Breeding Bird Survey

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​​​​​​​​​ 3875 E. Huron River Drive, Ann Arbor, MI 48104


734.794.6627

Tina Stephens,
Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator

Becky Hand,
Stewardship Specialist

Rachel Maranto,
NAP Supervisor

​​​​​​How can I help with the​​​ Breeding Bird Survey?

Spend the winter studying your field guides and getting to know the most common birds by sight and sound. Then, come to the spring kickoff (see below) and learn how to record what you see. Learn more about the Breeding Bird Survey at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbs/about/.


Natural Area Preservation ​Breeding Bird Survey Kickoff
Thursday, May 2
7-9 p.m.
Learn how to put your birding skills to use and survey for breeding birds in Ann Arbor's parks! Volunteer to help NAP with Ann Arbor's Breeding Bird Survey. Learn how NAP uses eBird to record survey results, sign up to survey your favorite park, hear about last year's survey, and access the survey materials. Note that experience in bird identification is necessary, and you must be able to identify birds by sight and sound to participate in this survey. This training will also be recorded. Register through VolunteerHub.


Field Checklist o​​​f Ann Arbor's Breeding Birds 

The birds in the list below have been found in Ann Arbor’s parks and natural areas during the breeding season, May to July. The list was made ​ using data from Breeding Bird Survey volunteers and Natural Area Preservation staff from 1995 to 2007.  In that time period, there have been 124 breeding bird species observed! Why don’t you head out to one of our many parks and see how many you can spot?

Italicized Spe​​cies

Threatened (T) refers to a bird species that is protected under the Endangered Species Act of the State of Michigan.  Also on this list are species of Special Concern (SC). While not given legal protection under the act, these species are of concern because populations are getting smaller in the state​​​.  If they continue to decline, they would be recommended for Threatened or Endangered status.  Seven state listed species can be found on this checklist.

Status C​​odes

The status codes indicate the highest level of breeding behavior that has been observed for a particular species in our parks and natural areas.

1: Observed during breeding season.
2: Probable breeder.
3: Confirmed breeder.

Abundanc​e Codes

The abundance codes reflect how likely it is that a moderately skilled observer will find a particular species during the breeding bird season of late May to mid-July.

Abundant (A): Very likely to be seen in parks and natural areas, especially if in the appropriate habitat.
Common (C): Common in parks and natural areas, but may be a bit harder to find than an abundant species.
Uncommon (U): Less common and perhaps more secretive.
Rare (R): Few sightings over the years or very local to a particular park or natural area.

Geese, Swans & Ducks

Status

Abundance
Mute Sw​an

3

U

Trumpeter Swan

2

R

Canada Goose

3

C

Wood Duck

3

U

American Black Duck

1

R

Mallard

3

C

Blue-winged Teal

1

R

Hooded Merganser

3

R

Grouse, Turkeys & Pheasants

Status

Abundance
Ring-necked Pheasant

2

R

Ruffed Grouse

2

R

Wild Turkey

1

R

Grebes

Status

Abundance
Pied-billed Grebe

3

U

Cormorants

Status

Abundance
Double-crested Cormorant

2

U

Bitterns and Herons

Status

Abundance
Great Blue Heron

1

C

Great Egret

1

U

Green Heron

3

U

Storks and Vultures

Status

Abundance
Turkey Vulture

3

C

Hawks, Eagles & Falcons

Status

Abundance
Northern Harrier (SC)

1

R

Sharp-shinned Hawk

1

R

Cooper's Hawk

3

U

Broad-winged Hawk

3

R

Red-tailed Hawk

3

U

American Kestrel

3

R

Rails and Coots

Status

Abundance
Virginia Rail

2

R

Sora

3

R

Common Moorhen (SC)

1

R

American Coot

3

R

 Cranes Status Abundance
Sandhill Crane

1

R

 Shorebirds

Status Abundance
Killdeer

3

C

Spotted Sandpiper

3

U

Upland Sandpiper

1

R

American Woodcock

3

U

Gulls Status Abundance
Ring-billed Gull

1

C

Herring Gull

1

R

 

Pigeons and Doves Status Abundance
Rock Pigeon

3

C

Mourning Dove

3

A

 

Cuckoos Status Abundance
Black-billed Cuckoo

2

U

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

2

U

 

Owls Status Abundance
Eastern Screech Owl

2

R

Great Horned Owl

3

R

Barred Owl

1

R

Goatsuckers Status Abundance
Common Nighthawk

1

U

Swifts Status Abundance
Chimney Swift

1

C

 

Hummingbirds Status Abundance
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

3

U

Kingfishers Status Abundance
Belted Kingfisher

3

U

Woodpeckers Status Abundance
Red-headed Woodpecker

1

R

Red-bellied Woodpecker

3

A

Downy Woodpecker

3

A

Hairy Woodpecker

3

C

Northern Flicker

3

A

Flycatchers Status Abundance
Eastern Wood-Pewee

3

A

Acadian Flycatcher

3

U

Alder Flycatcher

1

R

Least Flycatcher

2

U

Willow Flycatcher

3

U

Eastern Phoebe

3

C

Great Crested Flycatcher

3

C

Eastern Kingbird

3

C

Vireos Status Abundance
White-eyed Vireo

2

R

Yellow-throated Vireo

3

U

Blue-headed Vireo

3

R

Warbling Vireo

3

C

Red-eyed Vireo

3

A

Corvids Status Abundance
Blue Jay

3

A

American Crow

3

A

Larks Status Abundance
Horned Lark

3

R

Swallows Status Abundance
Purple Martin

1

R

Tree Swallow

3

C

Cliff Swallow

3

U

Barn Swallow

3

C

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

2

U

Bank Swallow

3

U

Chickadees and Titmice Status Abundance
Tufted Titmouse

3

A

Black-capped Chickadee

3

A

Nuthatches and Creepers Status Abundance
Brown Creeper

2

R

White-breasted Nuthatch

3

A

Red-breasted Nuthatch

3

R

Wrens Status Abundance
Carolina Wren

3

C

House Wren

3

C

Sedge Wren

3

R

Marsh Wren (SC)

2

R

Gnatcatchers and Kinglets Status Abundance
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

3

C

Golden-crowned Kinglet

2

R

Thrushes and Mimids Status Abundance
Eastern Bluebird

3

U

Wood Thrush

3

U

American Robin

3

A

Gray Catbird

3

A

Northern Mockingbird

1

R

Brown Thrasher

3

R

Starlings Status Abundance
European Starling

3

C

 

Waxwings Status Abundance
Cedar Waxwing

3

C

 

Wood Warblers Status Abundance
Blue-winged Warbler

3

R

Yellow Warbler

3

C

Chestnut-sided Warbler

2

R

Black-throated Green Warbler

2

R

Hooded Warbler (SC)

3

R

Cerulean Warbler (SC)

2

R

Ovenbird

2

U

Common Yellowthroat

3

C

American Redstart

2

U

Yellow-breasted Chat

2

R

 

Tanagers Status Abundance
Summer Tanager

2

R

Scarlet Tanager

3

U

Sparrows and allies Status Abundance
Eastern Towhee

3

U

Chipping Sparrow

3

U

Field Sparrow

3

U

Savannah Sparrow

3

U

Grasshopper Sparrow (SC)

3

R

Henslow's Sparrow (T)

2

R

Song Sparrow

3

A

Swamp Sparrow

2

U

Grosbeaks and Buntings Status Abundance
Northern Cardinal

3

A

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

3

C

Indigo Bunting

3

U

 

Blackbirds and allies Status Abundance
Bobolink

3

R

Red-winged Blackbird

3

A

Eastern Meadowlark

3

R

Common Grackle

3

C

Brown-headed Cowbird

3

C

Orchard Oriole

3

R

Baltimore Oriole

3

C

Finches and allies Status Abundance
House Finch

3

U

American Goldfinch

3

A

Weaver Finches Status Abundance
House Sparrow

3

U

 

Want to print out this information in a handy brochure?  Click here (pdf) for our field checklist!