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St Joseph Bay Preserves

Bird Checklist

All listed birds have been documented on buffer and aquatic preserve lands in the time periods shown after the species. Resident means breeding or non-breeding birds have been recorded all times of the year; special notes follow some species to indicate the best time period for observation.

Family GAVIIDAE: Loons

_ Red throated Loon. Gavia stellata. Oct-Mar

_ Common Loon. Gavia immer. Oct‑Apr

Family PODICIPEDIDAE: Grebes

_ Pied billed Grebe. Podilymbus podiceps. Resident

_ Horned Grebe. Podiceps auritus. Oct-Jun

_ Red necked Grebe. Podiceps grisegena. Dec-Jan

_ Eared Grebe. Podiceps nigricollis. Dec-Jan  

Family SULIDAE: Boobies and Gannets

_ Masked (Blue‑faced) Booby. Sula dactylatra. Jul-Aug­

_ Brown Booby. Sula leucogaster. Jul

_ Northern Gannet. Morus bassanus. Aug‑May. Dec and Apr are the best months to observe this species.

Family PELECANIDAE: Pelicans

_ American White Pelican. Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. Sep‑Jan; ­Mar-Jul

_ Brown Pelican. Pelecanus occidentalis. Resident.

Family PHALACROCORACIDAE: Cormorants

_ Double crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus. Sep‑May

Family ANHINGIDAE: Darters

_ Anhinga. Anhinga anhinga. Resident. Apr‑Dec

Family FREGATIDAE: Frigatebirds

    Magnificent Frigatebird. Fregata magnificens. Mar‑Nov After a strong southerly storm.

Family ARDEIDAE: Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets

_ American Bittern. Botaurus lentiginosus. Sep‑Jul; Jan-Mar

_ Least Bittern. Ixobrychus exilis. Mar‑Dec

_ Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias. Resident.

_ Great White Heron. Sep-Oct

_ American Egret Casmerodius albus  Resident

_ Great Egret. Ardea alba. Resident

_ Snowy Egret. Egretta thula. Resident

_ Little Blue Heron. Egretta caerulea. Resident

_ Tricolored (Louisiana) Heron. Egretta tricolor. Resident

_ Reddish Egret. Egretta rufescens. Resident. Oct-May

_ Cattle Egret. Bubulcus ibis. Resident. Jan-Apr are the best months to observe this species.

_ Green Heron. Butorides virescens. Resident. Mar-Oct are the best months to observe this species.

_ Black crowned Night Heron. Nycticorax nycticorax. Resident

_ Yellow crowned Night Heron. Nyctanassa violacea. Resident. Apr‑Oct are the best months to observe this species.

Family THRESKIORNITHIDAE: Ibises and Spoonbills

_ White Ibis. Eudocimus albus. Resident

_ Glossy Ibis. Plegadis falcinellus. Mar-Oct

Family CICONIIDAE: Storks

_ Wood Stork. Mycteria americana. Resident. May-Oct are the best months to observe this species.

Family CATHARTIDAE: New World Vultures

_ Black Vulture. Coragyps atratus. Resident

_ Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura. Resident

Family ANATIDAE:Waterfowl:

_ Wood Duck. Aix sponsa. Resident

_ Gadwall. Anas strepera. Oct‑Mar

_ American Wigeon. Anas americana. Sep‑Apr

_ American Black Duck. Anas rubripes. Oct‑Apr

_ Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos. ­Nov‑Apr

_ Blue winged Teal. Anas discors. Year-round. Sep is the best month to observe this species.

_ Northern Shoveler. Anas clypeata. Aug ‑May

_ Northern Pintail. Anas acuta. Oct‑Mar; Jul-Aug

_ Green winged Teal. Anas crecca. Sep‑Mar

_ Canvasback. Aythya valisineria. Oct-Feb

_ Redhead. Aythya americana. Oct‑Apr

_ Fulvus Whistling Duck  Dendrocygna bicolor Spring

_ Ring necked Duck. Aythya collaris. Oct‑May

_ Lesser Scaup. Aythya affinis. Oct-Jun.

_ Surf Scoter. Melanitta perspicillata. Oct-Dec

_ White winged Scoter. Melanitta fusca. Nov-Jan; May

_ Black Scoter. Melanitta nigra. Oct-Dec

_ Long-tailed Duck (Oldsquaw). Clangula hyemalis. Dec-Jan

_ Bufflehead. Bucephala albeola. Nov‑May

_ Common Golden-eye. Bucephala clangula. Nov‑Mar

_ Hooded Merganser. Lophodytes cucullatus. Nov-Mar

_ Red breasted Merganser. Mergus serrator. Nov‑Apr

_ Ruddy Duck. Oxyura jamaicensis. Oct‑Jun

Family ACCIPITRIDAE: Kites, Eagles, Hawks and Allies

_ Osprey. Pandion haliaetus. Resident

_ Swallow tailed Kite. Elanoides forficatus. Feb-Jun on the Chipola River.

_ Mississippi Kite. Ictinia mississippiensis. Apr-Sep on the Chipola River.

_ Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Resident

_ Northern Harrier. Circus cyaneus. Aug-May. Most frequently seen in Mar‑Apr and Sep‑Oct.

_ Sharp shinned Hawk. Accipiter striatus. Aug-Apr. Most frequently seen Sep‑Oct in migration at St Joseph State Park.

_ Cooper's Hawk. Accipiter cooperii. Resident

_ Red shouldered Hawk. Buteo lineatus. Resident

_ Broad winged Hawk. Buteo platypterus. Mar‑Oct

_ Swainson's Hawk. Buteo swainsoni. Oct. Most frequently seen Oct in migration at St Joseph State Park.

_ Red‑tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis. Resident

_ Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetos. Apr-Jun; Oct-Dec

Family FALCONIDAE: Caracaras and Falcons

_ American Kestrel. Falco sparverius. Resident

_  Merlin. Falco columbarius. Sep- Apr. Most frequently seen Sep‑Oct in migration at St Joseph State Park.

_ Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus. Sep‑Apr. Most frequently seen Sep‑Oct in migration at St Joseph State Park.

Family PHASIANIDAE: Turkey.

_ Wild Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo. Resident. Jul and Feb are the best months to observe this species.

Family ODONTOPHORIDAE: Quail.

_ Northern Bobwhite. Colinus virginianus. Resident

Family RALLIDAE: Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

_ Black Rail. Laterallus jamaicensis. Apr-May; Oct-Nov

_ Clapper Rail. Rallus longirostris. Resident

_ King Rail. Rallus elegans. Resident

_ Virginia Rail. Rallus limicola. Sep‑Apr

_ Sora. Porzana carolina. Jul-May. Most frequently seen in Sep‑Nov and Apr.

_ Purple Gallinule. Porphyrio martinica. Resident. Apr‑Nov are the best months to observe this species.

_ Common Moorhen (Gallinule). Gallinula chloropus. Resident

_ American Coot. Fulica americana. Resident

Family GRUIDAE: Cranes

_ Sandhill Crane. Grus canadensis. Sep; Dec-May

Family CHARADRIIDAE: Plovers

_ Black bellied Plover. Pluvialis squatarola. Aug‑Sep; Apr‑May.

_ American (Lesser) Golden-Plover. Pluvialis dominica. Mar-Apr; Sep‑Dec

_ Snowy Plover. Charadrius alexandrinus. Resident

  Wilson's Plover. Charadrius wilsonia. Resident. Mar‑Sep and Nov are the best months to observe this species

_ Semipalmated Plover. Charadrius semipalmatus. Recorded every month of year. May and Aug are the best months to observe this species

_ Piping Plover. Charadrius melodus. May-July

_ Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus. Resident

Family HAEMATOPODIDAE: Oystercatchers

 American Oystercatcher. Haematopus palliatus. Resident. Jan-Feb and May-Jun and Nov are the best months to observe this species

Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE: Stilts and Avocets

_ Black necked Stilt. Himantopus mexicanus. May- Jun; Sep

_ American Avocet. Recurvirostra americana. Sep-Oct; Dec; Jun-Aug

Family SCOLOPACIDAE: Sandpipers and Allies

_ Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca. Jul‑May

_ Lesser Yellowlegs. Tringa flavipes. Resident. Apr and Jul‑Sep are the best months to observe this species.

_ Solitary Sandpiper. Tringa solitaria. Jul-May

_ Willet. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. Resident

_ Spotted Sandpiper. Actitus macularia. Jul‑May

_ Upland Sandpiper. Bartramia longicauda. Aug‑Sep; Feb‑May

_ Whimbrel. Numenius phaeopus. Jun‑Mar

_ Hudsonian Godwit. Limosa haemastica. Sep-Oct; May

_ Marbled Godwit. Limosa fedoa. Aug‑ Jun      

_ Ruddy Turnstone. Arenaria interpres. Common transient and fairly common winter resident with a few remaining in the summer.

_ Red Knot. Calidris canutus. Apr‑May; Sep‑Oct

_ Sanderling. Calidris alba. Common transient and winter resident, and rare (non‑breeding) summer visitor.

_ Semipalmated Sandpiper. Calidris pusilla. Fairly common spring, rare fall transient. Spring peeps are more likely this species than the Western Sandpiper. May is the best month to observe this species.

_ Western Sandpiper. Calidris mauri. Fairly common falland rare spring transient; uncommon winter visitor. Fall peeps are much more likely this species than

_ Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla. Jul‑May

_ White rumped Sandpiper. Calidris fuscicollis. May‑Jun .

_ Baird’s Sandpiper. Calidris bairdii. May

_ Pectoral Sandpiper. Calidris melanotos. Jul‑Oct; Mar‑Apr

_ Purple Sandpiper. Calidris maritima. Jan

_ Dunlin. Calidris alpina. Sep-Jun

_ Stilt Sandpiper. Micropalama himantopus. Aug‑Oct; Apr‑May

_ Buff breasted Sandpiper. Tryngites subruficollis.Mar; Sep

_ Ruff. Philomachus pugnax. Mar-Apr

_ Short billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus griseus. Fairly common transient and uncommon winter resident, occasional non‑breeders in summer.

_ Long billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus scolopaceus. Jan; May; Aug

_ Wilson’s(Common) Snipe. Gallinago delicata. Aug-Apr

_ American Woodcock. Scolopax minor. Resident. Apr-Mar are the best months to observe this species.

_ Wilson's Phalarope. Phalaropus tricolor. May; Aug-Sep

Family LARIDAE: Gulls and Terns

_ Parasitic Jaeger. Stercorarius parasiticus. May-Jul; Sep; Dec

_ Laughing Gull. Larus atricilla. Resident

_ Bonaparte's Gull. Larus philadelphia. Nov‑May; Aug-Sep

_ Ring billed Gull. Larus delawarensis. Resident

_ American Herring Gull. Larus smithsonianus. Resident

_ Iceland Gull. Larus glaucoides. Jan

_ Great (Greater) Black‑backed Gull. Larus marinus. Feb-Mar

_ Black legged Kittiwake. Rissa tridactyla. Dec-Jan

_ Gull billed Tern. Sterna nilotica. Mar‑Oct.  Fairly common in Gulf County, especially at Indian Pass.

_ Caspian Tern. Sterna caspia. Resident. Fairly common in Gulf County, especially at Indian Pass.

_ Royal Tern. Sterna maxima. Resident

_ Sandwich Tern. Sterna sandvicensis. Resident

_ Common Tern. Sterna hirundo. Apr‑Nov

_ Forster's Tern. Sterna forsteri. Resident

_ Least Tern. Sterna antillarum. Mar-Sep

_ Bridled Tern. Sterna anaethetus. Apr; Jun

_ Sooty Tern. Sterna fuscata. Jun; Aug

_ Black Tern. Chlidonias niger. Apr-Sep

_ Brown Noddy. Anous stolidus. May; Aug

_ Black Skimmer. Rynchops niger. Resident.

Family COLUMBIDAE: Pigeons and Doves

_ Rock Dove (Pigeon). Columba livia. Res. Exotic

_  Eurasian Collared‑Dove. Streptopelia decaocto. Res. Exotic

_ White winged Dove. Zenaida asiatica. Mar-May;Oct-Jan

_ Mourning Dove. Zenaida macroura. Resident.

_ Common Ground Dove. Columbina passerina. Resident.

Family CUCULIDAE: Cuckoos and Anis

_ Black billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus erythropthalmus. May, Aug‑Oct

_ Yellow billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus. Apr-Oct

_ Groove billed Ani. Crotophaga sulcirostris. Oct‑Apr

Family TYTONIDAE: Barn Owls

_ Common Barn Owl. Tyto alba. Rare resident

Family STRIGIDAE: Typical Owls

_ Eastern Screech‑Owl. Otus asio. Resident.

_ Great Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus. Resident.

_ Barred Owl. Strix varia. Resident.

_ Short eared Owl. Asio flammeus. Nov; Jan

Family CAPRIMULGIDAE: Nighthawks and Goatsuckers

_ Common Nighthawk. Chordeiles minor. Mar‑Nov

_ Chuck will's widow. Caprimulgus carolinensis. Mar‑Oct

_  Whip poor will. Caprimulgus vociferus. Aug‑Mar  

Family APODIDAE: Swifts

_ Chimney Swift. Chaetura pelagica. Mar‑Nov  

Family TROCHILIDAE: Hummingbirds

_ Ruby throated Hummingbird. Archilochus colubris.

  Mar Nov. In winter check to be sure its this species , also may be Black‑chinned Hummingbird or Rufous Hummingbird. Females of these species are difficult to separate in field.

_  Black chinned Hummingbird. Archilochus alexandri. Dec-Jan

_  Rufous Hummingbird. Selasphorus rufus. Sep-Apr  

Family ALCEDINIDAE: Kingfishers

_ Belted Kingfisher. Ceryle alcyon. Resident. More common in the winter.  

Family PICIDAE: Woodpeckers and Allies

_ Red headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalu­s. Resident.

_ Red bellied Woodpecker. Melanerpes carolinus. Resident.

_ Yellow bellied Sapsucker. Sphyrapicus varius. Oct‑Apr

_ Downy Woodpecker. Picoides pubescens. Resident.

_  Hairy Woodpecker. Picoides villosus. Resident.           

_  Red cockaded Woodpecker. Picoides borealis. Rare resident

_ Northern (Yellow shafted) Flicker. Colaptes auratus. Resident.

_ Pileated Woodpecker. Dryocopus pileatus. Resident.  

Family TYRANNIDAE: Tyrant Flycatchers

_ Eastern Wood Pewee. Contopus virens. ­Apr Nov

_ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher. Empidonax flaviventris. Sep

_ Acadian Flycatcher. Empidonax virescens. Apr Sep

_ Least Flycatcher. Empidonax minimus. Oct-Nov­

_ Eastern Phoebe. Sayornis phoebe. Sep-Mar

_ Vermilion Flycatcher. Pyrocephalus rubinus. Oct Mar­

_ Great Crested Flycatcher. Myiarchus crinitus. Mar Oct

_ Western Kingbird. Tyrannus verticalis. Apr‑May; Oct Jan

_ Eastern Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus. Mar‑Nov

_ Gray Kingbird. Tyrannus dominicensis. Apr‑Sep

_ Scissor tailed Flycatcher. Tyrannus forficatus. Aug-Dec; Apr  

Family LANIIDAE: Shrikes

_ Loggerhead Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus. Resident.  

Family VIREONIDAE: Vireos

_ White eyed Vireo. Vireo griseus. Resident.

_ Yellow throated Vireo. Vireo flavifrons. Mar Oct; Dec

_ Blue-headed (Solitary) Vireo. Vireo solitarius. Oct  Apr

_ Philadelphia Vireo. Vireo philadelphicus. Oct

_ Red eyed Vireo. Vireo olivaceus. ­Mar Oct

_ Black whiskered Vireo. Vireo altiloquus. Apr  

Family CORVIDAE: Jays and Crows

_ Blue Jay. Cyanocitta cristata. Resident.

_ American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos. Resident.

_ Fish Crow. Corvus ossifragus. Resident.

Family ALAUDIDAE: Larks

_ Horned Lark. Eremophila alpestris. Dec

Family HIRUNDINIDAE: Swallows

_ Purple Martin. Progne subis. Feb Nov. Peak abundance in Mar and Jul-Aug.

_ Tree Swallow. Tachycineta bicolor. Aug May. Peak abundance in Apr and Sep.

_ Northern Rough winged Swallow.Stelgidopteryx serripennis. Resident.

_ Bank Swallow. Riparia riparia. Apr-May; Aug‑Sep

_ Cliff Swallow. Petrochelidon pyrrhonota. Aug‑Oct

_ Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica. Resident. Peak abundance Apr‑May and Aug‑Sep.  

Family PARIDAE: Titmice and Chickadees

_ Carolina Chickadee. Poecile carolinensis. Resident

_ Tufted Titmouse. Baeolophus bicolor. Resident  

Family SITTIDAE: Nuthatches

_ Red breasted Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis. Oct‑May

_ White breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis. Resident. More common in north Bay County.

_ Brown headed Nuthatch. Sitta pusilla. Resident  

Family CERTHIIDAE: Creepers

_ Brown Creeper. Certhia americana. Oct Feb  

Family TROGLODYTIDAE: Wrens

_ Carolina Wren. Thryothorus ludovicianus. Resident

_  Bewick's Wren. Thryomanes bewickii. Nov Feb

_ House Wren. Troglodytes aedon. Sep Apr

_ Winter Wren. Troglodytes troglodytes. Oct Mar

_ Sedge (Short billed Marsh) Wren. Cistothorus platensis. Sep May

_ Marsh (Long billed Marsh) Wren. Cistothorus palustris. Resident  

Family REGULIDAE: Kinglets.

_ Golden crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa. Oct Apr

_ Ruby crowned Kinglet. Regulus calendula. Sep Apr  

Family SYLVIIDAE: Gnatcatchers.

_ Blue gray Gnatcatcher. Polioptila caerulea. Resident  

Family TURDIDAE: Thrushes

_ Eastern Bluebird. Sialia sialis. Resident

_ Veery. Catharus fuscescens. Aug-Oct; Apr May

_ Gray cheeked Thrush. Catharus minimus. Aug Oct; Apr

_ Swainson's Thrush. Catharus ustulatus. Sep-Dec; Mar May

_ Hermit Thrush. Catharus guttatus. Oct Apr

_ Wood Thrush. Hylocichla mustelina. ­Mar Oct

_ American Robin. Turdus migratorius. Oct-Jun. Most abundant Nov Dec and Feb Mar. Arrive in large numbers with winter cold fronts.

_ Varied Thrush. Ixoreus naevius. Dec  

Family MIMIDAE: Mockingbirds, Thrashers, and Allies

_ Gray Catbird. Dumetella carolinensis. Aug Jun

_ Northern Mockingbird. Mimus polyglottos. Resident

_ Brown Thrasher. Toxostoma rufum. Resident  

Family STURNIDAE: Starlings

_ Common (European) Starling. Sturnus vulgaris. Res.Exo.

Family MOTACILLIDAE: Pipits

_ American (Water) Pipit. Anthus rubescens. Oct Mar

_ Sprague's Pipit. Anthus spragueii. Dec Mar  

Family BOMBYCILLIDAE: Waxwings

_ Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum. Oct May. Most frequently seen in Feb-Apr.

Family PARULIDAE: Wood Warblers

_ Blue winged Warbler. Vermivora pinus. Jul-Oct; Mar Apr

_ Golden winged Warbler. Vermivora chrysoptera. Sep Oct; Apr May

_ Tennessee Warbler. Vermivora peregrina. Sep Nov; Apr May

_ Orange crowned Warbler. Vermivora celata. Oct Apr

_ Nashville Warbler. Vermivora ruficapilla. Sep-Oct; May

_ Northern Parula. Parula americana. Dec-Oct

_ Yellow Warbler. Dendroica petechia. Jul Nov; Apr May

_ Chestnut sided Warbler. Dendroica pensylvanica. Sep Oct; Apr

_ Magnolia Warbler. Dendroica magnolia. Sep-Oct; Apr May

_ Cape May Warbler. Dendroica tigrina. Oct; Apr

_ Black throated Blue Warbler. Dendroica caerulescens. Sep Oct; Apr-May

_ Yellow rumped (Myrtle) Warbler. Dendroica coronata. Sep May

_ Black throated Gray Warbler. Dendroica nigrescens. Dec

_ Black throated Green Warbler. Dendroica virens. Sep Jan; Apr May

_ Blackburnian Warbler. Dendroica fusca. Aug Nov; Mar May

_ Yellow throated Warbler. Dendroica dominica. Resident

_ Pine Warbler. Dendroica pinus. Resident

_ Prairie Warbler. Dendroica discolor. Resident

_ Palm Warbler. Dendroica palmarum. Sep Apr

_ Bay breasted Warbler. Dendroica castanea. Sep Oct; Apr-May

_ Blackpoll Warbler. Dendroica striata. Mar Jun

_ Cerulean Warbler. Dendroica cerulea. Sep; Apr

_ Black and white Warbler. Mniotilta varia. Jul May

_ American Redstart. Setophaga ruticilla. Jun Oct; Apr May

_ Prothonotary Warbler. Protonotaria citrea. Mar Oct

_ Worm eating Warbler. Helmitheros vermivorus. Sep Oct; Mar Apr

_ Swainson's Warbler. Limnothlypis swainsonii. Apr-Aug

_ Ovenbird. Seiurus aurocapillus. Sep Nov; Apr

_ Northern Waterthrush. Seiurus noveboracensis. Jul-Dec; Apr May

_ Louisiana Waterthrush. Seiurus motacilla. ­Apr Oct

_ Kentucky Warbler. Oporornis formosus. Mar Oct

_ Mourning Warbler. Oporornis philadelphia. Sep; Mar

_ Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas. Resident

_ Hooded Warbler. Wilsonia citrina. Mar  Nov

_ Wilson's Warbler. Wilsonia pusilla. Sep Jan

_ Canada Warbler. Wilsonia canadensis. Sep

_ Yellow breasted Chat. Icteria virens. Apr Oct; Jan  

Family THRAUPIDAE: Tanagers