Family Passerellidae
Green-tailed Towhee Pipilo chlorurus
Status and abundance: Very rare visitor.
Records and remarks: Two records of this vagrant from western North America. The 1987 bird frequented an abandoned pig lot that had become overgrown with ragweed.
1, near Murphysboro, Jackson Co., 17 Apr 1953 (RB)
1, near Union Co. CA, 3-10 Jan 1987 (MD, RP, m.ob.)
Documentation: Written description—1987 record.
Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus
Status and abundance: Very rare visitor.
Records and remarks: Formerly considered the same species as our common Eastern Towhee, Spotted Towhee may have occurred in very low numbers in the region for a long time but been unreported because of its former subspecific status. Found in the same habitats one finds Eastern Towhees. Observers are encouraged to archive photos in eBird.
1, Union Co. CA, 16 Oct 1999 (KM, FB, VL)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 27 Dec 1954 (RB, JWH)
female, Crab Orchard NWR, 16 Dec 1989 (WDR)
female, Union Co., 30 Dec 1998 (VK)
1, Massac Co., 31 Dec 2007 (KMc)
1, Pyramid SP, 31 Dec 2014 (KMc, T. Wolff)
1, Union Co., 21 Jan 2013 (DM, L. Williams, LS)
Documentation: Written description—1989 record.
Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.
Habitat: Brushy areas in woods, hedgerows, shrubby fields, and forest edge.
Records and remarks: Eastern Towhees are migratory, but year-round populations make the separation of migrants from summer residents and winter residents difficult. Migrant numbers probably peak in March and October.
SPRING—Migrant towhees begin moving northward early, soon after the first February warm spell. They begin singing at about the same time. Small groups may be encountered during spring, but they do not form the larger, loose flocks typical of fall migration. Typical
daily counts range from six to fifteen birds.
SUMMER—Early season nests are often placed on the ground, whereas later nests are placed above the ground in bushes or vine tangles. Towhees are frequently parasitized by cowbirds.
AUTUMN—Because of the breeding population, detection of the first migrants is a challenge. Numbers peak during October, when small groups of four to fifteen or more birds can be found associating with sparrows and cardinals in hedgerows and weedy fields. Daily high counts may exceed a couple of dozen.
WINTER—Towhees visit bird feeders for corn and millet. They congregate in preferred habitats with flocks of sparrows and can easily be attracted by pishing noises.
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 21 Dec 1960 (SIU A-1138).
Bachman's Sparrow Peucaea aestivalis
Status and abundance: Very rare (formerly locally uncommon) migrant and summer resident.
Habitat: Hicks (in Brooks 1938) described the habitat: "The choicest locations are about 50 to 100 yards down from the ridge, tops in old deserted fields. A typical territory is a circle 150 feet each way from an eroded gully which has healed and is now well, covered with miscellaneous trees, shrubs, and particularly black, berry brambles. The territory is more attractive after about 5% of the open grass land adjacent to the gullies is dotted with blackberry briars. Usually the center of the territory is close to the upper end of the gully, and the abundant plants are the dry soil goldenrods and asters, wild oat grass, and various other grasses, composites, and miscellaneous weeds typical of dry, eroded slopes." They may also use two somewhat different habitat types. On 17 Jul 1951, Mengel (1965) found a singing male in Kentucky, across the Ohio River from Joppa, Illinois, "in a flat, poorly tended orchard encroached upon by dense grassy ground cover, with no blackberries or erosion gullies." In northwest Tennessee, they inhabit clear-cuts that have been planted with pine seedlings. Apparently their abundance peaks when the pines are four to twelve years old (J. C. Robinson 1990). Most southern Illinois records are from habitats that approximate that described by Hicks.
Records and remarks: We have no records of this elusive sparrow since 1975. It is unclear whether there might have ever been much of a population in southern Illinois. There is not much reference to this species until the 1940s, but some were probably present earlier, because there are records for central Illinois much earlier in the century. Brewer described them as fairly common summer residents around Murphysboro in 1948, being present from March through July. He did not detect any more, however, until 19 July 1952, when he and J. W. Hardy found a singing male at Cave Hill Ridge south of Harrisburg. A singing male was back near Murphysboro on 10 June 1953 (RB), in an old field adjacent to a pine plantation. In addition, several pairs were found around Crab Orchard NWR that same summer by Lee Bush, but they were rare there by 1954. No others were reported until the mid-1960s when some apparently nested at Gum Springs on the Massac-Johnson county line (George 1971). In the early seventies, there was a run of records that may be indicative of the increase in observer effort during those years: 1, Crab Orchard NWR, 29 Apr 1972 (VK, P. Biggers)
1, Ferne Clyffe SP, Johnson Co., 29 Apr-3 Jun 1972 (Robinson 1996)
1, Pope Co., all summer 1974 (R. Graber)
ad. and imm., near Little Grassy Lake, Jackson Co., 7 Sep 1975 (BP)
It is unclear why Bachman's Sparrows have disappeared from the region, but nationwide declines because of habitat destruction throughout their range may be an important part of the explanation. The nearest regularly occurring site is at Fort Campbell north of Clarksville, Tennessee. It is possible that southern Illinois could receive spring over-migrants. Any Bachman’s Sparrow found in southern Illinois should be carefully documented. Photos and voice recordings should be archived in eBird.
Documentation: Specimen—Grand Chain, Pulaski Co., 15 Oct 1897 (FMNH).
American Tree Sparrow Spizelloides arborea
Early November - Late March
Status and abundance: Common migrant and winter resident.
Habitat: Weedy fields and hedgerows.
Records and remarks: Arriving much later than most migrants, American Tree Sparrows exhibit strong variation in numbers from year to year and may not arrive in some years until December.
Tree Sparrows form flocks with juncos and Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, and other sparrows. They respond readily to pishing noises so are generally easy to see if they are present.
AUTUMN—Arrival of first migrants is not very obvious and is affected by conditions to our north. Colder winters with heavier snow to our north will force more Tree Sparrows south into our region. Daily high counts are variable. During fall, numbers are usually lower than later in winter.
2, Pyramid SP, 25 Oct 2008 (T. Funk)
WINTER—Tree Sparrows will occasionally visit bird feeders for millet or other small seeds and will especially come if the food is spread on the ground. Daily high counts vary quite a bit by location, being generally higher in the Till Plain than the Shawnee Hills and Floodplains, and by year. In very cold winters with persistent snow cover, numbers of Tree Sparrows are higher than they are during milder winters.
SPRING—Nearly all have departed by the last days of March. The departure is basically a northward withdrawal and is not very conspicuous.
1, Limekiln Spring Trail, Pulaski Co., 27 Apr 1998 (FB)
Documentation: Specimen—ad. female, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 1 Feb 1961 (SIU A-668).
Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
Mid-March – Mid-November
Status and abundance: Common migrant and summer resident. Rare winter resident.
Habitat: Short-grass fields, such as golf courses, parks, and yards, as well as open pine and deciduous woodland and weedy fields.
Records and remarks: Chipping Sparrows are common in suburban yards and parks. The song is a flat, mechanical trill that seems to be terribly long for such a small bird. They will often visit feeders for millet or other small seeds.
SPRING—First spring arrivals are reliably found the last week of March, but arrival dates seem to be inching earlier over time. In part, this may be a result of more birds over-wintering in our region and nearby to the south. Chipping Sparrows seem to settle on a territory right away if they are arriving to breed here. If transients, they often form small flocks of four to twenty-five birds.
1, Massac Co., 10 Mar 2006 (FB)
1, Carbondale, 17 Mar 1986 (SO)
1, Ozark, Johnson Co., 18 Mar 1992 (TF)
SUMMER—Small, cup-like nests are usually placed in evergreen bushes or trees, from
3 to 25 feet or more above ground. Nests are often lined with hair before the three or four bluish eggs are laid. Eggs have been found from April into early July.
AUTUMN—After the nesting season, Chipping Sparrows form small flocks and sometimes associate with other sparrows. They seem to prefer to flock with their own species. Peak numbers are present from mid-September to mid-October, and most birds are gone by
the first few days of November. Increasingly, some will linger into early winter.
70, near Ozark, Pope Co., 14-16 Sep 1993 (TF)
75, Carbondale, 26 Oct 2011 (TH)
18, Carbondale, 7 Nov 2015 (R. Gerdes)
3, Carbondale, 16 Nov 2016 (JT)
1, Williamson Co., 5 Dec 1982 (JCR)
WINTER—Although increasing in occurrence, Chipping Sparrows are still rare during winter. Observers should use caution with identification and are encouraged to archive photos in eBird.
30, Trail of Tears SF, 29 Dec 2010 (J. Smith)
16, Fort Massac SP, 30 Dec 2016 (RR)
12, Lake Murphysboro SP, 1 Jan 2010 (KMc)
1, Rudement, Saline Co., 9-11 Jan 1992 (JD)
4, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 21 Jan 2011 (KM)
3, Massac Co., 10 Feb 2002 (FB)
2, Ft. Massac SP, 20 Feb 2017 (KM)
Documentation: Specimen—imm., 3 miles e. of Texico, Jefferson Co., 19 Oct 1958 (SIU A-668).
Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida
Status and abundance: Very rare migrant.
Habitat: Weedy fields and hedgerows.
Records and remarks: Very similar in appearance to the Chipping Sparrow, especially
during fall and winter, but with brownish rump, pale lores, unstriped nape and different facial and head striping patterns. May associate with Field and Chipping Sparrows during migration. May be more likely to occur after extended periods of strong westerly winds, because the principal
migration path is through the Great Plains. Observers are encouraged to archive photos in eBird.
SPRING—1, Crab Orchard NWR, 24 Apr 1951 (LB)
1 banded, Harrisburg, Saline Co., 29 Apr 1984 (WDR)
1, Tenmile Creek State FWA, Hamilton Co., 29 Apr 2013 (KM, MS)
1, near Unity, Alexander Co., 5 May 2019 (M. Taylor)
AUTUMN—1, Pomona, 21 Oct 1950 (RB, JWH)
Documentation: Photographic--https://ebird.org/checklist/S55837125 .
Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla
Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.
Habitat: Shrubby fields, roadside edges, and hedgerows.
Records and remarks: Field Sparrows are small sparrows with a pink bill, white eye-ring, and white wing bars. Their song, a sweetly whistled trill that starts out slowly and speeds up toward the end, is a conspicuous part of any second-growth habitat bird community. Field Sparrows migrate extensively, but southern Illinois lies within both their breeding and their wintering ranges, so some are present all year.
SPRING—Migration is difficult to detect, because of the substantial wintering and breeding populations, but numbers tend to peak during late March and early April. Small flocks of six to fifteen birds are commonly seen, and daily counts of up to forty birds are not unusual. In very cold winters, most may depart southern Illinois. They start returning during February.
12, Pulaski Co., 19 Feb 1996 (KM)
SUMMER—Breeding begins early. Eggs have been found as early as late April. Two broods are probably raised, because dependent fledglings have been seen throughout the summer into August. Nests are placed on or near the ground in fairly dense cover. They are moderately parasitized by cowbirds. Counts of twenty to forty birds per day are typical.
AUTUMN—Migrants begin arriving by the last days of September, but their arrival is usually not conspicuous. They often associate with other sparrows in appropriate habitat.
60, Crab Orchard NWR, 24 Oct 1982 (JCR)
WINTER—Field Sparrows congregate in weedy fields and hedgerows with other sparrows and finches, sometimes in large dispersed flocks of up to eighty individuals. They will visit feeders for millet and other small seeds. During very severe winters, many either die or move south out of the region, because late winter populations are considerably lower than early winter numbers.
149, Mermet, 31 Dec 2004 (DK, KM)
Documentation: Specimen—female, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 7 Jan 1973 (ISM 605487).
Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
Late March - Late April
Mid-September - Early November
Status and abundance: Uncommon spring migrant. Occasional fall migrant. Rare winter visitor. Rare summer resident in the Till Plain.
Habitat: Extensive open grassy fields and agricultural crop lands.
Records and remarks: Most Vespers are found along the Mississippi River floodplain, especially along the levees and adjacent agricultural fields. They normally do not sing on their passage through southern Illinois for some reason, which significantly reduces the rate at which they are detected by birders.
SPRING—Small groups of up to six birds are seen in short-grass fields, especially during late March and early April. Few birds linger past 25 April.
1, sw. Jackson Co., 8 Mar 1992 (TF, JD)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 12 Mar 2007 (TH)
10, Gorham, Jackson Co., 1 Apr 1972 (VK)
1, Unionville, Massac Co., 7 May 1988 (WDR)
SUMMER—Very rarely confirmed to breed in southern Illinois. A nest with eggs was found among bean stubble in a field near Thompsonville, Saline Co., on 2 May 1994 (TF). Some other summer records: singing male, Todd’s Mill, Perry Co., 2 Jun 1989 (WDR)
5 singing males, Swanwick, Perry Co., 3 Jun 2004 (SB)
1, White Co., 14 Jun 2014 (R. Shelby)
1, near Crainville, Williamson Co., 1 Jun – 23 Jul 2013 (JG)
1, near Heron Pond, 21 Jul 2016 (KM)
AUTUMN—Very inconspicuous during fall. Daily high counts rarely exceed 1 bird.
1, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 4 Oct 1993 (TF)
1, Williamson Co., 24 Nov 1982 (JCR)
WINTER—Seems to be increasing during winter, at least through early January.
Counts rarely exceed three birds per day. Observers are encouraged to archive photos in eBird.
4, sw. Franklin Co., 1 Jan 1997 (LS)
1, Horseshoe Lake CA, Alexander Co., 1 Jan 2013 (KM)
1, Sexton Creek Wetlands, Alexander Co., 28 Jan 2016 (M. Haas)
1, Herrin, 21 Feb 2014 (JG)
1, Franklin Co., 24 Feb 2009 (LS)
Documentation: Written description—1, near Tamms, Alexander Co., 29 Dec 1987 (TF, WDR).
Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus
Late April - Late August
Status and abundance: Occasional migrant. Locally rare to uncommon summer resident.
Habitat: Weedy fields with scattered bare patches of sandy soil (e.g., reclaimed or abandoned strip mines).
Records and remarks: Lark Sparrows are birds of open grasslands. They have apparently experienced range-wide population declines. Ridgway (1878) described them as common summer residents, but Graber and Graber (1963) noted a substantial population decline. The cause of the decline is unclear.
SPRING—Not often seen away from breeding areas, but some have been encountered in groups of two to six birds along weedy roadsides, especially along the Mississippi River levees. Most migrant flocks have been found during late April. Most migrants have departed by mid-May.
1, Mermet Lake, 15 Apr 2004 (KM)
1, Mermet Lake, 15 Apr 2008 (MS, KM)
2, w. Williamson Co., 19 Apr 1986 (TF, WDR)
7, Hamilton Co., 4 May 2013 (KM, MS)
5, White Co., 10 May 2014 (KM, MS)
1, Saline Co., 14 May 1995 (TF)
SUMMER—Pairs are found in areas where sandy soil is prevalent. Few nests have been discovered, but several family groups have been reported, especially during June and July. Nests are placed on the ground, at the base of a tuft of grass.
singing male, Cypress Creek NWR, 8-14 Jun 2011 (MML)
pair with young, near Pinckneyville, Perry Co., 9 Jun 1956 (RB)
1, Pope Co., 11 Jun 2008 (VK)
4 ad. and 5 juv., w. Williamson Co., 16 Jun 1984 (TF)
2 ad. and 2 juv., Tamaroa, Perry Co., 17 Jun 1989 (WDR)
1, Pyramid SP, 28 Jun 2015 (CT)
pair with young, Dogtooth Island, Alexander Co., 6 Jul 2008 (DK, MS)
AUTUMN—Very few are detected after the breeding season. The largest population of migrants may pass through during August, a month when few observers survey habitats that this species prefers.
1, Herod, Saline Co., 15 Aug 1988 (JD)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 1 Sep 2001 (C. and J. McKee)
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, 3 miles n. of Ava, Jackson Co., 22 May 1968 (SIU, uncatalogued).
Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
Late September - Mid-May
Status and abundance: Common migrant. Uncommon winter resident. Very rare summer visitor.
Habitat: Large weedy fields, fallow fields, and pastures.
Records and remarks: Often overlooked because it frequents expansive grassy fields and agricultural fields. Savannahs are most readily found by walking through such fields and flushing them. They tend to fly directly and rather far compared to other sparrows.
AUTUMN—The first fall migrants normally begin appearing during the last week of September. Observers should use caution to avoid confusion with other molting sparrows during Aug and are encouraged to archive photos of Aug sightings in eBird. Numbers peak during October and early November.
1, Ward Branch, Rend Lake, 23 Sep 2012 (TD)
3, Wagon Wheel, Union Co., 26 Sep 2011 (WDR)
200, Freeman, Franklin Co., 31 Oct 1994 (LS)
180, Franklin Co., 1 Nov 2000 (LS)
WINTER—Winter numbers seem to vary from year to year, probably depending on the availability of untilled agricultural fields. Savannah Sparrows are especially common in foxtail grass fields. Daily high counts normally are less than 40 birds.
SPRING—Because of the presence of the wintering population, the beginning of spring migration is unclear, but there appears to be an influx of birds during March. Populations peak in April, when large concentrations can sometimes be found in excellent habitat.
Most birds have departed by 15 May.
129, near Perks, Pulaski Co., 18 Apr 1992 (TF, WDR)
1, Williamson Co., 14 May 1984 (JCR)
1, Ft. Defiance SP, Alexander Co., 26 May 1988 (WDR)
SUMMER—There is no confirmed evidence of breeding yet. There may be a very sparse summer population in the Till Plain and the western Floodplains.
1, near Jacob, Jackson Co., 9-12 Jun 2015 (JT)
1, Rudement, Saline Co., 11 Jun 1991 (TF, JD)
1, Jefferson Co., 21 Jun 1991 (TF)
1, s. of Murphysboro, 22 Jul 1951 (JWH)
Documentation: Specimen—ad., near Mound City, Pulaski Co., 6 Apr 1968 (SIU, uncatalogued).
Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Mid-April – Late October
Status and abundance: Uncommon migrant. Locally uncommon summer resident in the Till Plain. Rare summer resident in the Floodplains and the Shawnee Hills. Very rare winter visitor.
Habitat: Weedy fields, especially of clover and alfalfa. Tends to avoid monocultures of fescue grass, except occasionally during migration.
Records and remarks: Grasshopper Sparrows sing an insect-like trill (pit-up ziiiiiiiiiii) that is virtually the only clue the species is present. It is rarely seen unless it is vocal, and even then it is surprisingly difficult to observe. Singing birds tend to perch atop tall weeds. When the bird is flushed, its back appears to be rather gray, and its flight is direct, with rapid bursts of wing beats.
SPRING—Usually first heard singing in mid- to late April. Numbers peak in late April and early May.
3, Carbondale, 24 Mar 1949 (RB)
1, Jefferson Co., 9 Apr 1995 (TF)
1, Grassy Lake, Union Co., 15 Apr 2006 (KM)
10, Paulton, Williamson Co., 18 Apr 1987 (WDR)
19, Union Co., 8 May 2004 (SB, A. Sigler)
SUMMER—Very few nests have been discovered in the region, primarily because the small, ground nests are hidden in vast fields of grasses. Consequently, little is known about its breeding success or the timing of its breeding activities.
4, Royalton, Franklin Co., 15 Jun 2002 (RR)
nest with 4 eggs, north of Murphysboro, 4 Jun 1949 (JWH)
AUTUMN—Not often detected, undoubtedly because the birds are silent during fall migration. Some may be found by walking through extensive weedy fields. Some birds apparently linger late into winter.
1, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 13 Aug, and a different bird there, 31 Aug 1994 (CS, TF)
imm., Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 7 Sep 1988 (TF, WDR)
4, Pyramid SP, 25 Oct 2008 (DK, m.ob.)
1, near Murphysboro, 8 Nov 1947 (JWH)
WINTER—1 banded, Carbondale, 10 Jan 1972 (VK, D. Hayward)
Documentation: Photograph—1, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 10 Jan 1972 (SIU AP-uncatalogued).
Henslow's Sparrow Ammodramus henslowii
Early April - Late October
Status and abundance: Formerly a rare migrant and summer resident. Now locally common migrant and summer resident. Very rare winter visitor.
Habitat: Tall-grass fields, primarily those that have not been mown or burned within the last three years.
Records and remarks: Henslow’s Sparrows responded dramatically to a conservation program aimed at producing higher quality grassland habitat in portions of the Shawnee Hills, Cache River drainage, and some transition areas between the Shawnee Hills and Till Plain. From the late 1990s through the early 2000s, efforts to survey the birds while habitat was recovering produced exceptional counts. Sometimes more than 100 singing males were surveyed in a day. That level of abundance was unknown in the preceding decades. The success of these conservation efforts shows that some species can respond very quickly if appropriate measures are taken to make high quality habitat available.
Generally, Henslow’s Sparrows are inconspicuous birds that may be overlooked because of their elusive behavior. Most go unnoticed unless they sing their insectlike tsi-lik song. When flushed from their grassy habitat, they fly low and seem to pull themselves forward in jerky spurts, often with their body diagonally out of alignment with the direction of flight.
SPRING—First arrivals are usually detected by 20 April. Most spring records seem to be of breeders arriving on nesting territories rather than of true transients.
3, Johnson Co., 25 Mar 2012 (KM)
1, Grassy Slough, 26 Mar 2007 (KM)
1, Fort Massac SP, 30 Mar 2010 (KM)
3, Rudement, Saline Co., 7 Apr 1993 (JD)
40, Union Co., 6 May 2006 (SB)
SUMMER—Birds remain on their territory at least through July, perhaps even into August, but there are few reports after mid-July.
95, Arklands, 5 Jun 2001 (JW)
103, Dongola area, 16 Jun 2005 (SB)
AUTUMN—The start of fall migration is unclear. Singing stops during late August, so very few are detected thereafter. Migration may extend into early November or later, and some may attempt to overwinter, but there are no recent winter records.
1, East Cape Girardeau, 13 Oct 2016 (M. Haas)
1, Pulaski Co., 18 Oct 1999 (FB)
1, Rend Lake, 21 Oct 1984 (LH)
WINTER—Perhaps formerly a more regular winter resident because Cooke (1888) and Ridgway (1889) suggested Henslow’s Sparrows wintered in the region, yet they did not provide any supporting details.
1, Murphysboro, 27 Dec 1950 (JWH)
1, Jackson Co., 21 Jan 1950 (RB)
1, Carbondale, 26 Feb 1949 (RB)
Documentation: Photograph—ad. male, Pope Co., 19 June 1988 (SIU AP-118).
LeConte's Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii
Mid-October – Mid-April
Status and abundance: Locally uncommon migrant and winter resident.
Habitat: Grassy fields, usually dominated by foxtail grass. Generally prefers wet portions of a field where foxtail is still standing and dense.
Records and remarks: An elusive species that rarely vocalizes in the region. To find LeConte's Sparrows, one must walk through grassy foxtail fields and watch carefully for small, grayish, short-tailed sparrows that fly at the last possible second for a short distance, and then drop straight back down into the grass. These birds usually run on the ground after being flushed, so they can be hard to find again. Sometimes, after they have been spooked into flight several times, they will "tire out" and perch in the open for a few minutes affording a good view. Because of the difficulties involved in seeing and correctly identifying LeConte's Sparrow, little is known about the timing or magnitude of their migrant and winter populations. There appears to be a fall migration pulse in October and November and a spring migration pulse in March and early April.
AUTUMN—First fall arrivals usually are detected during October. By mid-December the population seems lower, but systematic surveys are needed to determine when fall migration ends and to determine the winter population sizes.
2, Franklin Co., 29 Sep 2006 (LS)
2, Crab Orchard NWR, 14 Oct 1984 (JCR)
15, Franklin Co., 1 Nov 2000 (LS)
WINTER—Winter populations fluctuate widely, probably depending on habitat availability. In good habitat, typical daily counts are of one to four birds. Yet, some remarkably high counts have been made at times.
14, Grassy Slough, 8 Dec 2001 (FB)
16, Ewing, Franklin Co., 19 Dec 1998 (LS)
11, Crab Orchard NWR, 1 Jan 1983 (JCR)
66, Rend Lake CBC, 2 Jan 1977
SPRING—Northward migration may begin as early as the last two weeks of February, but more observations are needed. Certainly, migration is underway by mid-March and extends into April.
1, Will Scarlet Mine, Saline Co., 7 Mar 1992 (TF, JD)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 15 Mar 1986 (WDR)
1, near Carbondale, 22 Apr 1972 (VK, D. Hayward)
1, Rend Lake, Jefferson Co., 3 May 1988 (TF, JCR et al.)
Documentation: Specimen—female, Bald Knob, Union Co., 2 Nov 1974 (SIU A-1922).
Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca
Mid-October – Early April
Status and abundance: Fairly common migrant. Fairly common winter resident in the Shawnee Hills and the Floodplains. Uncommon winter resident in the Till Plain.
Habitat: Woodland edge, weedy fields (especially those with giant
ragweed), and hedgerows.
Records and remarks: Fox Sparrows are large sparrows that forage on the ground by scratching in the leaf litter. They may also take seeds and berries from understory vegetation. The call note is a distinctive, loud junco-like tuk.
AUTUMN—First fall migrants are detected in early October. Numbers peak in late October and November. Numbers decline conspicuously after late November in the Till Plain.
1, near Little Grassy Lake, Jackson Co., 2 Oct 1976 (BP)
1, sw. Williamson Co., 4 Oct 1987 (WDR)
21, West Frankfort, Franklin Co., 10 Nov 1993 (LS)
WINTER—Most of the winter population is in the Shawnee Hills and the southern Floodplains, where daily counts of ten birds are typical. In exceptional habitat, daily maximum counts can surpass 50, but this is quite unusual.
65, Saline Co., 31 Dec 2012 (J. Smith)
SPRING—First spring arrivals probably occur as early as mid-February depending on weather. In colder springs, the northward movement may be delayed until March. The rich, beautiful
song is sometimes heard during March and April.
29, Pomona, 17 Mar 1972 (VK)
2, Giant City SP, 13 Apr 1989 (WDR)
1, Heron Pond, 15 Apr 2005 (KM)
Documentation: Specimen—ad. female, 2 miles n. of Cobden, Union Co., 30 Mar 1966 (SIU A-1384).
Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
Status and abundance: Common year-round resident.
Habitat: Weedy fields, marshes, residential areas, and hedgerows.
Records and remarks: One of our most numerous sparrows. Song Sparrows are a frequent component of mixed-species flocks of sparrows and finches. They can be found in almost any weedy patch or hedgerow during late fall and winter. Some individuals are migratory, but the large wintering and breeding populations obscure the arrivals and departures of migrants. Spring migration seems to peak in March, whereas fall migration peaks in October and November.
SUMMER—A rare breeder in the late 1800s and early 1900s, but has increased dramatically and now breeds throughout the region, although it is not yet common during summer in some sections. Breeding populations appear to be highest in and near brushy marshes and willow thickets. Some breed in towns, especially where shrubs are present, but not in numbers comparable to central or northern regions of Illinois. Song Sparrows are parasitized by cowbirds in the region. Nest dates range from early April into early August.
WINTER—Song Sparrows may congregate in large numbers in good habitat. Typical
daily counts by individual observers are twenty-five to seventy-five birds with the highest numbers occurring in the southern Floodplains. With exceptional effort in excellent habitat, higher counts are possible.
370, Union Co., 30 Dec 2001 (D. Stotz)
Documentation: Specimen—male, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 15 Mar 1970 (SIU A-1568).
Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
Late April - Mid-May
Late September - Early November
Status and abundance: Uncommon migrant. Rare winter resident.
Habitat: Brushy marshes, weedy fields, hedgerows, and shrubby patches in swamps.
Records and remarks: Lincoln’s Sparrows are rather inconspicuous and skulk in dense cover. Their song sounds rather like a gurgling House Wren. Sometimes confused with immature Swamp Sparrows, especially during fall and winter, Lincoln’s Sparrows lack the chestnut in the greater wing coverts and the grayer, mostly unstreaked breast of Swamp Sparrows.
SPRING—Usually not encountered until after 20 April. Maximum daily counts rarely exceed three birds. Numbers peak in early May and then rapidly decline. The last ones have departed by about 20 May.
1, Cypress Creek NWR, 22 Mar 2015 (WDR)
1, Oakwood Bottoms, 31 Mar 2012 (TH)
1, near Heron Pond, 13 Apr 2017 (KM)
1, Oakwood Bottoms, 15 Apr 2017 (DM)
1, Carbondale, 15 Apr 1979 (M. Mlodinow)
1, Union Co. CA, 20 May 1972 (VK)
AUTUMN—Because Lincoln's do not sing in fall, they are normally harder to locate. They regularly are found in habitat patches where other sparrow species are numerous, although they do not seem to directly associate with the other birds. The termination of fall migration may depend on weather. In warm winters, some late fall migrants may linger and attempt to spend the winter.
8, Fountain Bluff, Jackson Co., 4 Oct 1993 (CS)
9, West Frankfort, Franklin Co., 21 Oct 1993 (LS)
2, Harrisburg, Saline Co., 23 Nov 1989 (WDR)
WINTER—May regularly attempt to overwinter, especially in the southern Floodplains. Observers are encouraged to archive photos of winter sightings birds in eBird.
1, Union Co. CA, 20 Dec 2002 (KMc)
1, near Wolf Lake, Union Co., 22 Dec 1994 (WDR, TRR)
1, Levee Rd., Union Co., 29 Dec 2010 (D. Stotz)
1, near Crainville, Williamson Co., 6 Jan 2017 (JG)
1, Pomona, 6 Feb 1971 (VK)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 12 and 26 Feb 1983 (JCR)
Documentation: Specimen—ad . female, near Cobden, Union Co., 15 May 1968 (WGG 2223).
Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
Late September - Early May
Status and abundance: Common migrant and winter resident.
Habitat: Marshes, wet weedy fields, and woodland thickets.
Records and remarks: Swamp Sparrows are medium-sized reddish-brown sparrows that inhabitat wet grasslands, marshes and weedy lake margins. They have a distinctive metallic chip note
and readily respond to pishing noises. They sing a fairly musical trill, primarily from mid-March through their departure in early or mid-May.
AUTUMN—First fall arrivals typically appear during the last week of September or first few days of October. Migration probably peaks during late October and November.
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 21 Sep 1989 (WDR)
200, Franklin Co., 9 Oct 2006 (LS)
WINTER—Sometimes very numerous in wet fields, especially in the southern Floodplains and in western sections of the Shawnee Hills. Much less numerous, though still common, in the northern Floodplains and the Till Plain.
103, Union Co., 30 Dec 2001 (DS)
124, Oakwood Bottoms, 1 Jan 2003 (KMc, VL)
SPRING—Large numbers sometimes occur in optimal habitat during March and April. Very few birds linger past 10 May.
100, Crab Orchard NWR, 28 Mar 1987 (WDR)
60, Oakwood Bottoms, 13 Apr 2001 (KM)
2, se. Saline Co., 10 May 1986 (SO)
1, Levee Rd., Union Co., 15 May 2016 (KM)
2, Crab Orchard NWR, 17 May 1983 (JCR)
Documentation: Specimen—male, Crab Orchard NWR, Williamson Co., 2 Feb 1961 (SIU A-1202).
White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis
Early October - Early May
Status and abundance: Common migrant and winter resident.
Habitat: Brushy fields and woods, hedgerows, and residential areas.
Records and remarks: One of our most numerous winter sparrows, White-throated Sparrows form large noisy flocks and gather in hedgerows to form nocturnal roosts. They regularly associate with other sparrow and finch species in weedy fields and brushy tangles along woodland edge. During spring, in particular, they forage and sing in woodlands, making the morning echo with their beautiful, whistled song. Regular visitors to bird feeders, they especially respond to millet spread on the ground near a brush pile or conifer tree that can be used for cover.
AUTUMN—Typical first arrival dates are after 20 September. The first big pulse of migrants is routinely associated with the first cold front in early October. The large winter population obscures the peak and termination of fall migration.
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 12 Sep 1987 (WDR)
4, Oakwood Bottoms, 29 Sep 2016 (HD)
WINTER—Typical daily counts by individual observers range from twenty to seventy-five birds, exceptionally to 250 or more. Populations are highest in the Shawnee Hills and Floodplains and lowest in the Till Plain. Highest densities can be found in hedgerows adjacent to grain crops, such as sorghum, that are left unharvested.
350, Union Co. CA, 2 Jan 1976 (BP)
SPRING—The beginning of spring migration is difficult to detect, but may begin as early
as mid- or late February in warm springs. An increase in song activity in March and April increases the conspicuousness of these birds. Most have departed by the end of the first week of May.
1, se. Saline Co., 9 May 1987 (SO)
2, Fort Massac SP, 11 May 2014 (MML)
male, Pomona, 26 May 1986 (TF, WDR)
male, Trail of Tears SF, 7 Jun 1990 (SKR)
Documentation: Specimen—ad. male, LaRue Pine Hills, Union Co., 3 May 1956 (SIU A-306).
Harris's Sparrow Zonotrichia querula
Late October - Early May
Status and abundance: Rare migrant and winter resident.
Habitat: Brushy fields and woods, multiflora rose hedgerows.
Records and remarks: Most records of this sparrow of the Great Plains come from the winter season. Surprisingly few have been encountered during migration. They often associate with White-crowned Sparrows in multiflora hedgerows. There are apparently no records from the eastern counties, which may simply be a function of low observer effort. Observers are encouraged to archive photos in eBird.
AUTUMN—There are few fall records. In theory, Harris's Sparrows should arrive in late September and depart by mid-November. The reason for the paucity of fall records is unclear, but the species may simply be overlooked because it is in very low numbers.
1, Carbondale, 22 Oct 1988 (BD)
WINTER—Most sightings are of one to three birds visiting feeders or associating with White-crowned Sparrows in hedgerows. Although the birds appear to overwinter in at least some years, most of the reports are of birds that were observed over a period of only a few days.
3, Union Co. CA, 19 Dec 1971, 2 of which were banded on 8 Jan 1972 (VK)
1, Pyramid SP, 27 Dec 2013 (D. Akers)
1, Union Co. CA, 29 Dec 2009 (KMc)
1, Union Co. CA, 29 Dec 2012 (HDB, m.ob.)
1, near Cutler, Perry Co., 31 Dec 2014 (T. Wolff)
1, Union Co. CA, 3-5 Jan 1987 (R. Chapel, WDR)
imm., Baldwin Lake, 13-14 Feb 2010 (M. Thelen, TD, KM, m.ob.)
2, Carbondale, all winter 1972-1973 (D. Hayward)
SPRING—Very few occurrences during spring.
ad., Oakwood Bottoms, Jackson Co., 8 May 1971 (VK, D. Hayward)
1, Carbondale, 13 May 1972 (D. Hayward)
Documentation: Specimen—female, 2 miles n. of Cobden, Union Co., 18 Mar 1967 (SIU A-1677).
White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys
Early October - Early May
Status and abundance: Fairly common migrant and winter resident.
Habitat: Woodland edge, brushy fields, and hedgerows.
Records and remarks: White-crowned Sparrows are normally easy to identify, especially as adults. They have the black and white stripes on the head, yet lack the bright white throat and dark moustachial marks of White-throated Sparrows. The immatures sometimes confuse observers. Instead of black and white stripes on the crown, they have dull rusty crown stripes and can be reminiscent of Chipping or Field Sparrows.
Two subspecies have been reported from the region: Z. l. leucophrys, the eastern race, has black lores and is the predominant form in the region, whereas Z. l. gambelii, from the western United States and Canada, has white lores and is rare, although easily overlooked. An adult Gambel's White-crowned Sparrow was at Wayne Fitzgerrell SP, Franklin Co., on 21 Dec 1990 (WDR). Another was in Union County, 29 Dec 1999 (DK, KM).
AUTUMN—White-crowned Sparrows arrive with the first strong cold front in October. Typical daily high counts range from five to twenty-five birds, with occasional concentrations of up to fifty or more birds.
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 3 Oct 1987 (SO)
1, Metropolis, 7 Oct 2015 (A. Parmley)
WINTER—White-crowned Sparrows often join other species of sparrows, especially White-throated Sparrows in foraging flocks associated with hedgerows.
115, Mermet, 30 Dec 2001 (KM, DK)
SPRING—The large winter population makes detection of spring arrivals problematic. The bulk of migration appears to occur much later for White-crowned Sparrows than for other sparrow species, however, being concentrated in the last half of April and early May.
35, Union Co., 16 Mar 1996 (KM)
1, Cache, Alexander Co., 27 May 1989 (EW)
1, Kinkaid Lake, Jackson Co., 28 May 1983 (JCR)
Documentation: Specimen—female, Carbondale, Jackson Co., 30 Dec 1960 (SIU A-1135).
Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis
Early October - Mid-April
Status and abundance: Common migrant and winter resident. Very rare summer visitor.
Habitat: Nearly any weedy or brushy area. Also numerous at feeders in residential areas.
Records and remarks: Dark-eyed Juncos are one of our most numerous winter birds. Flocks of up to two hundred birds are commonplace. They seem to occupy nearly any available weed
patch or woodland edge. Plumages are highly variable and influenced by age, sex, and parentage. In the predominant subspecies, J. h. hyemalis, the "Slate-colored" Junco, the males are a very dark, slaty gray, whereas females and immatures are much paler, sometimes even appearing to be brown. At least two other subspecies have been reported in the region. J. h. montanus, the "Oregon" Junco, is regularly reported, but it poses a difficult identification problem because intergrades between this form and the more common Slate-colored Junco closely resemble female and immature Oregon Junco. Consequently, observers are encouraged to archive photos in eBird. Oregon Junco probably occurs as a very rare migrant and winter resident. J. h. aikeni, the "White-winged" Junco, has been reported at least once (Carbon Lake, Jackson Co., 15 Dec 1948, [RB]). Photographic evidence is needed to confirm occurrence of White-winged Junco because some Slate-colored Juncos show traces of white wing bars. Finally, J. h. shufeldti, the "Gray-headed" Junco, has been reported once from Mt. Vernon (7 May 1983, Robinson 1996).
AUTUMN—The first juncos typically arrive behind the first cold front in October, and they are widespread by late October. Because of the winter population, the end of fall migration is difficult to discern, but populations appear to level off by late November or early December.
3, Lake Murphysboro SP, 29 Sep 2014 (JT)
1, Carbondale, 4 Oct 1986 (WDR)
WINTER—Daily counts by single observers usually range from forty to one hundred birds. Juncos are frequent visitors to feeders, where they will take millet, cracked corn, sunflower seed, and occasionally suet.
Oregon Junco male, Pankeyville, Saline Co., Feb 1987 (SIU AP-146; K. Phelps)
Oregon Junco female, se. Jackson Co., 19 Feb 1989 (WDR)
SPRING—Northward migration may begin as early as late February, because numbers seem to increase during March. Most birds have departed by the end of March, but some routinely linger into the first three weeks of April.
Oregon Junco, Pyramid SP, 25 Mar 2016 (WDR)
1, Ozark, Johnson Co., 24 Apr 1989 (TF)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 2 May 2015 (DM)
1, Alexander Co., 7 May 1977 (SBC)
SUMMER—ad. collected, near Elizabethtown, Hardin Co., 9 Jun 1881 (S. Forbes)
Documentation: Specimen—male, Giant City SP, Jackson Co., 20 Jan 1982 (SIU A-1823).
Family Icteriidae
Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens
Late April - Early September
Status and abundance: Common spring migrant and summer resident. Uncommon fall migrant.
Habitat: Shrubby old fields, hedgerows, and forest edge.
Records and remarks: Recent genetic evidence indicates that Yellow-breasted Chat is not a warbler, but belongs in its own unique family, named Icteriidae. Chats have interesting behaviors that can be quite engaging. In their flight display, male chats sing a series of evenly spaced barking notes while fluttering up into the air like a butterfly and then dropping back
down to a concealed perch. Chats often sing on clear, calm spring and summer nights as well.
SPRING—Some chats arrive early in April, but most are not detected until the last week of April. Peak numbers are present in the last few days of April and the first week of May. The presence of the breeding population obscures detection of departure dates, but most migrants have probably left by end of May. Daily high counts in excellent habitat can be more than 30 birds.
1, Giant City SP, 6 Apr 1986 (WDR)
4, Union Co., 13 Apr 2001 (KM)
2, Johnson Co., 13 Apr 2002 (FB)
SUMMER—Nests are constructed of grasses and placed between 1 and 5 feet above the ground in briar patches. They lay fairly large clutches (four to seven eggs) and are frequently parasitized by cowbirds. Egg dates range from early May to mid-July.
AUTUMN—Chats seem to simply disappear after the breeding season. They are not often seen past mid-August. They still utilize shrubby habitats in fall, but they skulk around in dense cover and are reluctant to come out. Daily counts rarely exceed 1 bird.
1, Mt. Vernon, Jefferson Co., 27 Aug 1987 (TF)
1, Crab Orchard NWR, 21 Sep 1986 (WDR)
1, Ziegler, Franklin Co., 27 Sep 1998 (LS)
Documentation: Specimen—male, LaRue Pine Hills, Union Co., 3 May 1956 (SIU A-251).