Bird Checklists of the United States
Grand Forks County Checklist
Grand Forks County, North Dakota
Welcome
This checklist shows the names and abundances of 280 species of birds observed three or more times in Grand Forks County in the past 40 years. Nomenclature and checklist order follow the 7th Edition of the A.O.U. Checklist of North America Birds.An [*] is used to denote the species for which nesting has been proven. A [+] is used to designate species that likely nest, based on evidence such as repeated observations of territorial behavior of males for extended periods of time.
Seasons and Relative Abundance
Seasons
Since many birds are migratory, their seasonal occurrence and relative abundance are noted as follows:
Sp - Spring (March - May)
Su - Summer (June - August)
Fa - Fall (September - November)
Wi - Winter (December - February)
Relative abundance
A - abundant; daily counts exceed 250
C - common; daily counts 25 - 250
F - fairly common; daily counts 5 - 25
U - uncommon; daily counts of 1 - 5; <25/season
R - rare; seen most years; <5/season
O - occasional; seen less than once every 3 years
The indicated seasonal abundances are based on peak daily counts made by visiting optimal habitat at the best time during that season. Perceived abundances vary from year-to-year as a function of weather patterns and wet/dry cycles. Summer and/or winter abundances are shown for several migratory species because their migration period extends into those seasons - e.g., the spring migration of shorebirds, flycatchers,thrushes, and warblers extends into Junes, and the fall (southward migration) of several shorebird species is underway by late June. Additional comments on the checklist can be found at our web site.
Comments and observations relevant to this list can be sent to grandcitiesbirdclub@earthlink.net.
Previous checklists were published in 1982 and 1989. Abundances are based primarily on the records of Eve Freeberg, John Kelley and Dave Lambeth. Gerry Nies provided the computer assistance for assembling and publishing this list.
Hypothetical and accidental species:
An annotated list of 43 species that are considered to be either Accidental
or Hyothetical in Grand Forks County can be found at http://www.geocities.com/grandcitiesbirdclub.
LOONS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ COMMON LOON R O R -
GREBES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ PIED-BILLED GREBE C F C - ___ HORNED GREBE C R F - ___ RED-NECKED GREBE U R R - ___ EARED GREBE C C C - ___ WESTERN GREBE F F U - ___ CLARK'S GREBE - - O -
PELICANS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN C C C -
CORMORANTS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT A F C -
BITTERNS, HERONS, EGRETS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ +AMERICAN BITTERN U U U - ___ *GREAT BLUE HERON C F C - ___ GREAT EGRET R R U - ___ CATTLE EGRET O O O - ___ *GREEN HERON R R R - ___ BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON R R U -
NEW WORLD VULTURES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ TURKEY VULTURE R - R -
SWANS, GEESE, DUCKS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE F - U - ___ SNOW GOOSE A O A - ___ ROSS'S GOOSE R - - - ___ *CANADA GOOSE A C A F ___ TUNDRA SWAN A O C - ___ *WOOD DUCK C F F - ___ *GADWALL C F C - ___ *AMERICAN WIGEON F U C - ___ +AMERICAN BLACK DUCK O R R - ___ *MALLARD A C A U ___ *BLUE-WINGED TEAL A C A - ___ CINNAMON TEAL O O - - ___ *NORTHERN SHOVELER C C A - ___ *NORTHERN PINTAIL A C C - ___ *GREEN-WINGED TEAL C F C - ___ *CANVASBACK F F C - ___ *REDHEAD C C A - ___ RING-NECKED DUCK C U C - ___ GREATER SCAUP C O F - ___ *LESSER SCAUP A C A R ___ HARLEQUIN DUCK - - O - ___ SURF SCOTER - - U - ___ WHITE-WINGED SCOTER O - R - ___ BLACK SCOTER O O R - ___ LONG-TAILED DUCK O - R - ___ BUFFLEHEAD F R C - ___ COMMON GOLDENEYE C - U - ___ *HOODED MERGANSER F U F - ___ RED-BREASTED MERGANSER U - R - ___ COMMON MERGANSER C - U - ___ *RUDDY DUCK A A A -
OSPREYS, KITES, HAWKS, AND EAGLES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ OSPREY R - R - ___ BALD EAGLE F R U R ___ *NORTHERN HARRIER F F F O ___ SHARP-SHINNED HAWK F O F R ___ *COOPER'S HAWK U U U O ___ NORTHERN GOSHAWK R - R R ___ *BROAD-WINGED HAWK F R U - ___ *SWAINSON'S HAWK U U U - ___ *RED-TAILED HAWK C U C O ___ *FERRUGINOUS HAWK R R R - ___ ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK F - F R ___ GOLDEN EAGLE - - O O
FALCONS AND CARACARAS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *AMERICAN KESTREL F U F O ___ *MERLIN U R U U ___ PRAIRIE FALCON O O U R ___ PEREGRINE FALCON U O R O
PARTRIDGES, GROUSE and TURKEYS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *GRAY PARTRIDGE F U F C ___ *RING-NECKED PHEASANT R R R R ___ *GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN F U F F ___ *SHARP-TAILED GROUSE F U F F ___ *WILD TURKEY R R R R
RAILS and COOTS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ +YELLOW RAIL R F F - ___ *VIRGINIA RAIL U F R - ___ *SORA F F F - ___ *AMERICAN COOT A C A -
CRANES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ SANDHILL CRANE C O F -
PLOVERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER C U C - ___ AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER C U C - ___ SEMIPALMATED PLOVER F F F - ___ *PIPING PLOVER R R - - ___ *KILLDEER C C C -
STILTS and AVOCETS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *BLACK-NECKED STILT O O O - ___ *AMERICAN AVOCET F F C -
SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES and ALLIES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ GREATER YELLOWLEGS C C C - ___ LESSER YELLOWLEGS C A A - ___ SOLITARY SANDPIPER U U U - ___ *WILLET U U R - ___ *SPOTTED SANDPIPER F F C - ___ *UPLAND SANDPIPER F F U - ___ WHIMBREL O - - - ___ HUDSONIAN GODWIT C R U - ___ *MARBLED GODWIT F C U - ___ RUDDY TURNSTONE C F U - ___ RED KNOT R O R - ___ SANDERLING F F C - ___ SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER A A A - ___ WESTERN SANDPIPER R - O - ___ LEAST SANDPIPER C C C - ___ WHITE-RUMPED SANDPIPER C A R - ___ BAIRD'S SANDPIPER C F C - ___ PECTORAL SANDPIPER C A A - ___ DUNLIN C U F - ___ STILT SANDPIPER C A C - ___ BUFF-BREASTED SANDPIPER O F U - ___ SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER F F F - ___ LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER F C C - ___ *COMMON SNIPE F U F - ___ *AMERICAN WOODCOCK R R O - ___ *WILSON'S PHALAROPE C A A - ___ RED-NECKED PHALAROPE A C C - ___ RED PHARALOPE - - O -
GULLS, AND TERNS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ FRANKLIN'S GULL C C A - ___ BONAPARTE'S GULL F U F - ___ RING-BILLED GULL A C A - ___ CALIFORNIA GULL F F F - ___ HERRING GULL C O U - ___ GLAUCOUS GULL O - - - ___ SABINE'S GULL - - - R ___ CASPIAN TERN R R R - ___ COMMON TERN R R O - ___ FORSTER'S TERN F U R - ___ *BLACK TERN C F A -
DOVES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *ROCK DOVE A A A A ___ EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE - - O O ___ *MOURNING DOVE C C A R
CUCKOOS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *BLACK-BILLED CUCKOO U U U - ___ YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO O O - -
TYPICAL OWLS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *EASTERN SCREECH-OWL U U U U ___ *GREAT HORNED OWL U U U U ___ SNOWY OWL F - U U ___ +BURROWING OWL O O O - ___ BARRED OWL O - - O ___ LONG-EARED OWL R - R - ___ *SHORT-EARED OWL F U U F ___ NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL R - O -
GOATSUCKERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *COMMON NIGHTHAWK F U C - ___ WHIP-POOR-WILL R - O -
SWIFTS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *CHIMNEY SWIFT F F C -
HUMMINGBIRDS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD U R U -
KINGFISHERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *BELTED KINGFISHER U U U -
WOODPECKERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *RED-HEADED WOODPECKER U U R - ___ RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER O O O O ___ *YELLOW-BELLIED SAPSUCKER F U U - ___ *DOWNY WOODPECKER F F F F ___ *HAIRY WOODPECKER F F F F ___ *NORTHERN FLICKER C F C R ___ *PILEATED WOODPECKER U U U U
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER U O U - ___ *EASTERN WOOD-PEEWEE U F F - ___ YELLOW-BELLIED FLYCATCHER R R R - ___ ALDER FLYCATCHER R R R - ___ *WILLOW FLYCATCHER R U R - ___ *LEAST FLYCATCHER U F U - ___ *EASTERN PHOEBE U U U - ___ *SAY'S PHOEBE - O O - ___ *GREAT CRESTED FLYCATCHER U U U - ___ *WESTERN KINGBIRD F F C - ___ *EASTERN KINGBIRD F F C -
SHRIKES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ NORTHERN SHRIKE R - R R ___ *LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE R R - -
VIREOS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ BLUE-HEADED VIREO U O U - ___ *YELLOW-THROATED VIREO R U R - ___ *WARBLING VIREO U F U - ___ PHILADELPHIA VIREO U - U - ___ RED-EYED VIREO F F F -
JAYS, MAGPIES, and CROWS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ GRAY JAY - - O O ___ *BLUE JAY F F F F ___ *BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE F F F F ___ *AMERICAN CROW C C C C ___ COMMON RAVEN O - - O
LARKS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *HORNED LARK A C F C
SWALLOWS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *PURPLE MARTIN C C A - ___ *TREE SWALLOW C C A - ___ *NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW F F F - ___ *BANK SWALLOW C C A - ___ *BARN SWALLOW C C C - ___ *CLIFF SWALLOW C A A -
CHICKADEES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE C F F C
NUTHATCHES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH R R F F ___ *WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH C F C C
CREEPERS Sp S F W ___ BROWN CREEPER U - U R
WRENS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ ROCK WREN O - - - ___ *HOUSE WREN F C F - ___ WINTER WREN R - R - ___ *SEDGE WREN F C F - ___ *MARSH WREN F F F -
KINGLETS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET F - F R ___ RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET F - F -
THRUSHES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *EASTERN BLUEBIRD F F F - ___ *MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD R O - - ___ TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE O - O O ___ +VEERY U F R - ___ GRAY-CHEEKED THRUSH U - U - ___ SWAINSON'S THRUSH C R F - ___ HERMIT THRUSH F - U - ___ WOOD THRUSH O - O - ___ *AMERICAN ROBIN A C A F ___ VARIED THRUSH O - O O
MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *GRAY CATBIRD F F F - ___ NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD O - O - ___ *BROWN THRASHER F F F -
STARLINGS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *EUROPEAN STARLING A A A C
PIPITS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ AMERICAN (WATER) PIPIT U - C - ___ *SPRAGUE'S PIPIT O R R -
WAXWINGS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ BOHEMIAN WAXWING C - U U ___ *CEDAR WAXWING C F C F
WOOD WARBLERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ GOLDEN-WINGED WARBLER O - O - ___ TENNESSEE WARBLER C R C - ___ ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER F - F - ___ NASHVILLE WARBLER U - U - ___ NORTHERN PARULA O - O - ___ *YELLOW WARBLER F C F - ___ CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER U R U - ___ MAGNOLIA WARBLER U O U - ___ CAPE MAY WARBLER U - R - ___ BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER - - O - ___ YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER A O A - ___ BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER U - U - ___ BLACKBURNIAN WARBLER R O U - ___ PALM WARBLER F - F - ___ BAY-BREASTED WARBLER U O U - ___ BLACKPOLL WARBLER F O U - ___ *BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER F R F - ___ *AMERICAN REDSTART F U F - ___ +OVENBIRD F R F - ___ NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH F R F - ___ CONNECTICUT WARBLER U O R - ___ MOURNING WARBLER U O U - ___ *COMMON YELLOWTHROAT F C F - ___ WILSON'S WARBLER U - F - ___ CANADA WARBLER U O U -
TANAGERS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *SCARLET TANAGER R R R -
NEW WORLD SPARROWS AND TOWHEES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ EASTERN TOWHEE U - R - ___ SPOTTED TOWHEE O - O - ___ AMERICAN TREE SPARROW C - C R ___ *CHIPPING SPARROW C C C - ___ *CLAY-COLORED SPARROW F C F - ___ +FIELD SPARROW O O - - ___ *VESPER SPARROW C C C - ___ *LARK SPARROW R R R - ___ *LARK BUNTING O O - - ___ *SAVANNAH SPARROW C C C - ___ *BAIRD'S SPARROW O R O - ___ *GRASSHOPPER SPARROW U F U - ___ *LE CONTE'S SPARROW U F U - ___ *NELSON'S SHARP-TAILED SPARROW R U R - ___ FOX SPARROW F - U - ___ *SONG SPARROW C C F O ___ LINCOLN'S SPARROW F - F - ___ +SWAMP SPARROW F R F - ___ WHITE-THROATED SPARROW C O C R ___ HARRIS' SPARROW F - F O ___ WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW F - F O ___ DARK-EYED JUNCO A - A F ___ LAPLAND LONGSPUR A - A U ___ SMITH'S LONGSPUR O - O - ___ *CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR F F F - ___ SNOW BUNTING A - A A
CARDINALS, BUNTINGS and GROSBEAKS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *NORTHERN CARDINAL R O R R ___ *ROSE-BREASTED GROSBREAK F F F - ___ *INDIGO BUNTING R U U - ___ *DICKCISSEL - U U -
BLACKBIRDS AND ORIOLES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *BOBOLINK C C F - ___ *RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD A A A U ___ *WESTERN MEADOWLARK C C C O ___ *YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD C A C - ___ RUSTY BLACKBIRD C - C R ___ *BREWER'S BLACKBIRD C F C - ___ *COMMON GRACKLE A C A R ___ *BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD C C U - ___ *ORCHARD ORIOLE U F U - ___ *BALTIMORE ORIOLE F F F -
FINCHES Sp Su Fa Wi ___ PINE GROSBEAK O - O O ___ *PURPLE FINCH F U F U ___ *HOUSE FINCH C C C C ___ RED CROSSBILL O O O O ___ WHITE-WINGED CROSSBILL O O O O ___ COMMON REDPOLL F - U C ___ HOARY REDPOLL O - O R ___ *PINE SISKIN C F C F ___ *AMERICAN GOLDFINCH C C C U ___ EVENING GROSBEAK O - R O
OLD WORLD SPARROWS Sp Su Fa Wi ___ *HOUSE SPARROW A A A A
For additional information contact:
http://www.geocities.com/grandcitiesbirdclub
This resource should be cited as:
Grand Cities Bird Club. 2001. Grand Forks County Checklist. Grand Cities Bird
Club. Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.govgforksco.htm
(Version 30DEC2002).
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