Bird Checklists of the United States
Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
Hackberry, Louisiana
Welcome to Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge, located in extreme southwestern Louisiana, was established In 1937 and is one of the primary wintering refuges for waterfowl in the Mississippi Flyway.
Sabine Refuge contains over 124,511 acres and consists of a surprisingly wide range of habitat. Three freshwater impoundments as well as numerous ridges, bayous, man-made canals and levees, ponds, lakes, and wooded islands are some of the various features found in this marsh.
The winter months for the birder interested in waterfowl can be most rewarding, with many species of ducks using the refuge. Large flocks of snow geese are commonly seen feeding on marshes adjacent to Highway 27, the only road through the refuge. Equally rewarding to the birder are the spring and fall periods when transient species of shorebirds are abundant. In addition to this, cold fronts during March, April, and May sometimes produce spectacular waves of migrant warblers and other songbirds rarely seen.
How to use your checklist
The bird checklist was designed to be informative and simple to use. The list is arranged in the order established by the American Ornithological Union.
The bird list has been reviewed by the staff of the Museum of Natural History, L.S.U. It is in accordance with the sixth A.O.U. checklist as amended, and conforms with names to be used in the revised checklist of Louisiana birds. Accepted new names are used throughout the list.
The following list contains 250 species of birds observed by refuge personnel and other ornithologists. There is also a supplemental list of birds that have been seen off the refuge but in Cameron Parish. This list is available at the refuge headquarters.
Symbols which appear in this checklist represent the following:
Seasonal appearance
Sp - Spring - March to May
S - Summer - June to August
F - Fall - September to November
W - Winter - December to February
Seasonal abundance
a - abundant: a common species which is very numerous
c - common: certain to be seen in suitable habitat
u - uncommon: present but not certain to be seen
o - occasional: seen only a few times during a season
r - rare: seen at intervals of 2 to 5 years
* - nests on the refuge
These additional 30 species are considered accidental, very rarely seen on the refuge with only one or two sightings:
LOONS Sp S F W ___ Common Loon o - o u
GREBES Sp S F W ___ Pied-billed Grebe* c u c c ___ Horned Grebe o - o o ___ Eared Grebe u - u u
PELICANS AND ALLIES Sp S F W ___ American White Pelican c o c c ___ Double-crested Cormorant c - c c ___ Olivaceous Cormorant* c c c c ___ Anhinga - o - o ___ Magnificent Frigatebird - r r -
HERONS, EGRETS AND ALLIES Sp S F W ___ American Bittern u - u c ___ Least Bittern* c a r r ___ Great Blue Heron* c c c c ___ Great Egret* c c c c ___ Snowy Egret* c c c c ___ Little Blue Heron c c c c ___ Tricolored Heron* c c c c ___ Reddish Egret r r r r ___ Cattle Egret c c u u ___ Green Heron* a a c o ___ Black-crowned Night-Heron u u u u ___ Yellow-crowned Night-Heron o u o r
IBISES, SPOONBILL, STORK Sp S F W ___ Glossy Ibis o o o o ___ White Ibis* u c c c ___ White-faced Ibis* c c c c ___ Roseate Spoonbill* u u u u ___ Wood Stork - u o -
WATERFOWL Sp S F W ___ Fulvous Whistling-Duck - r r c ___ Black-bellied Whistling-Duck - - - u ___ Greater White-Fronted Goose o - o u ___ Snow Goose c - c a ___ Ross' Goose - - - r ___ Canada Goose - - o u ___ Wood Duck - r u u ___ Green-winged Teal c - c a ___ American Black Duck - - - r ___ Mottled Duck* c c c a ___ Mallard c - c a ___ Northern Pintail c - c a ___ Blue-winged Teal* c o a a ___ Cinnamon Teal o - o a ___ Northern Shoveler c o c a ___ Gadwall c - c a ___ American Wigeon c - c a ___ Canvasback o - o u ___ Redhead u - u u ___ Ring-necked Duck o - o u ___ Lesser Scaup c - c c ___ Common Goldeneye - o o - ___ Bufflehead - - - u ___ Hooded Merganser - - o u ___ Common Merganser r - - r ___ Red-breasted Merganser - - - u ___ Ruddy Duck u - o u
VULTURES, HAWKS AND ALLIES Sp S F W ___ Black Vulture c c c c ___ Turkey Vulture* c c c c ___ Osprey o - o r ___ Bald Eagle - - - r ___ Northern Harrier c - c c ___ Sharp-shinned Hawk u - u u ___ Cooper's Hawk o - o u ___ Red-shouldered Hawk u - u u ___ Broad-winged Hawk o - o - ___ Red-tailed Hawk u - u u ___ American Kestrel u - u c ___ Merlin u - u u ___ Peregrine Falcon - - o o
GALLINACEOUS BIRDS Sp S F W ___ Northern Bobwhite r r r r
RAILS, GALLINULES, COOTS AND CRANES Sp S F W ___ Yellow Rail u - u r ___ Black Rail - - - r ___ Clapper Rail* c c c c ___ King Rail c c c c ___ Virginia Rail u - - c ___ Sora u - u c ___ Purple Gallinule* u c u r ___ Common Moorhen* c c c c ___ American Coot c - c c
SHOREBIRDS Sp S F W ___ Black-bellied Plover c - c c ___ American Golden Plover r - r - ___ Wilson's Plover - o - - ___ Semipalmated Plover u - u - ___ Killdeer* c c c c ___ Black-necked Stilt* c c c r ___ American Avocet - - o o ___ Greater Yellowlegs a - a - ___ Lesser Yellowlegs a - a - ___ Solitary Sandpiper u - u - ___ Willet c c c c ___ Spotted Sandpiper c - c u ___ Upland Sandpiper r - r - ___ Whimbrel u - r - ___ Long-billed Curlew u - u u ___ Marbled Godwit o - o - ___ Ruddy Turnstone u - u - ___ Red Knot r - r - ___ Sanderling c - u u ___ Semipalmated Sandpiper a - a - ___ Western Sandpiper u - u c ___ Least Sandpiper c - c c ___ White-rumped Sandpiper c - - - ___ Pectoral Sandpiper u - u - ___ Dunlin c - c c ___ Stilt Sandpiper u - o - ___ Short-billed Dowitcher u - u u ___ Long-billed Dowitcher c - c c ___ Common Snipe c - c a ___ American Woodcock r - r r ___ Laughing Gull c c c c ___ Franklin's Gull r - r - ___ Bonaparte's Gull - - r u ___ Ring-billed Gull u - u c ___ Herring Gull u - u c ___ Gull-billed Tern u u u u ___ Caspian Tern u u u u ___ Royal Tern u u u u ___ Common Tern - - - u ___ Forster's Tern c c c c ___ Least Tern o u o - ___ Black Tern a u a - ___ Black Skimmer c c c c
PIGEONS AND DOVES Sp S F W ___ Mourning Dove o o o o
CUCKOOS Sp S F W ___ Black-billed Cuckoo r - r - ___ Yellow-billed Cuckoo u u o -
OWLS Sp S F W ___ Barn Owl* u u u u ___ Eastern Screech-Owl r r r r ___ Great Horned Owl r r r r ___ Burrowing Owl - - - o ___ Short-eared Owl r - - r
NIGHTJARS Sp S F W ___ Common Nighthawk* c c - - ___ Chuck-will's-widow o - o -
SWIFTS AND HUMMINGBIRDS Sp S F W ___ Chimney Swift o o o - ___ Ruby-throated Hummingbird u u u -
KINGFISHERS Sp S F W ___ Belted Kingfisher c c c c
WOODPECKERS Sp S F W ___ Red-headed Woodpecker o - o - ___ Yellow-bellied Sapsucker o - o o ___ Downy Woodpecker r - r r ___ Northern Flicker* u o u u
FLYCATCHERS Sp S F W ___ Olive-sided Flycatcher - - r - ___ Eastern Wood-Pewee u - u - ___ Yellow-bellied Flycatcher r - r - ___ Acadian Flycatcher u - u - ___ Eastern Phoebe c - c c ___ Vermilion Flycatcher r - r r ___ Great Crested Flycatcher o o o - ___ Western Kingbird r - o - ___ Eastern Kingbird* c c c - ___ Scissor-tailed Flycatcher* o o o r
MARTINS AND SWALLOWS Sp S F W ___ Purple Martin* u u u - ___ Tree Swallow a - a a ___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow u - u u ___ Bank Swallow c - c - ___ Cliff Swallow* c u c - ___ Barn Swallow* a a a -
JAYS AND CROWS Sp S F W ___ Blue Jay r r r r ___ Fish Crow u u u u
NUTHATCHES Sp S F W ___ Red-breasted Nuthatch r - r r
CREEPERS Sp S F W ___ Brown Creeper o - o o
WRENS Sp S F W ___ Carolina Wren o o o o ___ House Wren r - r u ___ Winter Wren - - - r ___ Sedge Wren u - u c ___ Marsh Wren* a u a a
KINGLETS AND GNATCATCHERS Sp S F W ___ Golden-crowned Kinglet r - r r ___ Ruby-crowned Kinglet c - c c ___ Blue-gray Gnatcatcher c - c u
BLUEBIRDS, THRUSHES AND ROBINS Sp S F W ___ Eastern Bluebird r - r r ___ Veery u - u - ___ Gray-cheecked Thrush u - u - ___ Swainson's Thrush c - c - ___ Hermit Thrush u - u u ___ Wood Thrush u - u - ___ American Robin u - u u
THRASHERS Sp S F W ___ Gray Catbird u - u - ___ Northern Mockingbird* u u u u ___ Brown Thrasher o - o o
PIPITS Sp S F W ___ American Pipit u - u c
WAXWINGS Sp S F W ___ Cedar Waxwing u - o u
STARLINGS Sp S F W ___ European Starling* c c c a
SHRIKES Sp S F W ___ Loggerhead Shrike* c u c c
VIREOS Sp S F W ___ White-eyed Vireo u - u - ___ Solitary Vireo o - o o ___ Yellow-throated Vireo o - o - ___ Warbling Vireo r - r - ___ Red-eyed Vireo u - u -
WARBLERS Sp S F W ___ Blue-winged Warbler r - r - ___ Golden-winged Warbler r - r - ___ Tennessee Warbler c - c - ___ Orange-crowned Warbler u - o u ___ Nashville Warbler r - r - ___ Northern Parula u - u - ___ Yellow Warbler u - u - ___ Chestnut-sided Warbler u - u - ___ Magnolia Warbler u - u - ___ Cape May Warbler r - - - ___ Black-throated Blue Warbler o - - - ___ Yellow-rumped Warbler c - u a ___ Black-throated Green Warbler u - u - ___ Blackburnian Warbler u - u - ___ Yellow-throated Warbler u - u - ___ Prairie Warbler r - o - ___ Palm Warbler u - u u ___ Bay-breasted Warbler c - c - ___ Blackpoll Warbler u - - - ___ Cerulean Warbler u - u - ___ Black-and-white Warbler c - c - ___ American Redstart c - c - ___ Prothonotary Warbler u - u - ___ Worm-eating Warbler o - u - ___ Ovenbird c - r - ___ Northern Waterthrush u - u - ___ Louisiana Waterthrush o - o - ___ Kentucky Warbler c - u - ___ Mourning Warbler o - o - ___ Common Yellowthroat* c c c c ___ Hooded Warbler c - u - ___ Wilson's Warbler o - u - ___ Canada Warbler u - u - ___ Yellow-breasted Chat u - u -
TANAGERS Sp S F W ___ Summer Tanager c - c - ___ Scarlet Tanager u - c - ___ Western Tanager r - - r
NEW WORLD FINCHES Sp S F W ___ Northern Cardinal u u u u ___ Rose-breasted Grosbeak c - u - ___ Blue Grosbeak o - o - ___ Indigo Bunting u - u - ___ Painted Bunting o - o - ___ Dickcissel o - - -
SPARROWS Sp S F W ___ Rufous-sided Towhee o - o o ___ Field Sparrow o - o o ___ Vesper Sparrow - - - o ___ Lark Sparrow - - r - ___ Savannah Sparrow u - u c ___ Le Conte's Sparrow o - o u ___ Sharp-tailed Sparrow u - - u ___ Seaside Sparrow* a a a a ___ Fox Sparrow o - o o ___ Song Sparrow c - c c ___ Lincoln's Sparrow u - u u ___ Swamp Sparrow c - c c ___ White-throated Sparrow u - u u ___ White-crowned Sparrow o - o o ___ Dark-eyed Junco o - o o
BLACKBIRDS, GRACKLES, COWBIRDS AND ORIOLES Sp S F W ___ Red-winged Blackbird* a a a a ___ Eastern Meadowlark* a a a a ___ Western Meadowlark - - o o ___ Yellow-headed Blackbird o - - - ___ Rusty Blackbird r - - r ___ Boat-tailed Grackle* a a a a ___ Common Grackle r r r - ___ Brown-headed Cowbird* u u u u ___ Orchard Oriole* c c - - ___ Northern Oriole u - u -
OLD WORLD FINCHES Sp S F W ___ Purple Finch o - o o ___ American Goldfinch o - o o
WEAVER FINCHES Sp S F W ___ House Sparrow* u u u u
Brown Pelican Inca Dove Masked Booby Common Ground-Dove Grove-billed Ani Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Oldsquaw Lesser Nighthawk Masked Duck Rufous-tailed Hummingbird White-winged Scoter Ash-throated Flycatcher Bell's Vireo Brown Crested Flycatcher Rough-legged Hawk Sprague's Pipit Golden Eagle American Swallow-tailed Kite Crested Caracara Black-throated Gray Warbler Sandhill Crane Swainson's Warbler Black Francolin American Tree Sparrow Sooty Tern Chipping Sparrow Brown Noddy Bobolink White-winged Dove Pine Siskin
For additional information contact:
Refuge Manager
Sabine National Wildlife Refuge
300 Holly Beach Highway
Hackberry, Louisiana 70645
Telephone: 318/762-3816
This resource is based on the following source:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Birds of Sabine National Wildlife
Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
This resource should be cited as:
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 1992. Birds of Sabine National Wildlife
Refuge. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Unpaginated.
Jamestown, ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.govsabine.htm
(Version 22MAY98).
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