"Black Capped Chickadee and Blackberry Leaves" (© Susan Robinson)

Birds: Isabella County, Michigan
Checklists

                                                                                            Compiled by R. V. Dietrich, Professor Emeritus

                                                                    Photos by Stan Lilley and others


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Compiled by R. V. Dietrich, Professor Emeritus

Photos by Stan Lilley and others


Introduction

Two hundred seventy-four (274 species of birds recorded for Isabella County Michigan are given on two lists: 
          1. A.O.U. Listing -- common and scientific names according to the American Ornithologist's Union (A.O.U.) Check-list of North American Birds (7th edition) + 42nd, 43rd, 44th, & 45th Supplements, as published in The Auk 117: 847-858 (2000); 119:897-906 (2002); 120:923-932 (2003); 121:985-995 (2004); 
          2. Alphabetical List --common names in alphabetical order.  The  lists have been compiled from publications (see references), reports of Spring and Christmas counts, and observations by competent bird-watchers.

With one exception -- the monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus), for which there are two enigmatic observations  --  cage birds (e.g., canaries and parakeets), domesticated  fowl (e.g., diverse chickens, ducks, geese, and "exotic pheasants") and emus that are kept within the county are not included. 

An extensive Legend with remarks indicating the intent of the symbols used for breeding records and the letters based on seasonal population information follows the tabulations.  Thoughts relating to problems and conundrums met during preparation of the tabulations, and explanations of how most of them were resolved follow that Legend.  Birds whose names are in bold-face red on the list are illustrated by photographs taken within Isabella County that are included in the Photo Archive.

-------------

A.O.U.  Listing

ANSERIFORMES

        ANATIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
 Legend - for details, see
        text at end of tables.
Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons Wo
o







Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens photo WoTuSo
o
o
o
u
  Key 
Ross's Goose, Chen rossii
 To






o

!Canada Goose, Branta canadensis RfTc
R
R
R
R
     T - Sp &/or Fall transient
!Mute Swan, Cygnus olor Ru
R
R
R
R
     R - resident
Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus WuTu
u
u
 
u

!Wood Duck, Aix sponsa photo WoTfSo
o
f
o
f
        c - common
Gadwall, Anas strepera  Tu
 
u
 
o
       f - frequent
American Wigeon, Anas americana TuSo


u
o
u
        u - uncommon
!American Black Duck, Anas rubripes WuTuSu
u
u
u
f
       o - occasional 
!Mallard, Anas platyrhynchos RfTc
R
R
R
R

!Blue-winged Teal, Anas discors TfSu


f
u
f
  Breeding records
Northern Shoveler, Anas clypeata WoTuSo
o
u
o
o
        !  - definite
Northern Pintail, Anas acuta WoTuSo
o
u
o
u
        #  - probable
!Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca WoTuSo
o
u
o
u
        ±  - possible
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria WoTu
o
u


u

Redhead, Aythya americana photo WoTu
o
u


u

Ring-necked Duck, Aythya collaris Tu


u


u

Greater Scaup, Aythya marila WoTuSo
o
u
o



Lesser Scaup, Aythya affinis WoTfSo
o
f
o
f

White-winged Scoter, Melanitta fusca To






o

Long-tailed Duck, Clangula hyemalis WoTo
o




o

Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola WoTf
o
f


f

Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula WfTfSo
u
f
o
f

!Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus photo WoTuSo
o
u
o
u

Common Merganser, Mergus merganser WuTu
u
u


u

Red-breasted Merganser, Mergus serrator Tu


u


o

Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis Tu


u


o

GALLIFORMES

        PHASIANIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
  Key
!Gray Partridge, Perdix perdix
     (introduced; now absent)









     T - Sp &/or Fall transient
     R - resident 
!Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus Rf
R
R
R
R

!Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus Rf
R
R
R
R
        c - common
!Greater Prairie-Chicken, Tympanuchus cupido   (extirpated, last recorded 1981)









       f - frequent
        u - uncommon
!Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo Rf
R
R
R
R
       o - occasional       
!Northern Bobwhite, Colinus virginianus Ru
R
R
R
R
 

GAVIFORMES

        GAVIIDAE




Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Common Loon, Gavia immer TuSo


u
o
o

 PODICIPEDIFORMES

        PODICIPEDIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
  Breeding records 
!Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps TfSu


f
u
f
        !  - definite
Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus Tu


u


o
        #  - probable
Red-necked Grebe, Podiceps grisegena To


o




        ±  - possible
        ±  - possible        ±  - possible

PELECANIFORMES

        PHALACROCORACIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

±Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus TuSu


u
u
u

CICONIIFORMES

        ARDEIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus photo WoTuSu
o
u
u
o
  Key
!Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis ToSo


o
o


     T - Sp &/or Fall transient
!Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias WoTfSf
o
f
f
f
     R - resident 
Great Egret, Ardea alba photo ToSo




o
o

Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis To


o


o
        c - common
!Green Heron, Butorides virescens photo TfSf


f
f
f
       f - frequent
±Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax ToSu


o
u
o
        u - uncommon
       o - occasional   

       THRESKIORNITHIDAE




Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus To


o





        CATHARTIDAE




Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura WoTcSc
o
c
c
c

FALCONIFORMES

        ACCIPITRIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
 Legend - for details, see   
!Osprey, Pandion haliaetus TuSu


u
u
u
        text at end of  tables.
Mississippi Kite, Ictinia mississippiensis To


o




  Key
!Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus photo WoTo
o
o


o
     T - Sp &/or Fall transient  
!Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus WuTfSu
u
f
u
u
     R - resident 
!Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus RuTu
R
R
R
R

!Cooper''s Hawk, Accipiter cooperii RfTu
R
R
R
R
        c - common
!Northern Goshawk, Accipiter gentilis  photo WuTuSo
u
u
o
o
       f - frequent
!Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus  photo WuTuSu
u
u
u
o
        u - uncommon
!Broad-winged Hawk, Buteo platypterus TuSu


u
u
u
       o - occasional 
!Red-tailed Hawk, Buteo jamaicensis  photo RfTf
R
R
R
R

Rough-legged Hawk, Buteo lagopus WuTfSo
u
f
o
f

Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
So




o



        FALCONIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
 Breeding records
!American Kestrel, Falco sparverius RfTf
R
R
R
R
        !  - definite
Merlin, Falco columbarius WoTo
o
o


o
        #  - probable
Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus WoTuSo
o
u
o
u
        ±  - possible

GRUIFORMES

        RALLIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

Yellow Rail, Coturnicops noveboracensis To


o





#Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola photo TfSu


f
u
u

!Sora, Porzana carolina TfSf


f
f
f

!Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus ToSo


o
u
o

!American Coot, Fulica americana WoTuSu
o
u
u
u

        GRUIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis TuSo


u
o
o

Whooping Crane, Grus americana
ToSo


o
o



CHARADRIIFORMES

        CHARADRIIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

Black-bellied Plover, Pluvialis squatarola Tu


u


o

American Golden-Plover, Pluvialis dominica To


o





Semipalmated Plover, Charadrius semipalmatus TfSo


f
o
f

!Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus WoTcSc
o
c
c
c

        SCOLOPACIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
 Legend - for details, see   
Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca TuSu


u
u
u
        text at end of  tables.
Lesser Yellowlegs, Tringa flavipes TfSu


f
u
f
  Key
Willet, Tringa semipalmata
To


o




     T - Sp &/or Fall transient  
Solitary Sandpiper, Tringa solitaria TfSu


f
u
f
      R - resident 
!Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularius TfSf


f
f
f
 
!Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda TuSu


u
u
o

Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Tryngites subruficollis
To






o

Ruddy Turnstone, Arenaria interpres Tu


u




        c - common
Red Knot, Calidris canutus To


o




       f - frequent
Sanderling, Calidris alba Tu


u


o
        u - uncommon
Semipalmated Sandpiper, Calidris pusilla TuSo


u
o
o
       o - occasional 
Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri To


o




 
Least Sandpiper, Calidris minutilla TuSu


u
u
o
   Breeding records
White-rumped Sandpiper, Calidris fuscicollis To


o




        !  - definite
Baird''s Sandpiper, Calidris bairdii To


o




        #  - probable
Pectoral Sandpiper, Calidris melanotos TuSu


u
u
u
        ±  - possible
Dunlin, Calidris alpina TuSo


u
o
u

Stilt Sandpiper, Calidris himantopus To


o





Ruff, Philomachus pugnax To


o





Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus TuSo


u
o
o

Long-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus scolopaceus TuSo


u
o
o

#Wilson's Snipe, Gallinago delicata   WoTfSu
o
f
u
f

!American Woodcock, Scolopax minor TfSu


f
u
u

Wilson''s Phalarope, Phalaropus tricolor TuSo


u
o



Red-necked Phalarope, Phalaropus lobatus To


o





        LARIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
  Legend - for details, see 
Bonaparte's Gull, Larus philadelphia photo Tu


u




        text at end of  tables
!Ring-billed Gull, Larus delawarensis RcTu
R
R
R
R
  Key
Herring Gull, Larus argentatus photo WoTuSo
o
u
o
o
     T - Sp &/or Fall transient
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo ToSo


o
o
o
      R - resident
Forster's Tern, Sterna forsteri To


o





Black Tern, Chlidonias niger TuSu


u
u
o

COLUMBIFORMES

        COLUMBIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
        c - common
!Rock Pigeon, Columba livia Rc
R
R
R
R
       f - frequent
!Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura RcTf
R
R
R
R
        u - uncommon
!Passenger Pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius
     (extinct, no records this century)









       o - occasional

PSITTACIFORMES

        ARINAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

Monk Parakeet, Myiopsitta monachus  
    (2 Summer observations – released/escaped birds!?!!)










CUCULIFORMES

        COCCYZINAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
   Breeding records
!Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus photo TuSf


u
f
u
        !  - definite
        #  - probable
!Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus americanus TuSu


u
u
u
        ±  - possible

STRIGIFORMES

        TYTONIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Barn Owl, Tyto alba (extirpated)










        STRIGIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
  Key
!Eastern Screech-Owl, Megascops asio Ru
R
R
R
R
     T - Sp &/or Fall transient
!Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus Ru
R
R
R
R
     R - resident 
Snowy Owl, Bubo scandiacus WoTo
o
o


o

!Barred Owl, Strix varia photo Ru
R
R
R
R
        c - common
!Long-eared Owl, Asio otus WuTu
u
u


u
       f - frequent
!Short-eared Owl, Asio flammeus WoTo
o
o


u
        u - uncommon
!Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus To


o


o
       o - occasional 

CAPRIMULGIFORMES

        CAPRIMULGIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Common Nighthawk, Chordeiles minor TuSf


u
f
u

#Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus TuSu


u
u
o

APODIFORMES

        APODIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica TuSu


u
f
u

        TROCHILIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris TcSc


u
c
u

CORACIIFORMES

        ALCEDINIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 

!Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon WuTfSf
u
f
f
f

PICIFORMES

         PICIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
  Key
!Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus  photo RuTu
R
R
R
R
     T - Sp &/or Fall transient    
     R - resident 
!Red-bellied Woodpecker, Melanerpes carolinus Rf
R
R
R
R

        c - common
#Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius WoTuSo
o
u
o
u
       f - frequent
!Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens Rf
R
R
R
R
        u - uncommon
!Hairy Woodpecker, Picoides villosus Rf
R
R
R
R
       o - occasional 
!Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus RfTu
R
R
R
R

!Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus Ru
R
R
R
R

PASSERIFORMES

        TYRANNIDAE

Wi 
Sp 
Su 
Fa 
 
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus cooperi ToSo


o
o
o
    
!Eastern Wood-Pewee, Contopus virens TfSf


f
f
f
     
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris TuSu


u
u