Birds


Species Totals

Introduction
Birds are often colorful, are active in the daytime, call attention to themselves by songs and calls, and are relatively unafraid of people.  As a result, they are the type of animals most likely to be seen by the casual hiker. 

Birds can be divided into several categories based on how much of their time they spend in our region.  Permanent residents can be found in the area year-round.  Summer residents live here only during the summer, typically flying south to Central or South America for the winter.  Winter residents, in contrast, live in our region during the winter and spend their summers further north in New England or Canada.  Finally, some birds merely migrate through our region on their way between wintering grounds further south and summering grounds further north.  In the species list below, I have noted which category each species falls into. 

However, not every bird that lives in our region at a given season will be a resident at Wortroot during that time.  Many species have specific habitat requirements, such as Great Blue Herons which spend most of their time in larger bodies of water and only occasionally visit Wortroot's creeks and ponds.  I have listed this type of bird as visitor to Wortroot.

I have also made an effort to keep track of how frequently each species was sighted during the year.  Frequency ratings range from "abundant" for the most common birds, through "common", "fairly common", "uncommon", and then finally to "rare".  Rare birds were seen only a few times during the survey year while abundant birds were seen nearly every day. 

Species List
Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)
Uncommon visitor to ponds and creeks.  Winter resident and summer visitor to the region.  On the Virginia Watchlist with a status G5, S3B, S5N (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
Rare visitor, flying over the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)
Uncommon visitor, flying over the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)
Uncommon visitor to ponds on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)
Rare visitor to the property.  Permanent resident to the region.  This species is on the Virginia Watchlist with a status G5, S3B, S3N.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)
Rare visitor to the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rare visitor to the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)
Rare visitor to the fields of the property, but a fairly common resident in nearby pastures.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umellus)
Uncommon resident/visitor in young woods on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)
Uncommon, breeding resident in woods on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)
Uncommon visitor to open areas on the property, but a common resident in nearby pastures.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)
Uncommon summer resident in the woods of the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio)
Uncommon resident to the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)
Uncommon resident to the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Barred Owl (Strix varia)
Uncommon resident to the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)
Uncommon summer resident, nesting in the house's chimney.  Summer resident to the region. 

Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)
Common summer resident to the property, usually seen feeding on jewelweed in the yard.  Summer resident to the region. 

Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)
Fairly common resident to the woods of the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)
Uncommon winter resident/visitor to the property.  Winter resident to the region.  On the Virginia Rare Animal list with the status G5, S1B, S4N (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)
Fairly common resident to the woods on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)
Uncommon resident/visitor to the woods of the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Northern Flicker (Coaptes auratus)
Rare visitor to open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Pileated Woodpecker (Drycopus pileatus)
Common resident to the woods of the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)
Uncommon summer resident/visitor to the woods of the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)
Fairly common summer resident to open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region, though may leave for the winter. 

White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)
Rare migrant/visitor to fields on the property in spring and fall.  Summer resident to the region. 

Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)
Fairly common summer resident to woods on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)
Abundant resident of woods and fields on property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
Abundant resident of woods and fields on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Swallow
Rare summer visitor flying over the fields on the property.  Could be any of the swallow species found in the area.  Summer resident to the region. 

Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)
Abundant resident to woods and edges on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor)
Abundant resident to woods and edges on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)
Fairly common resident to woods on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)
Rare winter visitor/resident to woods on the property.  Winter resident to the region.  On the Virginia Watchlist with a status G5, S3B, S5N, SC (meaning that unless it breeds on the property, it is not of concern.)

Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)
Common resident to woods and open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)
Rare visitor to field edges on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
Uncommon resident/visitor to woods on the property.  Winter resident to the region.  On the Virginia Rare Animal list with the status G5, S2B, S4N, SC (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)
Uncommon winter resident/visitor to woods and edges on the property.  Winter resident to the region.  On the Virginia Rare Animal list with the status G5, S2B, S5N, SC (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)
Uncommon winter resident/visitor to woods and edges on the property.  Winter resident to the region. 

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)
Uncommon summer resident/visitor to woods and edges on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
Fairly common resident to fields on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)
Rare winter visitor to woods of the property.  Winter resident to the region.  On the Virginia Rare Animal list with the status G5, S1B, S5N, SC (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)
Fairly common summer resident to woods of the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
Uncommon resident/visitor to fields on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
Rare visitor to brambly areas on the property during migration.  Summer resident to the region.    

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)
Uncommon resident/visitor to edges on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)
Uncommon resident/visitor to brambly areas on the property.  Summer resident to the region.  The thrasher sightings during this survey were always in the same place and were probably the same bird.  It wintered here, as thrashers occasionally will do. 

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
Rare visitor to open areas on the property, but much more common in neighboring pastures.  Permanent resident to the region.  Introduced from Europe. 

Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Rare visitor to open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region.  Waxwings travel irregularly in large flocks.  Although they were seldom seen on the property this year, they may be more common in other years. 

Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina)
Rare migrant through the property.  (I was not completely positive of my identification of this bird.)  Migrant through the region in the spring and fall. 

Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia)
Uncommon migrant through the property.  Migrant through the region in the spring and fall.  On the Virginia Rare Animal list with the status G5, S2B, SZN, SC (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)
Uncommon migrant and winter resident/visitor to woods and edges on the property.  Winter resident to the region. 

Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens)
Rare migrant through woods on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea)
Rare migrant through the property.  (I was not completely positive of my identification of this bird.)  Migrant through the region in the spring and fall. 

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus)
Fairly common summer resident to woods on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)
Rare migrant through wet, open areas on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)
Rare migrant through woods on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)
Rare migrant through the woods on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)
Rare migrant through the property.  (The individual I saw was an immature so I was not completely positive of my identification.)  Migrant through the region in the spring and fall. 

Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)
Fairly common resident to open areas and edges on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)
Rare migrant through open areas on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)
Rare visitor to open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)
Rare winter visitor to edges on the property.  Winter resident to the region. 

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)
Fairly common resident to open areas and edges on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)
Fairly common winter resident to edges on the property.  Winter resident to the region. 

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)
Uncommon winter resident/visitor to woods and open areas on the property.  Winter resident to the region. 

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)
Abundant resident to woods and open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)
Fairly common summer resident to open areas and edges on the property.  Summer resident to the region. 

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)
Rare visitor to open areas on the property, but fairly common resident to nearby pastures.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)
Uncommon resident/visitor to open areas on the property, but more common in nearby pastures.  Permanent resident to the region. 

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)
Rare visitor to open areas on the property.  Permanent resident to the region.  A nest parasite which entered our region from the Plains in the 1930's.

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)
Rare winter visitor to woods and edges on the property.  Winter resident to the region.  On the Virginia Rare Animal list with the status G5, S1B, S5N, SC (meaning that since it doesn't breed on the property, it is not of concern.)

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)
Fairly common resident to fields on the property.  Permanent resident to the region. 


Conclusions and Further Study
During this inventory, I surveyed birds each time I went into the woods.  As a result, this page has a relatively complete list of bird residents of Wortroot.  However, since I was absent during most of migration, migratory birds are underrepresented.  A study of the migratory species would add to our understanding of Wortroot. 

The property has a relatively diverse community of birds, but has slightly fewer species than I would have expected.  Most of the birds which require large tracts of mature forest are either absent from or only visit the property rather than having breeding populations here.  As the forest matures (and if surrounding forest on neighbors' land is maintained) many deep forest species may take up residence at Wortroot.  This is discussed more on the Plant Communities page.

On the positive side, Wortroot's forest is not fragmented enough to allow starlings and cowbirds to enter the heart of the property.  This suggests that other problems of fragmentation may also be absent from Wortroot's forests.  Since forest fragmentation is a frequent cause of unsuccessful breeding of neotropical migrant species, Wortroot may eventually provide important habitat for these threatened birds. 


Source
Information about the status of each species as a migrant or as a summer, winter, or permanent resident was drawn from:
Knight, R.L.  1994.  The Birds of Northeast Tennessee: An Annotated Checklist.  Johnson City.
Mammals                                TOC                               Reptiles


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Last updated 9/04.