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The Monongahela is located in the Appalachian Mountains of east central West Virginia at elevations of 1,000 to 4,861 feet. The forest stands of various tree species and age classes, and non-forest areas--such as wetlands, cliffs, grassy meadows, and cascading streams--all provide places for birds to feed, rest, and raise their young. This diverse landscape provides habitat for 70 species of resident birds, 89 breeding neotropical migrants, and 71 nonbreeding migratory bird species.

The Forest Service encourages you to try birding on the National Forest. Special efforts are taken to protect and provide the necessary habitats for birds--food-producing trees and shrubs are planted for food and cover; during timber harvest/firewood cutting, many cavity trees and snags are saved for nesting, feeding, and roosting sites. Through birding, you can become familiar with the forest Service's role in protection and management which includes recreation, timber, wildlife, water, wilderness, and range resources.

This bird checklist was compiled to make your visit to the Monongahela National Forest more enjoyable, and to provide the opportunity for added wildlife appreciation.

Codes used in this bird checklist:

Status

R = year round resident of the forest
B = breeds but leaves the area for the winter
N = nonbreeding spring and/or fall migrant (only stops on the Forest to rest and feed)
V = accidental or casual visitor (occasionally visits the area)
W = winter visitor to the Forest

Habitat Frequented

O = Open Areas (meadows, utility corridor, pasture)
W = Lakes, Ponds, Streams,Wetlands
C = Conifer Forest (Spruce, Pine, Hemlock, etc.)
H = Deciduous Forest (Oak, Maple, Beech, etc. )
B = Brush, Shrubs, Thickets
E = Forest Edge

Please send reports of any rare bird sightings (northern goshawk, cerulean warbler, bald eagle, peregrine falcon, and any species not appearing on this checklist) to: Forest Biologist, Monongahela National Forest, 200 Sycamore Street, Elkins, WV 26241-3962. Please include name, address, and phone number with date and location of sighting.

SPECIES		STATUS		HABITATS
___LOONS (Gaviidae)
___Loon, Common		N		W
GREBES (Podicipedidae)
___Grebe, Horned		N		W
___Grebe, Pied-biled		B,W		W
CORMORANTS (Phalacrocoracidae)
___Cormorant, Double-crested		N		W
HERONS (Ardeidae)
___Bittern, American		B		W
___Egret, Cattle		N, V		W
___Egret, Great		N, V		W
___Heron, Great Blue		B		W
___Heron, Green-backed		B		W
___Heron, Little Blue		N, V		W
IBISES (Threskiornithidae)
___Ibis, White		N, V		W
SWANS, GEESE AND DUCKS (ANATIDAE)
___Bufflehead		N		W
___Canvasback		N		W
___Duck, American Black		B, W		W
___Duck, Ring-necked		N		W
___Duck, Ruddy		N		W
___Duck, Wood		B, W		W
___Gadwall		N		W
___Goldeneye, Common		N		W
___Goose, Canada		R		O, W
___Goose, Snow		N		W
___Mallard		B, W		W
___Merganser, Common		N		W
___Merganser, Hooded		B		W
___Merganser, Red-breasted		N		W
___Oldsquaw		N		W
___Pintail, Northern		N		W
___Redhead		N		W
___Scaup, Lesser		N		W
___Scoter, White-winged		N		W
___Swan, Tundra		N		W
___Teal, Blue-winged		N		W
___Teal, Green-winged		B		W
___Wigeon, American		N		W
VULTURES (Cathartidae)
___Vulture, Black		B		O,C,H,E
___Vulture, Turkey		B, W		O,C,H,E
HAWKS and EAGLES (Accipitridae)
___Eagle, Bald		B		O,C,H,W
___Eagle, Golden		N
___Goshawk, Northern		R		C,H
___Harrier, Northern		B,W		O,W
___Hawk, Broad-winged		B		H
___Hawk, Cooper's		R		C, H,E
___Hawk, Red-Shouldered		B,W		H,E
___Hawk, Red-tailed		B,W		O,H,E
___Hawk, Rough-legged		N,W
___Hawk, Sharp-shinned		R		C,H,E
___Osprey		N		W
FALCONS (Falconidae)
___Falcon, Peregrine		B		O,H
___Kestrel, American		R		O,E
___Merlin		N
QUAIL, GROUSE and TURKEYS (Phasianidae)
___Bobwhite, Northern		R		O,B,E
___Grouse, Ruffed		R		C,H,B,E
___Turkey, Wild		R		O,C,H,E
RAILS, GALLINULES and COOTS (Rallidae)
___Coot, American		N		W
___Moorhen, Common		N		W
___Rail, Virginia		N		W
___Sora		N		W
CRANES (Gruidae)
___Crane, Sandhill		V		W
PLOVERS (Charadriidae)
___Killdeer		B		O,W
___Plover, Black-bellied		N		W
___Plover, Lesser Golden		N		W
___Plover, Semipalmated		N		W
SANDPIPERS (Scolopacidae)
___Sandpiper, Least		N		W
___Sandpiper, Semipalmated		N		W
___Sandpiper, Solitary		N		W
___Sandpiper, Spotted		B		W
___Sandpiper, Upland		N		W
___Snipe, Common		B,W		W
___Woodcock, American		B,W		O,W,B,E
___Yellowlegs, Greater		N		W
___Yellowlegs, Lesser		N		W
SKUAS, GULLS and TERNS (Laridae)
___Gull, Bonaparte's		N		W
___Gull, Herring		N		W
___Gull, Ring-billed		N		W
PIGEONS and DOVES (Columbidae)
___Dove, Mourning		B,W		O,B,E
___Dove, Rock		R		O
CUCKOOS (Cuculidae)
___Cuckoo, Black-billed		B		H,B,E
___Cuckoo, Yellow-billed		B		H,B,E
BARN OWLS (Tytonidae)
___Barn-Owl, Common		R		O,E
TYPICAL OWLS (Strigidae)
___Owl, Barred		R		C,H
___Owl, Great Horned		R		C,H,E
___Owl, Long-eared		R		C,H
___Owl, Northern Saw-whet		R		C,H
___Owl, Short-eared		V
___Owl, Snowy		V
___Screech-Owl, Eastern		R		O,C,H,E
GOATSUCKERS (Caprimulgidae)
___Nighthawk, Common		B		O
___Whippoorwill		B		C,H,E
SWIFTS (Apodidae)
___Swift, Chimney		B		O
HUMMINGBIRDS (Trochilidae)
___Hummingbird, Ruby-throated		B		O,H,E
___Hummingbird, Rufous		V
KINGFISHERS (Alcedinidae)
___Kingfisher, Belted		B,W		W
WOODPECKERS (Picidae)
___Flicker, Northern		B,W		O,C,H,E
___Sapsucker, Yellow-bellied		B,W		C,H
___Woodpecker, Downy		R		C,H,E
___Woodpecker, Hairy		R		C,H,E
___Woodpecker, Pileated		R		C,H
___Woodpecker, Red-bellied		R		C,H,E
___Woodpecker, Red-headed		R		O,H,E
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS (Tyrannidae)
___Flycatcher, Acadian		B		H
___Flycatcher, Alder		B		O,B,E
___Flycatcher, Great-Crested		B		H,E
___Flycatcher, Least		B		H,E
___Flycatcher, Olive-sided		B		C,H,E
___Flycatcher, Willow		B		O,B,E
___Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied		B		C,E
___Kingbird, Eastern		B		O,E
___Phoebe, Eastern		B		O,E
___Wood-Pewee, Eastern		B		C,H,E
LARKS, (Alaudidae)
___Lark, Horned		R		O
SWALLOWS (Hirundinidae)
___Swallow, Bank		B		O,W
___Swallow, Barn		B		O
___Swallow, Cliff		B		O
___Swallow, Northern Rough-winged		B		O
___Swallow, Tree		B		O
JAYS and CROWS (Corvidae)
___Crow, American		R		O,C,H,E
___Jay, Blue		R		O,C,H,B,E
___Raven, Common		R		O,C,H,E
CHICKADEES and TITMICE (Paridae)
___Chickadee, Black-capped		R		O,C,H,B,E
___Chickadee, Carolina		R		C,H,B,E
___Titmouse, Tufted		R		C,H,E
NUTHATCHES, (Sittidae)
___Nuthatch, Red-breasted		R		C
___Nuthatch, White-breasted		R		C,H,E
CREEPERS (Certhiidae)
___Creeper, Brown		B,W		C,H
WRENS (Troglodytidae)
___Wren, Bewick's		B		O,B,E
___Wren, Carolina		R		O,B,E
___Wren, House		B		O,H,B,E
___Wren, Marsh		V		W
___Wren, Sedge		B		W
___Wren, Winter		B,W		C,H,B
THRUSHES (Muscicapidae)
___Bluebird, Eastern		B,W		O,E
___Gnatcatcher, Blue-gray		B		H,B,E
___Kinglet, Golden-crowned		B,W		C
___Kinglet, Ruby-crowned		N
___Robin, American		B		O,C,H,B,E
___Thrush, Gray-cheeked		N
___Thrush, Hermit		B		C,H
___Thrush, Swainson's		B		C
___Thrush, Wood		B		C,H
___Veery		B		C,H,B
MOCKINGBIRDS and THRASHERS (Mimidae)
___Catbird, Gray		B		B,E
___Mockingbird, Northern		R		O,B,E
___Thrasher, Brown		B		B,E
PIPITS and WAGTAILS (Motacillidae)
___Pipit, American		N
WAXWINGS (Bombycillidae)
___Waxwing, Cedar		B		C,H,B,E
STARLINGS (Sturnidae)
___Starling, European		R		O,E
VIREOS (Vireonidae)
___Vireo, Philadelphia		N
___Vireo, Red-eyed		B		H
___Vireo, Solitary		B		C,H
___Vireo, Warbling		B		C,H
___Vireo, White-eyed		B		H,B,E
___Vireo, Yellow-throated		B		H
WOOD WARBLERS, TANAGERS, SPARROWS and BLACKBIRDS (Emberizidae)
___Chat, Yellow-breasted		B		O,B,E
___Ovenbird		B		C,H
___Parula, Northern		B		C,H
___Redstart, American		B		H,B,E
___Warbler, Bay-breasted		N
___Warbler, Black-and-White		B		H
___Warbler, Blackburnian		B		C,H
___Warbler, Blackpoll		N
___Warbler, Black-throated Blue		B		C,H
___Warbler, Black-throated Green		B		C,H
___Warbler, Blue-winged		B		H,B,E
___Warbler, Canada		B		C,H,B,E
___Warbler, Cape May		N
___Warbler, Cerulean		B		H
___Warbler, Chestnut-sided		B		B,E
___Warbler, Connecticut		N
___Warbler, Golden-winged		B		O,B,E
___Warbler, Hooded		B		H,E
___Warbler, Kentucky		B		H
___Warbler, Magnolia		B		C,B,E
___Warbler, Mourning		B		B,E
___Warbler, Nashville		B		C,H,B,E
___Warbler, Orange-crowned		N
___Warbler, Palm		N
___Warbler, Pine		B		C
___Warbler, Prairie		B		O,B
___Warbler, Prothonotary		N
___Warbler, Swainson's		B		C,H
___Warbler, Tennessee		N
___Warbler, Wilson's		N
___Warbler, Worm-eating		B		H
___Warbler, Yellow		B		B,E
___Warbler, Yellow-rumped		B		C,E
___Warbler, Yellow-throated		B		C,H
___Waterthrush, Northern		B		W
___Waterthrush, Louisiana		B		W
___Yellowthroat, Common		B		O,B,E
Tanagers
___Tanager, Scarlet		B		C,H
___Tanager, Summer		B		H
Grosbeak, Buntings, Tanagers and Sparrows
___Bunting, Indigo		B		B,E
___Bunting, Snow		N
___Cardinal, Northern		R		H,B,E
___Grosbeak, Rose-breasted		B		H,B,E
___Junco, Dark-eyed		B,W		O,C,H,B,E
___Sparrow, American Tree		N
___Sparrow, Chipping		B		O,H,E
___Sparrow, Field		B,W		O,B,E
___Sparrow, Fox		N
___Sparrow, Grasshopper		B		O
___Sparrow, Henslow's		B		O
___Sparrow, Lark		B		O
___Sparrow, Lincoln's		N
___Sparrow, Savannah		B		O
___Sparrow, Song		R		O,B,E
___Sparrow, Swamp		B,W		W
___Sparrow, Vesper		B		O,E
___Sparrow, White-crowned		N
___Sparrow, White-throated		B,W		C,H,B,E
___Towhee, Rufous-sided		B,W		O,B,E
Blackbirds and Orioles
___Bobolink		B		O
___Blackbird, Red-winged		B		O,W
___Blackbird, Rusty		N
___Cowbird, Brown-headed		B		O,C,H,E
___Grackle, Common		B		O
___Meadowlark, Eastern		B,W		O
___Oriole, Orchard		B		O,E
___Oriole, Northern		B		O,H,E
FINCHES (Fringillidae)
___Crossbill, Red		B,W		C
___Crossbill, White-winged		N
___Finch, Purple		B,W		C,E
___Finch, House		R		O
___Goldfinch, American		B,W		O,E
___Grosbeak, Evening		W
___Grosbeak, Pine		N
___Redpoll, Common		W
___Siskin, Pine		B		C
WEAVERS (Passeridae)
___Sparrow, House		R