3E Livestock grazing
3F Urban/residential development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3K Surface mining.
Valley fills, reclaiming to grasses
3S Fire suppression/fire regime management
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes. Lack of early successional forest
CLASS AVES
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N X G4 SXB,S G4 S1
ZN
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Decline is virtually
range-wide, though greater in the U.S. than in Canada
Comment (NatureServe 2004).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend
Comment
Habitat / Transient bird that
primarily uses reservoir habitat. Will also use larger lakes
Life History and rivers and occasionally shallow water
wetlands.
Key Habitat conditions are
POOR (shallow water wetlands), FAIR (larger lakes and
Habitat rivers), and GOOD (reservoir habitat).
No key habitat to
identify; the species will use appropriate habitat statewide.
Guilds running water,
standing water.
Statewide BlackTern.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Black Tern Chlidonias niger
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
2N Eutrophication (eg. of wetlands)
Point and non-point source pollution
4E Agricultural runoff – including
fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides,
4F Urban runoff
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc).
Conversion to by draining
of wetlands
3G Shoreline development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain)
3Q Invasive/exotic plants (including fescue). Potentially by purple loosestrife
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes. Wetlands advanced successional
stages, and poor
habitat
CLASS AVES
Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N T G5 S1S2B G5 S1
G-Trend Stable
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data indicate an increase of 1.0 percent
Comment annually survey-wide from 1966-2003 Sauer et al.
2004). Partners in Flight
North American Landbird
Conservation Plan gives population estimate of
5,900,000 in the
U.S. and Canada (see Rich et al. 2004 for accuracy and
precision ratings).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend
Comment
Habitat / This is a breeding
bird that occurs in deciduous forests in the Cumberland
Life History Mountains, especially within the highest
elevations (2,800-3,800 feet) of Black
Mountain in Harlan
County. They are most numerous in fairly
mature forest
of
maple-beech-basswood associations on the mountain (Palmer-Ball 1996). Its
habitat in Kentucky is subject to mining and
other habitat alterations.
Key Habitat condition is
FAIR overall in Kentucky.
Habitat
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1. Deciduous forests
of Black Mountain in Harlan County (fair).
Guilds Cumberland highland forest.
Statewide BlackburnianWarbler.pdf
Map
Conservation Issues
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3K Surface mining
3M Timber harvest
CLASS AVES
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax
nycticorax
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N T G5 S1S2B G5 S1
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Kushlan et al. (2002)
lists the species as having apparent population declines.
Comment
S-Trend Decreasing
S-Trend Heronry surveys in
2004 showed declines in active nests of as much as 50% or
Comment more at some sites (Palmer-Ball and Ciuzio
2005). The survey estimated 196
breeding pairs
occurred at known heronries throughout the state.
Habitat / Breeding bird that
primarily uses reservoir habitat (good), but will also use fish
Life History hatcheries as well as larger lakes and rivers
(fair) and occasionally shallow water
wetlands (poor).
Key Habitat conditions are POOR (shallow water
wetlands), FAIR (larger lakes and
Habitat rivers), and GOOD (reservoirs).
Key Habitat
Locations (and their conditions):
1. Islands on the north
end of Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake (fair)
2. scattered
localities throughout Louisville near Preston Highway (poor) and
Lexington (unknown)
Guilds running water, standing water, urban/suburban.
Statewide Black-crownedNight-heron.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax
nycticorax
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
2N Eutrophication (eg. of wetlands)
Biological/ consumptive uses
5K Lack of suitable habitat for spawning, nesting,
or breeding. sites for nesting
colonies
5L Parasitism and disease. Potential for parasitism from Eustrongilides
spp.
Miscellaneous Mortality Factors
6D Human disturbance (spelunking,
destruction/disturbance of nest sites).
Human disturbance at
rookeries and foraging areas
Point and non-point source pollution
4E Agricultural runoff – including
fertilizers/animal waste, herbicides,
4F Urban runoff
Siltation and increased turbidity
1B Agriculture
1D Urbanization/Development General Construction
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3F Urban/residential development
3G Shoreline development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3M Timber harvest
3P Pollution/toxicity (e.g., heavy metals,
pesticides, herbicides, acid rain)
CLASS AVES
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N N G5 S4S5B G5 S4
G-Trend Unknown
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data show a non-significant increasing
Comment trend survey-wide of 0.6% during the period
1966-2003 (Sauer et al. 2004).
Partners in Flight
North American Landbird Conservation Plan gives population
estimate of 390,000 in the U.S. and Canada
(see Rich et al. 2004 for accuracy
and precision
ratings).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend Species encountered
infrequently on Kentucky Breeding Bird Survey routes.
Comment The average number of individuals per Breeding
Bird Survey route for the
period 1966-2003 was
1.07. In part due to small sample sizes,
trend analysis
of these data does
not reveal statistically significant results (Palmer-Ball 1996,
Sauer et al.
2004). Partners in Flight estimates a
population of 39,000
individuals (see
Rosenberg 2004 for assumptions).
Habitat / Blue-winged Warblers
are typically found in early successional habitats. They
Life History are most frequent in low, moist areas, but they
also can be found on drier
slopes. The species formerly used natural forest
openings and woodland
borders, which may
have been rather common because of fire and storm damage.
Today, altered situations, including
overgrown fields, reclaimed strip mines,
and regenerating
forest clear-cuts, provide most nesting habitat. This warbler
does not occupy
these areas unless a good scattering of small trees, shrubs, and
dense herbaceous
growth is present. In contrast, the
species is typically absent
if the ground cover is reduced by grazing or
shading from a closed tree canopy
(Palmer-Ball 1996).
Key Habitat condition is
UNKNOWN overall in Kentucky, but is likely in FAIR
Habitat condition.
No key habitat to
identify; the species will use appropriate habitat range wide.
Guilds savanna/
shrub-scrub.
Statewide Blue-wingedWarbler.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus
Conservation Issues
Biological/ consumptive uses
5E Hybridization with closely related species. Hybridization with Golden-
winged Warbler
(although this threatens Golden-winged Warbler more than
it does the
Blue-winged Warbler)
5M Brood parasitism (Brown-headed Cowbird)
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3C Lack of newly abandoned farmland
3E Livestock grazing. Especially in woods or along edges
3F Urban/residential development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3K Surface mining.
Remining early successional habitat
3O Reforestation
3T Suppression of disturbance regimes. Loss of early successional habitat
CLASS AVES
Bobolink Dolichonyx
oryzivorus
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N S G5 S2S3B G5 S2
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend North American
Breeding Bird Survey data indicate a significant population
Comment decline in North America in recent decades,
particularly in central North
America (Sauer and
Droege 1992, NatureServe 2004). Partners
in Flight North
American Landbird
Conservation Plan gives Global population estimate of
11,000,000 (see Rich
et al. 2004 for accuracy and precision ratings).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend The species was
first documented nesting in Kentucky in 1969 and since then
Comment has been reported annually in scattered
localities in Central Kentucky. The
atlas survey yielded
5 records in priority blocks in Kentucky (Palmer-Ball 1996)
Habitat / During the breeding
season, Bobolinks occur in a variety of grassy habitats. In
Life History Kentucky, the species is found entirely in
artificial situations, including
hayfields, pastures,
and other unmowed or infrequently mowed fields of grasses
and forbs.
Very open situations seem to be favored, as is vegetation that is
neither especially
thick nor closely mowed or grazed (Palmer-Ball 1996). Such
habitat is
constantly threatened by mowing practices.
Key Habitat condition is
POOR overall in Kentucky.
Habitat
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1. Bluegrass Region
of central Kentucky (fair).
Guilds grassland/agricultural.
Statewide Bobolink.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Bobolink Dolichonyx
oryzivorus
Conservation Issues
Biological/ consumptive uses
5K Lack of suitable habitat for spawning, nesting,
or breeding. For nesting
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc)
3B Mowing regimes
3D Switch to cleaner agricultural practices
3E Livestock grazing
3F Urban/residential development
3H Habitat loss outside of Kentucky
3Q Invasive/exotic plants (including fescue)
CLASS AVES
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N E G5 S1S2B G5 S1
,S4S5
N
G-Trend Unknown
G-Trend It is difficult to
get an adequate assessment of population trends range-wide for
Comment this species because it shows up infrequently in
standard surveys such as
Breeding Bird Survey
(NatureServe 2004). Partners in Flight
North American
Landbird
Conservation Plan gives Global population estimates of 5,400,000
(see Rich et al.
2004 for accuracy and precision ratings).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend Nesting populations
known from only 3 locations (Palmer-Ball 2003).
Comment
Habitat / This species winters
in a variety of forested and semi-open habitats, especially
Life History mature woodlands. During the breeding season, Brown Creepers
occupy
permanently
inundated swamp forest dominated by bald cypress and water
tupelo where it
builds nests under exfoliating bark, especially of dead trees.
Although originally
thought to be restricted to permanently inundated swamp
forests, birds found
in Henderson and Union counties were in seasonally
inundated bottomland
forest and the margins of open water sloughs.
These
observations
indicate that breeding creepers may be more widespread than
formerly believed
(Palmer-Ball 1996).
Key Habitat condition is
FAIR (breeding and wintering) overall in Kentucky.
Habitat
Key Habitat
Locations (and their condition):
1. Cypress Creek
Swamp in Marshall County (fair)
2. Sloughs Wildlife
Management Area in Henderson County (good)
3. Axe Lake Swamp in
Ballard County (good)
Guilds forested wetland.
Statewide BrownCreeper.pdf
Map
CLASS AVES
Brown Creeper Certhia americana
Conservation Issues
Aquatic habitat degradation
2F Riparian zone removal (Agriculture/development)
2H Wetland loss/drainage/alteration
Terrestrial habitat degradation
3A Row-crop agriculture (conversion to, annual
reuse of fields, etc).
Conversion to by
draining of wetland forests
3G Shoreline development. Riparian corridor development
3M Timber harvest.
Of bottomland forests
3N Removal of dead trees
3R Habitat and/or Population Fragmentation. Requires large blocks of habitat
CLASS AVES
Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites
subruficollis
Federal Heritage GRank SRank GRank SRank
Status Status (Simplified) (Simplified)
N N G4 SZN G4 S3
G-Trend Decreasing
G-Trend Species thought to
be in decline in the U.S. but statistical verification is lacking
Comment (Brown et al. 2001).
S-Trend Unknown
S-Trend
Comment
Habitat / This is a transient
bird that uses shallow water wetlands, wet prairies, flooded
Life History agricultural fields, and shoreline, mudflat, and
sandbar habitat of lakes and rivers.
Key Habitat conditions
range from POOR (shallow water wetlands, wet prairies) to
Habitat