Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Seymour, Indiana
The mission of Muscatatuck NWR is to restore, preserve, and manage a mix of forest, wetland, and grassland habitat for fish, wildlife, and people. Water management is an important tool at Muscatatuck and refuge moist soil units, green tree units, and permanent marshes provide feeding and nesting areas for many kinds of birds.
A wide variety of birds can be found year-round at Muscatatuck. Winter attracts a variety of ducks to the refuge, and birds like tundra swans and bald eagles occasionally visit. In spring, wood ducks, Canada geese, and mallards begin nesting while most other migratory waterfowl depart. In April, great blue herons nest and great egrets visit the refuge. Migrating warblers pass through in May. Geese and wood duck broods are common in June. By August, early migrant blue-wing teal arrive to mark the beginning of fall migration. In the fall, osprey and cormorants appear over the big lakes, sandhill cranes fly over the refuge on their way south, and the winter songbirds return.
Following is a list of 279 species which have been reported on the refuge. The information is obtained from refuge personnel and other interested birders, such as yourself. Species names and taxonomic order follow the American Ornithologist's Union's Checklist of North American Birds. Seasons and frequency of occurrence are in accordance with the American Birding Association. If you see something rare or unusual, please share the information with the refuge staff.
a - Abundant— Seen in flocks
c - Common— Seen, or heard each visit
u - Uncommon— Seen, or heard half the visits
o - Occasional— Seen, or heard only a few times per season
r - Rare— Seen, or heard once in 5 visits
* Denotes species nesting on the refuge
LOONS Sp S F W ___ Common Loon o r o o
GREBES Sp S F W ___ Pied-billed Grebe* c u c o ___ Horned Grebe o - o - ___ Red-necked Grebe r - - -
CORMORANTS Sp S F W ___ Double-crested Cormorant c o c r
HERONS AND BITTERNS Sp S F W ___ American Bittern o - o - ___ Least Bittern* o o o - ___ Great Blue Heron* c c c u ___ Great Egret u u u - ___ Snowy Egret r r r - ___ Little Blue Heron o o o - ___ Tricolored Heron - r r - ___ Cattle Egret r - r - ___ Green Heron* c c u - ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron* u u u - ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron* r r r -
VULTURES Sp S F W ___ Black Vulture o o o o ___ Turkey Vulture* c c c o
SWANS, GEESE AND DUCKS Sp S F W ___ Greater White-fronted Goose - - - r ___ Snow Goose - - - r ___ Canada Goose* a a a a ___ Mute Swan o - o o ___ Tundra Swan o - o o ___ Trumpeter Swan - - - r ___ Wood Duck* a a a c ___ Gadwall c o c r ___ American Wigeon c - c o ___ American Black Duck c r c u ___ Mallard* a c a a ___ Blue-winged Teal* c u c o ___ Northern Shoveler c - c o ___ Northern Pintail u - u r ___ Green-winged Teal* c - u r ___ Canvasback o - o r ___ Redhead u - u o ___ Ring-necked Duck a - a u ___ Greater Scaup o - o r ___ Lesser Scaup c - c u ___ Oldsquaw r - - r ___ Bufflehead u - c u ___ Common Goldeneye u - u o ___ Hooded Merganser* u o c o ___ Common Merganser u - o u ___ Red-breasted Merganser o - o - ___ Ruddy Duck u - u o
HAWKS AND EAGLES Sp S F W ___ Osprey o o o - ___ Bald Eagle o - o r ___ Northern Harrier (Marsh Hawk) c o c c ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk u u u u ___ Cooper's Hawk* u u u u ___ Northern Goshawk r - r - ___ Red-shouldered Hawk* u u u u ___ Broad-winged Hawk o - o - ___ Red-tailed Hawk* c c c c ___ Rough-legged Hawk o - - u ___ Golden Eagle - - - o
FALCONS Sp S F W ___ American Kestrel* c c c c ___ Merlin u - u r ___ Peregrine Falcon u - u -
UPLAND GAME BIRDS Sp S F W ___ Ring-necked Pheasant r r r r ___ Ruffed Grouse* r r r r ___ Wild Turkey* c c c c ___ Northern Bobwhite* c c c c
RAILS AND COOTS Sp S F W ___ Yellow Rail r - r - ___ King Rail* o r r - ___ Virginia Rail* u o u - ___ Sora* u c u - ___ Common Moorhen* o o o - ___ American Coot* a o a o
CRANES Sp S F W ___ Sandhill Crane u r u u
SHOREBIRDS Sp S F W ___ Black-bellied Plover o o o - ___ Semipalmated Plover o o u - ___ Killdeer* c c c o ___ Greater Yellowlegs c c c - ___ Lesser Yellowlegs c c c - ___ Solitary Sandpiper c c c - ___ Willet - - u - ___ Spotted Sandpiper* u o u - ___ Upland Sandpiper r r r - ___ Ruddy Turnstone r r r - ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper u u u - ___ Western Sandpiper o o o - ___ Least Sandpiper u o c - ___ White-rumped Sandpiper o r r - ___ Baird's Sandpiper o r o - ___ Pectoral Sandpiper c c c - ___ Dunlin c c c - ___ Stilt Sandpiper u u u - ___ Short-billed Dowitcher u o o - ___ Long-billed Dowitcher r r r - ___ Common Snipe c c c u ___ American Woodcock* c u u o ___ Wilson's Phalarope u u u -
GULLS AND TERNS Sp S F W ___ Franklin's Gull - - r r ___ Bonaparte's Gull r - r - ___ Ring-billed Gull o r o r ___ Herring Gull r - r - ___ Caspian Tern o - o - ___ Common Tern o - o - ___ Forster's Tern o - o - ___ Least Tern r - r - ___ Black Tern r - r -
DOVES Sp S F W ___ Rock Dove u u u u ___ Mourning Dove* a a a a
CUCKOOS Sp S F W ___ Black-billed Cuckoo* o o u - ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo* u c c -
OWLS Sp S F W ___ Barn Owl r r r r ___ Eastern Screech-Owl* u u u u ___ Great Horned Owl* c c c c ___ Barred Owl* c c c c ___ Long-eared Owl o - o o ___ Short-eared Owl - - - r ___ Northern Saw-whet r - r r
NIGHTHAWKS AND NIGHTJARS Sp S F W ___ Common Nighthawk* u a u - ___ Chuck-will's-widow* r r - - ___ Whip-poor-will* r u r -
SWIFTS Sp S F W ___ Chimney Swift* c c c -
HUMMINGBIRDS Sp S F W ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird* c c c -
KINGFISHERS Sp S F W ___ Belted Kingfisher* c c c u
WOODPECKERS Sp S F W ___ Red-headed Woodpecker* c c c c ___ Red-bellied Woodpecker* c c c c ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker u - u u ___ Downy Woodpecker* c c c c ___ Hairy Woodpecker c c c c ___ Northern Flicker* c c c c ___ Pileated Woodpecker* c c c c
FLYCATCHERS Sp S F W ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher o - o - ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee* c c c - ___ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher u - u - ___ Acadian Flycatcher* c c c - ___ Willow Flycatcher* c c c - ___ Least Flycatcher u r u - ___ Eastern Phoebe* c c c - ___ Great Crested Flycatcher* c c c - ___ Eastern Kingbird* c c c -
SHRIKES Sp S F W ___ Loggerhead Shrike r r r r ___ Northern Shrike - - - r
VIREOS Sp S F W ___ White-eyed Vireo* c c c - ___ Bell's Vireo* r r - - ___ Yellow-throated Vireo* c c c - ___ Blue-headed Vireo u - o - ___ Warbling Vireo* c c c - ___ Philadelphia Vireo u - u - ___ Red-eyed Vireo* c c c -
JAYS, MAGPIES AND CROWS Sp S F W ___ Blue Jay* a a a a ___ American Crow* a a a a
LARKS Sp S F W ___ Horned Lark* u u u u
SWALLOWS Sp S F W ___ Purple Martin* c c c - ___ Tree Swallow* a a a - ___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow* u u u - ___ Bank Swallow* o o o - ___ Cliff Swallow* r r r - ___ Barn Swallow* c c c -
CHICKADEES AND TITMICE Sp S F W ___ Carolina Chickadee* a a a a ___ Tufted Titmouse* a a a a
NUTHATCHES Sp S F W ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch u u u u ___ White-breasted Nuthatch* c c c c
CREEPERS Sp S F W ___ Brown Creeper u - u u
WRENS Sp S F W ___ Carolina Wren* c c c c ___ Bewick's Wren* r r r - ___ House Wren* c c u - ___ Winter Wren* u - u u ___ Sedge Wren* c c c - ___ Marsh Wren u r u -
KINGLETS, BLUEBIRDS, AND THRUSHES Sp S F W ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet c - c u ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet c - c u ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher* c c c - ___ Eastern Bluebird* c c c c ___ Veery u - u - ___ Gray-cheeked Thrush u - u - ___ Swainson's Thrush c - c - ___ Hermit Thrush c - c o ___ Wood Thrush* c c c - ___ American Robin* a a a a
MIMICS Sp S F W ___ Gray Catbird* c c c - ___ Northern Mockingbird* c c c u ___ Brown Thrasher* c c c r
STARLINGS Sp S F W ___ European Starling* a a a a
PIPITS Sp S F W ___ American Pipit o - u o
WAXWINGS Sp S F W ___ Cedar Waxwing* c c c c
WARBLERS Sp S F W ___ Blue-winged Warbler* c c c - ___ Golden-winged Warbler r - r - ___ Tennessee Warbler c - c - ___ Orange-crowned Warbler r - r - ___ Nashville Warbler c - c - ___ Northern Parula* u u u - ___ Yellow Warbler* c c c - ___ Chestnut-sided Warbler c - c - ___ Magnolia Warbler c - c - ___ Cape May Warbler u - u - ___ Black-throated Blue Warbler u - u - ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler c - c u ___ Black-throated Green Warbler c - c - ___ Blackburnian Warbler u - u - ___ Yellow-throated Warbler* c c u - ___ Pine Warbler* u u u - ___ Prairie Warbler* c c u - ___ Palm Warbler c - c - ___ Bay-breasted Warbler u - c - ___ Blackpoll Warbler c - c - ___ Cerulean Warbler* u u u - ___ Black-and-white Warbler c - c - ___ American Redstart* c c c - ___ Prothonotary Warbler* c c c - ___ Worm-eating Warbler* o o o - ___ Ovenbird* c c c - ___ Northern Waterthrush r - r - ___ Louisiana Waterthrush* u u u - ___ Kentucky Warbler* c c c - ___ Connecticut Warbler o - o - ___ Mourning Warbler o - o - ___ Common Yellowthroat* c c c r ___ Hooded Warbler* o o o - ___ Wilson's Warbler o - o - ___ Canada Warbler o - o - ___ Yellow-breasted Chat* c c c -
TANAGERS Sp S F W ___ Summer Tanager* u u u - ___ Scarlet Tanager* c c c -
SPARROWS, BUNTINGS, AND GROSBEAKS Sp S F W ___ Eastern Towhee* c c c c ___ American Tree Sparrow c - c c ___ Chipping Sparrow* c c c - ___ Field Sparrow* c c c u ___ Vesper Sparrow u o u o ___ Savannah Sparrow* c o c r ___ Grasshopper Sparrow* o o o - ___ Henslow's Sparrow* o o r - ___ Le Conte's Sparrow r - r - ___ Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow r r r - ___ Fox Sparrow c - c c ___ Song Sparrow* c c c c ___ Lincoln's Sparrow c - c r ___ Swamp Sparrow c - c c ___ White-throated Sparrow c - c c ___ White-crowned Sparrow c - c c ___ Dark-eyed Junco c - c c ___ Lapland Longspur - - - r ___ Snow Bunting - - - r ___ Northern Cardinal* a a a a ___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak c o c - ___ Blue Grosbeak* u u u - ___ Indigo Bunting* a a a - ___ Dickcissel* r r r -
BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES Sp S F W ___ Bobolink o - r - ___ Red-winged Blackbird* a a a u ___ Eastern Meadowlark* a a a u ___ Rusty Blackbird u - u u ___ Brewer's Blackbird r - r - ___ Common Grackle* a a a u ___ Brown-headed Cowbird* a a c u ___ Orchard Oriole* c c c - ___ Baltimore Oriole* c c c -
FINCHES Sp S F W ___ Purple Finch c - c c ___ House Finch* c c c c ___ Red Crossbill - - - r ___ White-winged Crossbill - - - r ___ Common Redpoll - - - r ___ Pine Siskin u - u u ___ American Goldfinch* c c c c ___ Evening Grosbeak r - - r
OLD WORLD SPARROWS Sp S F W ___ House Sparrow* c c c c
EXTREMELY RARE OR ACCIDENTAL Eared Grebe American Swallow-tailed Kite Western Grebe Mississippi Kite Glossy Ibis White Pelican Cinnamon Teal Ruff Ruddy Shellduck Brambling Fulvous Whistling-Duck Fish crow White-winged Scoter Varied Thrush Black Scoter Black-capped Chickadee Surf Scoter Harris Sparrow Paradise Shellduck
Refuge Manager
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
12985 E. U.S. Highway 50
Seymour, IN 47274
Telephone: 812/522-4352
Fax: 812/522 6826
This resource is based on the following source:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Birds of Muscatatuck National Wildlife
Refuge, Indiana. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
This resource should be cited as:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1999. Birds of Muscatatuck National Wildlife
Refuge, Indiana. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.govmusctuck.htm
(Version 30DEC2002).
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/birds/chekbird/r3/musctuck.htm
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Page Last Modified: Friday, 01-Feb-2013 18:48:45 EST
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