Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region of Kentucky and Tennessee: Species Accounts

 

Note: The textual information contained in Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region of Kentucky and Tennessee is the exclusive property of Stephen J. Stedman.  This work is protected under United States copyright law and other international copyright treaties and conventions. Photographs by the author and by persons other than the author are similarly protected and may not be copied without the permission of the specific photographer.

    You may view individual accounts for nearly all species documented as occurring within the UCR.  Three species without available accounts are the Red-cockaded Woodpecker (extirpated in the Region) and the Passenger Pigeon and Carolina Parakeet (both extinct). A few other species without available accounts will have accounts provided at the appropriate time. Simply scroll down the table below and click on the common name of any species name that is underlined.  All accounts that have been initiated should be viewed as under construction with some being closer to completion than others.

    To view the Official List of Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region, click on the link below:

    Below (Table 1) various codes are used for specific elements relating to bird status and abundance; these are explained in the following sections.

Key to Abundance Codes:

C Common (expected in large numbers)
FC Fairly Common (expected in moderate numbers)
U Uncommon (expected in small numbers)
VU Very Uncommon (1050 records or expected in very small numbers)
R Rare (39 records)
O Occasional (12 records)
V Variable Abundance Year to Year

Key to Status Codes:

E Extinct
EX Extirpated
H Hypothetical
PR Permanent Resident (breeds)
SR Summer Resident (breeds)
WR Winter Resident
TR Transient
VR Visitor

    When two codes are listed for one species, the first code indicates the species' primary status, and the second code indicates its secondary status (usually in just a portion of the Region or during a portion of the year).

Key to Seasons:

Sp Spring (1 March31 May)
Su Summer (1 June31 July
Fa Fall (1 August30 November
Wi Winter (1 December28/29 February)

    Most species names below are also active links to species accounts that provide details about the species' occurrence in the Region. Near the end of the account for some species, there is an active (underlined) link to a map displaying the distribution (at the county level) of records for each.  A link to a map (Figure 1) depicting the colors used in the species maps is provided below:

Acknowledgment: considerable assistance in creating the maps displaying distribution of bird records in the UCR was provided by Gregory J. Rhinehart and Whitney M. Fuquay.

 

Table 1. Species occurring within the Upper Cumberland Region with links to species accounts (click on species names).

Species Status Sp Su Fa Wi Notes
Greater White-fronted Goose WR VU VU VU 26 records in 12 counties
Snow Goose WR VU O VU VU Records in 19 counties
Ross's Goose WR R R VU 20 records in 11 counties
Brant VR O 1 record White, TN, and 1 Pulaski, KY
Cackling Goose VR R Records in Barren (2) and Pulaski, KY, and Putnam, TN
Canada Goose PR C C C C Records in all counties
Mute Swan  WR VU O VU VU 44 records in 15 counties
Trumpeter Swan VR O Records Wayne, KY, and Putnam, TN
Tundra Swan WR R? R VU 16 records in 9 counties
Wood Duck PR U U U U Records in all counties
Gadwall WR U U U Records in 23 counties
American Wigeon WR U U U Records in 17 counties
American Black Duck WR VU VU U Records in 19 counties
Mallard PR C U C C Records in 25 counties
Blue-winged Teal TR FC O FC R Records in 23 counties
Northern Shoveler WR U U U Records in 18 counties
Northern Pintail WR VU VU VU Records in 17 counties
Green-winged Teal WR U U U Records in 19 counties
Canvasback WR VU VU U Records in 16 counties
Redhead WR U O U U Records in 16 counties
Ring-necked Duck WR U O FC FC Records in 25 counties
Greater Scaup WR VU VU VU Records in 10 counties
Lesser Scaup WR UFC UFC U Records in 19 counties
Surf Scoter TR R VU VU 48 records in 10 counties
White-winged Scoter WR R VU VU 15 records in 7 counties
Black Scoter TR O VU R 19 records in 6 counties
Long-tailed Duck WR VU VU VU 15 records in 9 counties
Bufflehead  WR FC O FC FC Records in 21 counties
Common Goldeneye WR U U U Records in 17 counties
Hooded Merganser WR FC VU FC FC Records in 21 counties; breeding records Pulaski, KY, and White, TN
Common Merganser WR/VR   VU VU 28 records in 11 counties; 19th-cent. egg sets Smith, TN
Red-breasted Merganser WR U U VU Records in 16 counties
Ruddy Duck WR U O U U Records in 17 counties
Northern Bobwhite PR U U U VU Records in all counties;  decreasing
Ruffed Grouse PR VU VU VU VU Records in 15 counties; probably decreasing
Wild Turkey PR C C C C Records in all counties; increasing
Red-throated Loon TR O VU R 15 records in 4 counties
Pacific Loon TR O O Records Barren, KY, and  DeKalb, TN
Common Loon WR U VU U U Records in 23 counties
Yellow-billed Loon VR O 1 record Clay, TN
Pied-billed Grebe WR/PR? FC VU FC FC Records in 25 counties
Horned Grebe WR FC FC FC Records in 17 counties
Red-necked Grebe WR R R R 2 records Barren, KY, 1 each Pulaski and Russell, KY
Eared Grebe TR/WR? VU O VU VU 12 records in 6 counties
Western Grebe WR O R Records Barren and Pulaski, KY; Cumberland and DeKalb, TN
Double-crested Cormorant TR/PR? FC VU FC VU Records in 24 counties; increasing

Anhinga
VR O       1 record Van Buren, TN
American White Pelican TR VU VU 12 records in 5 counties
Brown Pelican VR O 1 record Russell, KY
American Bittern TR/SR VU O VU O 21 records in 12 counties; 1935 nest record Warren, TN;  July 2004 records White, TN
Least Bittern SR R R R 8 records in 4 counties
Great Blue Heron PR C C C C Records in all counties; increasing
     Great White Heron VR R R 1 record DeKalb, 1 Putnam/ Smith/DeKalb, TN; 1 Pulaski, KY
Great Egret TR U VU U VU Records in 21 counties
Snowy Egret TR VU VU 17 records in 7 counties
Little Blue Heron TR VU VU VU 38 records in 14 counties
Tricolored Heron TR R R Records in Pulaski, KY, and Clay & DeKalb, TN
Cattle Egret TR VU R VU O c.  37 records in 14 counties
Green Heron SR FC FC FC R Records in all counties
Black-crowned Night-Heron SR VU VU VU R Records in 15 counties
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron SR VU VU VU Records in 8 counties
White Ibis TR R R Records in 1 KY and 4 TN counties
Plegadis sp. VR O O Records in 2 TN counties
Black Vulture PR C C C C Records in all counties
Turkey Vulture PR C C C C Records in all counties
Osprey SR U VU U R Records in 23 counties
Swallow-tailed Kite VR   O O   1 record Bledsoe, TN
Mississippi Kite TR/VR R O Records in 3 KY & 5 TN counties
Bald Eagle PR U U U FC Records in 21 counties
Northern Harrier WR U O U U Records in 25 counties
Sharp-shinned Hawk PR U VU U U Records in all counties; probably decreasing
Cooper's Hawk PR U U U U Records in all counties; increasing
Red-shouldered Hawk PR U U U U Records in all counties
Broad-winged Hawk SR U U FC Records in all counties
Swainson's Hawk VR O       1 record McCreary, KY
Red-tailed Hawk PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
     Harlani WR R R R
     Calurus WR R R R  
     Krider's WR R R R  
Rough-legged Hawk WR R/VU R/VU VU c. 50 records in 12 counties; irruptive
Golden Eagle WR/PR VU O VU VU Records in 15 counties; breeding Jackson, TN
Yellow Rail TR O O Records Pickett and Warren, TN
King Rail SR R R 1 record Clinton, KY; 3 records Warren, TN
Virginia Rail PR O O R O 10 records in 8 counties
Sora TR VU O VU c. 35 records in 12 counties
Purple Gallinule SR R

R

2 records Warren, TN; 1 record Putnam, TN

Common Gallinule TR R O 4 records in 3 counties
American Coot WR U U U Records in 24 counties
Sandhill Crane TR/WR FC FC FC Increasing migrant/ establishing winter resident status since c. winter 20042005; records in all counties
Whooping Crane TR VU VU VU Reintroduced; 13 records in 8 counties
Black-bellied Plover TR R Records Adair, Pulaski, & Wayne, KY, & Putnam, TN
American Golden-Plover TR VU   VU 15 records in 5 counties
Semipalmated Plover TR U VU U Records in 11 counties
Killdeer PR C C C C Records in all counties
Black-necked Stilt VR O Records in Cumberland and DeKalb, TN
American Avocet TR VU O VU 13 records in 8 counties
Spotted Sandpiper TR/SR FC U FC O Records in 25 counties; 1 breeding record  Pulaski, KY
Solitary Sandpiper TR FC FC FC Records in 25 counties
Greater Yellowlegs TR U U U O Records in 18 counties
Willet TR R O 16 records in 12 counties
Lesser Yellowlegs TR U O U Records in 17 counties
Upland Sandpiper TR R  2 records Barren, KY; 1 Warren, TN
Ruddy Turnstone TR O 1 record Adair, 2 records Pulaski, & 1 Wayne, KY
Sanderling TR O R 10 records in 4 counties
Semipalmated Sandpiper TR VU–U VU–U VU–U Records in 12 counties
Western Sandpiper TR VU O VU 17 records in 7 counties
Least Sandpiper TR U–FC U–FC U–FC VU Records in 15 counties
White-rumped Sandpiper TR VU VU R 18 records in 6 counties
Baird's Sandpiper TR R 7 records in 3 counties
Pectoral Sandpiper TR U U U Records in 13 counties
Dunlin TR R U R c. 61 records in 10 counties
Stilt Sandpiper TR O VU 24 records in 8 counties
Buff-breasted Sandpiper TR R 1 record Barren, 2 records Adair, & 5 records Pulaski, KY; 1 record White, TN
Short-billed Dowitcher TR VU VU 10 records in 4 counties
Long-billed Dowitcher TR R 6 records in 3 KY  counties
Wilson's Snipe WR U O U U Records in 25 counties
American Woodcock PR U VU VU U Records in 23 counties
Wilson's Phalarope TR R 2 records Pulaski, KY; 2 Wayne, KY; and 1 Putnam, TN
Red-necked Phalarope VR     O   2 records Pulaski, KY
Red Phalarope TR O 1 record each in DeKalb & Van Buren, TN
Black-legged Kittiwake VR O Records Pulaski, KY, and Putnam, TN
Sabine's Gull VR     O   1 record Barren, KY
Bonaparte's Gull WR FC FC FC Records in 19 counties
Laughing Gull VR O R O 2 records Barren & Pulaski, KY; 1 record Russell, KY, & DeKalb, TN
Franklin's Gull TR O R O 8 records Barren and 2 Pulaski, KY
Mew Gull VR O 2 records Barren, KY
Ring-billed Gull WR C R C C Records in 19 counties
California Gull VR O 1 record Barren, KY
Herring Gull WR U U U Records in 11 counties
Lesser Black-backed Gull VR O 2 records Barren, KY
Sooty Tern VR O 1 record Putnam, TN
Least Tern VR O 1 record Pulaski, KY
Caspian Tern TR VU VU At least 42 records in 9 counties
Black Tern TR VU VU At least 47 records in 14 counties
Common Tern TR R O VU At least 16 records in 5 counties
Forster's Tern TR U O U O At least 59 records in 13 counties
Parasitic Jaeger VR     O   1 record Barren, KY
Long-tailed Jaeger VR     O   1 record Barren, KY
Rock Pigeon PR C C C C Records in all counties
Eurasian Collared-Dove PR VU–U VU–U VU–U VU–U Records in 20 counties
White-winged Dove VR O       1 record Bledsoe, TN
Mourning Dove PR C C C C Records in all counties
Passenger Pigeon E Extinct
Yellow-billed Cuckoo SR U U U Records in all counties
Black-billed Cuckoo TR/SR VU R VU Records in 15 counties
Barn Owl PR VU VU VU VU Records in 12 counties
Eastern Screech-Owl PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
Great Horned Owl PR U U U U Records in 25 counties
Snowy Owl VR O 1 record Barren, KY, and 1 White, TN
Barred Owl PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
Long-eared Owl VR R 3 records in 3 counties
Short-eared Owl WR R R VU 16 records in 9 counties
Northern Saw-whet Owl WR VU O VU VU 31 records in 8 counties;  irruptive
Common Nighthawk SR U U U Records in 24 counties
Chuck-will's-widow SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Eastern Whip-poor-will SR U U U Records in all counties
Chimney Swift SR C C C Records in all counties
Ruby-throated Hummingbird SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Calliope Hummingbird VR O O 1 record Putnam, TN
Rufous Hummingbird WR VU VU VU 14 records in 2 KY and 5 TN counties
Allen's Hummingbird VR O O 1 record Smith, TN
Belted Kingfisher PR U U U U Records in all counties
Red-headed Woodpecker PR U U U U Records in all counties
Red-bellied Woodpecker PR C C C C Records in all counties
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker WR U U U Records in all counties
Downy Woodpecker PR C C C C Records in all counties
Hairy Woodpecker PR U U U U Records in all counties
Red-cockaded Woodpecker EX Extirpated; historical records in 2 KY and 5 TN counties
Northern Flicker PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
Pileated Woodpecker PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
American Kestrel PR FC U FC C Records in all counties
Merlin WR VU VU–U VU–U c.  62 records in 18 counties
Peregrine Falcon TR/SR VU VU O c. 30 records in 14 counties; formerly a breeder
Prairie Falcon VR        
Carolina Parakeet E Extinct
Olive-sided Flycatcher TR VU VU 32 records in 13 counties
Eastern Wood-Pewee SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher TR R R 6 records in 3 KY counties
Acadian Flycatcher SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Alder Flycatcher TR VU O 10 records in 4 counties
Willow Flycatcher SR U U R At least 73 records in 17 counties
Least Flycatcher TR/SR VU VU R At least 42 records with 16 June records in 1 KY & 8 TN counties
Eastern Phoebe PR FC FC FC U VU Records in all counties
Great Crested Flycatcher SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Western Kingbird TR O Records Clay, Putnam, and Scott, TN
Eastern Kingbird SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher SR VU VU VU Records in 7 TN counties
Loggerhead Shrike PR VU VU VU VU U Records in 25 counties; significantly decreasing
Northern Shrike VR       O 1 record Russell, KY
White-eyed Vireo SR FC FC FC O Records in all counties; 1 winter record Wayne, KY
Bell's Vireo VR   O     2 records Barren, KY
Yellow-throated Vireo SR U U U Records in all counties
Blue-headed Vireo SR/PR? U U U R Records in 21 counties; winter records in 1 KY and 3 TN counties
Warbling Vireo SR VU VU R Records in 24 counties
Philadelphia Vireo TR VU VU Records in 20 counties
Red-eyed Vireo SR C C U/FC Records in all counties
Blue Jay PR C C C C Records in all counties
American Crow PR C C C C Records in all counties
Common Raven VR/SR R R R Former resident McCreary and Pulaski, KY, and Fentress, TN; recent records Scott and Morgan, TN
Horned Lark PR U–VU U–VU U–VU U–VU Records in 23 counties
Purple Martin SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Tree Swallow SR FC U FC R Records in all counties; increasing breeder
N. Rough-winged Swallow SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Bank Swallow TR/SR? VUU O VUU Records in 17 counties
Cliff Swallow SR U U U Records in 23 counties
Barn Swallow SR C C C R Records in all counties
Carolina Chickadee PR C C C C Records in all counties
Tufted Titmouse PR C C C C Records in all counties
Red-breasted Nuthatch WR/PR V R V V Winter records in 24 counties; confirmed breeding Scott, TN; breeding season records Morgan & Pickett, TN; irruptive
White-breasted Nuthatch PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
Brown-headed Nuthatch PR/VR VU VU VU VU Records in 1 KY county and 8 TN counties
Brown Creeper WR U U U Records in 24 counties
House Wren SR U U U VU Records in 25 counties; increasing
Winter Wren WR/SR U R U U Records in all counties; breeding season records Morgan, Putnam, Van Buren, TN
Sedge Wren TR/SR VU VU VU O At least 51 records in 12 counties; 1 breeding record White, TN
Marsh Wren TR/WR VU VU R At least 47 records in 12 counties
Carolina Wren PR C C C C Records in all counties
Bewick's Wren TR O O R Former PR; now nearly absent
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher SR FC FC FC O Records in all counties; 1 winter record Cumberland, TN
Golden-crowned Kinglet WR U U FC Records in all counties
Ruby-crowned Kinglet WR U U U Records in 25 counties
Eastern Bluebird PR C C C C Records in all counties
Veery TR/SR UVU VUR VU Records in 13 counties; breeds Morgan and Cumberland, TN
Gray-cheeked Thrush TR VU VU Records in 20 counties
Swainson's Thrush TR U U Records in 25 counties
Hermit Thrush WR U U U–FC Records in all counties
Wood Thrush SR FC FC FC O Records in all counties; 1 winter record Putnam, TN
American Robin PR C C C C Records in all counties
Gray Catbird SR FC FC FC R Records in all counties
Northern Mockingbird PR C C C C Records in all counties
Brown Thrasher PR FC FC FC U–VU Records in all counties
European Starling PR C C C C Records in all counties
American Pipit WR U U U Records in 19 counties
Cedar Waxwing PR V U V V Records in all counties
Lapland Longspur WR VU VU 19 records in 11 counties
Snow Bunting VR O R 7 records in 5 counties
Ovenbird SR FC/C FC/C U/FC O Records in all counties; 1 winter record Putnam, TN
Worm-eating Warbler SR U U U Records in 24 counties
Louisiana Waterthrush SR FC FC VU Records in all counties
Northern Waterthrush TR U U Records in 18 counties
Golden-winged Warbler SR VU R VU Records in 21 counties
Blue-winged Warbler SR U U U Records in all counties
     "Brewster's" Warbler VR R
Black-and-white Warbler SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Prothonotary Warbler SR U U VU Records in 21 counties
Swainson's Warbler SR VU VU VU Records in 11 counties
Tennessee Warbler TR U FC Records in all counties
Orange-crowned Warbler TR/WR VU U R Records in 13 counties
Nashville Warbler TR U U Records in 18 counties
Connecticut Warbler TR R At least 19 records in 8 counties
Mourning Warbler TR VU O VU At least 31 records in 9 counties
Kentucky Warbler SR U U U Records in all counties
Common Yellowthroat SR/WR C C C R Records in all counties
Hooded Warbler SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
American Redstart SR U U U O Records in all counties; 1 winter record Russell, KY
Cape May Warbler TR U VU Records in 24 counties
Cerulean Warbler SR U U U/VU Records in 25 counties; significantly decreasing
Northern Parula SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Magnolia Warbler TR U FC Records in all counties
Bay-breasted Warbler TR VU/U U/FC Records in 23 counties
Blackburnian Warbler TR/SR U R U Records in 25 counties; breeds only Morgan, TN
Yellow Warbler SR U U VU Records in all counties
Chestnut-sided Warbler TR/SR U VU FC Records in 25 counties
Blackpoll Warbler TR U R Records in 23 counties
Black-throated Blue Warbler TR/SR VU R VU O Records in 12 counties; breeds Morgan, TN; 1 winter record Putnam, TN
Palm Warbler TR/WR U U–FC VU Records in 25 counties
Pine Warbler PR U U U VU Records in 25 counties
Yellow-rumped Warbler WR C C C Records in all counties
     "Audubon's" Warbler VR       O 1 record Putnam, TN
Yellow-throated Warbler SR U U U Records in all counties
Prairie Warbler SR FC FC FC O Records in all counties; 1 winter record Putnam, TN
Black-throated Green Warbler SR/TR U U U Records in all counties
Canada Warbler TR/VR VU R VU Records in 16 counties; breeds Morgan, TN; 1 breeding season record Cumberland, TN
Wilson's Warbler TR U U Records in 13 counties
Yellow-breasted Chat SR/VR FC FC FC O Records in all counties; winter records DeKalb & Putnam, TN
Eastern Towhee PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
Bachman's Sparrow VR O Seriously decreasing since 1950s; now nearly extirpated; 1 recent (2004) record White, TN
American Tree Sparrow WR R RU At least 54 records in 16 counties
Chipping Sparrow PR C C C VUU Records in all counties
Clay-colored Sparrow TR O R Records Barren & Pulaski, KY, and Cumberland & DeKalb, TN
Field Sparrow PR C C C C Records in all counties
Vesper Sparrow TR U U VU Records in 16 counties
Lark Sparrow VR/TR VU VU VU 14 records in 10 counties
Savannah Sparrow WR/SR U VU U U Breeding season records Adair, Wayne, KY; Bledsoe, Cumberland, Overton, TN
Grasshopper Sparrow SR U U VU O Records in all counties; winter record Warren, TN
Henslow's Sparrow SR VU VU VU O Records in 6 KY counties and  8 TN counties; sporadic presence
Le Conte's Sparrow TR O Records Smith and Warren, TN
Nelson's Sparrow TR O 1 record Warren, TN (1990s)
Fox Sparrow WR U U U Records in all counties
Song Sparrow PR C C C C Records in all counties
Lincoln's Sparrow TR/WR VU VU R Records in 13 counties
Swamp Sparrow WR FC FC FC Records in all counties
White-throated Sparrow WR C O C C Records in all counties
Harris's Sparrow VR O 1 record Bledsoe, TN
White-crowned Sparrow WR U U U Records in 23 counties
Dark-eyed Junco WR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Summer Tanager SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Scarlet Tanager SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Northern Cardinal PR C C C C Records in all counties
Rose-breasted Grosbeak TR/SR FC R FC Records in all counties; breeding season records in Cumberland and Morgan, TN
Blue Grosbeak SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Indigo Bunting SR/VR C C C R Records in all counties
Painted Bunting TR O Records Cumberland and Pulaski, KY
Dickcissel SR VU VU VU Records in 24 counties
Bobolink TR/SR? U O VU O Records in 20 counties; 1 winter record Putnam, TN
Red-winged Blackbird PR C C C FC Records in all counties
Eastern Meadowlark PR FC FC FC FC Records in all counties
Western Meadowlark VR O Records Barren, KY, and Putnam, TN
Yellow-headed Blackbird VR O 1 record Barren, KY
Rusty Blackbird WR VU U U Records in 18 counties; decreasing
Brewer's Blackbird WR VU VU VU Records in 10 counties
Common Grackle PR C C C C Records in all counties
Brown-headed Cowbird PR C C C U Records in all counties
Orchard Oriole SR FC FC FC Records in all counties
Baltimore Oriole SR U VUU VU R Records in 24 counties; 3 winter records
Purple Finch WR FCU FCU FCU Records in 24 counties; somewhat irruptive
House Finch PR C C C C Records in all counties
Red Crossbill VR VU O

O

O 8 records in 5 counties
White-winged Crossbill VR          
Common Redpoll VR

O

O 23 records Pulaski, KY
Pine Siskin WR V O V V Records in 23 counties; irruptive
American Goldfinch PR C C C C Records in all counties
Evening Grosbeak WR V V V 42 records in 15 counties; decreasing; irruptive
House Sparrow PR C C C C Records in all counties

 

Clickable Contents

Front Dust Jacket
Back Dust Jacket
Title Page
Copyright Page
Dedication and Epigraphs
Preface to the First Edition
List of Figures
List of Tables
Introduction
Gazetteer
Field Observers Working in UCR
Explication of the Species Accounts
Species Accounts
Appendices

 

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