Order Apodiformes
Family Apodidae
Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
Early April - Mid-October
Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident.
Habitat: This nearly ubiquitous species can be found foraging high in the air anywhere. It breeds in chimneys in residential areas and large hollow trees in swamps.
Records and remarks: Swifts are gregarious and are commonly seen foraging in flocks during migration and the breeding season. They seem to fly low to the ground or over the surface of lakes early in the morning or late in the day, but much higher during mid-day.
SPRING—Swifts arrive early, about the same time the first Eastern Whip-poor-wills appear. Usually seen in small groups of up to 50 birds. Because of the summer population, it is unclear when the last migrants leave.
10, Johnson Co., 26 Mar 2007 (KM)
2, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 28 Mar 1988 (TF)
1, se. Jackson Co., 30 Mar 1986 (WDR)
500, Johnson Co., 14 Apr 2003 (KM)
SUMMER—Swifts probably breed in every township in southern Illinois, but few data are available on their summer populations. The largest breeding populations are in towns. Some also breed in swamps where they place their nests in hollow cypress trees.
20 nests in cypress trees, Cache River SNA, 8 Jun 2000 (SB)
AUTUMN—Wandering groups of birds begin appearing during late Jul, but these may be flocks of local birds. Most swifts have departed by mid-October, so any seen afterwards should be closely scrutinized to explore the possibility of western species, such as Vaux’s Swift (Chaetura vauxi) occurring as vagrants.
250, Rend Lake, 28 July 1986 (WDR)
720, Carbondale, 12 Sep 1985 (TF)
500, Crab Orchard NWR, 16 Sep 1996 (BD)
500, Carbondale, 9 Oct 1971 (VK)
1, Carbondale, 27 Oct 1985 (SO)
1, Carbondale, 23 Nov 1974 (D. Klem)
Documentation: Specimen—juv. male, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 24 June 1959 (SIU A-886).
Family Trochilidae
Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris
Late April - Early October
Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident.
Habitat: Deciduous woods, woodland edge, and hedgerows. Residential areas near flowers and sugar-water feeders.
Records and remarks: Hummingbird numbers fluctuate greatly from year to year. They can be seen and studied at close range around patches of flowers such as trumpet creeper and jewelweed, and at feeders. Efforts to capture and mark (band) hummingbirds near feeders have revealed remarkable numbers of individuals. During late summer, banding programs have consistently captured hundreds, sometimes more than 1,000 individuals, in a single backyard. Because hummingbirds are small and quick, we probably overlook most of them while out birding. Banding programs give a better idea of their actual abundance.
SPRING—The first spring migrants usually arrive in late April, but peak numbers do not arrive until early May. Typical daily high counts do not exceed 10 to 12 birds, but this varies considerably.
1, Massac Co., 5 Apr 2007 (FB)
26 at buckeye blossoms, Alexander Co., 8 May 1982 (P. Kittle)
SUMMER—Nests have been discovered as early as 4 May (Union Co.,1989; T. Chesser) and eggs by 9 May (Alexander Co., 1987; I. Domazlicky). Nests are usually placed on down-sloping tree branches nine to 50 feet above ground. Nests can be found by following females; when gathering nest material they usually fly directly back to the nest.
300 at feeders, Alto Pass, Union Co., Jun and Jul 2003 (B. Stairs, fide VK)
AUTUMN—Because of the breeding population, the start of fall migration is difficult to detect. Males seem to migrate first. Late fall records are of birds in female/immature plumage. Few Ruby-throated Hummingbirds linger past the first week of October. Hummingbirds appearing after that time, in particular, should be scrutinized very carefully for the possibility of other vagrant species. Definitive identification may require exceptional photos, videos with voice recordings, or capture by a licensed bander.
1500, captured at southern Illinois banding stations, Jul and Aug 2008 (fide VK)
500, Cobden, Union Co., 5 Aug 2006 (fide VK)
30, Giant City SP, 8 Sep 1990 (BD)
1, Carbondale, 26 Oct 1989 (BD)
1, West Frankfort, 2 Nov 2007 (LS)
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 12 May 1960 (SIU A-1130).
Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna
Status and abundance: Very rare visitor.
Records and remarks: An immature female was carefully scrutinized at Carbondale, 17-29 Sep 1990 (BD, WDR et al.). Observations via spotting scope at close range provided definitive looks at features eliminating all Archilochus hummingbirds (in particular, Ruby-throated Hummingbird). The IORC rejected the record despite several pages of detailed written description. In the first edition of this book, I categorized Anna’s Hummingbird as Hypothetical in southern Illinois because of the IORC decision. After living in Oregon for more than 15 years and observing Anna’s Hummingbirds daily, I remain unconvinced that the IORC decision to reject the 1990 record was correct. Using author prerogative, I now officially include it on the southern Illinois list. As Anna’s Hummingbird has since been added to the Illinois list (one was captured and banded in Peoria County in Nov, 2010 (Kleen 2011)), my decision has no effect on the Illinois list of accepted bird species.
Observers who suspect they have a vagrant species of hummingbird visiting their feeder should contact a licensed bander so that in-hand measurements and photographs may be obtained. Videos with voice recordings are also very helpful.
Rufous Hummingbird Selasphorus rufus
Status and abundance: Very rare visitor.
Records and remarks: Numbers have increased, and are likely to continue to increase, over time as larger numbers of this western species migrate to and over-winter in the southeastern United States. Observers who suspect they have a Rufous Hummingbird should contact a licensed bander to identify the bird. Photos should be archived on eBird.
Records to date:
immature female captured, measured, and photographed, Murphysboro, 27 Oct 1993 - 15 Jan 1994 (BD; Danley 1994)
immature female observed at close range, Carbondale, 23-28 October 1989 (BD, WDR)
ad. male, Pinckneyville, late Oct – 25 Dec 2002 (B. Chandler)
female (banded), Mt. Vernon, 14 Nov 2002 (fide CH)
1, Carbondale, 24 Nov 2003 – 3 Jan 2004 (fide CH)
female, se. of Equality, Gallatin Co., late Nov 2006 – 13 Apr 2007 (J. Mclane, CH, m.ob.)
2 females, Cambria, Williamson Co., 16 Dec 2007 – 4 Jan 2007 (CH)
female, Saline Co., 2 Dec 2016 (C. DeNeal)
1, Carterville, Williamson Co., 28 Nov - 20 Dec 2020 (Cox, T. McCuen, m.ob.)
Documentation: Photograph—Murphysboro, 27 Oct 1993 (Danley 1994).