Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Nampa, Idaho
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge lies in the Boise Valley of southwestern Idaho and consists of two sectors. The Lake Lowell Sector includes Lake Lowell and adjacent lands. The Snake River Islands Sector extends from the Canyon/Ada County line downstream to Farewell Bend, Oregon and includes 107 islands.
The Lake Lowell Sector is easily accessible by road from Nampa, four miles northeast of the refuge. The Snake River Islands Sector is accessible only by boat.
Enjoying the Refuge's Birds
The study of birds in their natural habitats is becoming an increasingly popular pastime. Your viewing pleasure can be greatly enhanced if you have binoculars or a spotting scope. This equipment enables you to observe the birds from a distance, thus minimizing disturbance. Birds are most often active during the early morning and late afternoon periods so this is usually the best time to visit the refuge.
Of special interest at Lake Lowell are the shorebirds on the mudflats in late summer and early fall, several wintering bald eagles and a large concentration of mallards in November and December. The Snake River Islands host nesting Canada geese, gulls and wading birds. Several thousand goldeneyes can normally be found on the Snake River in the winter.
The following is a list of 215 species that have been observed on the refuge since 1950. Refuge personnel and visiting professional and amateur ornithologists have contributed the observations for this list. This list is undoubtedly incomplete; many other species probably use the refuge. Contributions of confirmed sightings are welcome.
Seasons
Sp - Spring, March to May
S - Summer, June to August
F - Fall, September to November
W - Winter, December to February
Abundance
a - abundant: a common species which is very numerous
c - common: certain to be seen in suitable habitat
u - uncommon: present but not certain to be seen
o - occasional: seen only a few times during a season
r - rare: seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years
* - nests on the refuge
# - threatened or endangered species
Habitat
w - on or near water
g - grassland and dry uplands
d - deciduous woodlands and riparian areas
a - agriculture
s - indicates species more likely seen on the Snake River Islands
LOONS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Common Loon w o o o o
GREBES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Pied-billed Grebe* w u u u u ___ Horned Grebe w r - r - ___ Eared Grebe* w o r u u ___ Western Grebe* w c a c r ___ Clark's Grebe w u u o -
PELICANS AND CORMORANTS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ American White Pelican w o c o - ___ Double-crested Cormorant* w o c c o
BITTERNS, HERONS, AND EGRETS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ American Bittern* w o o r - ___ Great Blue Heron* w c a c u ___ Great Egret w - o r - ___ Snowy Egret w - o r - ___ Cattle Egret w r r - - ___ Green Heron w - - - o ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron* swd c c c o
IBIS AND SPOONBILLS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ White-faced Ibis w o r r -
WATERFOWL HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Tundra Swan w u r u o ___ Greater White-fronted Goose wa o - u o ___ Snow Goose wa u r u o ___ Ross' Goose wa r - o o ___ Canada Goose* wa c c a a ___ Wood Duck* wd c c c o ___ Green-winged Teal* w c c a a ___ Mallard* wa a c a a ___ Northern Pintail* w c c a c ___ Blue-winged Teal* w o c u - ___ Cinnamon Teal* w c c u - ___ Northern Shoveler* w o u c o ___ Gadwall* w u u o - ___ Eurasian Wigeon w r - r r ___ American Wigeon* w c u a c ___ Canvasback w o - o - ___ Redhead* w u u u r ___ Ring-necked Duck w o - u o ___ Lesser Scaup* w u r u - ___ Harlequin Duck sw - - - r ___ White-winged Scoter sw - - - r ___ Common Goldeneye w c - a a ___ Barrow's Goldeneye sw r - r u ___ Bufflehead sw o - u o ___ Hooded Merganser w u o u o ___ Common Merganser* w u u c c ___ Red-breasted Merganser w o - u u ___ Ruddy Duck* w u o u -
VULTURES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Turkey Vulture ga r u r -
OSPREY, KITES, EAGLES AND HAWKS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Osprey wd o o r - ___ Bald Eagle*# wd u u u c ___ Northern Harrier* wga c c c c ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk gd o r o u ___ Cooper's Hawk gd r r o u ___ Northern Goshawk d o r u u ___ Swainson's Hawk* ga o o o - ___ Red-tailed Hawk* gda c c c c ___ Ferruginous Hawk ga r r r - ___ Rough-legged Hawk ga o - u c ___ Golden Eagle sg o o u u
FALCONS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ American Kestrel* gda c c c c ___ Merlin gd o r o u ___ Peregrine Falcon# wga r o o r ___ Prairie Falcon ga o r o o
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Gray Partridge* ga o o o o ___ Chukar* sga r r o o ___ Ring-necked Pheasant* ga c c a a ___ Wild Turkey sd o o o o ___ California Quail* gda c c c c ___ Northern Bobwhite* ga r r r r
RAILS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Virginia Rail* w u c u - ___ Sora* w u c u - ___ American Coot* w a c a u
CRANES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Sandhill Crane wg r r - -
PLOVERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Black-bellied Plover w - r r - ___ Semipalmated Plover w - r u - ___ Killdeer* wg a a c o ___ American Golden Plover w - - r -
STILTS AND AVOCET HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Black-necked Stilt* w o o - - ___ American Avocet* w u c u -
SHOREBIRDS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Greater Yellowlegs w u u o - ___ Lesser Yellowlegs w o o o - ___ Solitary Sandpiper w u u o - ___ Willet w o o - - ___ Spotted Sandpiper* sw u u o - ___ Long-billed Curlew wg o o - - ___ Marbled Godwit w o u u - ___ Sanderling w - - r - ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper w - - o - ___ Western Sandpiper w u c c - ___ Least Sandpiper w o r o - ___ Baird's Sandpiper w - o o - ___ Pectoral Sandpiper w - r o - ___ Dunlin w r - - - ___ Stilt Sandpiper w - r o - ___ Long-billed Dowitcher w o u u -
SNIPE HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Common Snipe* w c u u o
PHALAROPES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Wilson's Phalarope w u c c - ___ Red-necked Phalarope w - r u -
GULLS AND TERNS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Franklin's Gull w - o - - ___ Bonaparte's Gull w r r - - ___ Ring-billed Gull* wa a a a a ___ California Gull* wa a a a c ___ Caspian Tern* w c c u - ___ Common Tern w o o - - ___ Forster's Tern w - r o - ___ Black Tern* w u u o -
DOVES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Rock Dove* da u c c u ___ Mourning Dove* gda a a c u
OWLS, NIGHTJARS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Barn Owl* gda u u u u ___ Western Screech-Owl* d c c c c ___ Great Horned Owl* gda c c c c ___ Snowy Owl g - - r ___ Northern Pygmy-Owl g r - r r ___ Burrowing Owl* ga o o o - ___ Long-eared Owl* d o o o u ___ Short-eared Owl* wa u u u u ___ Northern Saw-whet Owl* d o - o o
NIGHTJARS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Common Nighthawk* gd c a u -
SWIFTS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Vaux's Swift* sw r r - - ___ White-throated Swift swg o o - -
HUMMINGBIRDS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Black-chinned Hummingbird* d u u r - ___ Broad-tailed Hummingbird d - - r - ___ Rufous Hummingbird d r o r -
KINGFISHERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Belted Kingfisher* wd u u c c
WOODPECKERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Lewis' Woodpecker* d o o o - ___ Downy Woodpecker* d c c c c ___ Hairy Woodpecker d o o o o ___ Northern Flicker* d c c c c
FLYCATCHERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher d o - - - ___ Western Wood-Pewee d r r - - ___ Willow Flycatcher d o o - - ___ Cordilleran Flycatcher d - r - - ___ Say's Phoebe* gd o r - - ___ Ash-throated Flycatcher d - u r - ___ Western Kingbird* da c c o - ___ Eastern Kingbird* gd u u o -
LARK HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Horned Lark g u u o u
SWALLOWS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Tree Swallow* swd o o o - ___ Violet-green Swallow* wd c u u - ___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow* sw c c c - ___ Bank Swallow* swa c c u - ___ Cliff Swallow* swg c c c - ___ Barn Swallow* wa a a c -
JAYS, MAGPIES AND CROWS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Steller's Jay d - - - r ___ Clark's Nutcracker d - - - r ___ Black-billed Magpie* gda a a a a ___ American Crow* da c c a a ___ Common Raven* sgd o o o o
CHICKADEES AND TITMICE HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Black-capped Chickadee* d c u c c ___ Mountain Chickadee d - - u u
BUSHTITS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Bushtit d o - - -
NUTHATCHES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch d - o o o ___ White-breasted Nuthatch d o - r o
CREEPERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Brown Creeper d - - - u
WRENS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Rock Wren* sg o o o o ___ Canyon Wren* sg o o o o ___ House Wren* d u u o - ___ Winter Wren d - - - o ___ Marsh Wren* w c c c o
KINGLETS, BLUEBIRDS AND THRUSHES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet d o - u u ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet d c u u c ___ Western Bluebird gd r - r - ___ Mountain Bluebird gd r - r r ___ Townsend's Solitaire d o - o o ___ Swainson's Thrush d u u - - ___ Hermit Thrush d r - - - ___ American Robin* gd a a c c ___ Varied Thrush d - - r r
MOCKINGBIRDS AND THRASHERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Sage Thrasher* sg o u o -
WAGTAILS AND PIPITS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ American Pipit wg o o u u
WAXWINGS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Bohemian Waxwing d r - - o ___ Cedar Waxwing* d u o c c
SHRIKES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Northern Shrike ga - - u u ___ Loggerhead Shrike* ga o o u u
STARLING AND MYNAS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ European Starling* gda a a a a
VIREOS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Solitary Vireo d - - - r ___ Warbling Vireo d o - - - ___ Red-eyed Vireo d o o - -
WARBLERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Orange-crowned Warbler d r r o - ___ Nashville Warbler d o - - - ___ Yellow Warbler* d u c c - ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler d u o c u ___ Black-and-white Warbler d r - - - ___ Macgillivray's Warbler d - r - - ___ Common Yellowthroat* d u u r - ___ Wilson's Warbler d u o u - ___ Yellow-breasted Chat* sd c c - -
TANAGERS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Western Tanager* d c u c -
GROSBEAKS AND BUNTINGS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Black-headed Grosbeak* d o o - - ___ Lazuli Bunting* d u c r -
TOWHEES AND SPARROWS HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Green-tailed Towhee sd r - - - ___ Rufous-sided Towhee* d u u u u ___ American Tree Sparrow gd - - - o ___ Chipping Sparrow gd - u o r ___ Vesper Sparrow* g o o o - ___ Lark Sparrow* g o u u - ___ Savannah Sparrow* g u u u r ___ Fox Sparrow d r - - r ___ Song Sparrow* wd c c c c ___ Lincoln's Sparrow d u - u u ___ White-crowned Sparrow gda c u a c ___ Harris' Sparrow gd - - - r ___ Dark-eyed Junco d u - c a ___ Lapland Longspur g - - - r ___ Snow Bunting g - - - r
BLACKBIRDS, MEADOWLARKS AND ORIOLES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Red-winged Blackbird* wa a a a c ___ Western Meadowlark* ga c c a u ___ Yellow-headed Blackbird* wa c c o o ___ Brewer's Blackbird* ga a a a c ___ Brown-headed Cowbird* ga c c u - ___ Northern Oriole* wd c c u -
FINCHES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ Rosy Finch sg - - - o ___ Cassin's Finch d r r r o ___ House Finch* d a a a c ___ Pine Siskin d - - o c ___ American Goldfinch* gd u u c c ___ Evening Grosbeak d c o u u
WEAVER FINCHES HABITAT Sp S F W ___ House Sparrow* d a a a c
Least Bittern Blue Jay Trumpeter Swan Gray Catbird Oldsquaw Northern Mockingbird Gyrfalcon Indigo Bunting Red Knot Brewer's Sparrow Herring Gull Black-throated Sparrow Glaucous Gull Sage Sparrow Sabine's Gull Grasshopper Sparrow Yellow-billed Cuckoo White-throated Sparrow Common Poorwill Common Grackle Calliope Hummingbird Common Redpoll Gray Flycatcher
Refuge Manager
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
13751 Upper Embankment Road
Nampa, ID 83686
Telephone: (208)467-9278
This resource is based on the following source:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Birds of Deer Flat National Wildlife
Refuge, Idaho. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
This resource should be cited as:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1990. Birds of Deer Flat National Wildlife
Refuge, Idaho. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.govdeer.htm
(Version 26MAY98).
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r1/deer.htm
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Page Last Modified: Friday, 01-Feb-2013 18:38:42 EST
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