Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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​  *Federally Threatened Species
**Federally Endangered Species
​  †State Threatened Species
††State Endangered Species
For more information about our birds, check audubon.org, allaboutbirds.org, eBird.org, or Wildlife Illinois

Birds of Nachusa Grasslands

245 bird species breed, land, or fly over Nachusa Grasslands!
Ducks, Geese & Swans
Genus species (COMMON NAME)
DUCKS
  • Aix sponsa (wood duck)
  • Anas acuta (Northern pintail)
  • Anas americana (American wigeon)
  • Anas clypeata (Northern shoveler)
  • Anas crecca (green-winged teal)
  • Anas discors (blue-winged teal)
  • Anas platyrhyncho (mallard)​
  • Anas rubripes (American black duck)
  • Anas strepera (gadwall)
  • Aythya americana (redhead)
  • Aythya valisineria (canvasback)
  • Aythya collaris (ring-necked duck)
  • Aythya affinis (lesser scaup)
  • Bucephala albeola (bufflehead)
  • Bucephala clangula (common goldeneye)
  • Lophodytes cucullatu (hooded merganser)
  • Mergus serrator (red-breasted merganser)
  • Oxyura jamaicensis (ruddy duck)
GEESE
  • Anser albifrons (greater white-fronted goose)
  • Branta canadensi (​Canada goose)
  • Branta hutchinsii (cackling goose)
  • Chen caerulescens (snow goose)
SWANS
  • Cygnus buccinator (trumpeter swan)
  • Cygnus columbian (tundra swan)​
  • Cygnus olor (mute swan [probably]) NON-NATIVE
Game Birds
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • Colinus virginianus (Northern bobwhite)
  • Meleagris gallopavo (wild turkey)
  • Phasianus colchicus (​​​ring-necked pheasant) NON-NATIVE​
Grebes
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • Aechmophorus occidentalis (Western grebe)
  • Podiceps auritus (horned grebe)
  • Podilymbus podiceps (​​​pied–billed grebe)
Pelicans & Cormorants
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • Pelecanus erthrorhynchos (American white pelican)
  • Phalacrocorax auritus (double-crested cormorant)       
Wading Birds
Genus species (COMMON NAME)
  • Ardea alba (great egret)
  • Ardea herodias (​great blue heron)
  • Botaurus lentiginosa (​​American bittern)
  • Bubulcus ibis (cattle egret)​​
  • Butorides virescens (green heron)
  • Egretta caerrulea (little blue heron)
  • Egretta thula (snowy egret)
  • Ixobrychus exilis (least bittern)
  • Nycticorax nycticorax (black-crowned night-heron) ††
Diurnal Raptors
Genus species (COMMON NAME)
  • Accipiter striatus (sharp-shinned hawk)
  • Accipiter cooperii (Cooper's hawk)
  • Accipiter gentilis (Northern goshawk)
  • Aquila chrysaetos (golden eagle)
  • Buteo platypterus (broad-winged hawk)
  • Buteo lineatus (red-shouldered hawk)
  • Buteo jamaicensis (red-tailed hawk)
  • Buteo lagopus (rough-legged hawk)
  • Buteo swainsoni (Swainson's hawk)
  • Cathartes aura (​turkey vulture)
  • Circus cyaneus (Northern harrier) ††
  • Falco columbarius (merlin)
  • Falco mexicanus (prairie falcon)
  • Falco sparverius (American kestrel)
  • Falco peregrinus (peregrine falcon)
  • Haliaeetus leucocephalus (bald eagle)
  • Pandion haliaetus (osprey) ††
Rails & Cranes
Genus species (COMMON NAME)
  • Fulica americana (American coot)
  • Gallinula galeata (common gallinule [moorhen])
  • Grus canadensis (sandhill crane)
  • Grus americana (whooping crane) ​** ††
  • Porzana carolina (sora rail)
  • Rallus limicola (​​​Virginia rail)
Shorebirds
Genus species (COMMON NAME)
  • Actitis macularius (spotted sandpiper)
  • Bartramia longicauda (upland sandpiper) ††
  • Calidris alpina (dunlin)
  • Calidris melanotos (pectoral sandpiper)
  • Calidris minutilla (least sandpiper)
  • Calidris pusilla (semipalmated sandpiper)
  • Charadrius vociferus (killdeer)
  • Chlidonias niger (black tern)
  • Gallinago delicata (Wilson's snipe)
  • Himantopus mexicanus (black-necked stilt)
  • Hydroprogne caspia (Caspian tern)
  • Larus argentatus (herring gull)
  • Larus delawarensis (ring-billed gull)
  • Larus philadelphia (Bonapart's​ gull)
  • Limnodromus griseus (short-billed dowitcher)
  • Phalaropus tricolor (Wilson's phalarope)
  • Pluvialis dominica (American golden-plover)
  • Pluvialis squatarola (black-bellied plover) NON-NATIVE
  • Scolopax minor (American woodcock)
  • Sterna forsteri (Forster's tern)
  • Tringa flavipes (lesser yellowlegs)
  • Tringa melanoleuca (greater yellowlegs)
  • Tringa semipalmata (willet)
  • Tringa solitaria (solitary sandpiper)
  • Tryngites subruficollis (buff-breasted sandpiper)
Pigeons & Doves
Genus species (COMMON NAME)
  • Columba livia (​rock pigeon) NON-NATIVE
  • Streptopelia decaocto (Eurasian collared-dove) NON-NATIVE
  • Zenaida macroura (mourning dove​)
Cuckoos
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • Coccyzus americana (​yellow-billed cuckoo)
  • Coccyzus erythropthalmus (black-billed cuckoo) †​
Owls
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • Aegolius acadicus (Northern saw-whet owl)
  • Asio flammeus (short-eared owl) ††
  • Asio otus (long-eared owl)
  • Bubo verginianus (great horned owl)​
  • Megascops asio​ (Eastern screech-owl)
  • Strix varia (barred owl)
  • Tyto alba (barn owl)
Nightjars
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Chordeiles minor (​common nighthawk)
  • Caprimulgus vociferus (whip–poor–will)
Swifts
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Chaertura pelagica (​chimney swift)
Hummingbirds
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Archilochus colubris (​ruby–throated hummingbird)
Kingfishers
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Ceryle alcyon (​belted kingfisher)
Woodpeckers
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • Colaptes auratus (Northern flicker)
  • Dryocopus pileatus (pileated woodpecker)
  • Melanerpes erthrocephalus (​red–headed woodpecker)
  • Melanerpes carolinus (red–bellied woodpecker)
  • Picoides pubescens (downy woodpecker)
  • Picoides villosus (hairy woodpecker)
  • Sphyrapicus varius (yellow–bellied sapsucker)​
Flycatchers
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​
  • ​Contopus cooperi (olive-sided flycatcher)
  • Contopus virens (Eastern wood–pewee)
  • Empidonax flaviventris (yellow-bellied flycatcher)
  • Empidonax alnorum (alder flycatcher)
  • Empidonax traillii (willow flycatcher)
  • Empidonax minimus (least flycatcher)
  • Myiarchus crinitus (great crested flycatcher)
  • Sayornis phoebe (Eastern phoebe)
  • Tyrannus tyrannus (Eastern kingbird)
Shrikes & Vireos
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Lanius ludovicianus (​loggerhead shrike) ††
  • Lanius excubitor (Northern shrike)​
  • Vireo flavifrons (yellow-throated vireo)
  • Vireo bellii (Bell's vireo)
  • Vireo glivus (warbling vireo)
  • Vireo griseus (white-eyed vireo)
  • Vireo olivaceus (red-eyed vireo)
  • Vireo philadelphicus (Philadelphia vireo)
  • Vireo solitarius (blue-headed vireo)​
Jays & Crows
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Cyanocitta cristata (Blue jay)
  • Corvus brachyrhynchos (American crow)​
Larks & Swallows
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​
  • Achycineta bicolor (tree swallow)
  • Eremophila alpestris (​horned lark)
  • Hirundo rustica (barn swallow)
  • Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (cliff swallow)
  • Progne subis (purple martin)
  • Riparia riparia (bank swallow)
  • Stelgidopteryx serripennis (Northern rough-winged swallow)​​
Titmouse & Chickadees
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​
  • Baeolophus bicolor (​tufted titmouse)
  • Poecile atricapillus (black-capped chickadee)   
Nuthatches & Creepers
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​
  • Certhia americana (​brown creeper)
  • Sitta carolinensis (white-breasted nuthatch)
  • Sitta canadensis (red-breasted nuthatch)​
Wrens
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​
  • Cistothorus palutris (marsh wren)
  • Cistothorus platensis Sedge wren)
  • Thryothorus ludovicianus (Carolina wren)
  • Troglodytes aedon (​house wren)
  • Troglodytes troglodytes (winter wren)​
Kinglets, Gnatcatchers, & Bluebirds
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​
  • Polioptila caerulea (blue-gray gnatcatcher)
  • Regulus satrapa (​golden-crowned kinglet)
  • Regulus calendula (ruby-crowned kinglet)
  • Sialia sialis (Eastern bluebird)
Thrushes
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​
  • Catharus fuscenscens (veery)
  • Catharus guttatus (hermit thrush)
  • Catharus minimus (gray-cheeked thrush)
  • Catharus ustulatus (Swainson's thrush)
  • Hylocichla mustelina (​wood thrush)
  • Turdus migrantorius (American robin)
Mimic Thrushes
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​
  • Dumetella carolinensis (​gray catbird)
  • Mimus polyglottos (Northern mockingbird)
  • Toxostoma rufum (brown thrasher)
Starlings
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​
  • Sturnus vulgaris (​European starling) NON-NATIVE
Pipets
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​
  • Anthus rubescens (​American pipet)
Waxwings
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​
  • Bombycilla cedrorum (cedar waxwing)
Warblers
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​​
  • ​Dendroica castanea (bay-breasted warbler)
  • Dendroica cerulea (Cerulean warbler) †
  • Dendroica coronata (yellow-rumped warbler)
  • Dendroica dominica (yellow-throated warbler)
  • Dendroica fusca (blackburnian warbler)
  • Dendroica magnolia (magnolia warbler)
  • Dendroica palmarum (palm warbler)
  • Dendroica pensylvanica (chestnut-sided warbler)
  • Dendroica petechia (yellow warbler)
  • Dendroica pinus (pine warbler)
  • Dendroica striata (blackpoll warbler)
  • Dendroica tigrina (Cape May warbler)
  • Dendroica virens (black-throated green warbler)
  • Geothlypis trichas (common yellowthroat)
  • Icteria virens (yellow-breasted chat)
  • Mniotilta varia (black-and-white warbler)
  • Oporornis philadelphia (mourning warbler)
  • Oporonis formosus (Kentucky warbler)
  • Parula americana (Northern parula)
  • Protonotaria citrea (​prothonotary warbler)
  • Seiurus aurocapilla (ovenbird)
  • Seiurus motacilla (Louisiana waterthrush )
  • Seiurus noveboracensis (Northern waterthrush)
  • Setophaga ruticilla (American redstart)
  • Vermivora celata (orange-crowned warbler)
  • Vermivora chrysoptera (golden-winged warbler)​
  • Vermivora peregrina (Tennessee warbler)
  • Vermivora pinus (blue-winged warbler)
  • Vermivora ruficapilla (Nashville warbler
  • Wilsonia canadensis (Canada Warbler)
  • Wilsonia citrina (hooded warbler)
  • Wilsonia pusilla (Wilson's warbler)​
Tanagers, Cardinals,
​Grosbeaks, and Allies
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​​
  • Cardinalis cardinalis (Northern cardinal)
  • Passerina caerulea (blue grosbeak)
  • Passerina cyanea (indigo bunting)
  • Pheucticus ludovicianus (rose-breasted grosbeak)
  • Piranga olivacea (scarlet tanager)
  • Piranga rubra (​summer tanager)​
  • Spiza americana (dickcissel)
Sparrows, Juncos,
​Buntings, and Towhees

Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​​
  • Ammodramus henslowii (Henslow's sparrow)
  • Ammodramus leconteii (Le Conte's sparrow)
  • Ammodramus nelsoni (Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow)
  • Ammodramus savannarum (grasshopper sparrow)
  • Calcarius lapponicus (lapland longspur)    
  • Calcarius pictus (Smith's longspur)
  • Chondestes grammacus (lark sparrow)
  • Junco hyemalis (dark-eyed junco)
  • Melospiza georgiana (swamp sparrow)
  • Melospiza lincolnii (Lincoln's sparrow)
  • Melospiza melodia (song sparrow)
  • Passerculus sandwichensis (savannah sparrow)
  • Passerella iliaca (fox sparrow)
  • Pipilo erythrophthalmus (​Eastern towhee)
  • Plectrophenax nivalis (snow bunting)
  • Pooecetes gramineus (vesper sparrow)
  • Spizella arborea (​American tree sparrow)
  • Spizella pulsilla (field sparrow)
  • Spizella passerina (chipping sparrow)
  • Spizella pallida (clay-colored sparrow)
  • Zonotrichia albicollis (white-throated sparrow)
  • Zonotrichia leucophrys (white-crowned sparrow)
  • Zonotrichia querula (Harris's sparrow)​
Meadowlarks, Orioles,
Blackbirds, Bobolinks,
​Grackles, and Cowbirds

Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​​​
  • ​Agelaius phoeniceus (red-winged blackbird)
  • Dolichonyx oryzivorus (​bobolink)
  • Euphagus cyanocephalus (Brewer's blackbird)
  • Icterus spurius (orchard oriole)
  • Icterus galbula (Baltimore oriole)
  • Molothrus ater (brown-headed cowbird)
  • Quiscalus quiscula (common grackle)
  • Sturnella magna (Eastern meadowlark)
  • Sturnella neglecta (Western meadowlark)
  • Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus (yellow-headed blackbird)
 Finches & Old World Sparrows
Genus species (COMMON NAME)​​​​​​
  • Carduelis pinus (pine siskin)
  • Carduelis tristis (American goldfinch)
  • Carpodacus mexicanus (house finch)
  • Carpodacus purpureus (​purple finch)
  • Loxia curvirostra (red crossbill)
  • ​Passer domesticus (house sparrow) NON-NATIVE
  • Passer montanus (Eurasian tree sparrow) NON-NATIVE

Fauna of Nachusa Database​​

UPDATED 09/2022

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  • Home
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    • Friends Annual Meeting 2024
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    • Hiking >
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      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • Autumn on the Prairie >
      • Yearly Festival
    • What's In Bloom?
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