Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center

Forest and Rangeland Birds of the United States

Natural History and Habitat Use

Tables

Table 3. Birds Occuring in Great Plains Habitats

 
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Common Loon
X
          
X
    
Pied-billed Grebe
X
          
X
    
Horned Grebe
X
          
X
    
Red-necked Grebe            
X
    
Eared Grebe
X
          
X
    
Western Grebe            
X
    
American White Pelican
X
          
X
    
Double-crested Cormorant
X
          
X
    
Anhinga
X
          
X
    
American Bittern
X
          
X
    
Least Bittern
X
          
X
    
Great Blue Heron
X
          
X
    
Great Egret
X
          
X
    
Snowy Egret
X
          
X
    
Little Blue Heron
X
          
X
    
Cattle Egret
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
    
Green-backed Heron
X
          
X
    
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Black-crowned Night-Heron
X
          
X
    
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
X
          
X
    
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
X
                
Tundra Swan
X
          
X
    
Greater White-fronted Goose
X
          
X
    
Snow Goose
X
          
X
    
Ross' Goose
X
          
X
    
Canada Goose
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Wood Duck
X
X
        
X
    
Green-winged Teal
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
American Black Duck
X
          
X
    
Mottled Duck
X
                
Mallard
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Northern Pintail
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Blue-winged Teal
X
         
X
    
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Cinnamon Teal
X
      
X
X
X
    
Northern Shoveler
X
          
X
    
Gadwall
X
          
X
    
American Wigeon
X
          
X
    
Canvasback
X
          
X
    
Redhead
X
          
X
    
Ring-necked Duck
X
          
X
    
Greater Scaup
X
          
X
    
Lesser Scaup
X
X
  
X
  
X
X
    
Common Goldeneye
X
          
X
    
Bufflehead
X
      
X
X
X
    
Hooded Merganser
X
          
X
    
Common Merganser
X
    
X
X
X
X
    
Red-breasted Merganser
X
          
X
    
Ruddy Duck
X
      
X
X
X
    
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Black Vulture
X
X
X
X
          
Turkey Vulture
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Osprey            
X
    
Black-shouldered Kite
X
                
Mississippi Kite
X
X
X
X
    
X
    
Bald Eagle
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
Northern Harrier
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Sharp-shinned Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Cooper's Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Northern Goshawk          
X
X
X
X
Harris' Hawk
X
X
X
            
Red-shouldered Hawk
X
X
X
      
X
    
Broad-winged Hawk
X
X
        
X
X
X
Swainson's Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
White-tailed Hawk
X
  
X
            
Zone-tailed Hawk    
X
            
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Red-tailed Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Ferruginous Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
X
Rough-legged Hawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Golden Eagle
X
X
  
X
X
X
X
X
X
American Kestrel
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Merlin
X
X
X
    
X
X
X
X
Peregrin Falcon
X
  
X
          
X
Prairie Falcon
X
  
X
    
X
    
X
Plain Chachalaca    
X
            
Gray Partridge        
X
X
  
X
  
Ring-necked Pheasant        
X
X
X
X
  
Sage Grouse          
X
X
    
Greater Prairie-Chicken
X
    
X
X
X
      
Lesser Prairie-Chicken    
X
            
Sharp-tailed Grouse        
X
X
X
X
  
Wild Turkey  
X
X
      
X
X
X
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Northern Bobwhite  
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
Scaled Quail    
X
X
X
        
Yellow Rail
X
                
Black Rail
X
          
X
    
Clapper Rail
X
                
King Rail
X
          
X
    
Virginia Rail
X
          
X
    
Sora
X
          
X
    
Purple Gallinule
X
          
X
    
Common Moorhen
X
          
X
    
American Coot
X
    
X
X
X
X
    
Sandhill Crane
X
          
X
    
Whooping Crane
X
          
X
    
Black-bellied Plover
X
          
X
    
Snowy Plover
X
          
X
    
Piping Plover
X
          
X
    
Killdeer
X
  
X
X
X
X
X
    
Mountain Plover
X
    
X
X
X
      
Black-necked Stilt
X
          
X
    
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
American Avocet
X
    
X
X
X
X
    
Greater Yellowlegs
X
          
X
    
Lesser Yellowlegs
X
          
X
    
Willet
X
      
X
X
X
    
Spotted Sandpiper
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Upland Sandpiper      
X
X
X
X
    
Long-billed Curlew
X
    
X
X
X
X
    
Marbled Godwit
X
        
X
X
    
Ruddy Turnstone
X
                
Red Knot
X
                
Sanderling
X
                
Western Sandpiper
X
          
X
    
Least Sandpiper
X
          
X
    
Short-billed Dowitcher
X
          
X
    
Long-billed Dowitcher
X
                
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Common Snipe
X
          
X
    
American Woodcock
X
X
        
X
    
Wilson's Phalarope
X
    
X
X
X
X
    
Franklin's Gull        
X
X
X
    
Bonaparte's Gull
X
          
X
    
Ring-billed Gull
X
      
X
X
X
    
California Gull          
X
X
    
Herring Gull
X
          
X
    
Caspian Tern
X
          
X
    
Common Tern            
X
    
Forster's Tern
X
          
X
    
Least Tern      
X
X
        
Black Tern            
X
    
Rock Dove  
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
White-winged Dove
X
  
X
            
Mourning Dove  
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Inca Dove  
X
X
            
Common Ground-Dove  
X
X
X
          
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Black-billed Cuckoo          
X
X
X
X
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Greater Roadrunner  
X
X
X
X
      
X
Groove-billed Ani
X
X
X
            
Common Barn-Owl  
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Eastern Screech-Owl  
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Great Horned Owl  
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Snowy Owl          
X
X
X
  
Burrowing Owl    
X
X
X
X
      
Barred Owl  
X
        
X
X
  
Long-eared Owl            
X
X
X
Short-eared Owl
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Northern Saw-whet Owl            
X
X
X
Lesser Nighthawk    
X
            
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Common Nighthawk
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Common Pauraque
X
  
X
            
Common Poorwill    
X
X
X
X
    
X
Chuck-will's-widow
X
X
        
X
X
  
Whip-poor-will
X
          
X
X
  
Chimney Swift
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
  
Buff-bellied Hummingbird    
X
            
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
  
Black-chinned Hummingbird  
X
X
X
          
Broad-tailed Hummingbird    
X
      
X
X
  
Belted Kingfisher
X
X
X
      
X
    
Green Kingfisher    
X
            
Red-headed Woodpecker
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Golden-fronted Woodpecker
X
  
X
X
    
X
    
Red-bellied Woodpecker  
X
              
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Ladder-backed Woodpecker    
X
X
    
X
X
  
Downy Woodpecker
X
X
    
X
X
X
X
X
Hairy Woodpecker
X
X
    
X
X
X
X
X
Red-cockaded Woodpecker  
X
              
Northern Flicker
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Pileated Woodpecker            
X
    
Olive-sided Flycatcher            
X
    
Western Wood-Pewee    
X
X
    
X
X
  
Eastern Wood-Pewee  
X
X
      
X
X
  
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Acadian Flycatcher
X
X
X
      
X
    
Willow Flycatcher        
X
X
X
X
X
Least Flycatcher            
X
X
  
Eastern Phoebe
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Say's Phoebe
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Vermilion Flycatcher
X
X
X
      
X
    
Ash-throated Flycatcher  
X
X
X
    
X
    
Great Crested Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Brown-crested Flycatcher    
X
            
Couch's Kingbird    
X
            
Cassin's Kingbird    
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
Western Kingbird
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Eastern Kingbird
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
  
Horned Lark
X
  
X
X
X
X
      
Purple Martin
X
X
X
  
X
  
X
X
  
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Tree Swallow
X
      
X
  
X
X
  
Violet-green Swallow          
X
X
    
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
X
  
X
X
X
X
X
    
Bank Swallow
X
    
X
X
X
X
    
Cliff Swallow  
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
  
Barn Swallow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Blue Jay
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Scrub Jay    
X
X
    
X
    
Black-billed Magpie      
X
X
X
X
X
X
American Crow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Fish Crow
X
                
Chihuahuan Raven    
X
X
          
Common Raven    
X
          
X
Black-capped Chickadee        
X
X
X
X
X
Carolina Chickadee
X
X
        
X
X
  
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Tufted Titmouse
X
X
X
X
    
X
X
  
Verdin    
X
X
    
X
    
Bushtit    
X
X
    
X
    
Red-breasted Nuthatch  
X
        
X
X
X
White-breasted Nuthatch  
X
        
X
X
X
Brown-headed Nuthatch  
X
              
Brown Creeper
X
X
X
      
X
X
X
Cactus Wren    
X
            
Rock Wren    
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
Canyon Wren    
X
X
          
Carolina Wren
X
X
X
      
X
    
Bewick's Wren  
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
  
House Wren
X
X
X
      
X
X
X
Winter Wren
X
X
        
X
    
Sedge Wren
X
      
X
X
X
    
Marsh Wren
X
  
X
  
X
X
X
    
Golden-crowned Kinglet  
X
X
      
X
X
X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
X
X
X
      
X
X
X
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher    
X
            
Eastern Bluebird
X
X
X
  
X
  
X
X
  
Veery
X
        
X
X
X
  
Swainson's Thrush
X
  
X
            
Hermit Thrush
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Wood Thrush  
X
        
X
    
American Robin
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Gray Catbird
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
X
X
Northern Mockingbird
X
X
X
      
X
X
X
Sage Thrasher    
X
            
Brown Thrasher
X
X
  
X
X
X
X
X
X
Long-billed Thrasher
X
  
X
            
Curve-billed Thrasher    
X
X
          
Water Pipit
X
X
X
X
    
X
    
Sprague's Pipit
X
X
X
X
    
X
X
  
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Cedar Waxwing
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Bohemian Waxwing          
X
      
Northern Shrike          
X
X
X
  
Loggerhead Shrike
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
European Starling
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
White-eyed Vireo
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Bell's Vireo  
X
X
X
    
X
  
X
Black-capped Vireo  
X
X
X
          
Solitary Vireo
X
X
X
X
    
X
    
Yellow-throated Vireo
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Warbling Vireo
X
X
X
      
X
X
X
Red-eyed Vireo
X
X
X
  
X
  
X
X
X
Blue-winged Warbler        
X
  
X
X
  
Orange-crowned Warbler
X
X
X
      
X
  
X
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Northern Parula
X
X
X
      
X
    
Yellow Warbler  
X
X
X
    
X
X
  
Yellow-rumped Warbler
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Golden-cheeked Warbler  
X
X
            
Yellow-throated Warbler
X
X
X
      
X
    
Cerulean Warbler  
X
        
X
    
Black-and-white Warbler
X
X
X
      
X
X
X
American Redstart  
X
    
X
X
X
X
  
Prothonotary Warbler
X
X
        
X
    
Worm-eating Warbler  
X
        
X
    
Swainson's Warbler  
X
        
X
    
Ovenbird
X
          
X
  
X
Northern Waterthrush            
X
    
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Louisiana Waterthrush
X
X
        
X
    
Kentucky Warbler  
X
        
X
X
  
Common Yellowthroat
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Hooded Warbler  
X
        
X
    
Wilson's Warbler
X
        
X
      
Yellow-breasted Chat
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
  
Summer Tanager
X
X
X
      
X
X
  
Scarlet Tanager            
X
X
  
Northern Cardinal
X
X
X
  
X
  
X
X
  
Pyrrhuloxia    
X
            
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
X
          
X
X
  
Black-headed Grosbeak            
X
X
X
Blue Grosbeak  
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
Lazuli Bunting      
X
X
X
X
X
X
Indigo Bunting
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Painted Bunting
X
X
X
X
          
Dickcissel
X
X
X
X
X
X
      
Olive Sparrow    
X
            
Green-tailed Towhee    
X
X
X
    
X
  
Rufous-sided Towhee
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Brown Towhee    
X
X
          
Bachman's Sparrow  
X
              
Cassin's Sparrow
X
  
X
X
X
        
Rufous-crowned Sparrow  
X
X
X
          
American Tree Sparrow        
X
X
X
X
X
Chipping Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Clay-colored Sparrow
X
  
X
    
X
X
X
  
Brewer's Sparrow  
X
X
X
X
X
      
Field Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
Vesper Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
X
Lark Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Black-throated Sparrow    
X
X
          
Lark Bunting  
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Savannah Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Baird's Sparrow    
X
    
X
      
Grasshopper Sparrow  
X
X
X
X
X
    
X
Henslow's Sparrow
X
X
    
X
      
X
Le Conte's Sparrow
X
X
X
    
X
X
X
  
Sharp-tailed Sparrow
X
          
X
    
Seaside Sparrow
X
                
Fox Sparrow
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
  
Song Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Lincoln's Sparrow  
X
X
    
X
X
    
Swamp Sparrow
X
X
X
X
    
X
X
  
Bird Species
Gulf prairies and marshes
East Texas prairies, cross timbers, pineywoods, and post oak savannah
South Texas shrub grassland
Southern Plains
Central Plains
Northern Plains
Wetland and riparian habitats
Shelterbelts and woodlots
Pine-oak, brushy woodland, badlands/juniper
White-throated Sparrow
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
White-crowned Sparrow
X
X
X
X
  
X
X
X
X
Harris' Sparrow  
X
X
X
X
X
X
  
X
Dark-eyed Junco
X
X
  
X
X
X
X
X
X
McCown's Longspur
X
    
X
  
X
      
Lapland Longspur      
X
X
X
      
Smith's Longspur  
X
    
X
        
Chestnut-collared Longspur      
X
X
X
      
Snow Bunting        
X
X
      
Bobolink        
X
X
X
    
Red-winged Blackbird
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
  
Eastern Meadowlark
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
    
Western Meadowlark
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X