U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Eastern NeckNational Wildlife RefugeBirds

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge1730 Eastern Neck RoadRock Hall, MD 21661410/639 7056410/639 2516 Faxhttp://fws.gov/northeast/easternneckEmail: r5rw_ennwr@mail.fws.gov

Federal Relay Service for the deaf and hard-of-hearing1 800/877 8339

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service1 800/344 WILDhttp://www.fws.gov/

August 2009

printed on recycled paper with vegetable based inks

MARC H 3, 1849

U.S.

DEP

ARTMENT OF THE INTERIO

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Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge in Kent County on Maryland’s Eastern Shore was established in 1962 for the protection and management of migratory birds.

The 2,285 acres of diversified habitat on the island, plus the waters of the Chester River and Chesapeake Bay, provide habitat for a wide variety of bird life. Diving and puddle ducks, swans and geese concentrate around the island in late fall and early winter. Peak concentrations occur from November to January.

This brochure lists the birds that are found in the area of Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge. A total of 257 species have been recorded on the refuge. Sixteen accidental species are also listed.

This list follows the Seventh American Ornithologists Union Checklist and was updated in 2006 by the Maryland Ornithological Society, Kent County Chapter. It is subject to change as more birds are identified on the refuge.

Most birds are migratory, therefore, their seasonal occurrence is coded as follows:

SEASONSp Spring March – MayS Summer June – AugustF Fall September – NovemberW Winter December – February

RELATIVE ABUNDANCEa abundant a species which is very numerousc common likely to be seen or heard in suitable habitatu uncommon present, but not certain to be seeno occasional seen only a few times during a seasonr rare may be present but not every year

• Birds known to nest on or near the refuge

Canada Geese

Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge is one of more than 550 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The National Wildlife Refuge System is a network of lands and waters managed specifically for the protection of wildlife and wildlife habitat and represents the most comprehensive wildlife management program in the world. Units of the system stretch across the United States from northern Alaska to the Florida Keys and include small islands in the Caribbean and South Pacific. The character of the refuges is as diverse as the nation itself.

The Service also manages national fish hatcheries, and provides federal leadership in habitat protection, fish and wildlife research, technical assistance, and the conservation and protection of migratory birds, certain marine mammals and threatened and endangered species.

This blue goose, designed by J.N. Ding Darling, has become a symbol of the National Wildlife Refuge System.

cover photo: Black-crowned Night-HeronSteve Farrell

Sp S F WSWANS – GEESE – DUCKS___ Tundra Swa n ........................................ c a a___ •Mute Swan ........................................... c c c c___ Greater White-fronted Goose ............ r r___ Snow Goose .......................................... o o o___ Brant ..................................................... r r___ Cackling Go ose .................................... r r___ Canada Go ose ...................................... a o a a___ •Wood Duck ........................................... u u u o___ Green-winged Teal .............................. u u r___ •American Black Duck ........................ u u u c___ •Mallard ................................................. a c a a___ Northern Pi ntail .................................. u u u___ Blue-winged Teal ................................. o o r___ Northern Sh oveler .............................. o o r___ Gadwall ................................................. u r u u___ American W igeon ................................ u u u___ Canvasback .......................................... u u c ___ Redhead ................................................ o o o ___ Ring-necked Du ck ............................... u u u___ Greater Sc aup ...................................... u u c ___ Lesser Sc aup ........................................ c c c___ Long-tailed Du ck ................................. u u u___ Black Scoter ......................................... o o o___ Surf Sc oter ........................................... o o o ___ White-winged Sc oter .......................... r r r ___ Common Go ldeneye ............................ c c c___ Bufflehead ............................................ c c c___ Hooded M erganser ............................. o o o___ Common M erganser ........................... o o o___ Red-breasted M erganser ................... u r u___ Ruddy Du ck ......................................... u c c

GROUSE – QUAIL – TURKEY___ •Wild Turkey ......................................... u u u u

LOONS ___ Red-throated Loon ............................. o o___ Common Loon .................................... u u u

GREBES___ Pied-billed Gr ebe ................................. o r o o___ Horned Gr ebe ...................................... o u u___ Red-necked Gr ebe ................................ r r r

PELICANS___ Brown Pelican ...................................... r r

CORMORANTS ___ Double-crested C ormorant ................ c c c o___ Great Cormorant ................................. r r

Sp S F WBITTERNS – HERONS – IBISES___ American B ittern ................................ r r r r ___ Least B ittern ....................................... r r___ Great Blue Heron ................................ c c c u___ Great E gret .......................................... o o o___ Snowy E gret ........................................ o o o___ Little Blue Heron ................................ r r r___ Tricolored H eron ................................. r r r___ Cattle E gret ......................................... o o o ___ •Green Heron ........................................ u u u___ Black-crowned Ni ght-Heron ............. r o o r___ Yellow-crowned Ni ght-Heron ............ r r r___ Glossy Ib is ............................................ r r

VULTURES___ •Black Vulture ....................................... u u u u ___ •Turkey Vulture .................................... a a a a

OSPREY – HAWKS – EAGLES___ •Osprey .................................................. a a c___ •Bald Eagle ........................................... c u c c___ Northern H arrier ................................ u u u___ Sharp-shinned H awk .......................... u c u___ Cooper’s H awk .................................... u u u___ Northern Go shawk .............................. r ___ Red-shouldered H awk ........................ o o o o___ Broad-winged H awk ........................... o o___ •Red-tailed Hawk ................................. u u u u___ Rough-legged H awk ........................... r r r___ Golden E agle ........................................ r r r___ American K estrel ................................. u r u u___ Merlin ................................................... r o r

FALCONS___ Peregrine Falcon ................................. r o r

RAILS___ Clapper Ra il ......................................... r r r___ •King Rail .............................................. o o o o___ •Virginia Rail ........................................ u u u u___ Sora ....................................................... r r r___ Common M oorhen ............................... r r r___ American C oot ..................................... o u o

PLOVERS – SANDPIPERS___ Black-bellied Plo ver ............................ o o o ___ Semipalmated Plo ver .......................... o o o___ •Killdeer ................................................ u u u o___ Greater Yellowlegs .............................. u u u___ Lesser Yellowlegs ................................ u u u___ Solitary Sa ndpiper .............................. o o o

Sp S F WHUMMINGBIRDS___ •Ruby-throated Hummingbird ........... u u u

KINGFISHER___ Belted K ingfisher ................................ o o o o

WOODPECKERS___ Red-headed Woodpecker .................... r r r___ •Red-bellied Woodpecker .................... c c c c___ Yellow-bellied Sa psucker .................... u u u___ •Downy Woodpecker ............................ c c c c___ •Hairy Woodpecker .............................. c c c c ___ •Northern Flicker ................................ c c c c___ Pileated Woodpecker ......................... r r r r

TYRANT FLYCATCHERS___ Olive-sided Flyc atcher ........................ r r ___ •Eastern Wood-Pewee ......................... c c c___ Yellow-bellied Flyc atcher ................... o o___ •Acadian Flycatcher ............................. u u u___ Willow Flyc atcher ............................... r o___ Least Flyc atcher ................................. o___ •Eastern Phoebe .................................. c o c r___ •Great Crested Flycatcher .................. c c u___ •Eastern Kingbird ............................... c c c___ Western Kingbird ............................... r r

VIREOS___ •White-eyed Vireo ................................ c u u___ Blue-headed Vireo ............................... o o___ Yellow-throated Vireo ......................... o o o___ Warbling Vireo ..................................... r r r___ Philadelphia Vireo ............................... r___ •Red-eyed Vireo ................................... c u c

Blue jay

Sp S F W___ Willet ..................................................... r r___ Spotted Sa ndpiper .............................. o o o___ Ruddy Turnstone ................................. r___ Sanderling ............................................ r ___ Semipalmated Sa ndpiper .................... o o o___ Western Sa ndpiper .............................. r r r___ Least Sandpiper .................................. u u u___ White-rumped Sa ndpiper ................... o o___ Pectoral Sa ndpiper .............................. o o o___ Dunlin ................................................... u u r___ Stilt Sandpiper ..................................... r r___ Short-billed Do witcher ....................... o o o___ Wilson's Sn ipe ...................................... o o o___ American Woodcock ............................ o r o r

GULLS – TERNS___ Laughing Gu ll ...................................... c u c r ___ Bonaparte’s Gu ll .................................. u u o___ Ring-billed Gu ll ................................... a c a c___ Herring Gu ll ......................................... c u c c___ Lesser Black-backed Gull .................. r o r___ Great Black-backed Gull .................... u r u u___ Caspian Tern ........................................ c c ___ Royal Tern ............................................ r u___ Common Tern ...................................... o o o___ Forster’s Tern ...................................... c o c r___ Least Tern ............................................ o u___ Black Tern ............................................ r r

DOVES___ Rock P igeon ......................................... o o o o ___ •Mourning Dove ................................... c c c c

CUCKOOS___ Black-billed Cuckoo ........................... o o o___ •Yellow-billed Cuckoo .......................... u u u

OWLS___ Common Barn Owl .............................. r r r r___ •Eastern Screech-Owl ......................... u u u u___ •Great Horned Owl .............................. u u u u ___ Barred Owl ........................................... r r r r___ Short-eared Owl .................................. r r r___ Northern Saw-whet Owl .................... r r

NIGHTJARS___ Common Ni ghthawk ........................... o o o___ Chuck-will’s wi dow .............................. o o r___ Whip-poor-will ..................................... r r r

SWIFTS___ •Chimney Swift ..................................... u u u

Sp S F WJAYS – CROWS___ •Blue Jay ............................................... c c a c___ •American Crow ................................... c c c c___ •Fish Crow ............................................ c c u o

LARKS ___ Horned L ark ........................................ o o

SWALLOWS___ Purple Martin ..................................... u u u___ • Tree Swallow ...................................... c c c r___ Northern Rough-winged Swallow .... u u u___ Bank Swallow ...................................... u u u___ Cliff Swallow ....................................... r r___ • Barn Swallow ..................................... c c c

TITMICE – CHICKADEES___ Black-capped C hickadee .................... r r ___ •Carolina Chickadee ............................ c c c c___ •Tufted Titmouse .................................. c c c c

NUTHATCHES___ Red-breasted Nu thatch ...................... u u u___ White-breasted Nu thatch .................. u r u u___ •Brown-headed Nuthatch ................... o o o o

CREEPERS___ Brown C reeper .................................... u u u

WRENS___ •Carolina Wren ..................................... c c c c___ •House Wren ......................................... c c u r___ Winter Wren ........................................ u u u___ Sedge Wren .......................................... r r r r___ •Marsh Wren ......................................... c c c r

KINGLETS___ •Golden-crowned Kinglet .................... u c u___ Ruby-crowned K inglet ........................ c c u

GNATCATCHER___ •Blue-gray Gnatcatcher ....................... c u u r

THRUSHES___ •Eastern Bluebird ................................ c c c c___ Veery ..................................................... u u___ Gray-cheeked Th rush ......................... o o___ Swainson’s Th rush .............................. u u___ Hermit Th rush .................................... u u u

Sp S F W___ •Wood Thrush ....................................... c c u___•American Robin ................................... a c a c

MIMIC THRUSHES___ •Gray Catbird ....................................... c c c o___ •Northern Mockingbird ...................... c c c c___ •Brown Thrasher .................................. c c c o

STARLINGS___ •European Starling .............................. c c a c

PIPETS___ American Pi pit ..................................... r o r

WAXWINGS ___ •Cedar Waxwing ................................... c u c u

WOOD WARBLERS___ Blue-winged Warbler .......................... o o___ Golden-winged Warbler ...................... r___ Tennessee Warbler .............................. o o___ Orange-crowned Warbler ................... r___ Nashville Warbler ............................... r o___ Northern Parula .................................. c r c___ •Yellow Warbler .................................... c c u ___ Chestnut-sided Warbler ..................... u u ___ Magnolia Warbler ................................ u c___ Cape May Warbler .............................. r o___ Black-throated Blue Warbler ............ u c___ Yellow-rumped Warbler ...................... c c u___ Black-throated Green Warbler .......... u u___ Blackburnian Warbler ........................ u u___ •Yellow-throated Warbler .................... u o o___ •Pine Warbler ........................................ c c c r___ Prairie Warbler .................................... u u___ Palm Warbler ....................................... u u r___ Bay-breasted Warbler ........................ o o___ Blackpoll Warbler ................................ u u___ Cerulean Warbler ................................ r___ Black-and-white Warbler ................... c c___ American Red start .............................. c r c

Tufted titmouse

Sp S F W___ Prothonotary Warbler ........................ r r r___ Worm-eating Warbler ......................... r r___ Ovenbird ............................................... u r u___ Northern Waterthrush ....................... u u___ Louisiana Waterthrush ....................... o o___ Kentucky Warbler ............................... o r o ___ Connecticut Warbler ........................... r___ Mourning Warbler ............................... r r___ •Common Yellowthroat ........................ c c c r___ Hooded Warbler .................................. r ___ Wilson’s Warbler ................................. r r___ Canada Warbler ................................... o o___ •Yellow-breasted Chat ......................... u u u r

TANAGERS___ Summer Tanager ................................. r r r ___ •Scarlet Tanager ................................... u o u

SPARROWS___ •Eastern Towhee .................................. c c c u___ American Tree Sparrow ..................... o o o___ •Chipping Sparrow ............................... c c c o___ •Field Sparrow ..................................... u u u u___ Vesper Sparrow ................................... r r r r___ Savannah Sp arrow .............................. u u u___ Grasshopper Sp arrow ......................... o o o___ Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow .......... r r r r___ Seaside Sp arrow .................................. r r r r___ Fox Sp arrow ......................................... o u u___ •Song Sparrow ...................................... c c c c___ Lincoln's Sp arrow ............................... o___ •Swamp Sparrow .................................. c r c c___ White-throated Sp arrow .................... c c a___ White-crowned Sp arrow .................... u u u___ Dark-eyed Ju nco ................................. c c c___ Snow B unting ....................................... r o

CARDINALS – GROSBEAKS___ •Northern Cardinal .............................. c c c c___ Rose-breasted Gr osbeak .................... o u___ •Blue Grosbeak ..................................... c c u___ •Indigo Bunting .................................... c c c

BLACKBIRDS – ORIOLES___ Bobolink ................................................ u u___ •Red-winged Blackbird ....................... a c a a___ Eastern M eadowlark .......................... o o o___ Rusty Blackbird ................................... o u r___ •Common Grackle ................................ c c c c___ •Brown-headed Cowbird ..................... c c c c

Please report any sightings of birds not in agreementwith this list to:

Refuge ManagerEastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge1730 Eastern Neck RoadRock Hall, MD 21661410/639 7056Hearing impaired visitors may call theFederal Relay Service at 1 800/877 8339.

Sp S F W___ •Orchard Oriole .................................... c c o___ •Baltimore Oriole ................................. u o u r

FINCHES___ Purple F inch ........................................ o o o___ •House Finch ........................................ u u u u___ Red C rossbill ....................................... r___ Pine Si skin ............................................ o o o___ •American Goldfinch ............................ c c c c___ Evening Gr osbeak ............................... r r r

OLD WORLD SPARROWS___ •House Sparrow ................................... o o o o

VAGRANTSFulvous Whistling-Duck Snowy OwlEurasian Wigeon Loggerhead ShrikeNorthern Gannet Northern ShrikeSandhill Crane Lawrence's WarblerBlack Rail Clay-colored SparrowParasitic Jaeger Henslow's SparrowLittle Gull Painted BuntingBlack Skimmer Yellow-headed Blackbird

EXTIRPATEDNorthern Bobwhite

American goldfinch