A Checklist of Birds in the Big South Fork

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area4564 Leatherwood RoadOneida, Tennessee 37841

National Park ServiceU.S. Department of the Interior

Big South Fork National River and Recreation AreaTennessee/Kentucky

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Magnolia Warbler TR U UCape May Warbler TR U VUBlack-thr. Blue Warbler TR VU VUYellow-rumped Warbler WR FC FC UBlack-thr. Green Warbler* SR Gen/For C C CBlackburnian Warbler TR U UYellow-throated Warbler* SR FC FC FCPine Warbler* PR For C C C VUPrairie Warbler* SR Op U U UPalm Warbler TR U UBay-breasted Warbler TR Gen VUBlackpoll Warbler TR Gen VUCerulean Warbler* SR U U U UBlack-and-white Warbler* SR Gen FC FC FCAmerican Redstart* SR Gen U U UProthonotary Warbler SR VU VU VUWorm-eating Warbler** SR Gen FC FC FCSwainson’s Warbler* SR U U UOvenbird* SR Aq A A FCNorthern Waterthrush TR Gen VU VULouisiana Waterthrush* SR Gen U U UKentucky Warbler* SR Op U U UCommon Yellowthroat* SR FC FC UHooded Warbler* SR C C FC

Canada Warbler TR VU VUYellow-breasted Chat* SR Op U U USummer Tanager* SR VU VU VUScarlet Tanager* SR C C FCNorthern Cardinal* PR FC FC FC FCRose-breasted Grosbeak TR U UBlue Grosbeak VI Op VU VUIndigo Bunting* SR C C FCRufous-sided Towhee* PR FC FC FC UChipping Sparrow* SR Op FC FC FC VUField Sparrow* PR Op U U U UVesper Sparrow VI Op VUSavannah Sparrow VI Op VU

Fox Sparrow WR VU U VUSong Sparrow* WR U U FC FCSwamp Sparrow WR U U UWhite-throated Sparrow WR U U UWhite-crowned Sparrow WR VU VU VUDark-eyed Junco WR FC FC FCBobolink VI Op VURed-winged Blackbird* SR Aq FC FC FCEastern Meadowlark* PR Op FC FC FC UCommon Grackle* PR U U U UBrown-headed Cowbird* SR U U UOrchard Oriole* SR Op U U VUNorthern Oriole SR VU VU VUPurple Finch WR VU VU VUHouse Finch PR VU VU VU VURed Crossbill VI For RPine Siskin WR VU VU VUAmerican Goldfinch* PR U U U UEvening Grosbeak WR R RHouse Sparrow* PR U U U U

Species Status Hab. Sp S F W Species Status Hab. Sp S F W

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Cover Photo: Bombycilla cedrorum (Cedar Waxwing)

Dr. Stephen J. Stedman (Tennessee Technological University), Dr. Charles

P. Nicholson (Tennessee Ornithological Society) and NPS data provided much

of the information in the preceding checklist.

The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is comprised of an area of about 125,000 acres located in McCreary County, Kentucky and Fentress, Morgan, Pickett, and Scott counties, Tennessee. It was established in 1974 to provide protection for the watershed of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and the many fine natural features found nearby.

About 160 species of birds have been recorded within the Big South Fork NRRA during the past two decades. Prior to establishment of the National Area, some species of birds occurred within its present-day boundaries or nearby, but they have not been recorded since. The following species may one day be recorded in the area again, but they are not expected at the time: Golden Eagle, Peregrine Falcon, Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Common Raven, Bewick’s Wren.

The National Area is especially rich as a haven for species of Neotropical migrant birds. Neo-tropical migrants, indicated by boldfacing in the checklist, are species that breed in North Amer-ica ande then migrate to the tropical regions of Central and South America to spend the northern winter. Some birds may be termed partial Neotropical migrants; that is, a portion of their popu-lation migrates to the tropics for the winter, but a large fraction winters in the southern parts of North America. Italics in the checklist indicate partial Neotropical migrants.

Some species of Neotropical migrants are currently undergoing population declines throughout their ranges as a result of the effects of forest fragmentation and clearcutting. Protecting large tracts of mature forest may be the best means of ensuring the survival of these species.

Status CodesPR Permanent ResidentSR Summer ResidentWR Winter ResidentTR TransientVI Visitor (no pattern of occurrence)

Asterisks indicate confirmed (**) and highly probable (*) breeding in the area.

Abundance CodesA Abundant (26+ likely to be seen/heard in appropriate habitat in one day)C Common (11-25 likely to be seen/heard in appropriate habitat in one day)FC Fairly Common (3-10 likely to be seen/heard in appropriate habitat in one day)U Uncommon (1-2 likely to be seen/heard in appropriate habitat in one day)VU Very Uncommon (1 to 5 records during a season likely)R Rare (only 1-3 records ever made)

Seasons of OccurenceSp Spring (March-May)Su Summer (June-July)Fa Fall (August-November)W Winter (December-February)

Habitat Obligates and GeneralistsSome species breeding in or migrating through the Big South Fork are often habitat obligates, that is, their oc-curence is often restricted to certain habitats found within the area, while other species are habitat generalists and may be found in a wide variety of habitats within the area. The following codes are used to indicate the preferences of spe-cies with habitat restrictions:

Gen Largely confined to the gorge of the Big South Fork and its tributaries.Aq Usually associated with aquatic habitats, such as rivers, lakes and ponds.For Usually associated with upland pine forests.Op Usually associated with open habitats, such as old fields, pastures, homesteads, and recently developed areas.

Field Information

The following space is provided for those wishing to keep a record of their Big South Fork birding experience.

Date/Time:_______________ Afield:_____________________Observer(s):__________________________________________Sky/Wind/Temp:____________ Total # Species___________Places Visited:________________________________________Notes:______________________________________________

Common Loon VI Aq RPied-billed Grebe VI Aq VU VU RGreat Blue Heron PR Aq U U U VU Green Heron* SR Aq VU VU VU Canada Goose PR Aq VU VU VU VUWood Duck* SR Aq U U UMallard VI Aq VU VU VUBlue-winged Teal TR Aq VU VUNorthern Shoveler TR Aq VU VUBlack Vulture PR U U U UTurkey Vulture PR FC FC FC FCOsprey TR Aq VU VUBald Eagle VI Gen VUNorthern Harrier WR Op VU VU VUSharp-shinned Hawk** PR For VU VU VU VUCooper’s Hawk PR VU VU VU VURed-shouldered Hawk** PR Aq U U U UBroad-winged Hawk* SR U U U Red-tailed Hawk* PR U U U UAmerican Kestrel PR Op VU VU VU VURuffed Grouse** PR U U U UWild Turkey** PR U U U UNorthern Bobwhite PR Op VU VU VU VUSandhill Crane TR VU VUKilldeer* PR Op U U U USolitary Sandpiper TR Aq VU VUSpotted Sandpiper TR Aq VU VUCommon Snipe WR Aq VU VU VUAmerican Woodcock** PR VU VU VU VURock Dove* PR VU VU VU VUMourning Dove* PR U U U UBlack-billed Cuckoo TR VU VUYellow-billed Cuckoo* SR U U UEastern Screech-Owl* PR U U U UGreat Horned Owl* PR U U U UBarred Owl* PR Gen U U U UCommon Nighthawk TR VU VUWhip-poor-will* SR FC FC UChimney Swift* SR U U URuby-thr. Hummingbird* SR U U U Belted Kingfisher* PR Aq U U U URed-headed Woodpecker PR VU VU VU VURed-bellied Woodpecker* PR U U U UYellow-bellied Sapsucker WR U U UDowny Woodpecker* PR U U U UHairy Woodpecker* PR FC FC FC FCNorthern Flicker* PR U U U UPileated Woodpecker* PR FC FC FC FCOlive-sided Flycatcher TR VU VUEastern Wood-Pewee* SR U U U

Acadian Flycatcher** SR Gen FC FC FC Least Flycatcher TR VU VUEastern Phoebe* PR Aq U U U VUGreat Cr. Flycatcher* SR U U UEastern Kingbird* SR Op FC FC UPurple Martin SR VU VU VUTree Swallow TR VU VUN. Rough-winged Swallow* SR Aq U U UBank Swallow TR VU VUBarn Swallow** SR U U UBlue Jay* PR FC FC FC FC American Crow* PR FC FC FC FCCarolina Chickadee* PR C C C CTufted Titmouse* PR FC FC FC FCRed-breasted Nuthatch WR For VU VU VUWhite-breasted Nuthatch* PR FC FC FC FCBrown Creeper WR U U UCarolina Wren* PR U U U UHouse Wren TR VU VUWinter Wren WR Gen U U UGolden-crowned Kinglet WR For C C C

Ruby-crowned Kinglet WR U U VUBlue-gray Gnatcatcher* SR FC FC UEastern Bluebird** PR Op FC FC FC FCVeery TR VU VUGray-cheeked Thrush TR VU VUSwainson’s Thrush TR U UHermit Thrush WR U U UWood Thrush* SR FC FC FCAmerican Robin* PR Op FC FC U UGray Catbird* SR U U UBrown Thrasher* PR Op U U U VUNorthern Mockingbird* PR Op VU VU VU VUCedar Waxwing PR U U U ULoggerhead Shrike VI Op VU VU VU VUEuropean Starling* PR U U U UWhite-eyed Vireo* SR Op U U U Solitary Vireo* SR Gen/For FC FC FCYellow-throated Vireo* SR U U UPhiladelphia Vireo TR VU VURed-eyed Vireo* SR A A CBlue-winged Warbler TR U VUGolden-winged Warbler TR VU VUTennessee Warbler TR U UOrange-cr. Warbler TR VU VUNorthern Parula* SR FC FC FCYellow Warbler* SR Aq U U VUChestnut-sided Warbler TR U U

Species Status Hab. Sp S F W

Species Status Hab. Sp S F W

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