United States

Department

of Agriculture

Forest Service

Rocky Mountain

Research Station

General Technical

Report RMRS-GTR-48

March 2000

Bird Communities

of Gambel Oak: A

Descriptive Analysis

Andreas Leidolf

Michael L. Wolfe

Rosemary L. Pendleton
The Authors ______________________________________

Andreas Leidolf is a Graduate Research Assistant in the Department of Fisheries and

Wildlife at Utah State University (USU). He received a B.S. degree in Forestry/Wildlife

Management from Mississippi State University in 1995. He is currently completing his M.S.

degree in Fisheries and Wildlife ecology at USU.

Michael L. Wolfe is a Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife at USU. He

received a B.S. degree in Wildlife Management at Cornell University in 1963 and his

doctorate in Forestry/Wildlife Management at the University of Göttingen, Germany, in

1967. He conducted post-doctoral studies on moose and wolves at Isle Royale National

Park from 1967 to 1970, while affiliated with Purdue University. He has been a faculty

member at USU since 1970.

Rosemary L. Pendleton is a Research Ecologist for the Shrubland Biology and Restoration Work Unit at the Rocky Mountain Research Station’s Shrub Sciences Laboratory in

Provo, Utah. Her degrees are from Brigham Young University (B.S. in Botany, 1978; M.S.

in Range Science, 1980) and Wayne State University (Ph.D. in Biological Science, 1986).

She has worked as a scientist at the Shrub Sciences Laboratory since 1986 and has held

appointments as Adjunct Assistant Research Professor at Brigham Young University since

that time.

Acknowledgments ________________________________

This work was made possible, in part, by financial support from the Utah Army National

Guard and the Ecology Center at Utah State University. Dr. Jimmie R. Parrish of the Utah

Division of Wildlife Resources provided Partners in Flight (PIF) concern scores for species

discussed in this report. Dan Godec of the Arizona Game and Fish Department provided

a draft of “Wildlife of Special Concern in Arizona.” Carol Beardmore, PIF Western Regional

Coordinator, provided valuable assistance and helpful comments. We thank Timothy J.

Nuttle and Drs. John A. Bissonette, Thomas C. Edwards, James N. Long, and Victoria A.

Saab for their comments on earlier versions of the manuscript.

Cover art of Virginia’s warbler in gambel oak by Joyce VanDeWater.

Abstract

Leidolf, Andreas; Wolfe, Michael L.; Pendleton, Rosemary L. 2000. Bird communities of gambel oak:

a descriptive analysis. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of

Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 30 p.

Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) covers 3.75 million hectares (9.3 million acres) of the western

United States. This report synthesizes current knowledge on the composition, structure, and habitat

relationships of gambel oak avian communities. It lists life history attributes of 183 bird species

documented from gambel oak habitats of the western United States. Structural habitat attributes

important to bird-habitat relationships are identified, based on 12 independent studies. This report

also highlights species of special concern, provides recommendations for monitoring, and gives

suggestions for management and future research.

Keywords: Avian ecology, bird-habitat relationships, neotropical migrant, oakbrush, oak woodlands,

scrub oak, Quercus gambelii, Western United States
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Contents

Introduction ...................................................................................... 1

Ecology of Gambel Oak: An Overview ............................................. 1

Avian Communities of Gambel Oak ................................................. 2

Community Composition .......................................................... 2

Community Structure ................................................................ 2

Bird-Habitat Relationships ........................................................ 4

Bird Species of Concern ........................................................... 6

Implications for Management and Future Research ........................ 7

References ..................................................................................... 11

Appendix A ..................................................................................... 13

Appendix B ..................................................................................... 20

Appendix C..................................................................................... 25

Bird Communities of Gambel Oak:

A Descriptive Analysis

Andreas Leidolf

Michael L. Wolfe

Rosemary L. Pendleton

Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 1

Introduction

Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) covers 3.75 million hectares (9.3 million acres) of the western United

States (Harper and others 1985). In the past, range and

wildlife managers considered the abundant gambel oak

to be a nuisance species occupying valuable rangeland

(Engle and others 1983). Managers often targeted this

plant species for eradication. Investigations of gambel

oak-wildlife relationships to date have been largely limited forage and cover value for mule deer (Odocoileus

hemionus) and elk (Cervus elaphus; Harper and others

1985).

Recent declines in bird populations (Robbins and others 1989) have prompted renewed research interest in

bird communities. Declines are most pronounced for forest-interior species but are also prominent among grassland and shrubland birds (Askins 1993; Robbins and others 1993). Avian communities of gambel oak have

received little attention by researchers and, as a result,

are still poorly understood. Gambel oak avifaunas, like

those of the sagebrush (Artemisia) and pinyon (Pinus)-

juniper (Juniperus) vegetation types, occupy a habitat

largely comprised of a single plant species (Marti 1977).

This review synthesizes current knowledge of bird communities of the gambel oak vegetation type. We hope this

review will be useful to natural resource professionals in

making more informed decisions. At the same time, we

hope that by identifying relationships between gambel

oak and birds for which our knowledge is yet incomplete, others may be encouraged to conduct further

research.

Ecology of Gambel Oak: An Overview

Gambel oak woodlands and shrublands usually occur

at elevations ranging from 1500 to 2800 m (4900 to 9200

ft; Brown 1958; McKell 1950) in Arizona, Colorado, New

Mexico, and Utah (figure 1; Clary and Tiedemann 1986;

Little 1971). Extremes of 1000 and 3100 m (3300 to

10200 ft) have been recorded in Utah, the central part of

its range (Christensen 1949). The growth form of gambel

oak is exceedingly variable. It grows as a tall shrub or

small tree over much of its range. However, it may also

occur in dense shrub patches to 1 m (3.3 ft) high or as

widely dispersed trees to 23 m (75 ft) tall and 90 cm

(35 inches) in diameter at breast height (d.b.h.=1.4 m

[4.5 ft]; Clary and Tiedemann 1986; Reynolds and others 1970). Gambel oak reproduces both by seed and vegetatively. However, reproduction by seed is less evident

(Christensen 1955; Reynolds and others 1970), especially

in the northern part of its range (Clary and Tiedemann

1992; but see Neilson 1981; Rogers 1982).

Gambel oak may occur in either mixed or pure stands.

Where it occurs in mixed stands, it is usually associated

with conifers such as white fir (Abies concolor [Gordon

& Glend.] Lindl.), Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus

scopulorum Sarg.), Utah juniper (J. osteosperma [Torr.]

Little), ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Lawson and C.

Lawson), two-needle pinyon (P. edulis Engelm. in Wisl.),

and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirb.] Franco;

Clary and Tiedemann 1986; Harper and others 1985; West

1989). In both mixed and pure stands, gambel oak can

also be associated with a variety of shrubs, forbs, and

graminoids (that is, grasses, sedges, and rushes). Herbaceous vegetation is sparse under gambel oak but commonly occurs in open areas between individual oak

clumps (Allman 1953; Brown 1958). Although over 250

plant taxa have been reported from different gambel oak

habitats (Allman 1953; Arnow 1971; Berrett 1958; Brown

1958; Christensen 1949; Forsling and Storm 1929; Hayward 1948; Kunzler and others 1981; McKell 1950;

Shultz and Hysell 1996), it should be noted that any given

gambel oak stand is likely to contain considerably fewer

species. Kunzler and others (1981) found that gambel

oak stands in central Utah supported only 25 plant species on average.

Gambel oak provides for a variety of uses and values.

Because of its good heat-yielding qualities and prolific

sprouting habit, it is of particular interest as fuelwood

(Clary and Tiedemann 1992; Wagstaff 1984). Gambel oak

also plays an important role in watershed protection by

stabilizing soil, controlling erosion, and retarding snow

melt (Brown 1958; Clary and Tiedemann 1992; Wright

Figure 1—Biogeographic distribution of gambel oak (Quercus

gambelii Nutt.) (redrawn from Little 1971).
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

2 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

and Bailey 1982). Numerous animal species use gambel

oak to satisfy one or more of their habitat requirements,

including food, food storage, refuge, and nesting (Hayward 1948; Marti 1977; Reynolds and others 1970).

Gambel oak provides ample browse and hard mast for

many game species, such as mule deer, white-tailed deer

(Odocoileus virginianus), elk, peccary (Pecari

angulatus), tassel-eared squirrel (Sciurus aberti),

Merriam’s wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo merriami),

band-tailed Pigeon (Columba fasciata), and montezuma

quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae; Brown 1958; Clary and

Tiedemann 1986; Reynolds and others 1970; Wright and

Bailey 1982). In addition, it is used by many non-game

species such as Lewis’ woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis;

Hayward 1948; Marti 1977).

Avian Communities of Gambel Oak

Community Composition

The earliest, although somewhat anecdotal, account of

gambel oak bird communities was given by Tanner and

Hayward (1934), who cite 13 species as occurring in this

habitat. Since then, several authors have investigated bird

community composition and structure in different gambel

oak habitats in varying degrees of detail (Behle and Perry

1975; Berrett 1958; Block and others 1992; Frost 1947;

Hayward 1948; LaRue 1994; Marti 1977; Perry 1973;

Steinhoff 1978; Tatschl 1967; Walters 1981; Woodbury

and Cottam 1962). Although most of these studies are

not quantitative in nature, they do provide descriptive

information on bird-habitat relationships in this vegetation type.

Compilation of results from these studies reveals 183

bird species that use gambel oak for at least part of the

year (appendix A). Authors of Utah studies reported that

between 49 and 140 (13 to 38 percent) of the 367 bird

species known to occur in Utah could be found in gambel

oak woodland and submontane shrub habitats (Behle and

Perry 1975; Berrett 1958; Frost 1947; Hayward 1948;

Marti 1977; Perry 1973; Walters 1981; Woodbury and

Cottam 1962). The large variation in total number of species observed is likely a function of sampling area and

effort. Reporting on bird communities of different gambel

oak vegetation types in western Colorado, Steinhoff

(1978) documented 62 species in gambel oak woodlands,

40 species in ponderosa pine/gambel oak forests, and 37

species in mixed conifer/gambel oak forests. Tatschl

(1967), reporting only on residents and breeding migrants,

documented a total of 50 bird species in a ponderosa pine/

gambel oak forest in north-central New Mexico, as opposed to 20 species in woodland dominated by gambel

oak. Block and others (1992), in an investigation of

neotropical migrants, documented 45 species in a mixed

conifer forest in southeastern Arizona, where gambel

oak comprised the understory component. LaRue

(1994), in his investigation of a similar vegetation type

in northern Arizona, found 64 species, as opposed to

only six in submontane shrub dominated by gambel oak

(appendix A).

The most common bird species of gambel oak (table 1)

vary by geographic (northern vs. southern distribution limit

of gambel oak) and habitat range (gambel oak woodland

vs. mixed conifer-gambel oak forest). Species most characteristic of gambel oak woodlands in the northern part of

the range include spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus),

Virginia’s warbler (Vermivora virginiae), mourning dove

(Zenaida macroura), and lazuli bunting (Passerina

amoena). Species commonly found in the southern part of

the range are hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus), red-faced

warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons), Grace’s warbler

(Dendroica graciae), painted redstart (Myioborus pictus),

and plumbeous vireo (Vireo plumbeus). Species common

across the range include black-headed grosbeak

(Pheucticus melanocephalus) and broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycerus; table 1).

Although some species are extremely abundant in

gambel oak, it should be noted that none of the species

listed in appendix A and table 1 are confined to this vegetation type. Rather, gambel oak is the most characteristic habitat for many of these species.

Community Structure

Despite numerous accounts of avian community composition in gambel oak habitat, investigations of residency

and guild structure are few. Several studies, however,

suggest that gambel oak avian communities are characterized by a high proportion of breeding birds, a marked

seasonality of use, and a guild structure dominated by

shrub/tree nesting, ground feeding, and insectivorous

birds. Breeding birds, the majority of which are migrants,

constitute 79-95% of the gambel oak avian community;

non-breeding birds, i.e., winter migrants, comprise 5-

21%. From 53 to 87% of birds use gambel oak seasonally as either breeding (67-89%) or winter migrants (11-

33%); 13-47% are residents, i.e., they occupy gambel

oak year-round (Behle and Perry 1975; Berrett 1958;

Hayward 1948; LaRue 1994; Marti 1977; Perry 1973;

Walters 1981; table 2). Thus, large numbers of species

use gambel oak throughout the year, although the number of species present within one season is low. Bird species richness is highest during summer, with a maximum

of 63 different species having been reported from a particular site (Hayward 1948; appendix A).

We applied life history information from Ehrlich and

others (1988) to bird species using gambel oak (appendix B), and subsequently grouped them into categories

based on similarities in use of three resources: nesting
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 3

substrate, foraging substrate, and food type. For selected

studies (Behle and Perry 1975; Hayward 1948; Marti

1977; Perry 1973), we then summarized life history traits

of all species to describe nesting and feeding guild structure for this community (figure 2). Nesting guild is dominated by species nesting in shrubs and trees (56%), followed by ground (23%) and snag nesters (9%; figure 2A).

The feeding guild consists of primarily ground feeders

(56%), followed by birds feeding in shrubs and trees

(23%) and aerial feeders (18%; figure 2B). Ground-feeding birds are especially prominent among permanent residents and less pronounced among summer residents.

Aerial feeders are restricted almost exclusively to summer

residents and are absent during winter. Species feeding

on herbaceous vegetation or in the water are extremely

rare (3% and 1%, respectively; figure 2B). Most birds

are insectivores (58%), followed by granivores (16%),

carnivores (13%), and omnivores (5%; figure 2C). Insectivores are especially prominent among summer residents and less pronounced among permanent residents.

Granivores are most prominent during winter, whereas

carnivores are most pronounced among permanent residents. Omnivores, which account for only a small portion of the overall bird community, assume a more prominent role among permanent residents (15%; figure 2C).

The pronounced seasonal variation of food habits is supported by Frost (1947), who examined 278 stomachs of

56 bird species in gambel oak (figure 3).

Table 1–List of most frequent/abundant bird species in three gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) community studies.

Gambel oak woodland Mixed conifer-Gambel oak forest

(North-central Utah) (Southeast Arizona)

Hayward (1948) Wolfe and Reynolds (1996) Block and others (1992)

 Speciesa % Frequencyb Species % Abundance Species % Frequencyc

Spotted towhee 93.3 Spotted towhee 34.8 Hermit thrush 70.9

Virginia’s warbler 80.0 Blue-gray gnatcatcher 10.2 Red-faced warbler 70.9

Black-headed grosbeak 73.3 Virginia’s warbler 8.6 Black-headed grosbeak 65.8

Black-billed magpie 73.3 Lazuli bunting 4.9 Grace’s warbler 63.3

Broad-tailed hummingbird 56.6 Warbling vireo 4.3 Painted redstart 60.8

Green-tailed towhee 53.3 Lark sparrow 3.1 Plumbeous vireo 60.8

Mourning dove 50.0 Brown-headed cowbird 3.1 Western tanager 57.0

Red-tailed hawk 50.0 Gray flycatcher 2.5 American robin 54.4

Western scrub-jay 50.0 Mourning dove 2.2 Yellow-rumped warbler 46.8

Lazuli bunting 36.6 Rock wren 2.2 Broad-tailed hummingbird 45.6

Dark-eyed junco 2.2

a

 Common names follow American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

b

 Expressed as percent of times a species was observed (n=30).

c

 Expressed as percent of census stations where a species was observed (n=79).

Table 2–Proportion of breeding/non-breeding and resident/migrant birds in different gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.)

communities.

Gambel oak woodland Submontane shrub Mixed conifer

Hayward Berrett Perry Marti Behle and Walters LaRue LaRue

(1948) (1958) (1973) (1977) Perry (1975) (1981) (1994) (1994)

Breeding birds 0.83 0.79 0.88 0.83 0.93 0.80 0.80 0.95

Residents 0.43 0.35 0.39 0.25 0.51 0.17 0.50 0.55

Migrants 0.57 0.65 0.61 0.75 0.49 0.83 0.50 0.45

Non-breeding birds (winter migrants) 0.17 0.21 0.12 0.17 0.07 0.20 0.20 0.05

Residents 0.36 0.28 0.35 0.21 0.47 0.13 0.40 0.52

Migrants 0.64 0.72 0.65 0.79 0.53 0.87 0.60 0.48

Breeding migrant 0.73 0.71 0.82 0.78 0.88 0.77 0.67 0.89

Winter migrants 0.27 0.29 0.18 0.22 0.12 0.23 0.33 0.11
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

4 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

Ground Herb

Primary foraging substrate

Primary nesting substrate

Primary food source

B.

A.

Shrub/tree Air Water

0.8

0.8

0.6

0.6

0.4

0.4

0.2

0.2

0

0

0

Ground Insectivore

Shrub/tree Snag Cliff Other

Proportion of

species

C.

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

Proportion of

species

Proportion of

species

Piscivore

Carnivore

Scavenger

Folivore

Granivore

Frugivore

Insectivore

Nectarivore

Omnivore

Bird-Habitat Relationships

Feeding relationships–Gambel oak provides birds

with a variety of food resources on a year-round basis,

including acorns, fruits, buds, seeds, insects, and mammalian and avian prey (Woodbury and Cottam 1962). In

fall and winter, acorns are used by several species, including montezuma quail, Merriam’s wild turkey, bandtailed pigeon, Lewis’ woodpecker, Steller’s jay

(Cyanocitta stelleri), western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma

californica), pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus),

black-billed magpie (Pica pica), and spotted towhee

(Christensen 1949; Frost 1947; Harper and others 1978;

Hayward 1948; Hoffman 1962; Reynolds and others

1970). Neff (1947) found that the inland range of the

band-tailed pigeon closely coincides with the range of

gambel oak. Ligon (1946) noted that gambel oak is the

most dependable and preferred acorn producer within

Merriam’s wild turkey range.

Shrubs associated with gambel oak (for example, serviceberry, Amelanchier alnifolia [Nutt.] Nutt. ex

M.Roem.; chokecherry, Prunus virginiana L.; and netleaf

hackberry, Celtis laevigata Willd. var. reticulata [Torr.]

L.D.Benson) provide fruits that are used by northern

flicker (Colaptes auratus), American robin (Turdus

migratorius), Townsend’s solitaire (Myadestes

townsendi), waxwings (Bombycilla spp.), and spotted

towhee throughout fall and winter. The winter buds of

many shrubs are eaten by blue grouse (Dendragapus

obscurus), ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus), evening

grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus), and pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator).

Ground-feeding birds, such as California quail

(Callipepla californica), ring-necked pheasant

(Phasianus colchicus), western meadowlark (Sturnella

neglecta), house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus), rosy

finch (Leucosticte arctoa), pine siskin (Carduelis pinus),

American goldfinch (C. tristis), spotted towhee, darkeyed junco (Junco hyemalis), and white-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) glean a variety of seeds

from the herbaceous plant layer and the well-developed

litter layer found under gambel oak during late summer,

fall, and winter (Frost 1947; Hayward 1948).

Invertebrates from vegetation, ground, and air represent the primary food source for many birds during spring

and summer, including black-capped chickadee (Poecile

atricapillus), rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus), warbling

Figure 3—Proportion of animal matter, plant matter, and gravel

by month in 278 stomachs of 56 bird species collected from

gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) woodland in north-central

Utah (Frost 1947).

Figure 2—Proportion of overall (white, S = 135), resident (gray,

S = 33), breeding migrant (black, S = 75), and winter migrant

(hatched, S = 27) bird species in different nesting (A) and feeding (B, C) guilds for gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) woodlands/shrublands in north-central Utah (life history information

from Ehrlich and others 1988; occurrence data from Hayward

1948, Perry 1973, Behle and Perry 1975, and Marti 1977). Where

authors differed on residency status, personal knowledge of

gambel oak avian communities in north-central Utah was used

to determine residency status.
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 5

vireo (Vireo gilvus), orange-crowned warbler (Vermivora

celata), Virginia’s warbler, yellow-rumped warbler

(Dendroica coronata), and lazuli bunting (Frost 1947).

Hayward (1948) compared invertebrate densities among

different layers of gambel oak vegetation. He found six

times fewer invertebrates on the ground in open areas

than under oak, where invertebrates were protected and

able to move more freely, and 30 times as many invertebrates on the ground under oak than in either the herb/

low shrub or the tall shrub layer (table 3). In winter, dormant invertebrates found on twig surfaces are used by

black-capped chickadee and mountain chickadee (Poecile

gambeli), whereas insect larvae found in twig and leaf

galls of gambel oak and netleaf hackberry (Brewster

1951; Hayward 1948) are used by western scrub-jay,

Steller’s jay, and northern flicker.

The gambel oak vegetation type also provides a variety of mammalian and avian prey for carnivorous birds.

Raptors such as red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis),

golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), and long-eared owl

(Asio otus) take advantage of high rodent and lagomorph

densities associated with gambel oak (Hayward 1948),

whereas sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter

striatus, A. cooperii) are able to prey on an abundance

of avian species.

Nesting relationships–The lack in structural diversity

of gambel oak reported by some authors (Marti 1977;

Woodbury and Cottam 1962) suggests limited opportunities for bird diversity. Nonetheless, this habitat offers a

variety of nesting opportunities for breeding birds.

Ground-nesting birds, such as Virginia’s warbler and spotted towhee, are known to take advantage of the dense

litter layer and abundant roots under oak thickets to conceal their nests. The herbaceous layer, which is too sparse

and fragile to support any nests itself, affords additional

protection to ground nests (Hayward 1948). The dense

branching habit of gambel oak also provides ample substrate for shrub-nesting birds, such as gray flycatcher

(Empidonax wrightii), western scrub-jay, black-billed

magpie, MacGillivray’s warbler (Oporornis tolmiei),

green-tailed towhee (Pipilo chlorurus), black-headed

grosbeak, and lazuli bunting (Hayward 1941, 1948).

These bird species rely exclusively on dense foliage for

protection. Clary and Tiedemann (1986, 1987) found that

snags comprised 12.3% and 7.6% of aboveground standing biomass in shrub/small tree and large tree gambel

oak stands, respectively. This apparent abundance of

snags provides opportunities for cavity-nesting birds, such

as Lewis’ woodpecker, northern flicker, black-capped

chickadee, and mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides).

The rocky substrate often associated with this vegetation

type also features an abundance of crevices, which are

used for nesting by canyon wren (Catherpes mexicanus)

and rock wren (Ehrlich and others 1988).

The dense branches and foliage of gambel oak are wellsuited as escape cover for many bird species (Woodbury

and Cottam 1962). Hayward (1948) noted that rather than

fleeing from shrub to shrub, birds in gambel oak habitat

often rely on the protection offered by the interior of individual oak clumps, from which they are difficult to dislodge. Birds that exemplify this behavior include

Virginia’s warbler, western scrub-jay, and spotted towhee

(Hayward 1948). Ground-feeding birds, such as darkeyed junco or chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina), often use exposed branches to watch for predators between

feeding bouts, and when disturbed, also seek refuge in

clumps of gambel oak (Hayward 1948).

Gambel oak also provides birds with perch sites for

singing and displaying. Although some species, such as

black-headed grosbeak, sing from well within the protection of dense foliage, many birds, including the spotted towhee and lazuli bunting, prefer exposed positions.

These snags and dead branches (Hayward 1948) can make

up 18.9-23.4% of aboveground standing biomass in

gambel oak stands (Clary and Tiedemann 1986, 1987).

Spatial distribution of bird-habitat relationships–

Using mostly anecdotal evidence, Hayward (1948) investigated relationships between birds and gambel oak

habitat by recognizing three layers used by birds: ground

layer, shrub layer, and aerial layer. He found that many

bird species used different layers for different activities,

such as nesting and feeding (table 4). The spotted towhee uses the ground layer for nesting, feeding, and escape cover, but perches and sings from exposed branches

in the shrub layer. The Virginia’s warbler nests on the

ground, but uses the shrub layer for feeding and cover.

Lazuli bunting and black-headed grosbeak are entirely

confined to the shrub layer. Both western scrub-jay and

black-billed magpie nest in the shrub layer; however,

the western scrub-jay feeds in the shrub layer and seeks

cover on the ground, whereas the black-billed magpie feeds on the ground and escapes into the shrub layer

when disturbed. The common poorwill (Phalaenoptilus

nuttallii) nests and hides on the ground but feeds exclusively in the aerial layer.

Table 3–Invertebrate densities in different layers of gambel oak

(Quercus gambelii Nutt.) woodland in north-central

Utah, 1940-1945 (Hayward 1948).

Layer Average no. of invertebrates/m2

Ground, open 255.9

Ground, under oak 1641.4

Herb/low shrub 54.3

Tall shrub 48.4
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

6 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

Bird Species of Concern

A number of species occurring in gambel oak habitat

require special management consideration, either because

they are listed as endangered or threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA; 16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1531-

1543), or because they are listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern by a state wildlife agency

(table 5). Currently, only two species likely to be found

in gambel oak are listed under ESA by the United States

Fish and Wildlife Service: bald eagle (Haliaeetus

leucocephalus), and southwestern willow flycatcher

(Empidonax traillii extimus; table 5). A third, the American peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum), was recently delisted (effective date August 25, 1999). The bald

eagle and American peregrine falcon forage in a wide

variety of vegetation types, including gambel oak. The

southwestern willow flycatcher is found in riparian areas, including those within the gambel oak vegetation

type. In addition to these species, 12 others are listed as

endangered, threatened, or of special concern by individual states. These listings are usually the responsibility of the state wildlife agency and may afford legal protection to the species in question. Species may also be

listed to characterize their conservation status only, with

no special protection afforded, such as in Utah (Messmer

and others 1998).

Conservation concerns have also been identified for

species experiencing population declines, as determined

Table 4–Principal nesting and feeding layers of 30 bird species

found in gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) woodland in north-central Utah (Hayward 1948).

Principal Principal

nesting feeding

Speciesa layer layer

Turkey vulture Ground Ground

Sharp-shinned hawk Shrub Shrub

Red-tailed hawk Ground Ground

American kestrel Ground Ground

Prairie falcon Ground Ground

Ring-necked pheasant Ground Ground

Ruffed grouse Ground Ground

Mourning dove Shrub Ground

Common poorwill Ground Aerial

White-throated swift Ground Aerial

Broad-tailed hummingbird Shrub Ground

Northern flicker Shrub Ground

Warbling vireo Shrub Shrub

Steller’s jay Shrub Shrub

Western scrub-jay Shrub Shrub

Black-billed magpie Shrub Ground

Black-capped chickadee Shrub Shrub

Rock wren Ground Ground

Canyon wren Ground Ground

American robin Shrub Ground

Orange-crowned warbler Ground Shrub

Virginia’s warbler Ground Shrub

Yellow-rumped warbler Shrub Shrub

MacGillivray’s warbler Shrub Shrub

Green-tailed towhee Ground Ground

Spotted towhee Ground Ground

Chipping sparrow Shrub Shrub

Dark-eyed junco Ground Ground

Black-headed grosbeak Shrub Shrub

Lazuli bunting Shrub Shrub

a

 Common names and order in which species are presented follow

American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

Table 5–Bird species occurring in the gambel oak (Quercus

gambelii Nutt.) vegetation type listed as endangered

(E), threatened (T), or of special concern (SC) by the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Fed) under the Endangered Species Act (16 U.S.C.A. §§ 1531-1543), or by

the responsible state agency in the four principal states

of gambel oak range.

Speciesa Category Listing Agencyb

Bald eagle T Fed, CO, NM, UT

SC AZ

American peregrine falcon E UT

T NM

*

c

Southwestern willow flycatcher E Fed, NM, UT

SC AZ

*Northern goshawk SC AZ, UT

*Swainson’s hawk SC AZ, UT

*Ferruginous hawk T UT

SC AZ, CO

*Northern sage grouse SC CO, UT

*Gunnison’s sage grouse SC CO

*Burrowing owl T CO

SC UT

*Short-eared owl SC UT

*Lewis’s woodpecker SC UT

*Williamson’s sapsucker SC UT

*Bell’s vireo T NM

SC UT

*Blue grosbeak SC UT

*Veery SC AZ

*Gray catbird SC AZ

a

 Nomenclature for common and scientific names, as well as

order in which species are presented, follow American Ornithologists’

Union (1998). b

 Sources: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Database; Arizona

Game and Fish Department (In prep.); Colorado Division of Wildlife

Database; New Mexico Department of Game and Fish Database;

Messmer and others (1998). Arizona does not list threatened or

endangered species; New Mexico does not list species of special

concern. c

 Asterisks denote species for which oak is a primary nesting

habitat.
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 7

by Breeding Bird Survey data (DeGraaf and Rappole

1995; appendix C). Twelve species known to nest and

feed in the gambel oak vegetation type experienced significant (P < 0.05) declines within the physiographic

provinces of gambel oak range. Five species (western

wood-pewee [Contopus sordidulus], horned lark

[Eremophila alpestris], MacGillivray’s warbler, chipping

sparrow, and savannah sparrow [Passerculus

sandwichensis]) show significant, long-term declines

between 1966 and 1994. Of these, western wood-pewee,

horned lark, and chipping sparrow also declined throughout Western North America. Four additional species

(American kestrel [Falco sparverius], common nighthawk [Chordeiles minor], yellow-rumped warbler, and

vesper sparrow [Pooecetes gramineus]) show a more recent, short-term decline over the period of 1980 to 1994.

Of these, American kestrel declined across Western North

America during the same time period. Three species (loggerhead shrike [Lanius ludovicianus], violet-green swallow [Tachycineta thalassina], and Brewer’s blackbird

[Euphagus cyanocephalus]) declined over both periods,

with Brewer’s blackbird showing a similar decrease

throughout Western North America. An additional 18

species known to use gambel oak that do not show a significant trend within gambel oak range show a significant decline across Western North America (appendix C).

Eleven species within the physiographic provinces or

states comprising the Gambel oak vegetation zone are

accorded a very high conservation priority by Partners

in Flight (PIF; tables 6 and 7; figure 4), based on cumulative concern scores ranging from 7 to 35 (appendix C).

Three of these, the Virginia’s warbler, Grace’s warbler,

and red-faced warbler, are common species of gambel

oak vegetation (table 1). All three are neotropical migratory birds that use gambel oak extensively for both nesting and feeding. An additional two species, the Lewis’

woodpecker, which is also considered to be of special

concern in Utah (table 5), and the ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), are considered characteristic of gambel oak

and mixed gambel oak woodlands (Steinhoff 1978). The

Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii), which is listed as threatened in

New Mexico (table 5), is a breeding migrant in the southern portion of gambel oak range (tables 6 and 7).

An additional 76 species are given high conservation

priority by PIF (tables 6 and 7). Of these, the most common or characteristic of gambel oak and mixed gambel

oak/conifer woodlands include California quail, broadtailed hummingbird, western wood-pewee, gray flycatcher, cordilleran flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis),

ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens),

plumbeous vireo, warbling vireo, western scrub-jay, rock

wren, western bluebird (Sialia mexicana), mountain bluebird, black-throated gray warbler (Dendroica nigrescens),

painted redstart, western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana),

green-tailed towhee, lark sparrow (Chondestes

grammacus), black-headed grosbeak, and lazuli bunting.

Ten of the 76 species are listed by Steinhoff (1978) as

being dependent on (dusky flycatcher [Empidonax

oberholseri] and pinyon jay) or influenced by (pygmy

nuthatch [Sitta pygmaea]) mixed oak/conifer woodlands,

or as strongly influenced by all gambel oak vegetation

types (blue grouse, band-tailed pigeon, common nighthawk, common poorwill, violet-green swallow,

Townsend’s solitaire, and MacGillivray’s warbler).

Implications for Management and Future

Research

Oak woodlands provide a variety of resources including watershed protection, grazing, and recreation (Harper

and others 1985; Thomas 1997). Recent publications indicate an increasing concern over loss of oak habitat in

states bordering the Pacific coast, as a burgeoning population puts increasing pressure on oak vegetation through

recreation and urban expansion (Pillsbury and others

1997; Saab and Rich 1997). The gambel oak vegetation

type, with its foothill location and proximity to many

urban centers, is likely to suffer a similar fate. Residential and commercial development and a concomitant increase in recreation from expanding populations may

result in substantial habitat loss, fragmentation, and successional changes over the next decade. Issues of land

ownership and public perceptions regarding management

options may further exacerbate these changes.

Gambel oak vegetation is particularly vulnerable to

damage and loss. For example, Utah Gap analysis

(Edwards and others 1997) reveals that fully one-third

(36%) of the 800,000 ha (2 million acres) dominated by

oak are privately owned and designated as category 4

management status; that is, they have little or no government protection from development. Much of this land

may thus be lost to urbanization and commercial development in the near future. Another 58% of oak woodlands in Utah are accorded limited protection as public

lands with unrestricted access (category 3). These lands

will be subject to increased fragmentation due to recreational activities, trail building, and campground development. Currently, only 0.01% of oak woodlands in Utah

are strictly protected (category 1).

Traditional management practices are aimed at increasing understory vegetation to provide for grazing

of domestic livestock and big game species. Gambel

oak can provide up to 75% of the forage available to

overwintering deer populations (Harper and others

1985). Grazing and the suppression of natural fire cycles

have resulted in a decrease in herbaceous undergrowth

and an increase in less fire-tolerant woody species such
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

8 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

Table 6–Species occurring in the gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) vegetation type that are of conservation concern, based on Partners in Flight (PIF) state scoresa.

Range in PIF

concern score

and definition

(Hunter and Speciesb and PIF concern score, in decreasing order of concern, by state

others 1993) Arizonac Coloradoc New Mexicoc Utahd

30-35 none none none none

Extremely

high

conservation

priority

24-29 Red-faced warbler - 28 Sage grouse - 25 Red-faced warbler - 26 Lewis’ woodpecker - 28

Very high Virginia’s warbler - 26 Ferruginous hawk - 24 Virginia’s warbler - 25 Virginia’s warbler -26

conservation Cassin’s kingbird - 25 Virginia’s warbler - 24 Sage grouse - 24 Sage grouse -25

priority Bell’s vireo - 25 Bell’s vireo -25

Lewis’ woodpecker - 24 Black rosy-finch -25

19-23 Willow flycatcher - 23 Black-chinned hummingbird - 23 Prairie falcon - 23 Ferruginous hawk -23

High Gray flycatcher - 23 Bell’s vireo - 23 Lewis’s woodpecker - 23 Broad-tailed hummingbird - 23

conservation Western bluebird - 23 Burrowing owl - 22 Greater pewee - 23 Gray flycatcher -23

priority Painted redstart - 23 Lewis’ woodpecker - 22 Cassin’s kingbird - 23 Cordilleran flycatcher - 23

Swainson’s hawk - 22 Williamson’s sapsucker - 22 Bell’s vireo - 23 Black-throated gray warbler -23

Ferruginous hawk - 22 Grace’s warbler - 22 Olive warbler - 23 Brewer’s sparrow -23

Prairie falcon - 22 Flammulated owl - 21 Ferruginous hawk - 22 Franklin’s gull -22

Flammulated owl - 22 Red-naped sapsucker - 21 Flammulated owl - 22 Western screech-owl - 22

Greater pewee - 22 Cordilleran flycatcher - 21 Black-chinned hummingbird - 22 Calliope hummingbird - 22

Olive warbler - 22 Black-throated gray warbler - 21 Williamson’s sapsucker - 22 Williamson’s sapsucker - 22

Black-throated gray warbler - 22 Northern harrier - 20 Loggerhead shrike - 22 Olive-sided flycatcher - 22

Grace’s warbler - 22 Swainson’s hawk - 20 Black-throated gray warbler - 22 Hammond’s flycatcher - 22

Rufous-crowned sparrow - 22 Prairie falcon - 20 Grace’s warbler - 22 Northern goshawk - 21

Scott’s oriole - 22 Blue grouse - 20 Painted redstart - 22 Peregrine falcon - 21

Blue grouse - 21 Short-eared owl - 20 Swainson’s hawk - 21 Prairie falcon - 21

Common poorwill - 21 Common poorwill - 20 Blue grouse - 21 Ruffed grouse - 21

Black-chinned hummingbird - 21 Broad-tailed hummingbird - 21 Broad-tailed hummingbird - 20 Blue grouse - 21

Williamson’s sapsucker - 21 Gray flycatcher - 20 Red-naped sapsucker - 21 Northern pygmy-owl - 21

Red-naped sapsucker - 21 Dusky flycatcher - 20 Hammond’s flycatcher - 21 Red-naped sapsucker - 21

Dusky flycatcher - 21 Cassin’s kingbird - 20 Gray flycatcher - 21 Dusky flycatcher - 21

Cordilleran flycatcher - 21 Plumbeous vireo - 20 Violet-green swallow - 21 Cassin’s kingbird - 21

Pygmy nuthatch - 21 Juniper titmouse - 20 Juniper titmouse - 21 Plumbeous vireo - 21

Mountain bluebird - 21 MacGillivray’s warbler - 20 Mountain bluebird - 21 Pinyon jay - 21

Sage sparrow - 21 Western tanager - 20 Rufous-crowned sparrow - 21 Juniper titmouse - 21

Band-tailed pigeon - 20 Sage sparrow - 20 Sage sparrow - 21 Pygmy nuthatch - 21

Broad-tailed hummingbird - 20 Scott’s oriole - 20 Scott’s oriole - 21 Townsend’s solitaire - 21

Hammond’s flycatcher - 20 Peregrine falcon - 19 Common poorwill - 20 Veery - 21

Hutton’s vireo - 20 Band-tailed pigeon - 19 Dusky flycatcher - 20 Grace’s warbler - 21

Pinyon jay - 20 Olive-sided flycatcher - 19 Cordilleran flycatcher - 20 Rufous-crowned sparrow - 21

Juniper titmouse - 20 Hammond’s flycatcher - 19 Plumbeous vireo - 20 Blue grosbeak - 21

Bald eagle - 19 Western scrub-jay - 19 Hutton’s vireo - 20 Scott’s oriole - 21

Northern goshawk - 19 Violet-green swallow - 19 Warbling vireo - 20 Bald eagle - 20

Peregrine falcon - 19 Pygmy nuthatch - 19 Pygmy nuthatch - 20 Common poorwill - 20

Olive-sided flycatcher - 19 Western bluebird - 19 Green-tailed towhee - 20 Black-chinned hummingbird - 20

Western wood-pewee - 19 Green-tailed towhee - 19 Northern goshawk - 19 Willow flycatcher - 20

Sulphur-bellied flycatcher - 19 Rufous-crowned sparrow - 19 Peregrine falcon - 19 Loggerhead shrike - 20

Plumbeous vireo - 19 Brewer’s sparrow - 19 Band-tailed pigeon - 19 Mountain chickadee - 20

Rock wren - 19 Lazuli bunting - 19 Burrowing owl - 19 Mountain bluebird - 20

Canyon wren - 19 Common nighthawk - 19 Gray catbird - 20

MacGillivray’s warbler - 19 Western wood-pewee - 19 Sage thrasher - 20

Green-tailed towhee - 19 Pinyon jay - 19 Green-tailed towhee - 20

Black-throated sparrow - 19 Western bluebird - 19 Black-throated sparrow - 20

Black-headed grosbeak - 19 MacGillivray’s warbler - 19 Sage sparrow - 20

Black-headed grosbeak - 19 White-throated swift - 19

Bullock’s oriole - 19 Flammulated owl - 19

Burrowing owl - 19

Short-eared owl - 19

Western wood-pewee - 19

Clark’s nutcracker - 19

Canyon wren - 19

Golden-crowned kinglet - 19

Western bluebird - 19

Lark sparrow - 19

Black-headed grosbeak - 19

Lazuli bunting - 19

Bullock’s oriole - 19

a

 PIF assigns species concern scores using a geographically based prioritization scheme that can be defined either ecologically (by physiographic province) or politically (by state). Species are

assigned a rank score from 1 (low concern) to 5 (high concern) in seven criteria that reflect a species’ potential to become extirpated: global abundance, global breeding distribution, global wintering

distribution, threats to breeding within state or physiographic province, threats to non-breeding within state or physiographic province, state or physiographic province population trend, and area

importance (abundance and distribution relative to global range). The cumulative concern score thus ranges from 7 to 35 (Hunter and others 1993). b

 Common names follow American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

c Source: Colorado Bird Observatory Database. d Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Database.
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 9

Table 7–Species occurring in the gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) vegetation type that are of conservation concern, based on Partners in Flight (PIF) physiographic province scoresa.

Range in PIF

concern score and

definition Speciesb and PIF concern scorec, in decreasing order of concern, by physiographic province number and name

(Hunter and others 62 69 80 84 87

1993) Southern Rocky Mountains Utah Mountains Basin and Range Mogollon Rim Colorado Plateau

30-35

Extremely high none none none none none

conservation

priority

24-29

Very high none Lewis’ woodpecker - 24 Sage grouse - 25 Red-faced warbler - 27 Red-faced warbler - 25

conservation Virginia’s warbler - 24 Prairie falcon - 24 Virginia’s warbler - 26

priority Franklin’s gull - 24 Cassin’s kingbird - 24

Grace’s warbler - 24

19-23 Lewis’ woodpecker - 23 Gray flycatcher - 22 Ferruginous hawk - 23 Flammulated owl - 23 Black-chinned hummingbird - 23

High conservation Williamson’s sapsucker - 23 Dusky flycatcher - 22 Virginia’s warbler - 23 Lewis’ woodpecker - 23 Gray flycatcher - 23

priority Virginia’s warbler - 23 Black-throated gray warbler - 22 Sage sparrow - 23 Gray flycatcher - 23 Ferruginous hawk - 22

Grace’s warbler - 23 Prairie falcon - 21 Black rosy-finch - 23 Bell’s vireo - 23 Lewis’ woodpecker - 22

Flammulated owl - 22 Calliope hummingbird - 21 Flammulated owl - 22 Western bluebird - 23 Cassin’s kingbird - 22

Swainson’s hawk - 21 Pinyon jay - 21 Short-eared owl - 22 Black-throated gray warbler - 23 Bell’s vireo - 22

Ferruginous hawk - 21 Lazuli bunting - 21 Calliope hummingbird - 22 Painted redstart - 23 Juniper titmouse - 22

Red-naped sapsucker - 21 Swainson’s hawk - 20 Lewis’ woodpecker - 22 Black-chinned hummingbird - 22 Virginia’s warbler - 22

Cordilleran flycatcher - 21 Scott’s oriole - 20 Williamson’s sapsucker - 22 Broad-tailed hummingbird - 22 Grace’s warbler - 22

Prairie falcon - 20 Golden eagle - 19 Gray flycatcher - 22 Williamson’s sapsucker - 22 Swainson’s hawk - 21

Blue grouse - 20 Common poorwill - 19 Pinyon jay - 22 Red-naped sapsucker - 22 Flammulated owl - 21

Broad-tailed hummingbird - 20 Clark’s nutcracker - 19 California quail - 21 Greater pewee - 22 Common poorwill - 21

Hammond’s flycatcher - 20 Juniper titmouse - 19 Black-chinned hummingbird - 21 Rufous-crowned sparrow - 22 Williamson’s sapsucker - 21

Plumbeous vireo - 20 Canyon wren - 19 Red-naped sapsucker - 21 Scott’s oriole - 22 Red-naped sapsucker - 21

Black-throated gray warbler - 20 Western bluebird - 19 Hammond’s flycatcher - 21 Swainson’s hawk - 21 Dusky flycatcher - 21

Sage sparrow - 20 Townsend’s solitaire - 19 Black-throated gray warbler - 21 Ferruginous hawk - 21 Cordilleran flycatcher - 21

Lazuli bunting - 20 Green-tailed towhee - 19 Scott’s oriole - 21 Willow flycatcher - 21 Pinyon jay - 21

Peregrine falcon - 19 Blue grouse - 20 Dusky flycatcher - 21 Black-throated gray warbler - 21

Band-tailed pigeon - 19 Broad-tailed hummingbird - 20 Cordilleran flycatcher - 21 Scott’s oriole - 21

Common poorwill - 19 Rufous hummingbird - 20 Juniper titmouse - 21 Prairie falcon - 20

Dusky flycatcher - 19 Cordilleran flycatcher - 20 Pygmy nuthatch - 21 Blue grouse - 20

Cassin’s kingbird - 19 Loggerhead shrike - 20 Black-headed grosbeak - 21 Band-tailed pigeon - 20

Pinyon jay - 19 Sage thrasher - 20 Northern goshawk - 20 White-throated swift - 20

Violet-green swallow - 19 Brewer’s sparrow - 20 Blue grouse - 20 Willow flycatcher - 20

Pygmy nuthatch - 19 Northern harrier - 19 Band-tailed pigeon - 20 Hammond’s flycatcher - 20

Wilson’s warbler - 19 Northern goshawk - 19 Hutton’s vireo - 20 Western bluebird - 20

Green-tailed towhee - 19 Swainson’s hawk - 19 Pinyon jay - 20 Green-tailed towhee - 20

Brewer’s sparrow - 19 Peregrine falcon - 19 Violet-green swallow - 20 Sage sparrow - 20

California gull - 19 Prairie falcon - 19 Black-headed grosbeak - 20

Northern pygmy-owl - 19 Common poorwill - 19 Burrowing owl - 19

Common poorwill - 19 Olive-sided flycatcher - 19 Short-eared owl - 19

Dusky flycatcher - 19 Say’s phoebe - 19 Broad-tailed hummingbird - 19

Plumbeous vireo - 19 Ash-throated flycatcher - 19 Western wood-pewee - 19

Juniper titmouse - 19 Plumbeous vireo - 20 Western kingbird - 19

Veery - 19 Bewick’s wren - 19 Loggerhead shrike - 19

Black-headed grosbeak - 19 Mountain bluebird - 19 Western scrub-jay - 19

Lazuli bunting - 19 MacGillivray’s warbler - 19 Pygmy nuthatch - 19

Bullock’s oriole - 19 Green-tailed towhee - 19 Red-naped sapsucker - 21

Mountain bluebird - 19

MacGillivray’s warbler - 19

Rufous-crowned sparrow - 19

a

 PIF assigns species concern scores using a geographically based prioritization scheme that can be defined either ecologically (by physiographic province) or politically (by state). Species are assigned a rank score from 1 (low

concern) to 5 (high concern) in seven criteria that reflect a species’ potential to become extirpated: global abundance, global breeding distribution, global wintering distribution, threats to breeding within state or physiographic province,

threats to non-breeding within state or physiographic province, state or physiographic province population trend, and area importance (abundance and distribution relative to global range). The cumulative concern score thus ranges from 7 to

35 (Hunter and others 1993). b

 Common names follow American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

c Source: Colorado Bird Observatory Database.

as bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum Nutt.) and

white fir (Harper and others 1985). Fire, herbicides, and

mechanical treatments coupled with seeding programs

have been used to reduce the dominance of oak and increase palatable grasses and forbs (Harper and others

1985, and references therein).

More recently, increased emphasis has been placed

on recreation management issues, both in gambel oak

and other vegetation types. Managers and recreationists

are recognizing the importance of non-game species,

including birds, both in inherent value and as part of the

total “outdoor experience” sought by an urban populace.
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

10 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

With over half of gambel oak woodlands occurring on

public lands, it will become increasingly important for

federal and state managers to consider non-game bird

populations in their overall management plan. The effects of management practices on non-game birds must

be considered if viable bird populations are to be maintained. Currently, little information exists on the effects

of specific management actions on avian communities.

Steinhoff (1978) provides some information on individual

species’ responses to fire, grazing, and cutting for Colorado oak associations; however, this information is not

readily available because it is an unpublished report.

Future research of avian ecology in gambel oak should

focus on closing apparent gaps in our knowledge of this

community. A question that warrants further investigation is the response of gambel oak bird communities to

wildfire, browsing by native ungulates, fuelwood harvesting, and management practices commonly associated

with oakbrush control such as prescribed burning, herbicide application, or browsing by domestic livestock. In

particular, it would be useful to investigate how type,

intensity, and frequency of disturbance affects structural

characteristics of gambel oak stands.

Figure 4—Physiographic provinces in gambel oak (Quercus

gambelii Nutt.) range used by Partners in Flight for purpose of

species prioritization: 62 = Southern Rocky Mountains, 69 = Utah

Mountains, 80 = Basin and Range, 84 = Mogollon Rim, 87 = Colorado Plateau.

Other research needs include more basic questions

about individual species’ life histories and resource and

habitat requirements. This includes species for which life

history information in general is still sparse (for example,

green-tailed towhee), as well as species that have not been

studied in the gambel oak vegetation type, even though

their life history may be very well known in other vegetation types. This understanding of individual species’

relationships with different vegetation types may prove

crucial in understanding and managing the dynamics of

individual populations.

Increasing anthropogenic pressure predicted for

gambel oak associations suggests that managers will need

to use active management strategies to mitigate the effects of habitat loss and fragmentation. In the absence of

needed definitive studies and until such studies can be

completed, a few common-sense suggestions can be

made.

The protection of riparian areas within the oak zone is

of critical importance. Riparian areas are disproportionately valuable to birds and other wildlife species, particularly in the arid west (Saab and Rich 1997). In addition, some areas of contiguous habitat should be

maintained. Where possible, management practices

should mimic natural disturbance regimes such that a

variety of successional stages, including the mature plant

community, are available (Anderson 1980; Saab and Rich

1997). To ensure that this goal is being accomplished,

monitoring of population trends of individual bird species may be desirable. Unfortunately, the current state of

our knowledge about gambel oak woodlands does not

allow us to easily identify species that may serve as indicators of the relative health of this community.

Until such knowledge becomes available, natural resource professionals involved in gambel oak management

are referred to the list of frequent and abundant species

provided in table 1. Because all species listed in this table

are common, monitoring of population trends should be

an easy task (for a review of methods, refer to Hamel

and others 1996; Ralph and others 1993, 1995). In selecting species from this list, care should be taken to

choose a representative sample of the community. A

sample might include the following, for example: groundnesting species requiring an extensive litter layer, such

as Virginia’s warbler or spotted towhee; shrub-nesting

species requiring dense, thicket-like gambel oak stands,

such as western scrub-jay, black-billed magpie, or lazuli

bunting; and tree-nesting species, requiring tall tree stands

of gambel oak characteristic of wetter sites, such as

plumbeous vireo, warbling vireo, or chipping sparrow.

With this kind of sample, it may be possible to assess the

status of individual successional stages/growth forms of

gambel oak.
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 11

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Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 13 Appendix A–Bird species reported from different gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) communities in the Western United States. Residency status is given as R = resident, B = breeding migrant, W = winter migrant, T = local transient from adjacent habitats or transient during spring/fall migration, X = presence/absence only, N/A = species does not occur in respective state, as determined by Ligon (1961), Monson and Phillips (1981), Behle and others (1985), and Andrews and Righter (1992). Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/ Submontane gambel oak gambel oak Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E. UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld Herons and vultures (Ciconiiformes) Great blue heron (Ardea herodias) -

T - - --- - ---- - - - -

Black-crowned night-heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) -

T - - --- - ---- - - - -

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura) -B - - - X - B -B-X B X - B

Waterfowl (Anseriformes)

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) -

T - - --- - ---- - - - -

Northern pintail (Anas acuta) -

T - - --- - ---- - - - -

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) -

T - - --- - ---- - - - -

Common goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) -

T - - --- - ---- - - - -

Raptors (Falconiformes)

Bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) - - - - ---

W ---- - - T -

Northern harrier (Circus cyaneus) - T B T W - - B - RW - - - W -

Sharp-shinned hawk (Accipiter striatus) X RT B B X - B ---- B XR -

Cooper’s hawk (Accipiter cooperii) - B R - - X - B XB - X R - R -

Northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis) -R- - M X - B - - -X R X R -

Swainson’s hawk (Buteo swainsoni) - T -

T ---

B ---- - - - -

Red-tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

e - R B B - X - B -R-X - - R B

Ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis) -B- - - - - B -R- - - X - -

Rough-legged hawk (Buteo lagopus) - - - - ---

W ---- - - - -

Golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) - R R R T X - R -R- - - - - -

American kestrel (Falco sparverius)

e X B B B T X - B XR - X - X - -

Merlin (Falco columbarius) - - - - - - - W -T- - - - - -

Peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) - - - - - - - - XT - - - - - -

Prairie falcon (Falco mexicanus) -B- - - - - B XR - - - - - -

(con.)
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

14 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 (con.) Gallinaceous birds (Galliformes) Chukar (Alectoris chukar)f, g - - - R B - - R -R- - - - - - Gray partridge (Perdix perdix)f, g - - - - - N/A N/A B - R N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A Ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)f, g X R R R R - - - XR - - - - - - Ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus)

f - R - R T - N/A R X R N/A - N/A - N/A N/A

Sage grouse (Centrocerus urophasianus)

f - - - - T - - W X RN/A - - - N/A N/A

Blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus)

f - R - R T X - R -R- - - - - -

California quail (Callipepla californica)

f - R R R R N/A N/A R - R N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)

Spotted sandpiper (Actitis macularia) - B T - --- - ---- - - - -

Franklin’s gull (Larus pipixcan) --- - T - - - ---- - - - -

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis) - - T - --- - ---- - - - -

California gull (Larus californicus) - T T - T - N/A - - - - - N/A - - -

Pigeons and doves (Columbiformes)

Rock dove (Columba livia)

g

- - T - --- - ---- - - - -

Band-tailed pigeon (Columba fasciata) - - - - - X - B X- - - B X - B

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) X B B B B X - B XB - X B X- B

Owls (Strigiformes)

Barn owl (Tyto alba) - - - - ---

R ---- - - - -

Flammulated owl (Otus flammeolus) - - --- X - - ---- - - T -

Western screech-owl (Otus kennicottii) -R- - - - - R -R- - - - R -

Great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) XR - R - X - B - R-X - X R -

Northern pygmy-owl (Glaucidium gnoma) --- - - - - R -R- - - - R -

Burrowing owl (Athene cunicularia) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Long-eared owl (Asio otus) -R- - - - - B XR - - - - R -

Short-eared owl (Asio flammeus) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Northern saw-whet owl (Aegolius acadicus) X- - - - - - R XR - - - - B -

Nightjars (Caprimulgiformes)

Common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) -B- T T X - B X B-X - X - -

Common poorwill (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) XB - T - - - B XB - - B - - -

Appendix A (Con.)

Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/

Submontane gambel oak gambel oak

Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest

N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E.

UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ

Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 15 Swifts and hummingbirds (Apodiformes) White-throated swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) - B B - T X - B -B- - B - - B Black-chinned hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri) -B B B B - - B XB - - B - B - Calliope hummingbird (Stellula calliope) - - - - - - - T XB - - - - - - Broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) XBB B B X B B XB - X B XB B Rufous hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) -T - - - X - T X- - - - - - B Kingfishers (Coraciiformes) Belted kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon) -B- - - - - - -R- - - -- - Woodpeckers (Piciformes) Lewis’ woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) -T - - - X - - XR - - - - - - Williamson’s sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) - - --- X - - ---- - XT - Red-naped sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) XT - - T X - W - - -X B - T B Downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) XRT - - - - B - - -X - - - - Hairy woodpecker (Picoides villosus) - - - - W - - B X- -X R X R - Northern flicker (Colaptes auratus) XRR - T X R B - - -X R X R - Songbirds and passerines (Passeriformes) Olive-sided flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) X

T - - ---

B ---- - - - B

Greater pewee (Contopus pertinax) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - N/A N/A N/A - N/A - N/A - B

Western wood-pewee (Contopus sordidulus) - BB - - - B B ---- B - B B

Willow flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) -B- - T - - - - B- - - - - -

Hammond’s flycatcher (Empidonax hammondii) -T- - T X - B - - -X - - - -

Gray flycatcher (Empidonax wrightii) - - --- X -

B ---- - XB -

Dusky flycatcher (Empidonax oberholseri) - B - B T - - B XB - - - - B B

Cordilleran flycatcher (Empidonax occidentalis) - - - B - X B B XB - - B - B B

Say’s phoebe (Sayornis saya) - - - - - X - B - - -X - - B -

Dusky-capped flycatcher (Myiarchus tuberculifer) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - - N/A N/A N/A - - - - - B

Ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) - - --- X -

B ---- B - B B

Sulphur-bellied flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - N/A N/A N/A - B

Cassin’s kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans) - - - - ---

T ---- - - - -

Western kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) - - B - T - -

B ---- - - - -

Eastern kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) - - --- X -

R ---- - - - -

Northern shrike (Lanius excubitor) - - W - ---

W ---- - - - -

(con.)

Appendix A (Con.)

Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/

Submontane gambel oak gambel oak

Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest

N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E.

UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ

Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

16 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 Bell’s vireo (Vireo bellii) - - - - --- - ---- - - - B Plumbeous vireo (Vireo plumbeus) --T - - X B B X B-X B - B B Hutton’s vireo (Vireo huttoni) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A X - N/A N/A N/A - - - - - - Warbling vireo (Vireo gilvus) X B T B B - B B XB - - B - - B Red-eyed vireo (Vireo olivaceus) - - --- - N/A

T - - - - N/A - - -

Steller’s jay (Cyanocitta stelleri)

f X R W W W X R R -W- X R X R -

Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata) - - - - ---

T ---- - - - -

Western scrub-jay (Aphelocoma californica) XR R R R X - B XRR - R X R -

Pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) - T - - T X -

T ---- - - R -

Clark’s nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) -

T - - --- - ---- - - R -

Black-billed magpie (Pica pica) XR R R R X - B XR - X - X - -

American crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) - W - - T X -

W ---- R - - -

Common raven (Corvus corax) -R - - - X - B -R- X - XR -

Horned lark (Eremophila alpestris) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Tree swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) -T - - - X - - - - -X - - - -

Violet-green swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) - T T - T X B B -B-X B X B B

N. rough-winged swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) - - B - T - -

B ---- - - - -

Bank swallow (Riparia riparia) - BB - - - - - ---- - - - -

Cliff swallow (Hirundo pyrrhonota) -

B --- X - - ---- - - - -

Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) --- - T - -

B ---- - X - -

Black-capped chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) X R W R R X - R XR - X - X - -

Mountain chickadee (Poecile gambeli)

f X W W W W - R T -W- X R - R -

Juniper titmouse (Baeolophus griseus) -

T - - ---

B ---- R - R -

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) - TT - - - - B XR - - - - R -

Red-breasted nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) - - - - --- - - - - - R XW -

White-breasted nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) - - - - - X R R -R-X R - R -

Pygmy nuthatch (Sitta pygmaea) - - - - ---

W ---- R - R -

Brown creeper (Certhia americana) X

W - - ---

W ---- R - R -

Rock wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) X

B --- - R - ---- - X - -

Canyon wren (Catherpes mexicanus) X RT - - - - B ---- - -R -

Bewick’s wren (Thryomanes bewickii) --T - - - - W XR - - - X R -

House wren (Troglodytes aedon) X B T B T X - B XB - - B X - B

Winter wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) -

W - - ---

W ---- - - - -

Golden-crowned kinglet (Regulus satrapa) -

W - - ---

W ---- - -W -

Ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula) X W T W T - - W -W- - R - T -

Blue-gray gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) X T T B B X - B XB - - - X B B

(con.)

Appendix A (Con.)

Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/

Submontane gambel oak gambel oak

Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest

N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E.

UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ

Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 17 Western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) - - - - - X - B XB - - R - R B Mountain bluebird (Sialia currucoides) X B - B - X - B XB - X - X R - Townsend’s solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) XWT - - - - B -W- X R X R B Veery (Catharus fuscescens) -

B - - --- - ---- - - - -

Hermit thrush (Catharus guttatus) XB - - - - - B - - -X B - B B

American robin (Turdus migratorius) X R B R B X R B XR - X R X R B

Gray catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) - B - - B - - B -B- - - - - -

Northern mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) - - - - ---

R ---- - - - -

Sage thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) - T T - T - -

T ---- - - - -

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

g - - - - T - - B -R- - - - - -

Bohemian waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) X

W - - ---

W ---- - - - -

Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) X

W - - ---

W ---- - - - -

Olive warbler (Peucedramus taeniatus) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - N/A N/A N/A - N/A - N/A - B

Tennessee warbler (Vermivora peregrina) - - - - - X N/A - - - -

X N/A - - -

Orange-crowned warbler (Vermivora celata) XBT B - - - B XBB - - - B B

Nashville warbler (Vermivora ruficapilla) X

T - - ---

T ---- - - - -

Virginia’s warbler (Vermivora virginiae) X B B B BXB

B XBBX B - B B

Yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia) -B- B B - - - - B- - - - - -

Yellow-rumped warbler (Dendroica coronata) X B T B T X - - XB - X B - B B

Black-throated gray warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) - - T - - X -

B ---- B - B B

Hermit warbler (Dendroica occidentalis) - - - - --- - ---- - - - B

Grace’s warbler (Dendroica graciae) - - - - --- - ---- B - B B

American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Northern waterthrush (Seiurus noveboracensis) - - - - ---

T ---- - - - -

MacGillivray’s warbler (Oporornis tolmiei) X B T B T X B T XBT - B - - -

Wilson’s warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) X

T - - ---

T ---- - - - B

Red-faced warbler (Cardellina rubrifrons) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - N/A N/A N/A - N/A - N/A - B

Painted redstart (Myioborus pictus) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - - N/A N/A N/A - - - - - B

Yellow-breasted chat (Icteria virens) - B B - B - - B XB - - - - - -

Hepatic tanager (Piranga flava) N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A - - N/A N/A N/A - - - - - B

Western tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) X T T M/T T X B T - B - X B - B B

Green-tailed towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) - BT B T X B B X B-X B X - -

Spotted towhee (Pipilo maculatus) XR R R R X R B XRR - R X R B

Rufous-crowned sparrow (Aimophila ruficeps) - - - - - - - - - - -X - - - -

American tree sparrow (Spizella arborea) - - - - - - - W X- -X - - - -

(con.)

Appendix A (Con.)

Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/

Submontane gambel oak gambel oak

Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest

N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E.

UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ

Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

18 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 Chipping sparrow (Spizella passerina) XBT B T X B B X B-X B X B - Clay-colored sparrow (Spizella pallida) - - - - ---

T ---- - - - -

Brewer’s sparrow (Spizella breweri) - T T - B X -

B ---- - - - -

Vesper sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) - T - B T - - B XB - - - - B -

Lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) X - B - T - - T XB - - - X - -

Black-throated sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Sage sparrow (Amphispiza belli) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - -

Savannah sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) --- - T X -

T ---- - X - -

Fox sparrow (Passerella iliaca) XBT - - - - B -B- - - - - -

Song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) X RW - - X - B -R- - - - - -

Lincoln’s sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) - - - - ---

T ---- - - - -

White-throated sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) - - - - ---

W ---- - - - -

Harris’ sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) ---

W ---

W ---- - - - -

White-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) X W W - T - -

T ---- - - - -

Golden-crowned sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) - - - - ---

W ---- - - - -

Dark-eyed junco (Junco hyemalis) X RW R - - - T X- -X R X B -

Snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) --- - - - - W - - N/A - - - N/A N/A

Rose-breasted grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) - - - - ---

T ---- - - - -

Black-headed grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) X B B B B - B B XB - - B - B B

Blue grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea) - - - - ---

R ---- B - - -

Lazuli bunting (Passerina amoena) X B B B B - - B XB - - - - - B

Western meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) X R - T T X - B -R- - - - - -

Brewer’s blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) - T B - - X -

B ---- - - - -

Brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) - -B - B X - B - - -X B X - B

Bullock’s oriole (Icterus bullockii) - - - B B - - B -B-X - - - -

Scott’s oriole (Icterus parisorum) - - - - ---

B ---- - - - B

Black rosy-finch (Leucosticte atrata) - W W - W - -

W ---- - - - -

Pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) -

W - - ---

W ---- - -W -

Cassin’s finch (Carpodacus cassinii) X - - - ---

B ---- - - B B

House finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) X R R R T X - B -R- - - X - -

Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) - - - - --- - ---- R - R -

Common redpoll (Carduelis flammea) - - - - - - N/A W - - N/A - N/A - N/A N/A

Pine siskin (Carduelis pinus) X R R W B X R - XR - X R - R B

Lesser goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria) X-B - - - - R -R- - B - - -

American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis) XRR R T X - - - R- - - - - -

(con.)

Appendix A (Con.)

Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/

Submontane gambel oak gambel oak

Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest

N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E.

UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ

Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 19 Evening grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) XWT - - - - W XW - - - - T - House sparrow (Passer domesticus)

g

--- - T - -

B ---- - - - -

Total number of species: 53 104 66 49 67 62 20 140 49 78 6 40 50 37 64 N/A

Total number of residents: N/A 27 11 15 6 N/A 8 16 N/A 36 2 N/A 21 N/A 30 N/A

Total number of breeding migrants: N/A 36 20 23 18 N/A 12 80 N/A 35 2 N/A 29 N/A 25 45

Total number of winter migrants: N/A 13 8 5 5 N/A N/A 24 N/A 5 1 N/A N/A N/A 3 N/A

Total number of local/migrational transients: N/A 28 27 6 38 N/A N/A 20 N/A 2 1 N/A N/A N/A 6 N/A

a Common and scientific names, as well as order in which species are presented, follow American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

b Column headings indicate source: A = Frost (1947), B = Hayward (1948), C = Berrett (1958), D = Perry (1973), E = Marti (1977), F = Steinhoff (1978), G = Tatschl (1967), H =

Walters (1981), I = Woodbury and Cottam (1962), J = Behle and Perry (1975), K = LaRue (1994), L = Block and others (1992). c Author reports breeding birds only.

d Author reports summer residents only.

e Species is present year round, but individual birds migrate latitudinally, such that breeding birds are replaced by migrants from farther north during winter. f Species is altitudinal migrant.

g Species is introduced.

Appendix A (Con.)

Ponderosa pine/ Mixed conifer/

Submontane gambel oak gambel oak

Gambel oak woodland shrub forest forest

N.C. W. N.C. N.C. N. W. N.C. W. N. S.E.

UT CO NM UT UT UT AZ CO NM CO AZ AZ

Speciesa Ab BC D E F Gc H I JKF Gc FK Ld
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

20 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

Appendix B–Life history traits (taken from Ehrlich and others 1988) of bird species reported from

the gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) vegetation type in the western United States (occurrence

data from Hayward 1948, Woodbury and Cottam 1962, Tatschl 1967, Perry 1973, Behle and Perry

1975, Marti 1977, Steinhoff 1978, Walters 1981, Block and others 1992).

Nesting guild Foraging guild

Nest Nest Foraging Foraging Food

Speciesa Activityb locationc typed layere methodf typeg

Herons and vultures (Ciconiiformes)

Great blue heron D N/A N/A WAT SS PI

Black-crowned night-heron D N/A N/A WAT SS PI

Turkey vulture D CL - GR HS SC

Waterfowl (Anseriformes)

Mallard D N/A N/A WAT DA GV

Northern pintail D N/A N/A WAT DA GV

Bufflehead D N/A N/A WAT SD IN

Common goldeneye D N/A N/A WAT SD IN

Raptors (Falconiformes)

Bald eagle D N/A N/A GR HS CA

Northern harrier D GR PL GR LS CA

Sharp-shinned hawk D TR PL AIR AP CA

Cooper’s hawk D TR PL AIR AP CA

Northern goshawk D TR PL AIR AP CA

Swainson’s hawk D TR PL GR HS CA

Red-tailed hawk D TR PL GR HS CA

Ferruginous hawk D TR PL GR HP CA

Rough-legged hawk D N/A N/A GR HP CA

Golden eagle D CL PL GR HS CA

American kestrel D SN CA GR HP IN/CA

Merlin D N/A N/A AIR AP CA

Peregrine falcon D N/A N/A AIR AP CA

Prairie falcon D CL SC AIR AP CA

Gallinaceous birds (Galliformes)

Chukar D GR SC GR GG GV

Gray partridge D GR SC GR GG GV

Ring-necked pheasant D GR SC GR GG OM

Ruffed grouse D GR SC GR GG OM

Sage grouse D GR SC GR/SH/TR GG/FG IN/FO

Blue grouse D GR SC GR/SH/TR GG/FG IN/FO

California quail D GR SC GR GG GV

Shorebirds (Charadriiformes)

Spotted sandpiper D GR SC GR GG IN

Franklin’s gull D N/A N/A GR GG IN

Ring-billed gull D GR SA GR GG OM

California gull D N/A N/A WAT LD IN

Pigeons and doves (Columbiformes)

Rock dove D CL SA GR GG GV

Band-tailed pigeon D TR PL SH/TR FG GV/FR

Mourning dove D SH/TR SA GR GG GV

(con.)
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 21

Owls (Strigiformes)

Barn owl N SN CA GR LS CA

Flammulated owl N SN CA AIR HA IN

Western screech-owl N SN CA GR SW CA

Great horned owl N TR - GR SW CA

Northern pygmy-owl N SN CA GR SW CA

Burrowing owl D/N GR BU GR SW IN/CA

Long-eared owl N TR - GR LS CA

Short-eared owl N GR SC GR LS CA

Northern saw-whet owl N SN CA GR SW CA

Nightjars (Caprimulgiformes)

Common nighthawk D/N GR - AIR AF IN

Common poorwill N GR - AIR AF IN

Swifts and hummingbirds (Apodiformes)

White-throated swift D CL CR AIR AF IN

Black-chinned hummingbird D SH/TR CU HERB HG NE

Calliope hummingbird D SH/TR CU HERB HG NE

Broad-tailed hummingbird D SH/TR CU HERB HG NE

Rufous hummingbird D VN/TR CU HERB HG NE

Kingfishers (Coraciiformes)

Belted kingfisher D BA BU WAT HD PI

Woodpeckers (Piciformes)

Lewis’ woodpecker D TR/SN CA AIR/GR HA/GG IN/GV

Williamson’s sapsucker D TR CA TR BG IN

Red-naped sapsucker D TR CA TR BG IN

Downy woodpecker D SN CA TR BG IN

Hairy woodpecker D TR CA TR BG IN

Northern flicker D SN CA GR/TR GG/BG IN

Songbirds and passerines (Passeriformes)

Olive-sided flycatcher D TR CU AIR HA IN

Greater pewee D TR CU AIR HA IN

Western wood-pewee D TR CU AIR HA IN

Willow flycatcher D SH CU AIR HA IN

Hammond’s flycatcher D TR CU AIR HA IN

Gray flycatcher D SH CU AIR HA IN

Dusky flycatcher D SH CU AIR HA IN

Cordilleran flycatcher D TR CU AIR HA IN

Say’s phoebe D CL CU AIR HA IN

Dusky-capped flycatcher D TR CU AIR HA IN

Ash-throated flycatcher D TR CA SH/TR HG IN

Sulphur-bellied flycatcher D TR CA AIR HA IN

Cassin’s kingbird D N/A N/A AIR HA IN

Western kingbird D TR CU AIR HA IN

Eastern kingbird D TR CU AIR HA IN

Loggerhead shrike D TR CU GR SW IN/CA

Northern shrike D N/A N/A GR SW CA

Appendix B (Con.)

Nesting guild Foraging guild

Nest Nest Foraging Foraging Food

Speciesa Activityb locationc typed layere methodf typeg

(con.)
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

22 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

Appendix B (Con.)

Nesting guild Foraging guild

Nest Nest Foraging Foraging Food

Speciesa Activityb locationc typed layere methodf typeg

(con.)

Bell’s vireo D SH CU SH/TR FG IN

Plumbeous vireo D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Hutton’s vireo D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Warbling vireo D SH/TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Red-eyed vireo D N/A N/A SH/TR HG IN

Steller’s jay D SH/TR CU GR GG OM

Blue jay D N/A N/A GR GG OM

Western scrub-jay D SH/TR CU GR GG OM

Pinyon jay D N/A N/A GR GG OM

Clark’s nutcracker D N/A N/A SH/TR FG OM

Black-billed magpie D SH/TR SP GR GG OM

American crow D TR CU GR GG OM

Common raven D CL CU GR GG OM

Horned lark D GR SA GR GG GV

Tree swallow D N/A N/A AIR AF IN

Violet-green swallow D SN CA AIR AF IN

N. rough-winged swallow D BA BU AIR AF IN

Bank swallow D BA BU AIR AF IN

Cliff swallow D VF SP AIR AF IN

Barn swallow D VF CU AIR AF IN

Black-capped chickadee D TR CA SH/TR FG IN

Mountain chickadee D TR CA SH/TR FG IN

Juniper titmouse D TR CA SH/TR FG IN

Bushtit D TR PN SH/TR FG IN

Red-breasted nuthatch D TR CA SH/TR BG IN

White-breasted nuthatch D TR CA TR BG IN

Pygmy nuthatch D TR CA TR BG IN

Brown creeper D TR CA TR BG IN

Rock wren D GR CR GR GG IN

Canyon wren D CL CR GR GG IN

Bewick’s wren D TR CA GR GG IN

House wren D TR CA GR GG IN

Winter wren D N/A N/A GR GG IN

Golden-crowned kinglet D N/A N/A SH/TR FG IN

Ruby-crowned kinglet D TR PN SH/TR FG IN

Blue-gray gnatcatcher D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Western bluebird D SN CA AIR HA IN

Mountain bluebird D SN CA GR SW IN

Townsend’s solitaire D GR CU AIR HA IN

Veery D GR CU GR GG IN

Hermit thrush D SH/TR CU GR GG IN

American robin D SH/TR CU GR/SH/TR GG/FG IN/FR

Gray catbird D SH CU GR/SH/TR GG/FG IN

Northern mockingbird D SH CU GR/SH/TR GG/FG IN/FR

Sage thrasher D N/A N/A GR GG OM

European starling D TR CA GR GG IN

Bohemian waxwing D N/A N/A SH/TR FG FR

Cedar waxwing D N/A N/A SH/TR FG FR

Olive warbler D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Tennessee warbler D GR CU SH/TR FG IN

Orange-crowned warbler D GR/SH CU SH/TR FG IN
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 23

Nashville warbler D N/A N/A SH/TR FG IN

Virginia’s warbler D GR CU SH/TR FG IN

Yellow warbler D SH CU SH/TR FG IN

Yellow-rumped warbler D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Yellow-rumped warbler D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Black-throated gray warbler D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Hermit warbler D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Grace’s warbler D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

American redstart D TR CU SH/TR HG IN

Northern waterthrush D N/A N/A WAT/GR GG IN

MacGillivray’s warbler D SH CU SH/TR FG IN

Wilson’s warbler D GR CU SH/TR FG IN

Red-faced warbler D GR CU SH/TR FG IN

Painted redstart D GR CU SH/TR FG IN

Yellow-breasted chat D SH CU SH/TR FG IN

Hepatic tanager D TR SA SH/TR FG IN

Western tanager D TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Green-tailed towhee D GR/SH CU GR GG IN/OM

Spotted towhee D GR/SH CU GR GG IN/OM

Rufous-crowned sparrow D GR CU GR GG IN

American Tree sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG GV

Chipping sparrow D SH/TR CU GR GG IN/GV

Clay-colored sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG IN/GV

Brewer’s sparrow D SH CU GR GG IN/GV

Vesper sparrow D GR CU GR GG IN/GV

Lark sparrow D GR/SH CU GR GG GV/IN

Black-throated sparrow D SH CU GR GG IN/GV

Sage sparrow D SH CU GR GG IN/GV

Savannah sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG IN/GV

Fox sparrow D GR/SH CU GR GG IN/GV

Song sparrow D GR/SH CU GR GG IN/GV

Lincoln’s sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG IN/GV

White-throated sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG GV

Harris’s sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG GV

White-crowned sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG GV

Golden-crowned sparrow D N/A N/A GR GG GV

Dark-eyed junco D GR CU GR GG GV

Snow bunting D N/A N/A GR GG IN

Rose-breasted grosbeak D N/A N/A SH/TR FG IN

Black-headed grosbeak D SH/TR CU SH/TR FG IN

Blue grosbeak D SH CU GR GG IN

Lazuli bunting D SH CU GR GG IN

Western meadowlark D GR CU GR GG IN/GV

Brewer’s blackbird D SH/TR CU GR GG IN

Brown-headed cowbird D SH/TR CU GR GG IN

Bullock’s oriole D TR PN SH/TR FG IN

Scott’s oriole D TR PN SH/TR FG IN

Black rosy-finch D N/A N/A GR GG GV

Pine grosbeak D N/A N/A HERB/SH/TR FG GV

Cassin’s finch D TR CU GR GG GV

House finch D SH/TR CU GR GG GV

Red crossbill D TR CU SH/TR FG GV

Appendix B (Con.)

Nesting guild Foraging guild

Nest Nest Foraging Foraging Food

Speciesa Activityb locationc typed layere methodf typeg

(con.)
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

24 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000

Appendix B (Con.)

Nesting guild Foraging guild

Nest Nest Foraging Foraging Food

Speciesa Activityb locationc typed layere methodf typeg

Common redpoll D N/A N/A HERB/SH FG GV

Pine siskin D TR SA HERB/SH/TR FG GV

Lesser goldfinch D SH/TR CU HERB/SH/TR FG GV

American goldfinch D SH CU HERB/SH/TR FG GV

Evening grosbeak D N/A N/A GR/SH/TR GG/FG GV/FO

House sparrow D TR CA GR GG GV

a

 Common and scientific names, and order in which species are presented, follow American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

b

 D = diurnal, N = nocturnal.

c

 BA = bank, CL = cliff, GR = ground, SH = shrub, SN = snag, TR = tree, VF = vertical face, VN = vine, N/A = species does not nest in gambel

oak habitat. d

 BU = burrow, CA = cavity, CR = crevice, CU = cup, PL = platform, PN = pendant, SA = saucer, SC = scrape, SP = sphere, - = species does

not build nest, N/A = species does not nest in gambel oak habitat. e

 AIR = air, GR = ground, HERB = herbaceous vegetation, SH = shrub, TR = tree, WAT = water.

f

 AF = aerial feed, AP = aerial pursuit, BG = bark glean, DA = dabble, FG = foliage glean, GG = ground glean, HA = hawk, HD = high

dive, HG = hover and glean, HP = hover and pounce, HS = high soar, LD = low dive, LS = low soar, SD = surface dive, SS = stalk and strike,

SW = swoop. g

 CA = carnivore (excl. fish, invertebrates), FO = folivore, FR = frugivore, GV = granivore, IN = insectivore (incl. other invertebrates), NE =

nectarivore, OM = omnivore, PI = piscivore, SC = scavenger.
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 25(con.) Appendix C–Population trends (DeGraaf and Rappole 1995) and Partners in Flight (PIF) concern scores of bird species reported from the gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) vegetation type in the Western United States (occurrence data from Hayward 1948, Woodbury and Cottam 1962, Tatschl 1967, Perry 1973, Behle and Perry 1975, Marti 1977, Steinhoff 1978, Walters 1981, and Block and others 1992)a

.

Population trendb

Gambel oak ranged Western N. Americae PIF score by statef PIF score by physiographic regiong

Speciesc 1966-1994 1980-1994 1966-1994 1980-1994 AZh COh NMh UTi 62h 69h 80h 84h 87h

Herons and vultures (Ciconiiformes)

Great blue heron - - - - 13 12 14 17 12 - 14 14 13

Black-crowned night-heron - - - - 14 13 14 16 14 - 15 14 14

Turkey vulture - - - I 12 12 11 12 12 12 10 13 13

Waterfowl (Anseriformes)

Mallard - - - - 12 11 10 - 11 - 11 13 11

Northern pintail - - D D 12 13 14 - 13 - 14 13 13

Bufflehead - - - - - 17 - - 17 - - - -

Common goldeneye ---- ---- ---- -

Raptors (Falconiformes)

Bald eagle - - - - 19 18 - 20 - - 18 18 18

Northern harrier - - - - 17 20 17 18 17 - 19 - 17

Sharp-shinned hawk - - I - 17 15 16 15 15 - 17 16 16

Cooper’s hawk - - - - 18 15 18 18 15 - 17 18 16

Northern goshawk - - - - 19 17 19 21 17 - 19 20 18

Swainson’s hawk - - I - 22 22 21 17 21 20 19 21 21

Red-tailed hawk I - I I 12 11 12 13 13 13 12 14 12

Ferruginous hawk - - I - 22 24 22 23 21 - 23 21 22

Rough-legged hawk ---- ---- ---- -

Golden eagle - - - - 18 17 17 16 16 19 17 14 18

American kestrel - D - D 15 17 14 13 15 13 13 13 15

Merlin - - - - - 13 - 18 - - 16 - -

Peregrine falcon - - - - 19 19 19 21 19 - 19 17 18

Prairie falcon - - D - 22 20 23 21 20 21 24 19 20

Gallinaceous birds (Galliformes)

Chukar - - - - 10 10 11 17 10 - 11 - 10

Gray partridge - - - - N/A N/A N/A 17 - - 10 - -

Ring-necked pheasant - - - - 10 14 11 18 - - 13 - 11

Ruffed grouse - - - - N/A 15 N/A 21 - - 17 - -

Sage grouse - - - - N/A 25 24 25 - - 25 - -

Blue grouse - - - - 21 20 21 21 20 - 20 20 20

California quail - - - - N/A N/A N/A 18 - - 21 - -
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

26 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 Appendix C (Con.) Population trendb Gambel oak ranged Western N. Americae PIF score by statef PIF score by physiographic regiong Speciesc 1966-1994 1980-1994 1966-1994 1980-1994 AZh COh NMh UTi 62h 69h 80h 84h 87h (con.) Shorebirds (Charadriiformes) Spotted sandpiper - - - - 13 13 12 15 13 - 12 - 12 Franklin’s gull - - - - - - - 22 - - 24 - - Ring-billed gull - - - I - - - 15 - - 13 - - California gull - - - - - 17 N/A 15 - - 19 - - Pigeons and doves (Columbiformes) Rock dove - - - - 11 11 11 11 12 - 9 10 10 Band-tailed pigeon - - D D 20 19 19 18 19 - - 20 20 Mourning dove - - D D 12 11 14 9 13 11 10 12 12 Owls (Strigiformes) Barn owl - - - - 18 16 17 16 - - 18 16 15 Flammulated owl - - - - 22 21 22 19 22 - 22 23 21 Western screech-owl - - - - 18 17 18 22 15 - 18 18 17 Great horned owl - - - - 13 11 13 12 13 13 11 14 13 Northern pygmy-owl - - - - 18 17 17 21 17 - 19 17 17 Burrowing owl - - I I 18 22 19 19 - - 17 17 19 Long-eared owl - - - - 16 16 16 15 16 - 16 17 17 Short-eared owl - - D - - 20 - 19 18 - 22 - 19 Northern saw-whet owl - - - - 15 15 15 16 15 - 15 16 15 Nightjars (Caprimulgiformes) Common nighthawk - D - - 17 14 19 15 13 15 15 16 18 Common poorwill - - - - 21 20 20 20 19 19 19 19 21 Swifts and hummingbirds (Apodiformes) White-throated swift - - - - 17 18 17 19 18 - 16 18 20 Black-chinned hummingbird - I - - 21 23 22 20 - - 21 22 23 Calliope hummingbird - - - - - - - 22 - 21 22 - - Broad-tailed hummingbird - - - I 20 20 21 23 20 - 20 22 19 Rufous hummingbird - - D - - - - - - - 20 - - Kingfishers (Coraciiformes) Belted kingfisher - - - - 15 14 14 15 15 15 15 15 15 Woodpeckers (Piciformes) Lewis’ woodpecker - - - - 24 22 23 28 23 24 22 23 22 Williamson’s sapsucker - - - - 21 22 22 22 23 - 22 22 21
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 27 Appendix C (Con.) Population trendb Gambel oak ranged Western N. Americae PIF score by statef PIF score by physiographic regiong Speciesc 1966-1994 1980-1994 1966-1994 1980-1994 AZh COh NMh UTi 62h 69h 80h 84h 87h (con.) Red-naped sapsucker - - - - 21 21 21 21 21 - 21 22 21 Downy woodpecker - - - - 13 13 14 14 13 - 14 15 14 Hairy woodpecker - - - - 17 15 15 14 15 - 14 17 16 Northern flicker - - - - 13 12 13 13 14 14 14 14 12 Songbirds and passerines (Passeriformes) Olive-sided flycatcher - - D D 19 19 17 22 17 - 18 19 18 Greater pewee - - - - 22 N/A 23 N/A - - - 22 - Western wood-pewee D - D - 19 17 19 19 17 16 15 18 19 Willow flycatcher - - - - 23 18 18 20 18 - 18 21 20 Hammond’s flycatcher - - - - 20 19 21 22 20 - 21 - 20 Gray flycatcher I - I I 23 20 21 23 - 22 22 23 23 Dusky flycatcher - - - - 21 20 20 21 19 22 19 21 21 Cordilleran flycatcher - - - - 21 21 20 23 21 - 20 21 21 Say’s phoebe - - - - 17 17 18 16 17 - 16 19 18 Dusky-capped flycatcher - - - - 14 - 15 N/A ---- - Ash-throated flycatcher - - I - 17 16 17 17 15 16 15 19 17 Sulphur-bellied flycatcher - - - - 19 N/A N/A N/A ---- - Cassin’s kingbird - - - - 25 20 23 21 19 - - 24 22 Western kingbird - - - - 17 16 17 18 - - 17 18 19 Eastern kingbird - - - - - 14 14 18 - - 14 - - Loggerhead shrike D D D - 17 16 22 20 17 18 20 18 19 Northern shrike ---- ---- ---- - Bell’s vireo - - - - 25 23 23 25 - - - 23 22 Plumbeous vireo - I I I 19 20 20 21 20 - 19 19 18 Hutton’s vireo - - - - 20 N/A 20 N/A - - - 20 - Warbling vireo - - I I 17 18 20 16 18 - 16 18 17 Red-eyed vireo - - - D - 13 N/A - 13 - - - - Steller’s jay - - - - 16 15 17 17 15 - 14 16 17 Blue jay - - - - - 12 13 - - - - - 12 Western scrub-jay - - - - 18 19 17 18 18 17 16 18 19 Pinyon jay - - - - 20 18 19 21 19 21 22 20 21 Clark’s nutcracker - - - - 17 16 18 19 16 19 17 18 17 Black-billed magpie - - - - 15 17 17 17 17 16 17 - 15 American crow - - - - 10 11 10 11 9 10 10 12 10 Common raven - - - - 10 10 12 11 10 12 12 11 12 Horned lark D - D D 14 12 16 9 10 - 11 12 14 Tree swallow - - - - 15 15 14 15 15 - 16 15 15 Violet-green swallow D D - - 18 19 21 18 19 18 16 20 18 Northern rough-winged swallow - - - - 17 15 16 15 15 16 17 16 17
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

28 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 Bank swallow - - - - - 13 14 17 13 14 13 - 14 Cliff swallow - I I - 11 11 12 14 11 13 12 13 13 Barn swallow - - - D 12 11 10 12 12 12 13 12 12 Black-capped chickadee - - - - - 12 14 15 12 14 13 - 15 Mountain chickadee - - - - 17 15 15 20 16 18 16 18 17 Juniper titmouse - - - - 20 20 21 21 - 19 19 21 22 Bushtit - - - - 15 16 16 18 - 15 15 17 16 Red-breasted nuthatch - - - - 13 13 14 12 14 - 13 14 14 White-breasted nuthatch - - - - 14 13 15 14 13 - 14 16 14 Pygmy nuthatch - - - - 21 19 20 21 19 - - 21 19 Brown creeper - - - - 15 15 16 17 15 - 16 16 15 Rock wren - - - - 19 16 17 18 15 16 16 16 16 Canyon wren - - - - 19 17 17 19 17 19 18 17 18 Bewick’s wren I - - D 18 16 17 18 16 18 17 19 16 House wren - - I I 11 13 13 13 13 - 10 14 13 Winter wren ---- ---- ---- - Golden-crowned kinglet - - D - 16 16 17 19 16 - 15 17 16 Ruby-crowned kinglet - - - - 15 16 15 15 16 16 14 16 15 Blue-gray gnatcatcher - - - - 16 15 15 17 15 16 15 16 14 Western bluebird - - - - 23 19 19 19 17 19 - 23 20 Mountain bluebird - - - - 21 17 21 20 18 18 18 19 19 Townsend’s solitaire - - - - 18 17 18 21 17 19 17 18 16 Veery - - - - 16 17 18 21 17 - 19 17 18 Hermit thrush - - - - 16 15 18 17 16 15 15 17 16 American robin - - - - 10 11 10 10 11 12 10 11 11 Gray catbird - - - - 16 15 16 20 15 - 16 17 14 Northern mockingbird - - - - 11 13 12 13 11 - 8 11 12 Sage thrasher - - - - 18 17 18 20 18 - 20 - 18 European starling - - - - 10 10 9 10 10 10 10 11 10 Bohemian waxwing ---- ---- ---- - Cedar waxwing - - - - - 13 - 17 13 13 13 - - Olive warbler - - - - 22 N/A 23 N/A ---- - Tennessee warbler --- D - - N/A - ---- - Orange-crowned warbler - I - - 13 13 14 17 12 - 14 14 14 Nashville warbler ---- ---- ---- - Virginia’s warbler - I I - 26 24 25 26 23 24 23 26 22 Yellow warbler - I - - 14 12 12 13 14 - 13 13 14 Yellow-rumped warbler - D - - 13 14 12 18 14 - 12 15 14 Black-throated gray warbler - - - - 22 21 22 23 20 22 21 23 21 Appendix C (Con.) Population trendb Gambel oak ranged Western N. Americae PIF score by statef PIF score by physiographic regiong Speciesc 1966-1994 1980-1994 1966-1994 1980-1994 AZh COh NMh UTi 62h 69h 80h 84h 87h (con.)
Bird Communities of Gambel Oak : A Descriptive Analysis Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton

USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 29 Appendix C (Con.) Population trendb Gambel oak ranged Western N. Americae PIF score by statef PIF score by physiographic regiong Speciesc 1966-1994 1980-1994 1966-1994 1980-1994 AZh COh NMh UTi 62h 69h 80h 84h 87h (con.) Hermit warbler ---- ---- ---- - Grace’s warbler - - - - 22 22 22 21 23 - - 24 22 American redstart - - - - 14 14 - 18 14 - 13 15 13 Northern waterthrush - - - - - 13 - - ---- - MacGillivray’s warbler

D - - - 19 20 19 18 20 - 18 19 19

Wilson’s warbler - - - - - 17 16 17 19 - 17 - -

Red-faced warbler - - - - 28 N/A 26 N/A - - - 27 25

Painted redstart - - - - 23 - 22 N/A - - - 23 -

Yellow-breasted chat - - - I 17 16 16 18 15 - 16 17 16

Hepatic tanager - - - - 18 14 16 N/A 15 - - 18 15

Western tanager - - - I 17 20 17 16 17 - 17 18 16

Green-tailed towhee - - - - 19 19 20 20 19 19 18 19 20

Spotted towhee - - - I 16 17 17 16 16 15 15 18 17

Rufous-crowned sparrow - - I - 22 19 21 21 - - - 22 19

American Tree sparrow ---- ---- ---- -

Chipping sparrow D - D - 13 16 16 14 16 - 13 15 16

Clay-colored sparrow - - D - ---- ---- -

Brewer’s sparrow - - D D 18 19 17 23 19 - 20 - 15

Vesper sparrow - D - I 15 15 15 13 14 - 16 15 17

Lark sparrow - - - - 18 18 17 19 17 17 15 18 16

Black-throated sparrow - - - - 19 16 17 20 - - 16 16 18

Sage sparrow - - - - 21 20 21 20 20 - 23 - 20

Savannah sparrow D - I - 13 14 13 15 14 - 12 14 13

Fox sparrow - - - - - 15 - 17 15 - 15 - 14

Song sparrow - - - - 13 11 12 13 11 - 13 13 12

Lincoln’s sparrow - - I - 14 17 15 15 17 - 16 16 15

White-throated sparrow ---- ---- ---- -

Harris’s sparrow ---- ---- ---- -

White-crowned sparrow - - D - 12 14 13 13 14 - 12 11 12

Golden-crowned sparrow ---- ---- ---- -

Dark-eyed junco - - - - 12 13 13 11 13 - 12 13 14

Snow bunting - - - - N/A - - - ---- -

Rose-breasted grosbeak - - I - - 17 - - ---- -

Black-headed grosbeak - - - - 19 17 19 19 18 - 19 21 20

Blue grosbeak I - I I 15 16 15 21 - - 16 16 15

Lazuli bunting - - - - 18 19 18 19 20 21 19 18 18

Western meadowlark - - D D 14 15 15 16 14 - 15 15 16

Brewer’s blackbird D D D D 11 13 12 15 13 - 14 13 13

Brown-headed cowbird - - - - 13 9 8 10 9 12 10 12 10

Bullock’s oriole - - I - 16 18 19 19 16 - 19 18 18
Leidolf, Wolfe, and Pendleton Bird Communities of Gambel Oak: A Descriptive Analysis

30 USDA Forest Service Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-48. 2000 Appendix C (Con.) Population trendb Gambel oak ranged Western N. Americae PIF score by statef PIF score by physiographic regiong Speciesc 1966-1994 1980-1994 1966-1994 1980-1994 AZh COh NMh UTi 62h 69h 80h 84h 87h Scott’s oriole - - - - 22 20 21 21 - 20 21 22 21 Black rosy-finch - - - - - - - 25 - - 23 - - Pine grosbeak - - - - 15 16 16 18 16 - - 15 16 Cassin’s finch - - - - 18 18 18 18 18 - 16 18 18 House finch - - - - 12 10 14 10 9 - 10 12 11 Red crossbill - - - - 15 16 15 15 18 - 16 16 16 Common redpoll - - - - N/A - N/A - ---- - Pine siskin - - - - 12 15 12 12 15 - 11 14 13 Lesser goldfinch - - D - 15 15 16 17 15 - 15 16 15 American goldfinch - - - - 11 12 13 14 12 - 13 12 13 Evening grosbeak - - - - 14 14 13 16 13 - 14 14 14 House sparrow - - - - 10 12 8 9 9 10 10 11 9

a PIF assigns species concern scores using a geographically based prioritization scheme that can be defined either ecologically (by physiographic province) or politically (by state).

Species are assigned a rank score from 1 (low concern) to 5 (high concern) in seven criteria that reflect a species’ potential to become extirpated: global abundance, global breeding

distribution, global wintering distribution, threats to breeding within state or physiographic province, threats to non-breeding within state or physiographic province, state or

physiographic province population trend, and area importance (abundance and distribution relative to global range). The cumulative concern score, which thus ranges from 7 to 35, is

then used to assign a species to one of five conservation priority categories: extremely high (30 to 35), very high (24 to 29), high (19 to 23), moderate (13 to 18), and low (7 to 12).

Scores are site-specific, that is, they can vary for a given species across different states or physiographic areas based on local conditions (Hunter and others 1993). b Species included have shown a statistically significant (

p < 0.05) change as determined by Breeding Bird Survey data; D = declining, I = increasing, - = trend not significant. c Common names and order in which species are presented follow American Ornithologists’ Union (1998).

d Includes the following physiographic regions: Basin and Range, Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands, and Southern Rockies.

e Includes U.S. and Canada, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean, excluding Alaska.

f - = no score reported (e.g., species is winter migrant, vagrant, or transient); N/A = species does not occur in the respective state, as determined by Ligon (1961), Monson and

Phillips (1981), Behle and others (1985), and Andrews and Righter (1992). g 62 = Southern Rocky Mountains, 69 = Utah Mountains, 80 = Basin and Range, 84 = Mogollon Rim, 87 = Colorado Plateau (figure 4). h Source: Colorado Bird Observatory Database.

i Source: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Database.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its

programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion,

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(Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who

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print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at 202-720-2600

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Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington,

DC 20250-9410 or call 202-720-5964 (voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN RESEARCH STATION

RMRS

The Rocky Mountain Research Station develops scientific information and technology to improve management, protection, and use of

the forests and rangelands. Research is designed to meet the needs

of National Forest managers, Federal and State agencies, public and

private organizations, academic institutions, industry, and individuals.

Studies accelerate solutions to problems involving ecosystems,

range, forests, water, recreation, fire, resource inventory, land reclamation, community sustainability, forest engineering technology,

multiple use economics, wildlife and fish habitat, and forest insects

and diseases. Studies are conducted cooperatively, and applications

may be found worldwide.

Research Locations

Flagstaff, Arizona Reno, Nevada

Fort Collins, Colorado* Albuquerque, New Mexico

Boise, Idaho Rapid City, South Dakota

Moscow, Idaho Logan, Utah

Bozeman, Montana Ogden, Utah

Missoula, Montana Provo, Utah

Lincoln, Nebraska Laramie, Wyoming

*Station Headquarters, 240 West Prospect Road, Fort Collins, CO 80526