INTRODUCTION

Although twenty years have passed since Robinson (1996) was published, the history of bird study in Southern Illinois has not changed much. Readers are encouraged to revisit the 1996 book for a review of ornithological history prior to about 1994. Since then, creation of new ornithological knowledge has followed generally the same pattern as previously. Birders come and go. The contributions of birders who live outside of southern Illinois are sporadic, often generated by trips to add to state lists or year lists. Little systematic counting takes place by visitors. More often, specific research projects by university associates or conservation efforts by governmental and non-governmental agencies influence the amount of knowledge we gain about particular species or habitats. 

Since the 1990s, for example, great effort has been invested in restoring the Cache River drainage, including establishment of the Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge. That effort has restored habitat in parts of Union, Pulaski and Johnson Counties of great importance for birds. Yet, overall the amount of intensive daily field work has been variable from year to year, much as it has always been. A great need exists for more intentionality in how birds are surveyed in the region. If the birding culture could drift toward purposeful survey work and a bit away, but not entirely away, from list-building motivations, the birds of the region would be better served by more consistent and reliable data. In particular, expanding coverage to typical countryside habitats, which are prone to quicker change than protected parks and refuges owing to the dynamic whims of private land-owners, our knowledge of southern Illinois bird populations would benefit.

The last twenty years have seen a gradual accumulation of knowledge of our region’s birds, and some dramatic changes in bird populations have indeed occurred. Some exciting examples include the appearance of Whooping Cranes as transients (and even over-wintering birds on Kaskaskia Island) as a result of conservation efforts establishing additional wintering areas away from Texas. Red Crossbills responded to thinning of planted pine stands in the Shawnee National Forest by breeding for perhaps the first time in our region's recorded history. Several species whose ranges are usually more southern and have been formerly uncommon to rare in southern Illinois have increased, such as Black Vulture, Black-necked Stilt, Anhinga and Common Gallinule. Extralimital occurrences of southern species have kept the bird-chasing events thrilling with appearances of Neotropic Cormorant, Black-bellied Whistling-Duck, Mottled Duck, Wood Stork, Roseate Spoonbill, Reddish Egret, Tricolored Heron, White Ibis and Black-headed Grosbeak. 

The recovery of species formerly decimated by exposure to DDT has been significant, with resurgence of American White Pelican, Bald Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, and Double-crested Cormorant. Grassland conservation efforts produced a boom in Henslow’s Sparrows, although it is yet to be determined if their increase will be sustained as grasslands are one of the most dynamic of our habitats. The success of that restoration program led to de-listing them as a State Threatened species. Similarly, Cooper’s Hawks have recovered so well that they were de-listed and they now regularly breed in suburban areas. 

We gained a “new” goose species when Canada and Cackling Geese were split in 2004. They have been joined by population booms of Greater White-fronted Geese and, especially, Snow Geese. When I first joined Christmas Bird Counts in the early 1980s finding a Snow Goose was a red letter day. Now they occur on the same counts in the tens to hundreds of thousands. 

Sadly, we continue to poison many of our birds, leading to widespread declines. Among the most noticeable birds to be suffering are Loggerhead Shrike, the goatsuckers (Eastern Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will’s-widow, and Common Nighthawk), and other aerial insectivores. Ongoing research will hopefully reveal definitively what is causing our insectivores to collapse. Given all these changes, it is certainly time for a revision of Robinson (1996).

Coverage Area. For purposes of this book, the southernmost seventeen counties of Illinois are called Southern Illinois. A small section of an eighteenth county, St. Clair, is also included because Baldwin Lake, which lies mostly in Randolph County, extends into St. Clair.

Physical Features and Topographic Divisions. Some bird species are very choosy about habitats they prefer while other species are generalists. Most species in southern Illinois do make choices about the habitats they prefer. Those choices are reflected in the non-random distribution and patterns of abundance of each species. For purposes of this book, most species are influenced by three large-scale patterns in habitats. Those patterns are associated with three major divisions of habitats called Shawnee Hills, Till Plain and Floodplains. The latter includes the major riverine floodplains along the Mississippi, Ohio, Cache, Wabash and Kaskaskia Rivers, along with other minor drainages. The former are the unglaciated hills that would naturally be covered be deciduous woodland. Obviously, human activities reduce the extent of such woodland nowadays. The Till Plain is the region at the southern extent of the most recent glaciation so is characterized by flatter terrain in the northern portion of this book’s coverage zone. 

I briefly summarize additional information about each of these three major divisions. Floodplain terrain tends to be flat with well-developed soils. Consequently, a large percentage of the Floodplain zone has been de-forested and converted to agricultural row crops. The remaining patches of bottomland forest are dominated by pin oak, overcup oak, swamp white oak, cottonwood, silver maple, shagbark hickory, and sweet gum among others. Bottomland swamps such as Heron Pond and Horseshoe Lake occur in this region and are dominated by tupelo gum and bald cypress. Extensive restoration of the Cache River floodplain has occurred in the last couple decades, creating a burgeoning zone of excellent habitat for birds. Many of southern Illinois's best marshes are located in the Floodplains, so this is often the region to find birds such as rails, herons, and gallinules. During spring and, to some extent, fall, the Floodplain also hosts large numbers of shorebirds. Those numbers depend greatly on availability of appropriate habitat at the time of migratory passage for each species.

The Shawnee Hills stretch across southern Illinois from Fountain Bluff in the west to the Shawneetown Hills in Gallatin County in the east. The most extensively forested region in southern Illinois, the Shawnee Hills have large tracts of oak, hickory, beech, and maple forest. Some are among the loveliest of all places in the Midwestern United States. Hills are taller and steeper in the extreme west than in the east. A narrow strip of especially steep terrain runs from central Alexander County through western portions of Union, Jackson and Randolph Counties. In the eastern Shawnee Hills, extensive plantations of loblolly pine cover broader, flatter ridges. Those pines support breeding populations of Pine Warbler, which otherwise would be quite rare in our area. They also attract, if the understory is appropriately developed with deciduous species, large populations of breeding Ovenbirds and Hooded Warblers. During their unusual irruption years, Red Crossbills also can be found in pines across the Shawnee Hills, but such events are rare indeed. Breeding bird populations of woodland birds in the Shawnee Hills tend to be greater in the far western than in the eastern zones, perhaps reflecting different levels of soil productivity. 

The Till Plain spans the northern portion of southern Illinois. It is an area of gently rolling, hilly topography with large extents of fairly flat terrain. Formerly, it was primarily covered in forest, especially post oak flatwoods. Much of it has been cleared for agriculture, however, so a large proportion of the Till Plain is now under cultivation. Ravines surrounding drainages tend to have small patches of mesic forest that may sometimes be rich in birdlife. Southern Illinois's two largest lakes occur in this region: Crab Orchard Lake and Rend Lake. This is also the region where strip-mining for coal has most often occurred. Some reclaimed strip-mines, such as those in Pyramid State Park, provide extensive areas of grassland and networks of lakes and ponds. Small populations of regionally unique marsh and water birds may breed there. Scattered trees form a savannah-like habitat that attracts Bell's Vireos and Willow Flycatchers. The southern extent of breeding ranges of open-country birds rare in southern Illinois yet common throughout the state reaches the Till Plain; such species include Vesper, Savannah and Lark Sparrow.

Format of Text

Species Accounts

Species names. Each account begins with the English name for the bird species and is immediately followed by the scientific name. Both names are those currently accepted by the American Ornithological Society (2017). The sequence in which species are presented follows the same source. The names and the sequence in which species are placed has been very dynamic lately as exciting new insights into evolutionary relationships of birds arise from studies of genetic data. No doubt that dynamism will continue for a while. Because of that dynamism, I may not re-order the sequence of species every year. With google search, it is easy enough to find a species account regardless of how they are sequenced within these pages. Names of species considered to be of hypothetical occurrence (lacking substantial documentary details) in the region are enclosed in brackets.

Migration Dates.  For species occurring only during distinct periods of migration, the span of typical dates in which the species is likely to be found in our region is given immediately below the name. If the species may be encountered in any month of the year, no dates are listed. Some of those birds do migrate, however, and details of migratory periods are explained within each species account. 

Status and abundance. Information regarding the regularity with which each species is encountered in the region and the approximate numerical abundance is provided in this section. In addition, abundances often vary across seasons and the three major regional divisions, so comments are made about each season and division whenever important differences in status or abundance occur. Definitions for terms used in the text are provided below.

Habitat. A brief description of the principal habitat types in which each species can be found is given. Generally, these are listed from most-preferred to least-preferred. 

Records and remarks. This section is the heart of the species accounts. Here, comments regarding ecology, behavior, former status if it differs from the current status, and other items of interest, particularly those specifically relevant to southern Illinois, are indicated. Furthermore, a summary of significant and representative records for each season is given. The list of records is not and cannot be exhaustive for most species. The selection of records is intended to capture the full range of occurrence dates and to give an idea of the maximum counts expected for each species in each season. In cases of common species, a comment may be presented about expected daily high counts rather than providing specific records. This decision was made, in part, because daily high counts are a function of observer effort as much as the actual abundance of a species. Changes in daily high counts over the years might tell us something about the populations of species, but are very misleading if effort is not specifically known, too. In most cases, effort has been poorly documented. Observers who use eBird are encouraged to accurately enter their effort information to increase the value of their observations. Another great aspect of eBird is that it can quickly and easily show early and late migratory dates and high counts for any species and region that a user specifies. The more birders report their observations to eBird, the more useful this wonderful tool will be.

Documentation. Many state and national monographs on birds require some type of evidence, or proof, that a species has occurred in a region. Lacking such evidence, species are excluded from “official” tallies. Sometimes this evidence comes from a specimen maintained in a museum, such as the Illinois State Museum or Southern Illinois University bird collection. Sometimes evidence is a photo archived at one of those museums or in eBird via the Macaulay Library. In cases where photos or specimens have yet to be obtained, written descriptions by two or more observers can be sufficient evidence. Many states have records committees composed of experienced birders who live in the particular state. They read written descriptions (and inspect photos) of rare birds, evaluate and vote on them, in an effort to decide which records should be endorsed as correct identifications and then included on the Records Committee list. Such committees rarely exist for regions smaller than a state, such as southern Illinois. Therefore, my philosophy has been to evaluate the records as best as I can before inclusion of any species on the Southern Illinois bird list. When data lack sufficient details to prove occurrence beyond a reasonable doubt, species are categorized as Hypothetical or, in a few cases, not included at all. 

Sometimes observations of Southern Illinois rarities are also of interest to the Illinois bird records committee (IORC). If so, in most cases, I have followed their decisions. In a very few, however, I disagree with their decisions and have reached my own conclusions. In the end, the state bird record committee is generating their own list of birds of Illinois and they can build their list how they see fit. I have evaluated evidence to create a list of Southern Illinois birds, so I have built that list how I see fit. For each species in this book, the evidence to support its occurrence in Southern Illinois is provided at the end of each species account. If a specimen is available, that is referenced. If no specimen, then a photo is referenced. Sometimes a link to a photo in eBird is provided. If no specimen or photo is available, then reference to a written description that I reviewed is noted. Sometimes, no specimen, photo, or description is available, but the bird occurs regularly. In that case, I still include the species on the regional list and note that it has Provisional Acceptance. Observers are encouraged to archive photos of such species in eBird so that we can elevate the evidence of occurrence. 

The current tally of bird species for the southern Illinois coverage area includes 372 species of which 19 are considered of hypothetical occurrence. Thus, 353 species have been sufficiently documented to be of confirmed occurrence in southern Illinois.  

Site Guide

Guides to some of our region’s best birding sites were included in the 1996 book. Today, all of that information is easily accessible on eBird via the Hotspot Explorer. One can get a map to the location and see reports from birders who have counted birds at each hotspot. I have not included site guides in this book because eBird does a better job and is a more dynamic resource.

Definition of Terms

Status and abundance terms used throughout the text and species accounts are defined here, including an example species for each definition.  

Status

Escaped: Species normally present only in captivity and unable to maintain a wild breeding population in the region (Muscovy Duck).

Extinct: Species whose entire global population no longer exists (Carolina Parakeet).

Extirpated: Species whose southern Illinois population no longer exists but may still occur elsewhere (Greater Prairie-Chicken).

Hypothetical: Species reported from southern Illinois but for which there is no convincing documentary evidence available (Vermilion Flycatcher).

Introduced: Species whose natural range does not include southern Illinois but which has been released directly into the region (Ring-necked Pheasant). Does not include species that have expanded into southern Illinois after introduction into other parts of the U.S. (House Sparrow, Eurasian Collared-Dove).

Migrant: Species whose breeding range is north of and wintering range south of southern Illinois, and which occurs here only in transit between the two ranges (Blackburnian Warbler).

Summer Resident: Species known to breed in the region (Wood Thrush).

Summer Visitor: Species occurring during the summer but not known to breed (Lesser Yellowlegs).

Winter Resident: Species with an established pattern of wintering in southern Illinois (Dark-eyed Junco).

Winter Visitor: Species detected during winter but has yet to establish a pattern of repeated occurrence (Orchard Oriole).

Year-round Resident: Species present throughout the entire year. Some may have seasonal migratory movements (American Robin) whereas others may not (Northern Bobwhite).

Abundance

Common: Easily detected in appropriate habitat. May occur in large flocks (Red-winged Blackbird) or in a widespread habitat (Indigo Bunting). A dozen to many thousands can be counted in a day.

Fairly common: Usually easily detected in appropriate habitat but occurs in smaller numbers than common species (Semipalmated Plover in spring). Less than a dozen are found per day.

Uncommon: Sometimes difficult to locate even in appropriate habitat. Usually less than 6 are seen in a day (Ruby-crowned Kinglet).

Occasional: Usually difficult to locate but typically present in appropriate habitat. Normally only one per day detected but high counts of 5 or more may sometimes occur (Mourning Warbler).

Rare: Always difficult to locate. May be detected only once or twice or even not at all during an entire season (Connecticut Warbler in spring).

Very rare: A highly unusual occurrence. Usually applies to species not yet having established a discernible pattern of occurrence in the region (Swainson’s Hawk) or in a certain season (Dickcissel in winter).

Abbreviations used in the text

Many abbreviations are used throughout the book to reduce clutter. Museum abbreviations occur mostly in the Documentation section of each species account and are normally followed immediately by a specimen number. Publication abbreviations are followed by a volume and page number where reference to a specific sighting can be found.

Museums

CAS: Chicago Academy of Sciences, Chicago, IL

FMNH: Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago, IL

INHS: Illinois Natural History Survey, Champaign, IL

ISM: Illinois State Museum, Springfield, IL

ISU: Illinois State University, Bloomington-Normal, IL

NMNH: National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.

SIU: Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 

USNM:  United States National Museum, Washington D.C.

Publications

AB: American Birds

IAB: Illinois Audubon Bulletin

IBB: Illinois Birds and Birding

MFN: The Meadowlark (Field Notes)

SR: Seasonal Report, Illinois Department of Conservation

Place names

CA: Conservation Area

Co.: County

Cos.: Counties

FWA: Fish and Wildlife Area

NWR: National Wildlife Refuge

SF: State Forest

SNA: Scenic Natural Area

SP: State Park

Others

e.: east

n., nw., ne.: north, northwest, northeast

s., sw., se.: south, southwest, southeast

w.: west

ad.: adult

juv.: juvenile

yg.: young

CBC: Christmas Bird Count

IDNR: Illinois Department of Natural Resources

IORC: Illinois Ornithological Records Committee

SBC: Spring Bird Count