*Birds of Sioux County, Iowa
			Season(s) seen/reported:
Common Name	Scientific Name	Abundance code	Year-round	Winter	Spring/Fall mig.	Summer
Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae)
Greater White-fronted Goose	Anser albifrons	U			x
Snow Goose	Chen caerulescens	F			x
Cackling goose	Branta hutchinsii	C			x
Canada Goose	Branta canadensis	C	x
Mute swan	Cygnus olor	R				x
Trumpeter swan	Cygnus buccinator	R			x
Wood Duck	Aix sponsa	C			x	x
Gadwall	Anas strepera	U			x
American Wigeon	Anas americana	C			x
Mallard	Anas platyrhynchos	U			x	x
Blue-winged Teal	Anas discors	F			x	x
Cinnamon Teal	Anas cyanoptera	R			x
Northern Shoveler	Anas clypeata	C			x
Northern Pintail	Anas acuta	U			x
Green-winged Teal	Anas crecca	U			x
Canvasback	Aythya valisineria	F			x
Redhead	Aythya americana	F			x
Ring-necked Duck	Aythya collaris	C			x
Lesser Scaup	Aythya affinis	C			x
Surf Scoter	Melanitta perspicillata	R			x
Bufflehead	Bucephala albeola	U			x
Common Goldeneye	Bucephala clangula	U/F			x
Hooded Merganser	Lophodytes cucullatus	F			x
Common Merganser	Mergus merganser	F			x
Ruddy Duck	Oxyura jamaicensis	F/C			x
Partridges and Turkeys (Phasianidae)
Gray Partridge	Perdix perdix	U	x
Ring-necked Pheasant	Phasianus colchicus	C	x
Wild Turkey	Meleagris gallopavo	U	x
New World Quail (Odontophoridae)
Northern Bobwhite	Colinus virginianus	O	x
Loons (Gaviidae)
Red-throated Loon	Gavia stellata	R			x
Pacific Loon	Gavia pacifica	R			x
Common Loon	Gavia immer	U			x
Grebes (Podicipedidae)
Pied-billed Grebe	Podilymbus podiceps	U			x	x
Horned Grebe	Podiceps auritus	O			x
Eared Grebe	Podiceps nigricollis	F			x
Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae)
Double-crested Cormorant	Phalacrocorax auritus	F			x
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
American White Pelican	Pelecanus erythrorhynchos	U			x
Bitterns, Herons, and Allies (Ardeidae)
American Bittern	Botaurus lentiginosus	U			x	x
Great Blue Heron	Ardea herodias	C			x	x
Great Egret	Ardea alba	U			x
Little Blue Heron	Egretta caerulea	R			x
Cattle Egret	Bubulcus ibis	O				x
Green Heron	Butorides virescens	F			x	x
Black-crowned Night-Heron	Nycticorax nycticorax	O			x
New World Vultures (Cathartidae)
Turkey Vulture	Cathartes aura	F			x	x
Osprey (Pandionidae)
Osprey	Pandion haliaetus	U			x
Hawks, Eagles, and Allies (Accipitridae)
Bald Eagle	Haliaeetus leucocephalus	U		x	x
Northern Harrier	Circus cyaneus	F			x	x
Sharp-shinned Hawk	Accipiter striatus	F			x
Cooper's Hawk	Accipiter cooperii	F	x
Northern Goshawk	Accipiter gentilis	O		x
Red-shouldered Hawk	Buteo lineatus	O			x
Broad-winged Hawk	Buteo platypterus	U			x	x
Swainson's Hawk	Buteo swainsoni	U			x
Red-tailed Hawk	Buteo jamaicensis	F			x	x
Rough-legged Hawk	Buteo logopus	O		x
Golden Eagle	Aquila chrysaetos	R			x
Falcons (Falconidae)
American Kestrel	Falco sparverius	F			x	x
Merlin	Falco columbarius	U			x
Peregrine falcon	Falco peregrinus	R			x
Prairie falcon	Falco mexicanus	R		x
Rails and Coots (Rallidae)
Sora	Porzana carolina	U			x
American Coot	Fulica americana	C			x
Cranes (Gruidae)
Sandhill Crane	Grus canadensis	U			x
Plovers (Charadriidae)
American Golden Plover	Pluvialis dominica	F			x
Semipalmated Plover	Charadrius semipalmatus	F			x
Killdeer	Charadrius vociferus	C			x	x
Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
American Avocet	Recurvirostra americana	O			x
Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae)
Spotted Sandpiper	Actitis macularius	U			x	x
Solitary Sandpiper	Tringa solitaria	C			x
Greater Yellowlegs	Tringa melanoleuca	C			x
Willet	Tringa semipalmtata	O			x
Lesser Yellowlegs	Tringa flavipes	C			x
Upland Sandpiper	Bartramia longicauda	U			x	x
Semipalmated Sandpiper	Calidris pusilla	C			x
Western Sandpiper	Calidris mauri	R			x
Least Sandpiper	Calidris minutilla	C			x
White-rumped Sandpiper	Calidris fuscicollis	U			x
Baird's Sandpiper	Calidris bairdii	U			x
Pectoral Sandpiper	Calidris melanotos	U			x
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	O			x
American Woodcock	Scolopax minor	U			x
Wilson's Phalarope	Phalaropus tricolor	U			x	O
Red-necked Phalarope	Phalaropus lobatus	O			x
Gulls and Terns (Laridae)
Black-legged Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	R			x
Franklin's Gull	Larus pipixcan	C			x	O
Ring-billed Gull	Larus delawarensis	C			x
Least Tern	Sternula antillarum	O			x	x
Caspian Tern	Hydroprogne caspia	O			x
Black Tern	Chlidonias niger	U			x
Forster's Tern	Sterna forsteri	C			x	O
Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Pigeon	Columba livia	A	x
Eurasian Collared-Dove	Streptopelia decaocto	F	x
Mourning Dove	Zenaida macroura	A			x	x
Cuckoos (Cuculidae)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus americanus	U			x	x
Black-billed Cuckoo	Coccyzus erythrophthalamus	U			x	x
Typical Owls (Strigidae)
Eastern Screech-Owl	Megascops asio	U	x
Great Horned Owl	Bubo virginianus	U	x
Snowy Owl	Bubo scandiacus	R		x
Burrowing Owl	Athene cunicularia	R				x
Barred Owl	Strix varia	R		x	x
Long-eared Owl	Asio otus	U	x
Short-eared Owl	Asio flammeus	U		x
Northern Saw-whet Owl	Aegolius acadicus	U		x
Goatsuckers (Caprimulgidae)
Common Nighthawk	Chordeiles minor	C			x	x
Eastern Whip-poor-will	Caprimulgus vociferus	U				x
Swifts (Apodidae)
Chimney Swift	Chaetura pelagica	C			x	x
Hummingbirds (Trochilidae)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Archilochus colubris	U			x	x
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Belted Kingfisher	Megaceryle alcyon	F			x	x
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Red-headed Woodpecker	Melanerpes erythrocephalus	F	x
Red-bellied Woodpecker	Melanerpes carolinus	U	x
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Sphyrapicus varius	U			x	x
Downy Woodpecker	Picoides pubescens	C	x
Hairy Woodpecker	Picoides villosus	U	x
Black-backed Woodpecker	Picoides arcticus	R			x
Northern Flicker	Colaptes auratus	C	x
Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae)
Olive-sided Flycatcher	Contopus cooperi	U			x
Eastern Wood-Pewee	Contopus virens	C			x	x
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher	Empidonax flaviventris	O			x
Alder Flycatcher	Empidonax alnorum	U			x
Willow Flycatcher	Empidonax traillii	F			x	x
Least Flycatcher	Empidonax minimus	F			x
Eastern Phoebe	Sayornis phoebe	U			x	x
Say's Phoebe	Sayornis saya	R			x
Vermilion Flycatcher	Pyrocephalus rubinus	R**			x
Great Crested Flycatcher	Myiarchus crinitus	U			x
Western Kingbird	Tyrannus verticalis	U			x	x
Eastern Kingbird	Tyrannus tyrannus	C			x	x
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Loggerhead Shrike	Lanius ludovicianus	U			x	x
Northern Shrike	Lanius excubitor	U		x
Vireos (Vireonidae)
White-eyed Vireo	Vireo griseus	R			x
Bell's Vireo	Vireo bellii	U			x	x
Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireo flavifrons	U			x	x
Blue-headed Vireo	Vireo solitarius	F			x
Warbling Vireo	Vireo gilvus	F			x	x
Philadelphia Vireo	Vireo philadelphicus	U			x
Red-eyed Vireo	Vireo olivaceus	U			x	x
Jays and Crows (Corvidae)
Blue Jay	Cyanocitta cristata	F	x
American Crow	Corvus brachyrhynchos	F	x
Larks (Alaudidae)
Horned Lark	Eremophila alpestris	F		x
Swallows (Hirundinidae)
Purple Martin	Progne subis	F			x	x
Tree Swallow	Tachycineta bicolor	F			x	x
Violet-green swallow	Tachycineta thalassina	R**			x
Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Stelgidopteryx serripennis	F			x	x
Bank Swallow	Riparia riparia	C			x	x
Cliff Swallow	Petrochelidon pyrrhonota	C			x	x
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	C			x	x
Chickadees (Paridae)
Black-capped Chickadee	Poecile atricapillus	F	x
Nuthatches (Sittidae)
Red-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta canadensis	U		x	x
White-breasted Nuthatch	Sitta carolinensis	F	x
Creepers (Certhiidae)
Brown Creeper	Certhia americana	F		x	x
Wrens (Troglodytidae)
Carolina wren	Thryothorus ludovicianus	R			x
House Wren	Troglodytes aedon	A			x	x
Winter Wren	Troglodytes hyemalis	F			x
Sedge Wren	Cistothorus platensis	U			x	x
Marsh Wren	Cistothorus palustris	U			x	x
Kinglets (Regulidae)
Golden-crowned Kinglet	Regulus satrapa	F		x
Ruby-crowned Kinglet	Regulus calendula	F			x
Gnatcatchers (Sylviidae)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Polioptila caerulea	U			x	x
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Eastern Bluebird	Sialia sialis	U			x	x
Mountain Bluebird	Sialia currucoides	R			x
Veery	Catharus fuscescens	U			x
Gray-cheeked Thrush	Catharus minimus	U			x
Swainson's Thrush	Catharus ustulatus	F			x
Hermit Thrush	Catharus guttatus	U			x
Wood Thrush	Hylocichla mustelina	U			x	x
American Robin	Turdus migratorius	A	x
Varied Thrush	Ixoreus naevius	R		x
Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae)
Gray Catbird	Dumetella carolinensis	C			x	x
Northern Mockingbird	Mimus polygottos	R		x
Brown Thrasher	Toxostoma rufum	C			x	x
Starlings (Sturnidae)
European Starling	Sturnus vulgaris	A	x
Pipits (Motacillidae)
American pipit	Anthus rubescens	O			x
Waxwings (Bombycillidae)
Bohemian waxwing	Bombycilla garrulus	R		x
Cedar Waxwing	Bombycilla cedrorum	C			x	x
Wood-Warblers (Parulidae)
Blue-winged Warbler	Vermivora cyanoptera	R/O			x
Tennessee Warbler	Oreothlypis peregrina	C			x
Orange-crowned Warbler	Oreothlypis celata	U			x
Nashville Warbler	Oreothlypis ruficapilla	U			x
Northern Parula	Parula americana	O			x
Yellow Warbler	Setophaga petechia	F			x	x
Chestnut-sided Warbler	Setophaga pensylvanica	U			x
Magnolia Warbler	Setophaga magnolia	U			x
Cape May Warbler	Setophaga tigrina	R			x
Yellow-rumped Warbler	Setophaga coronata	C			x
Black-throated Green Warbler	Setophaga virens	O			x
Blackburnian Warbler	Setophaga fusca	U			x
Palm Warbler	Setophaga palmarum	U			x
Bay-breasted Warbler	Setophaga castanea	U			x
Blackpoll Warbler	Setophaga striata	U			x
Black-and-white Warbler	Mniotilta varia	F			x
American Redstart	Setophaga ruticilla	F			x	x
Ovenbird	Seiurus aurocapilla	F			x	x
Northern Waterthrush	Parkesia noveboracensis	U			x
Connecticut Warbler	Oporornis agilis	R			x
Mourning Warbler	Geothlypis philadelphia	U			x
Common Yellowthroat	Geothlypis trichas	C			x	x
Hooded Warbler	Setophaga citrina	O			x
Wilson's Warbler	Wilsonia pusilla	U			x
Canada Warbler	Wilsonia canadensis	F			x
Yellow-breasted Chat	Icteria virens	O				x
Emberizids (Emberizidae)
Spotted Towhee	Pipilo maculatus	R			x
Eastern Towhee	Pipilo erythrophthalamus	F			x	x
American Tree Sparrow	Spizella arborea	C		x
Chipping Sparrow	Spizella passerina	A			x	x
Clay-colored Sparrow	Spizella pallida	F			x
Field Sparrow	Spizella pusilla	F			x	x
Vesper Sparrow	Pooecetes gramineus	F			x	x
Lark Sparrow	Chondestes grammacus	U			x	x
Lark Bunting	Calamospiza melanocorys	R			x
Savannah Sparrow	Passerculus sandwichensis	U			x	x
Grasshopper Sparrow	Ammodramus savannarum	U			x	x
Le Conte's Sparrow	Ammodramus leconteii	O			x
Fox Sparrow	Passerella iliaca	U/F		O	x
Song Sparrow	Melospiza melodia	C			x	x
Lincoln's Sparrow	Melospiza lincolnii	U			x
White-throated Sparrow	Zonotrichia albicollis	F			x
Harris's Sparrow	Zonotrichia querula	C		x	x
White-crowned Sparrow	Zonotrichia leucophrys	F			x
Dark-eyed Junco	Junco hyemalis	C		x
Lapland Longspur	Calcarius lapponicus	F		x
Snow bunting	Plectrophenax nivalis	U		x
Cardinals and Allies (Cardinalidae)
Summer Tanager	Piranga rubra	R			x
Scarlet Tanager	Piranga olivacea	U			x
Northern Cardinal	Cardinalis cardinalis	F	x
Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Pheucticus ludovicianus	U			x	x
Blue Grosbeak	Passerina caerulea	U			x	x
Lazuli Bunting	Passerna amoena	R			x
Indigo Bunting	Passerina cyanea	U			x	x
Dickcissel	Spiza americana	C			x	x
Blackbirds (Icteridae)
Bobolink	Dolichonyx oryzivorus	U			x	x
Red-winged Blackbird	Agelaius phoeniceus	C			x	x
Eastern Meadowlark	Sturnella magna	R				x
Western Meadowlark	Sturnella neglecta	F			x	x
Yellow-headed blackbird	Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus	U			x	x
Rusty Blackbird	Euphagus carolinus	C			x
Brewer's Blackbird	Euphagus cyanocephalus	O			x
Common Grackle	Quiscalus quiscula	A			x	x
Brown-headed Cowbird	Molothrus ater	A			x	x
Orchard Oriole	Icterus spurius	U			x	x
Baltimore Oriole	Icterus galbula	C			x	x
Fringilline & Cardueline Finches and Allies (Fringillidae)
Pine Grosbeak	Pinicola enucleator	R		x
Purple Finch	Carpodacus purpureus	U/F		x
House Finch	Haemorhous mexicanus	A	x
Red Crossbill	Loxia curvirostra	O		x
White-winged Crossbill	Loxia leucoptera	R		x
Common Redpoll	Acanthis flammea	O		x
Pine Siskin	Spinus pinus	O		x	x
American Goldfinch	Spinus tristis	A	x
Evening Grosbeak	Coccothraustes vespertinus	R		x
Old World Sparrows (Passeridae)
House Sparrow	Passer domesticus	A	x
	Total:	251
Abundance codes:
A - abundant: present in large numbers, easily seen in large numbers in appropriate habitat
C - common: certain to be seen in low numbers in suitable habitat
F - fairly common: present in lower numbers, with intermediate probability of seeing at least one in suitable habitat
U - uncommon: present in low numbers, with low probability of being seen in suitable habitat
O - occasional: seen only a few times during a season, and/or seen unpredictably from year to year
R - rare: not seen annually; usually outside of normal range
Seasons: x = typical; O = reported but atypical
*List is a summary of birds seen by Dr. Todd Tracy from 2002-present, with reliable post-1980 reports from other birders (esp. Ken Hollinga) included.
**State record. Violet-green swallow was seen near Hawarden in 2009. Vermilion flycatcher was seen ~10 miles N of Hawarden in 1983.
Last updated on April 1, 2013
For specific locations of sightings, see the checklist of Birds of Orange City & Alton: http://home.nwciowa.edu/ttracy/birdchecklist.htm
Please report all unusual sightings and checklist additions to [email protected]