Checklist of the Birds of Massachusetts Bradford G. Blodget, State Ornithologist 1998 Division of Fisheries & Wildlife Publication of this document approved by the State Purchasing Agent 10M 8/98 • Printed on Recycled Paper Introduction This annotated list of the birds of Massachusetts contains 448 species meeting the listing criteria discussed below. It is subject to constant review and change in light of new species records, revalu- ation of old records, and changes in nomenclature and taxonomy. Although Massachusetts is a small state, there are significant geographical differences that make it impractical to assign exact dates of occurrence that work for the state as a whole. As a result, the coded annotations represent only a general occurrence status for each species in Massachusetts. A bibliography of regional, state and local avian faunal lists pertaining to Massachusetts is included and may contain information useful in particular localities. Background The first faunal list of Massachusetts birds listed 160 species and was prepared in 1833 by Ebenezer Emmons (Birds. Pages 545-551 in E. Hitchcock, A report on the geology, mineralogy, botany and zool- ogy of Massachusetts, J.S. & C. Adams, Amherst). Howe and Allen (The Birds of Massachusetts, privately printed, Cambridge, 1901) listed 320 species; Griscom and Snyder (The Birds of Massachusetts, Peabody Museum, Salem, 1955) listed 384. Blodget (List of the Birds of Massa- chusetts, Mass. Div. Fisheries and Wildlife, 1983) listed 427 species. Veit and Petersen (Birds of Massachusetts, Massachusetts Audubon Society, Lincoln, Mass., 1993) and the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee ("MARC") List (Bird Observer, vol. 22, 1994) offer recent, very useful but more subjective treatments, each listing 460 species. Area Covered The area encompassed by this list includes all areas within the political boundaries of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Addi- tionally, birds recorded up to 100 miles seaward in any direction from any point of land in Massachusetts (excluding records within the 3-mile limits of neighboring states) are arbitrarily included for purposes of this list. This includes the area normally visited by seabird trips departing from Massachusetts ports. Listing Criteria This is a criteria-driven list. The list follows, with modifications, the rules used by Bull (The Birds of the New York Area, Harper & Row, New York, 1964) in establishing a list of the birds of the New York City area. According to these rules as modified, a species is consid- ered to be authentic for Massachusetts if at least one of the follow- ing three prerequisites is satisfied: (1) a specimen collected; (2) a recognizable and definitive photograph or videotape taken, examined by at least three qualified observers and documented in the literature; or (3) an unambiguous sight record of an easily identifiable species corroborated by three or more observers with extensive field experience in Massachusetts and documented in the litera- ture. Species which have been reported — some without doubt entirely correctly — but which do not meet at least one of the above authen- ticity criteria are classified as "problematical." Species which do ap- pear to meet at least one of the criteria but, in the author's judge- ment (a) cannot be shown beyond reasonable doubt not to be es- caped captives or (b) are based upon evidence requiring further evaluation and study, may also be classified as "problematical" spe- cies. A file of these species is maintained in the author's office and is available for inspection. Admission to the list is established by a specimen for 394 species (88%). Specimen evidence relies heavily upon the annotated list of Griscom and Snyder (The Birds of Massachusetts, Peabody Museum, Salem, 1955) and personal knowledge of specimens obtained subse- quently. Where possible, attempts have been made to confirm the existence and location of the rarer specimens obtained through 1955. The existence of specimen and photographic evidence obtained sub- sequent to 1955 has also been verified to the extent possible. Details on sight records of rarer species reported after 1955 are primarily extracted from published reports in American Birds, Bird Observer, The Chickadee, Bird News of Western Massachusetts and Veit and Petersen (Birds of Massachusetts, Mass. Audubon Soc, 1993) supple- mented by personal knowledge of the circumstances and (since 1992) discussions of the Massachusetts Avian Records Committee. Overview Placing this list in perspective, its 448 species compare with 2,008 listed in the 7th edition of The A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds (American Ornithologists' Union, 1998). A total of 59 taxonomic families is represented on the list. By far the most strongly repre- sented family is the Parulidae, with 43 species listed, of which 24 breed regularly. Other particularly well-represented families that re- flect both the state's coastal location and a high percentage of pas- sage-only species include the Anatidae (42 species, 13 regular breed- ers), Scolopacidae (41/5), Laridae (36/8) and Emberizidae (31/13). Of the 216 species that have been known to nest in Massachusetts (see below), approximately 125 (58%) are "neotropical migrants". Out of the 448 species recognized, 138 (31%) are vagrants. Approxi- mately 24 (18%) of these vagrant species may dependably be expected annually, while the balance of 114 (83%) are recorded less than an- nually. Out of the latter group, 80 (70%) have been observed in eight or fewer of the last 50 years. The reader is left to draw his own con- clusions from the fact that nearly a third (31%) of all the species recorded from the Commonwealth are of vagrant status! Nesting Status Based on the confirmation criteria employed by Sharrock (The At- las of Breeding Birds in Britain and Ireland, Poyser, London, 1977), 216 species have positively nested on at least one occasion in Massachusetts. These 216 species break fairly conveniently into three groups. Group A contains 189 species currently expected as annual nesters in Massachusetts (although 57 of these are rare and/or nota- bly restricted in distribution). Group B contains 22 species that do not nest annually in Massachusetts and includes: (1) peripheral species (i.e. Ring-necked Duck, Hooded Warbler and Henslow's Spar- row) that are at the fringes of their normal range; (2) irruptives (i.e. Pine Siskin and certain "northern finches") that nest unpredictably but sometimes in considerable numbers after winter invasions; and (3) species that have established isolated, extra-limital nesting records (i.e. Least Sandpiper) far from their normal range and are not likely to nest again in the near future. Group C includes 5 species that once nested in Massachusetts but no longer do so because they are either presumed extinct or have been extirpated as a nesting species for a decade or more. One extirpated species and three spe- cies that have never bred in Massachusetts have had males holding territories in Massachusetts. Forty species (9% of the total list) are classified as resident, although the reader is cautioned that very few Massachusetts species are as sedentary as Ruffed Grouse and House Sparrow. Some "resident" species (i.e. Black Duck, Brown Creeper and Song Sparrow) may be seasonally eclipsed by migrants. Usually resident and migratory popu- lations of the same species cannot be easily differentiated in the field and individuals present at one location at different seasons may rep- resent wholly different populations. Using This List Three check box spaces appear to the left of each species listing under columns labelled A, B and C. These are for checking off spe- cies you see at three different locations or geopraphic areas. For instance, you might want to use column A for birds you see in your yard, column B for birds you see in your town, and column C for birds you see in the state (or in New England). Or, you may choose to use the columns for single dates and locations. If you choose this route, record the locations and dates in the spaces provided below. Your data may have considerable scientific value, particularly if it is recorded at the same sites and dates over a period of years. Location A: Date (s): Location B Date(s): — Location C:. Date(s): Understanding the Codes This list follows nomenclature and taxonomy established by The A.O.U. Check-list of North American Birds (7th edition, American Or- nithologists' Union, 1998). Frequency, rather than abundance, is treated in the following list. Letter codes adapted from Heinzel et al. (The Birds of Britain and Europe, J.B. Lippincott Co., Philadelphia, 1972) are used to indicate status, with upper case letters representing major status and itali- cized lower case letters minor status. The general status codes ap- ply to Massachusetts as a whole and no attempt should be made to relate these codes to specific geographic locales such as Nantucket or the Connecticut Valley. The following letters and symbols are used: Frequency of Occurrence Symbols: R, r Permanent Resident S, s Summer Resident W, w Winter Resident M, m Migrant V Regular Vagrant, annual A Accidental (= Irregular Vagrant, not annual) i introduced species f expected principally in the fall § scattered records throughout the year with no particular pattern * recorded in eight or fewer of the last 50 years E Extinct; once occurred in Massachusetts; now no longer exists anywhere in the world Nesting Status (N.S.) Symbols: + nests annually r notably rare and/or local nester; nesting occurs within a restricted geographic range and/or sparingly in suitable habitat $ extirpated as a nesting species; has not nested in Massachusetts for at least a decade t nests unpredictably or accidentally cf males defending territories, but no nesting confirmed A bracketed date following an extinct species (E) is the last year the species was recorded in Massachusetts. Similarly, a bracketed date following an extirpated nesting species ($) is the last year the species was known to breed in Massachusetts. For ease in use and understanding the list, the symbols appear in two columns. The first column (N.S.), appearing to the left of each species, denotes the Nesting Status (if any) of each species. The second column, appearing to the right of each species, denotes Major/Minor Frequency of Occurrence, and also includes the the introduced designation (i) if the species was introduced. To cite three examples using this code: "t — Wilson's Phalarope — Mf" means that the species nests irregularly in Massachusetts, is pri- marily a migrant, and is expected principally in the fall. "r+ — Common Loon — sWM" means that the species is a rare and local annual nester known in Massachusetts chiefly as both a migrant and a winter resident, al- though a minor summer population occurs. "t — Yellow-breasted Chat — swM" means the species nests irregularly, appears in Massachusetts chiefly as a migrant, but that there are small numbers present in summer and winter. N.S. ABC Species Gaviidae — Loons (3) Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) Arctic/Pacific Loon (G. arctica/pacifica) r+ Common Loon (G. immer) Major/ Minor Occurrence uM A .sWM Podicipedidae — Grebes (5) r+ Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) Red-necked Grebe (P. grisegena) Eared Grebe (P. nigricollis) Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) swM WM wM A A Procellariidae — Petrels & Shearwaters (6) Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis) W Cory's Shearwater (Calonecths diomedea) Sm Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) SM Sooty Shearwater (P. griseus) SM f Manx Shearwater (P. puffinus) sM Audubon's Shearwater (P. Iherminierf) A Hydrobatidae — Storm-Petrels (3) Wilson's Storm-Petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) White-faced Storm-Petrel (Pelagodroma marina) r+ Leach's Storm-Petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) SM A* sM Phaethontidae — Tropicbirds (2) White-tailed Tropicbird (Phaethon lepturus) Red-billed Tropicbird (P. aethereus) A* A* Sulidae — Boobies & Gannets (2) Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) Northern Gannet (Moms bassanus) A* swM ABC N.S. Species Major / Minor Occurrence Pelecanidae — Pelicans (2) American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) A Brown Pelican (P. occidentalism A* Phalacrocoracidae — Cormorants (2) + Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) SM t Great Cormorant (P. carbo) Wm Fregatidae — Frigatebirds (1) Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) A* Ardeidae — Bitterns & Herons (14) r+ American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) Swm r+ Least Bittern (Ixobrychus exilis) S + Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) SwM r+ Great Egret (A. alba) S Little Egret (Egretta garzetta) A* Western Reef-Heron (E. gularis) A* r+ Snowy Egret (E. thula) Sm r+ Little Blue Heron (E. caemled) S t Tricolored Heron (E. tricolor) S Reddish Egret (E. rufescens) A* r+ Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis) S + Green Heron (Butorides uirescens) Sm r+ Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) Swm f Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violaced) S Threskiornithidae — Ibises & Spoonbills (3) White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) A r+ Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) Sm White-faced Ibis (P. chihi) A* Ciconiidae — Storks (1) Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) N.S. ABC Species _^_^_^ Cathartidae — American Vultures (2) I' Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) _| | + Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) Major/ Minor Occurrence S/A/ § Anatidae — Geese, Swans & Ducks (42) Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolof) A Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) A Snow Goose (Chen caerulescens) M Ross's Goose (C. rossif) A* + Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) RwM Brant (B. bernicld) wM Barnacle Goose (B. leucopsis) A* + Mute Swan (Cygnus olof) R i Tundra Swan (C. columbianus) A + Wood Duck (Aix sponsd) Sm § + Gadwall (Anas streperd) Swm Eurasian Wigeon (A. penelope) V f American Wigeon (A. americand) M § + American Black Duck (A. rubripes) rWM + Mallard (A. platyrhynchos~) R r+ Blue-winged Teal (A. discors) sM r+ Northern Shoveler (A. clypeata) sM § f Northern Pintail (A. acuta) swM + Green-winged Teal (A creccd) suM. Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) WM Redhead (A. americand) WM t Ring-necked Duck (A. collaris) wM Tufted Duck (A. fuligula) V Greater Scaup (A. marila) WM Lesser Scaup (A. affinis) M Steller's Eider (Polysticta stelleri) A* King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) W r+ Common Eider (S. mollissima) sW Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) W Labrador Duck (Camptorhynchus labradorius) [1862] E N.S. A B C Species Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) White-winged Scoter (M. fused) Black Scoter (M. nigra) Oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis) Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) Common Goldeneye (B. clangula) Barrow's Goldeneye (B. islandica) + Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) r+ Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) t Red-breasted Merganser (M. serrator) Masked Duck (Nomonyx dominicus) r+ Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) Accipitridae — Kites, Eagles & Hawks (15) r+ Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) r+ Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) White-tailed Eagle (H. albicilla) r+ Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) r+ Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) r+ Cooper's Hawk (A. cooperii) r+ Northern Goshawk (A. gentilis) + Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) + Broad-winged Hawk (B. platypterus) Swainson's Hawk (B. swainsoni) + Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis) Rough-legged Hawk (B. lagopus) Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Major / Minor Occurrence WM WM WM WM WM WM W swM sWM§ sWM A* swM SM A* A rsWM A* SwM swM swM RWm SwM SM A RwM Wm Wm 10 N.S. ABC Species Falconidae — Falcons (5) Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) + American Kestrel (F. sparvehus) Merlin (F. columbarius) Gyrfalcon (F. rusticolus) r+ Peregrine Falcon (F. peregrinus) Major/ Minor Occurrence A* wSM M W rwM Phasianidae — Pheasants & Turkeys (4) + Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) R i + Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) R $ Greater Prairie-Chicken (Heath Hen) (Tympanuchus cupido cupido) [1931] E + Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) R Odontophoridae — Quail (1) + Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) R Rallidae — Rails, Gallinules & Coots (9) Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) r+ Clapper Rail (Rallus longirostris) r+ King Rail (R. elegans) + Virginia Rail (R. limicold) + Sora (Porzana Carolina) Purple Gallinule (Porphyrula martinica) r+ Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) r+ American Coot (Fulica americand) M A* S S Sw;M SM A S sw;Mf Gruidae — Cranes (1) Sandhill Crane (Grus canadensis) Charadriidae — Plovers & Lapwings (9) Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) American Golden-Plover (P. dominicd) A* wM§ Mf 11 A B C N.S. Species Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) Wilson's Plover (C. wilsonid) Semipalmated Plover (C. semipalmatus) + Piping Plover (C. melodus) + Killdeer (C. vociferus) Mountain Plover (C. montanus) Haematopodidae — Oystercatchers (1) + American Oystercatcher (Haematopus palliatus) Recurvirostridae — Stilts & Avocets (2) Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) American Avocet (Recurvirostra americand) Scolopacidae — Sandpipers & Allies (41) Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) Lesser Yellowlegs (T. flavipes) Spotted Redshank (T. erythropus) Solitary Sandpiper (T. solitarid) + Willet (Catoptrophorus semipalmatus) Wandering Tattler (Heteroscelus incanus) + Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularia) r+ Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicaudd) Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) [1913] Whimbrel (N. phaeopus) Eurasian Curlew (N. arquatd) Long-billed Curlew (TV. americanus) Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosd) Hudsonian Godwit (L. haemasticd) Bar-tailed Godwit (L. lapponica) Marbled Godwit (L. fedoa) Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpret) Red Knot (Calidhs canutus) Sanderling (C. alba) Semipalmated Sandpiper (C. pusilla) Major / Minor Occurrence A* A M S/71 SM§ A* A Mf M M A* M SM A* S/77 sM Mf-E? Mf A* A* A* Mf A Mf wM wM wM M 12 N.S. A B C Species Western Sandpiper (C. mauri) Red-necked Stint (C. ruficollis) Little Stint (C. minuta) f Least Sandpiper (C. minutilla) White-rumped Sandpiper (C. fuscicollis) Baird's Sandpiper (C. bairdii) Pectoral Sandpiper (C. melanotos) Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (C. acuminata) Purple Sandpiper (C. maritima) Dunlin (C. alpind) Curlew Sandpiper (C. ferruginea) Stilt Sandpiper (C. himantopus) Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Tryngites subruficollis) Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) Long-billed Dowitcher (L. scolopaceus) r+ Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinagd) + American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) t Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) Red-necked Phalarope (P. lobatus) Red Phalarope (P. fulicaria) Laridae — Gulls, Terns & Allies (36) Great Skua (Catharacta skua) South Polar Skua (C. maccormicki) Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) Parasitic Jaeger (S. parasiticus) Long-tailed Jaeger (S. longicaudus) r+ Laughing Gull (Larus atricilla) Franklin's Gull (L. pipixcan) Little Gull (L. minutus) t Black-headed Gull (L. ridibundus) Bonaparte's Gull (L. Philadelphia) Mew Gull (L. canus) t Ring-billed Gull (L. delawarensis) Major/ Minor Occurrence Ml A* A* M M Mf M A* W uM V Mf Mf V M Mf swM SM Mf M M sWm Sm sM sM M Sm A SwM sWM WM§ A sWM 13 N.S. A B C Species + Herring Gull (L. argentatus) Iceland Gull (L. glaucoides) Lesser Black-backed Gull (L. fuscus) Glaucous Gull (L. hyperboreus) + Great Black-backed Gull (L. marinus) Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) Ross's Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) Gull-billed Tern (Sterna niloticd) Caspian Tern (S. caspia) Royal Tern (S. maxima) Sandwich Tern (S. sandvicensis) r+ Roseate Tern (S. dougallii) + Common Tern (S. hirundo) r+ Arctic Tern (5. paradisaea) t Forster's Tern (S. forsteri) + Least Tern (S. antillarum) Bridled Tern (5. anaethetus) Sooty Tern (S. fuscata) White-winged Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) Black Tern (C. niger) Brown Noddy (Anous stolidus) r+ Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) Alcidae — Auks, Murres & Puffins (8) Dovekie (Alle alle) Common Murre (Uria aalge) Thick-billed Murre (U. lomvia) Razorbill (Alca torda) Great Auk (Pinguinus impennis) [1700's] Black Guillemot (Cepphus grylle) Long-billed Murrelet (Brachyramphus perdix) Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arcticus) Major / Minor Occurrence R W V w R Mf WM A* A* A M V V S/77 S/77 S/77 Vf S A* A A* M A* S WM WM WM WM E W A* W 14 N.S. Major / Minor A g (^ Species Occurrence Columbidae — Pigeons & Doves (5) + Rock Dove (Columba livia) R i Band-tailed Pigeon (C. fasciata) A* White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) A* + Mourning Dove (Z. macrourd) R $ Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) [1894] E Cuculidae — Cuckoos & Allies (3) Common Cuckoo (Cuculus canorus) + Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) + Yellow-billed Cuckoo (C. americanus) A* S/77 S/77 Tytonidae — Barn-Owls (1) r+ Barn Owl (Tyto alba) R Strigidae — Typical Owls (1 1) + Eastern Screech-Owl (Otus asio) + Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) Snowy Owl (Nyctea scandiaca) Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularid) + Barred Owl (Strix varid) Great Gray Owl (S. nebulosa) r+ Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) r+ Short-eared Owl (A. flammeus) Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) + Northern Saw-whet Owl (A. acadicus) R R W A* A* R A* R Swm A* sWM Caprimulgidae — Goatsuckers (3) r+ Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) Chuck-will's-widow (Caprimulgus carolinensis) + Whip-poor-will (C. vociferus) sU V S/77 Apodidae — Swifts (1) + Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) S/77 15 N.S. Major / Minor Occurrence ^ g (2 Species Trochilidae — Hummingbirds (4) + Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) sM Black-chinned Hummingbird (A. alexandri) A* Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) A* Allen's Hummingbird (S. sasiri) A* Alcedinidae — Kingfishers (1) + Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyori) Swm Picidae — Woodpeckers (10) Lewis's Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) r+ Red-headed Woodpecker (M. erythrocephalus) r+ Red-bellied Woodpecker (M. carolinus) + Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) + Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) + Hairy Woodpecker (P. villosus) Three-toed Woodpecker (P. tridactylus) Black-backed Woodpecker (P. arcticus) + Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) + Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) A* suNi Rm SM R R A* V SwM R Tyrannidae — Tyrant Flycatchers (22) r+ Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperf) sM Western Wood-Pewee (C. sordidulus) A* + Eastern Wood-Pewee (C. virens) Sm Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) M r+ Acadian Flycatcher (E. virescens) S + Alder Flycatcher (E. alnorum) Sm + Willow Flycatcher (E. traillii) Sm + Least Flycatcher (E. minimus) SM Hammond's Flycatcher (E. hammondii) A* Gray Flycatcher (E. wrightii) A* + Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) SM Say's Phoebe (S. saya) Af Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) A* 16 N.S. A B C Species Ash-throated Flycatcher (Miarchus cinerascens) + Great Crested Flycatcher (M. crinitus) Streaked/Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes maculatus/luteiventris Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans) Western Kingbird (T. uerticalis) + Eastern Kingbird (T. tyrannus) Gray Kingbird (T. dominicensis) Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (T. forficatus) Fork-tailed Flycatcher (T. savand) Laniidae — Shrikes (2) $ Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludouicianus) [1971] Northern Shrike (L. excubitof) Vireonidae — Vireos (6) White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) Yellow-throated Vireo (V. flavifrons) Blue-headed Vireo (V. solitarius) Warbling Vireo (V. gilvus) Philadelphia Vireo (V. philadelphicus) Red-eyed Vireo (V. olivaceus) Major / Minor Occurrence A* S/77 Corvidae — Jays, Magpies & Crows (6) Gray Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) Eurasian Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) American Crow (C. brachyrhynchos) Fish Crow (C. ossifragus) r+ Common Raven (C. corax) Alaudidae — Larks (1) + Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) A* A* Vf SM A* A A* M W Sm S/7? SM Sm Mf SM A RWM A* R R R sWM 17 ABC N.S. Species Major / Minor Occurrence Hirundinidae — Swallows (8) r+ Purple Martin (Progne subis) Sm Brown-chested Martin (P. taperd) A* + Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolof) SM Violet-green Swallow (T. thalissind) A* + N. Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) S + Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) SM + Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonotd) Sm + Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) SM Paridae — Titmice (3) + Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) Boreal Chickadee (P. hudsonicus) + Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolof) Km W/77 R/77 Sittidae — Nuthatches (2) + Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) + White-breasted Nuthatch (S. carolinensis) RM R/77 Certhiidae — Creepers (1) + Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) RM Troglodytidae — Wrens (6) Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) + Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) + House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) + Winter Wren (T. troglodytes) t Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) + Marsh Wren (C. palustris) A* R SM SwM S S/77 Regulidae — Kinglets (2) r+ Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) t Ruby-crowned Kinglet (R. calendula) sWM sM§ 18 ABC N.S. Species Silviidae — Gnatcatchers (1) + Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) Major /Minor Occurrence SM Turdidae — Bluebirds & Thrushes (13) Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) + Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) Mountain Bluebird (S. currucoides) Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) + Veery (Catharus fuscescens) Gray-cheeked Thrush (C. minimus) $ Bicknell's Thrush (C. bicknelli) [1972] r+ Swainson's Thrush (C. ustulatus) Hermit Thrush (C. guttatus) Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) American Robin (T. migratorius) Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) Af Sw;M A* A* Sm M M sM SM§ Sm A* SwM A Mimidae — Mimic Thrushes (4) + Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) + Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) + Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) SM§ R A* SM Sturnidae — Starlings (1) + European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) Ri Motacillidae — Wagtails & Pipits (2) American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) Sprague's Pipit (A. spragueii) M A* Bombycillidae — Waxwings (2) Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) + Cedar Waxwing (B. cedrorum) V Sw;M 19 N.S. ABC Species Parulidae — Wood-Warblers (43) + Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) r+ Golden-winged Warbler (V. chrysoptera) Tennessee Warbler (V. peregrind) Orange-crowned Warbler (V. celatd) + Nashville Warbler (V. ruficapilld) Lucy's Warbler (V. luciae) r+ Northern Parula (Parula americand) + Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) + Chestnut-sided Warbler (D. pensylvanicd) + Magnolia Warbler (D. magnolia) Cape May Warbler (D. tigrina) + Black-throated Blue Warbler (D. caerulescens) + Yellow-rumped Warbler (D. coronata) Black-throated Gray Warbler (D. nigrescens) + Black-throated Green Warbler (D. uirens) Townsend's Warbler (D. townsendi) Hermit Warbler (D. occidentalis) + Blackburnian Warbler (D. fused) Yellow-throated Warbler (D. dominicd) + Pine Warbler (D. pinus) + Prairie Warbler (D. discolor) Palm Warbler (D. palmarum) Bay-breasted Warbler (Z). castanea) r+ Blackpoll Warbler (D. striata) r+ Cerulean Warbler (D. cerulea) + Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) + American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) f Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) r+ Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus) Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) + Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus) + Northern Waterthrush (S. noveboracensis) + Louisiana Waterthrush (S. motacilla) cf Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus) Major / Minor Occurrence S/77 Sm M Mf SM A* sM SM SM SM M SM SWM A* SM A* A* SM V Sm S sM sM SM SM V Sm A* SM sM S V 20 A B C N.S. Major/ Minor Species Occurrence Connecticut Warbler (O. agilis) Mf r+ Mourning Warbler (0. Philadelphia) .sM MacGillivray's Warbler (O. tolmiei) A* + Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) SM § f Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) .sV Wilson's Warbler (W. pus ilia) M + Canada Warbler (W. canadensis) SM Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus) A* f Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) swM Thraupidae — Tanagers (3) Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) V + Scarlet Tanager (P. olivacea) SM Western Tanager (P. ludoviciana) A Emberizidae — Sparrows & Allies (31) Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) A* Spotted Towhee (P. maculatus) A* + Eastern Towhee (P. erythrophthalmus) Sm American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) Wm + Chipping Sparrow (S. passerina) Sm cf Clay-colored Sparrow (S. pallida) Af Brewer's Sparrow (S. breweri) A* + Field Sparrow (S. pusilla) Swm r+ Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) Sm Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) Vf Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) Vf + Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) SuM r+ Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) Sm f Henslow's Sparrow (A. henslowii) S LeConte's Sparrow (A. leconteii) A Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (A. nelsonf) M + Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow (A. caudacutus) Sm r+ Seaside Sparrow (A maritimus) Sw Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) wM 21 A B C N.S. Major / Minor Species Occurrence + Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodid) RSM r+ Lincoln's Sparrow (M. lincolnii) sM + Swamp Sparrow (M. georgiana) SwM + White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) SwM Harris's Sparrow (Z queruld) A White-crowned Sparrow (Z. leucophrys) M Golden-crowned Sparrow (Z atricapilld) A* + Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) sWM McCown's Longspur (Calcarius mccownii) A* Lapland Longspur (C. lapponicus) wM Chestnut-collared Longspur (C. ornatus) A* Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) WM Cardinalidae — Cardinals & Allies (7) + Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) R + Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) SM Black-headed Grosbeak (P. melanocephalus) A Cf Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea) V + Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyaned) Sm Painted Bunting (P. ciris) A cf:j: Dickcissel (Spiza americana) [c. 1877] Vf Icteridae — Blackbirds, Orioles & Allies (1 2) + Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) SM + Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) SM + Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) S>wm Western Meadowlark (S. neglecta) A Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) Vf r+ Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) sM Brewer's Blackbird (E. cyanocephalus) At + Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) SwM + Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) SwM + Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) S + Baltimore Oriole (/. galbula) SM Bullock's Oriole (/. bullockii) A* 22 A B C N.S. Species Fringillidae — Fringilline Finches (10) Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) + Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) + House Finch (C. mexicanus) f Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) White-winged Crossbill (L. leucopterd) Common Redpoll (Carduelis flammed) Hoary Redpoll (C. homemanni) f Pine Siskin (C. pinus) + American Goldfinch (C. tristis) r+ Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) Passeridae — Old World Sparrows (1) + House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) Major / Minor Occurrence W SWM R sWM WM WM A sWM R sWM Ri 23 Bibliography Andrews, E.F. and K.T. Blackshaw. 1984. Birding Nantucket. Privately printed. 40pp. Bagg, A.C. and S.A. Eliot, Jr. 1937. Birds of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts. Hampshire Bookshop, Northampton, Mass. 813pp. Bailey, W. 1955. Birds in Massachusetts: When and Where to Find Them. Mass. Aud. Soc. 234pp. Bailey, W. 1968. Birds of the Cape Cod National Seashore and Adja- cent Areas. Eastern National Parks Monument Assoc. 120pp. Brewer, T.M. 1875. Catalogue of the birds of New England, with brief notes indicating the manner and character of their pres- ence; with a list of species included in previous catalogues believed to have been wrongly classed as birds of New England. Proc. Boston Soc. Nat. Hist. 17:436-454. Brewster, W 1906. The Birds of the Cambridge Region of Massa- chusetts. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club 4, 426pp. Chapman, F.M. 1912. Handbook of Birds of Eastern North America. D. Appleton & Co., New York. xxx+530pp. DeGraaf, R.M. and D.D. Rudis. 1986. Birds. Pages 111-383 in New England Wildlife: habitat, natural history, and distribution. Gen. Tech. Rep. NE-108. Broomall, PA: U.S. Dept. Agric, For- est Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 491pp. Emmons, E. 1833. A catalogue of the animals and plants in Massa- chusetts. II. Birds. Pages 545-551 In E. Hitchcock. A report on the geology, mineralogy, botany and zoology of Massachu- setts. J.S. & C. Adams, Amherst, Mass. 702pp. Essex County Ornithological Club of Massachusetts, Inc. 1988. Field list of the birds of Essex County, Massachusetts. [6th ed. 1988, J. MacDougall (comp)]. Peabody Mus., Salem, Mass. Forbush, Edward H. 1925-29. Birds of Massachusetts and Other New England States (3 vols.). Comm. of Mass., Dept. of Agric. xxxi+481pp., l+461pp., xlviii+466pp. and 93pl. Griscom, L. 1949. The Birds of Concord. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge. 340pp. Griscom, L. 1955. Plum Island and its Bird Life. Mass. Aud. Soc. 24pp. 24 Griscom, L. and G. Emerson. 1959. Birds of Martha's Vineyard. Pri- vately printed. 164pp. Griscom, L. and E.V. Folger. 1948. The Birds of Nantucket. Harvard Univ. Press, Cambridge. 156pp. Griscom, L. and D.E. Snyder. 1955. The Birds of Massachusetts. Peabody Museum, Salem, Mass. 295pp. Hendricks, B. 1994. Birds of Berkshire County. The Berkshire Museum, Pittsfield, Mass. 71pp. Heppner, F.H. and L.L. Gould. 1973. Birds of the Atlantic seaboard from Cape Hatteras to Cape Cod. Pp. 8-1 to 8-138 in Coastal and Offshore Environmental Inventory. Cape Hatteras to Nan- tucket Shoals. Vol. 1. Univ. R.I., Kingston, Marine Publ. Series No. 2. Hill, N.P. 1965. The Birds of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. W. Morrow and Co., New York. 364pp. Howe, R.H., Jr. and G.M. Allen. 1901. The Birds of Massachusetts. Publ. by subscription, Cambridge, Mass. 154pp. McMenemy, EX. and B.G. Blodget. 1993. Worcester County Check list and Reporting Form, [lightly annotated giving estimated periods of occurrence.] Forbush Bird Club, Worcester, Mass. Pease, R. 1985. The Birds of Sandwich & Barnstable on Cape Cod Bay. Wayside Studio, unpaged. Samuels, E.A. 1870. The Birds of New England. Noyes, Holmes & Co., Boston. vii+591pp. Townsend, C.W 1905. The Birds of Essex County, Mass. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club 3. 352pp. Townsend, C.W. 1920. Supplement to the Birds of Essex County, Mass. Memoirs of the Nuttall Ornithological Club 5. 196pp. Veit, R.R. and WR. Petersen. 1993. Birds of Massachusetts. Mass. Aud. Soc, Lincoln. xv.+514pp. Walton, R.K. 1984. Birds of the Sudbury River Valley-An Historical Perspective. Mass. Aud. Soc, Lincoln. 220pp. Ward, N. 1995. Stellwagen Bank: A Guide to the Whales, Sea Birds, and Marine Life of the Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanc- tuary. Down East Books, 232pp. 25 MassWildlife Dedicated to the Conservation, Restoration, Protection and Enjoyment of the Wildlife Resources of Massachusetts