The Official List of the Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region of Kentucky and Tennessee

All species--about 300--recorded in the Upper Cumberland Region (UCR) are included in each of the two tables that follow.  If you have personal records from the UCR for species not listed below or if you know of historical records for species not listed below, please send details to this e-mail address:

• sstedman@tntech.edu

    The abundance, status, and seasonal occurrence of each of the species listed below are provided at the following page, along with links to preliminary species accounts for the rarer birds occurring in the Region:

• Abundance and Status of UCR Birds    

    The official list of birds within the AOU (American Ornithologists' Union) Area may be viewed at this website:

• http://www.aou.org/checklist/index.php3

    The official list of Kentucky birds may be viewed at this website:

• http://www.biology.eku.edu/KOS/birdlist.htm

    The list of endangered, threatened, and special concern breeding species for Kentucky may be accessed via a link at this website:

• http://www.naturepreserves.ky.gov/inforesources/reports_pubs.htm

    The official list of Tennessee birds may be viewed at this website:

• http://www.tnbirds.org/TRBC/tnlist.html

    The list of endangered, threatened, and in need of management species for Tennessee may be viewed at this website:

• Currently unavailable

    The official list of birds of the Nashville Area (somewhat out of date) may be viewed at this website:

• http://www.mindspring.com/~tnwarbler/NTOS/Species%20Accounts.htm

Table 1. The Official List of the Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region (double-spaced version).  Species denoted below with one asterisk (*) are rare and with two asterisks (**) very rare within the UCR; sightings of these species should be reported via a documentation form.  Species on the Audubon WatchList are indicated below in pink (27 species) or red (8 species), with the latter being more critically decreasing species.

_____ Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) *

_____ Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens)

     _____ Snow Goose, white form

     _____ Snow Goose, blue form

     _____ Snow Goose, intermediate form **

_____ Ross's Goose (Chen rossii) **

_____ Brant (Branta bernicla) **

_____ Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) **

_____ Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)

_____ Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) *

_____ Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) *

_____ Wood Duck (Aix sponsa)

_____ Gadwall (Anas strepera)

_____ American Wigeon (Anas americana)

_____ American Black Duck (Anas rubripes)

_____ Mallard (Anas platyrhyncos)

_____ Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)

_____ Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

_____ Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

_____ Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

_____ Canvasback (Aythya valisineria)

_____ Redhead (Aythya americana)

_____ Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris)

_____ Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) *

_____ Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis)

_____ Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) *

_____ White-winged Scoter (Melanitta fusca) *

_____ Black Scoter (Melanitta nigra) **

_____ Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) ** 

_____ Bufflehead  (Bucephala albeola)

_____ Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula)

_____ Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus)

_____ Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) **

_____ Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator)

_____ Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis)

_____ Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

_____ Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallapavo)

_____ Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus)

_____ Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) *

_____ Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) **

_____ Common Loon (Gavia immer)

_____ Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) **

_____ Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

_____ Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus)

_____ Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) **

_____ Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) *

_____ Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) **

_____ American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) **

_____ Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

_____ American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) *

_____ Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) **

_____ Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

     _____ Great Blue Heron, blue form

     _____ Great Blue Heron, white form **

_____ Great Egret (Ardea alba)

_____ Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) *

_____ Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) *

_____ Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) **

_____ Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) *

_____ Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

_____ Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

_____ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) *

_____ White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) **

_____ Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)

_____ Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

_____ Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

_____ Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) **

_____ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)

_____ Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

_____ Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

_____ Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperi)

_____ Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

_____ Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus)

_____ Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

     _____ B. j. harlani **

     _____ B. j. calurus ** 

     _____ B. j. borealis light morph (Krider's) ** 

_____ Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) *

_____ Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) *

_____ American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

_____ Merlin (Falco columbrius) *

_____ Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) *

_____ Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) **

_____ King Rail (Rallus elegans) **

_____ Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) *

_____ Sora (Porzana carolina) *

_____ Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinica) **

_____ Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) **

_____ American Coot (Fulica americana)

_____ Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis)

_____ Whooping Crane (Grus americana--reintroduced migrant) **

_____ Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatorola) **

_____ American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) *

_____ Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

_____ Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

_____ Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) **

_____ American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) **

_____ Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

_____ Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria)

_____ Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

_____ Willet (Tringa semipalmata) **

_____ Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

_____ Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) **

_____ Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)**

_____ Sanderling (Calidris alba) **

_____ Semipalmated Sandpiper (Caladris pusilla)

_____ Western Sandpiper (Caladris mauri) *

_____ Least Sandpiper (Caladris minutilla)

_____ White-rumped Sandpiper (Caladris fuscicollis) *

_____ Baird's Sandpiper (Caladris bairdii) **

_____ Pectoral Sandpiper (Caladris melanotos)

_____ Dunlin (Caladris alpina)

_____ Stilt Sandpiper (Caladris himantopus) *

_____ Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) **

_____ Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) *

_____ Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) **

_____ Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata)

_____ American Woodcock (Scolopax minor)

_____ Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) **

_____ Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) **

_____ Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) **

_____ Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)

_____ Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) **

_____ Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) **

_____ Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

_____ Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)

_____ Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) **

_____ Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) **

_____ Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia)

_____ Black Tern (Chlidonias niger)

_____ Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) *

_____ Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri)

_____ Rock Pigeon (Columba livia)

_____ Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) *

_____ Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

_____ Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius--extinct)

_____ Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis--extinct)

_____ Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus)

_____ Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) *

_____ Barn Owl (Tyto alba) *

_____ Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio)

_____ Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

_____ Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) **

_____ Barred Owl (Strix varia)

_____ Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) **

_____ Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) *

_____ Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) *

_____ Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor)

_____ Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis)

_____ Whip-poor-will (Caprimulgus vociferus)

_____ Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica)

_____ Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris)

_____ Calliope Hummingbird (Stellula calliope) **

_____ Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) *

_____ Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) **

_____ Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

_____ Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)

_____ Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus)

_____ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius)

_____ Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

_____ Hairy Woodpecker (Picoides villosus)

_____ Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Picoides borealis--extirpated)

_____ Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

_____ Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus)

_____ Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) *

_____ Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

_____ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) **

_____ Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens)

_____ Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) **

_____ Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) *

_____ Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) *

_____ Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe)

_____ Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus)

_____ Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) **

_____ Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

_____ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) **

_____ Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

_____ White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus)

_____ Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons)

_____ Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius)

_____ Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

_____ Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus)

_____ Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus)

_____ Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

_____ American Crow (Corvus brachyrhyncos)

_____ Common Raven (Corvus corax)

_____ Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris)

_____ Purple Martin (Progne subis)

_____ Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

_____ Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

_____ Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia)

_____ Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonata)

_____ Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)

_____ Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis)

_____ Tufted Titmouse (Baeopholus bicolor)

_____ Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

_____ White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

_____ Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) **

_____ Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)

_____ Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus)

_____ Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) **

_____ House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

_____ Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)

_____ Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) *

_____ Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) *

_____ Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa)

_____ Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

_____ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea)

_____ Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)

_____ Veery (Catharus fuscescens) *

_____ Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)

_____ Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

_____ Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

_____ Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina)

_____ American Robin (Turdus migratorius)

_____ Gray Catbird (Dumatella carolinensis)

_____ Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

_____ Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum)

_____ European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

_____ American Pipit (Anthus rubescens)

_____ Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

_____ Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus)

_____ Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera)

     _____ "Brewster's" Warbler

_____ Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina)

_____ Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata)

_____ Nashville Warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla)

_____ Northern Parula (Parula americana)

_____ Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia)

_____ Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica)

_____ Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia)

_____ Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina)

_____ Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) *

_____ Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata)

_____ Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens)

_____ Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca)

_____ Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica)

_____ Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus)

_____ Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor)

_____ Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum)

_____ Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea)

_____ Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

_____ Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica caerulea)

_____ Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

_____ American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

_____ Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea)

_____ Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus)

_____ Swainson's Warbler * (Limnothylpis swainsonii) *

_____ Ovenbird (Seiuris aurocapillus)

_____ Northern Waterthrush (Seiuris noveboracensis)

_____ Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiuris motacilla)

_____ Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus)

_____ Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) *

_____ Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia) *

_____ Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis tricas)

_____ Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina)

_____ Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla)

_____ Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis)

_____ Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens)

_____ Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra)

_____ Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea)

_____ Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus)

_____ Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila aestivalis) **

_____ American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) *

_____ Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina)

_____ Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) **

_____ Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla)

_____ Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus)

_____ Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) **

_____ Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

_____ Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum)

_____ Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) *

_____ Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) **

_____ Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) **

_____ Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca)

_____ Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodius)

_____ Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

_____ Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana)

_____ White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis)

_____ Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) **

_____ White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

_____ Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

_____ Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) *

_____ Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) **

_____ Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

_____ Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

_____ Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea)

_____ Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

_____ Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) **

_____ Dickcissel (Spiza americana)

_____ Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

_____ Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

_____ Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

_____ Yellow-headed Blackbird  (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) **

_____ Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

_____ Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) *

_____ Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

_____ Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

_____ Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

_____ Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

_____ Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

_____ House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

_____ Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) **

_____ Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammea) **

_____ Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

_____ American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

_____ Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) *

_____ House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Table 2. The Official List of the Birds of the Upper Cumberland Region (single-spaced version).  Species denoted below with one asterisk (*) are rare and with two asterisks (**) very rare within the UCR; sightings of these species should be reported via a documentation form.  Species on the Audubon WatchList are indicated below in pink (27 species) or red (8 species), with the latter being more critically decreasing species.

To navigate to the page with links to county check-lists, click on the link below:

• UCR Counties