Family Alaudidae
Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris
Status and abundance: Common year-round resident in Floodplains and Till Plain. Uncommon year-round resident in Shawnee Hills.
Habitat: Expansive short-grass fields (such as airports) and agricultural areas.
Records and remarks: Larks are present throughout the region all year, but the regional population varies considerably from season to season. They are most numerous during the winter, and there is considerable migration. Not much is known, however, about the extent or timing of their movements. Weather is probably an important factor influencing the magnitude of migration. During snow events, many are forced to forage along roadsides and are killed by passing cars. They seem to be least numerous during the summer. The breeding subspecies is E. a. praticola (Bohlen 1989), and other subspecies occur during migration and winter, but the identity and occurrence times of other subspecies needs critical study. Observers are encouraged to archive photos in eBird.
SPRING—The initiation of northward migration is obscured by the presence of a large winter population, but the large flocks that characterize the Floodplains during winter have either migrated or disbanded into breeding pairs by mid-March.
SUMMER—Little is known about the breeding habits. Young have been seen at least as early as early April, and breeding may continue into August. Horned Larks are rarely parasitized by cowbirds.
AUTUMN—Birds may begin arriving by late September, but no data are available to confirm this. The large flocks that can be found during late fall and winter begin to appear during mid-November.
WINTER—Sometimes large flocks form in areas of extensive agriculture where they feed on waste grain and weed seeds. Lapland Longspurs can sometimes be found accompanying flocks of Larks.
2,072, Rend Lake, 23 Dec 2000 (KM, R. Zoanetti)
1,349 Union Co., 29 Dec 2012 (SB, PM)
232, Carbondale, 29 Feb 2000 (RR)
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 5 Mar 1956 (SIU A-220).
Family Hirundinidae
Purple Martin Progne subis
Early March - Mid-September
Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident.
Habitat: Breeding birds frequent human habitations where martin houses are available. Can be found foraging over water, fields, and high in the air.
Records and remarks: A familiar bird around towns and farms where man-made nest boxes are placed, Purple Martins forage over water, fields, and high in the air. They are quite social at all times of the day and year. Groups of martins can be heard before dawn calling from high overhead, especially during spring and summer.
SPRING—The earliest arrivals typically appear around 12-15 March, rarely earlier. Beware of Starlings, both visually and by sound, when encountering possible martins during February. The end of spring migration is difficult to detect because of the presence of the breeding population, but some northward movement may extend into mid- or late May (Graber et al. 1972).
1, Metropolis, Massac Co., 24 Feb 1923 (Conley 1926)
1, Murphysboro, 28 Feb 1951 (RB)
1, America, Pulaski Co., 1 Mar 2008 (FB)
100, Mermet Lake, 29 Mar 2000 (KM)
SUMMER—Nest-building has been recorded at least as early as 24 March (Johnston and Hardy 1962), but eggs are apparently not laid before mid-April. The first fledglings are usually seen in late June.
AUTUMN—Flocks begin forming as soon as breeding ends. Post-breeding aggregations are especially common in the Floodplains. Migratory flocks are most commonly seen during August, and few martins remain in southern Illinois after the first week of September.
850, Union Co. CA, 26 July 1974 (VK)
1,500, Carbondale, 15 Aug 1976 (BP)
4,000 in roost, Carbondale, Aug and early Sep 1949 (RB)
6, Crab Orchard NWR, 12 Sep 1986 (WDR)
1, Alexander Co., 19 Sep 2010 (MS)
Documentation: Specimen—imm. male, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 26 June 1956 (SIU A-227).
Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
Early March - Early November
Status and abundance: Common migrant. Locally uncommon summer resident.
Habitat: Migrants are usually seen foraging near rivers, lakes, or large open fields. They often rest on utility wires. Summer residents use bottomland sloughs and lakes where standing snags provide nesting sites.
Records and remarks: Tree Swallows are hardy birds that arrive before the last cold snap in early spring and leave after the first cold period of fall. During migration they can be seen in long lines on telephone wires, or crowded onto the branches of shrubs or trees along the edges of lakes and rivers. They often intermix with other swallow species during migration.
SPRING—A few arrive each spring behind the first strong warm front in late February or early March, but generally earliest arrivals are not detected until after 10 March. Flocks of several hundred birds are regularly seen, usually over water. Because a breeding population is present, it is difficult to detect the last spring migrants, but most migrants have probably departed by mid-May.
2, LaRue Pine Hills, 18 Feb 2012 (C. Barrigar)
1, Mermet Lake, 20 Feb 2017 (KM)
2, Saline Co., 23 Feb 1991 (TF, JD)
1, Mermet Lake, 26 Feb 2002 (FB)
5,000, Rend Lake, 3 Apr 2006 (KM)
5,000, Crab Orchard NWR, 19 Apr 2013 (KM)
1,320, Massac Co., 6 May 1989 (SO, WDR)
SUMMER—Formerly a rare summer resident, the population continues to increase as the breeding range of Tree Swallows extends to the south. Most breeders occur around lakes and rivers, and nest in natural cavities in trees standing in water. They also frequently use bluebird boxes.
AUTUMN—Post-breeding aggregations begin to form soon after breeding. Large flocks are common in the western Floodplains and at Rend and Crab Orchard Lakes, but less so in other regions. Most Tree Swallows have departed by early November, but some have lingered into early winter.
3,000, s. Alexander Co., 13 Sep 1986 (WDR)
10,000, Rend Lake, 9 Oct 2015 (DM)
3,000, Crab Orchard NWR, 14 Oct 1986 (WDR)
2, Union Co., CA, 6 Dec 2003 (FB, m.ob.)
1, Horseshoe Lake CA, 29 Dec 2005 (fide SB)
18, Knight Hawk Strip Mine, Jackson Co., 18 Jan 2016, and 35 there, 20 Jan 2016 (HD)
Documentation: Specimen—male, Horseshoe Lake CA, Alexander Co., 6 May 1961 (NIU 371).
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Late March - Mid-October
Status and abundance: Common migrant. Locally fairly common summer resident in Floodplains. Locally uncommon summer resident in Shawnee Hills and Till Plain.
Habitat: Forages over fields and water. Breeders nest in dirt embankments, crevices in bluffs, and in small drainage pipes under bridges.
Records and remarks: Generally encountered in small groups of 1 to 10 birds except during migration when large flocks are sometimes seen foraging over weedy fields or lakes and rivers.
SPRING—First arrivals are detected around 1 April, with peak numbers passing through in late April and early May. Breeding has begun by mid-May, so migration is probably largely over by then, but little is known about movements during late spring.
1, Union Co., 16 Mar 1996 (KM)
1, Saline Co., 21 Mar 1991 (TF)
1, Rend Lake, 2 Apr 1988 (TF)
1,125, Massac Co., 6 May 1989 (SO, WDR)
SUMMER—Nests singly or in small dispersed colonies of a few pairs. Sometimes a few will nest on the periphery of Bank Swallow colonies. In mid- to late summer, family groups flock together before beginning fall migration. At that time, flocks of 20 to 150 birds are common, especially in the Floodplains.
100, sw. Jackson Co., 27 Jun 1989 (WDR)
AUTUMN—Large numbers gather in the Floodplains, often in mixed-species flocks with other swallows, beginning in mid- to late July. By mid- to late October only a few stragglers remain. Observers should use caution when reporting Rough-winged Swallows in late Oct and Nov. Juvenile Tree Swallows appear very brown-backed and are more likely in late fall.
1,000, s. Alexander Co., 26 July 1986 (WDR)
1,000, Jacob, Jackson Co., 7 Aug 2011 (RR)
2,500, Williamson and Alexander Cos., 8 Oct 1984 (JCR)
21, Horseshoe Lake CA, 31 Oct 1982 (JCR)
Documentation: Photograph—2, Ferne Clyffe SP, 21 Apr 2016 (http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S29113099).
Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
Mid-April - Mid-September
Status and abundance: Common migrant in western Floodplains. Uncommon spring migrant and fairly common fall migrant in eastern Floodplains, Shawnee Hills, and Till Plain. Locally common summer resident.
Habitat: Forages over fields and water. Nests colonially in dirt embankments primarily near rivers and lakes.
Records and remarks: Large flocks can be seen in the western Floodplains sitting on telephone wires and foraging over fields and water with other swallow species, especially during late summer. Bank Swallows are called Sand Martins in other parts of the world, for good reason. They are famous for tunneling into sand river banks for nesting. Some common locations for large colonies in southern Illinois include the areas around Shawneetown and Thebes.
SPRING—Most Bank Swallows arrive in late April, but a few may appear earlier. Large concentrations occur most often in the western Floodplains, but even there it is unusual to see more than a few hundred in one flock. They often form mixed-species groups with Rough-winged and Tree Swallows. Spring migration is probably largely over by 20 May.
2, Cypress Creek NWR, 25 Mar 2000 (DK, KM, FB)
1, Randolph Co., 30 Mar 1998 (KM)
1,260, Massac Co., 6 May 1989 (SO, WDR)
SUMMER—All known breeding colonies are in embankments along rivers or lakes. The overwhelming majority of the region's colonies are along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Breeding begins with nest construction as early as late April, and the last young fledge by mid-August.
Colony of 510 burrows, 5 miles s. of Shawneetown, Gallatin Co., 24 Jun 1972 (VK, D. Hayward)
Colony of 100 to 200 burrows, near Thebes, Alexander Co., 1986 through 2016 (TF, WDR, m.ob.)
AUTUMN—Some local movements away from breeding sites apparently begin during late June, and large flocks gather by early July. Many hundreds can be seen foraging over agricultural fields and waterways with other swallow species throughout late summer. Most Bank Swallows have departed by early September.
400, Alexander Co., 1 Jul 1988 (WDR)
8,000, Rend Lake, 29 Jul 2010 (DK)
1,500, Wolf Lake, Union Co., 31 Jul 1971 (VK, FR)
400, Smithland Lock and Dam, Pope Co., 13 Aug 1987 (WDR)
1, sw. Jackson Co., 6 Sep 1975 (BP)
Documentation: Specimen—male, near Roots, Randolph Co., 26 July 1971 (ISM 604828).
Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Early April - Late September
Status and abundance: Fairly common migrant. Locally common summer resident.
Habitat: Migrants generally forage over lakes and rivers, but sometimes can be found with other swallows over fields. Summer residents breed under bridges or bluffs near lakes and rivers.
Records and remarks: Cliff Swallows were apparently common summer residents in the late 1800s (Ridgway 1887), but declined precipitously by the early 1900s (Ridgway 1915). In 1944, the only nesting record known in the region was a single nest on the side of a barn near Murphysboro (JWH). The discovery of a small colony nesting with Barn Swallows at Crab Orchard NWR on 7 May 1952 (LB) signaled the return of the region's breeding population.
SPRING—Like other swallows, Cliff Swallows are highly gregarious at all seasons. Migrant flocks are generally smaller, however, than in the other species. Most migrants have probably departed for northern breeding sites by mid- to late May.
8, Metropolis, 18 Mar 2016 (KM)
1, Golconda, 24 Mar 2007 (EW)
10, Crab Orchard NWR, 6 Apr 1986 (WDR)
308, Massac Co., 6 May 1989 (SO, WDR)
SUMMER—Colonies are built under bridges. Nest-building begins in the second half of April, and some pairs are still building during June. The young fledge from mid-June through mid-August.
2,384 nests in 15 colonies throughout the region, Jun 1988 (Robinson 1989a)
AUTUMN—The beginning of fall migration is somewhat obscured by the presence of the large colonies in the region, because few flocks are seen away from the vicinity of the colonies. Typically, however, a few Cliffs are mixed in with most large flocks of migrant Rough-winged, Tree, and Bank Swallows. Peak migration occurs in August.
6, Johnson Co., 4 Aug 1992 (TF)
2,000, Randolph Co., 18 Aug 2008 (KM)
2, Crab Orchard NWR, 5 Nov 2013 (J. Allen)
Documentation: Photograph—ad., Smithland Lock and Dam, Pope Co., 19 June 1988 (SIU AP-117).
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
Late March - Mid-October
Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident. Very rare winter visitor.
Habitat: Nearly ubiquitous, Barn Swallows occur in all habitats except within forest. Especially common around towns, farms, and lakes or rivers. Commonly forages over fields, water and forest.
Records and remarks: Although Barn Swallows are common now, they have apparently not always been so numerous. Ridgway (1915) reported that they had become uncommon summer residents by the early 1900s, but by the mid-1950s they were common again (Graber and Graber 1963). The reason for their decline, and subsequent recovery, is unknown.
SPRING—Migration spans several weeks with birds arriving in small flocks through mid-May. Daily high counts during spring normally range from 50 to 200.
1, Saline Co., 5 Mar 1986 (TF)
1, Union Co., 5 Mar 2012 (VL)
283, Massac Co., 6 May 1989 (SO, WDR)
SUMMER—Breeding begins by mid-April. Eggs have been found as early as 15 April. Some young may still be in the nest during late August. Nests are commonly placed under bridges, eaves of buildings, and inside barns. Apparently no large counts have been published for the summer, but it is commonplace to see 50 to 75 birds in a day.
AUTUMN—Apparently Barn Swallows simply drift southward over the course of several weeks during the fall, because very few large counts have been made. Barn Swallows commonly associate with flocks of Tree Swallows that gather in the Floodplains during August and September, but there are usually never more than a few hundred Barns even in the largest mixed-species flocks. Most Barns are gone by mid-October, but a few regularly linger into November.
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 11 Nov 2016 (T. Anderson)
1, Union Co. CA, 12 Nov 1983 (JCR)
WINTER—1, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 17 Dec 2011 (KM)
2, Union Co., 20 Dec 2002 (SB, SD)
2, Carbondale, 29 Dec 1954 (RB et al.; AFN 9:172)
2, Union Co. CA, 30 Dec 2005 (KMc, HDB)
1, Mermet Lake, 12-13 Feb 1999 (FB, m.ob.)
Documentation: Specimen—ad., 1 mile w. of Carbondale, Jackson Co., 8 May 1971 (SIU A-1730).
Family Paridae
Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.
Habitat: Found in nearly any habitat that has woody vegetation, but most numerous in bottomland woods and along forest edges. Can also be found in weedy fields, especially during winter.
Records and remarks: Carolina Chickadee is our widespread and common chickadee. Commonly attracted to feeders that offer sunflower seed or suet. Chickadees form mixed-species flocks during fall and winter with Tufted Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, and Golden-crowned Kinglets. No evidence of migration has been reported. Typical daily high counts vary by effort, season and weather conditions (lower numbers after severe winters), but are usually 25 to 50 per day.
SUMMER—Nest-site excavation begins in early March, the peak period of incubation is in mid-April, and most first nests fledge in mid-May (Albano 1992). Most chickadees excavate their own nests, but a few use holes excavated previously. Chickadees may also nest in Bluebird boxes.
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 18 Feb 1956 (SIU A-232).
[Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus]
Status and abundance: Hypothetical.
Records and remarks: A banded bird captured and measured on three occasions between 31 Dec 1985 and 28 Feb 1986 in se. Jackson County was identified as this species by wing and tail measurements (WDR). Without the specimen or detailed photographs, however, there is insufficient information to rule out the possibility of a Carolina by Black-capped hybrid. Carolina Chickadee is the only chickadee confirmed to occur in our region. Any reports of Black-capped Chickadees would be very interesting and need to be supported by excellent photographs and sound recordings. The closest to our area that Black-capped Chickadees regularly are encountered is the St. Louis region. A narrow hybrid zone between the two species extends from Madison to Vermilion Counties (Brewer 1963) and appears to be moving north, not south, so chances of finding Black-capped Chickadees in our region are very small.
Possibly correct sight record: Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 15 Nov 1975 (BP)
Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.
Habitat: Found in nearly any woodland, but most common in mature deciduous woods.
Records and remarks: Titmice are one of the most abundant forest bird species at all seasons. No evidence of migration has been reported. Titmice forage in mixed-species flocks during fall and winter with chickadees, nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, and kinglets. They readily come to feeders for sunflower seeds and suet.
SUMMER—Titmice prefer to breed in natural cavities, especially those formed on tree trunks by scars left after a large branch breaks. They will also nest in bluebird boxes. Nest activity begins in early spring. Courtship feeding has been observed in early February. Nest-building (titmice line their cavities with moss, hair, and fine grasses) begins by late March and early April. Typical daily high counts in excellent habitat range from 40 to 80 birds.
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 7 Nov 1956 (SIU A-239).