Fort Donelson National Battlefield is one of over 400 

sites administered and protected by the National 

Park Service, and is located within Stewart County, 

Tennessee, and Calloway County, Kentucky. There 

exist numerous opportunities for wildlife oriented 

public use at Fort Donelson including bird watching.

Bird habitats at these sites include forested areas, 

open fields, and riparian zones. These diverse 

habitats and relatively small geographic area offer 

numerous opportunities to observe a nice variety of 

both migratory and resident bird species throughout 

the year.

The following bird list contains close to 300 species, 

representing observations made by the National 

Park Service’s inventory and monitoring program

and our park volunteers. Please report the sightings 

of additional species to the ranger staff.

**Common bird names may vary**

Description Key

 * - Non-Native 

 Residency Notes 1 - Resident

2 - Breeder

3 - Migratory

 Overall Abundance A - Abundant

C - Common

U - Uncommon

R - Rare

 General Seasons Observed Sp - Spring

S - Summer 

F - Fall 

W - Winter

- - Unknown

Kingfishers----------------------------------------------

____ Belted Kingfisher – U Sp S F W

Storks-----------------------------------------------------

____ Wood Stork Sp S F

Loons-----------------------------------------------------

____ Common Loon – R Sp F W

Grebes---------------------------------------------------

____ Pie-Billed Grebe – 1U Sp F W

____ Horned Grebe Sp F W

Pelicans and Cormorants---------------------------

____ Amer. White Pelican Sp F

____ Double-Crest. Cormorant – 1 Sp F W

Bitterns, Herons and Egrets------------------------

____ American Bittern Sp F W

____ Least Bittern Sp S

____ Great Blue Heron – U Sp S F W

____ Great Egret – 3U Sp S F W

____ Snowy Egret Sp S F

____ Little Blue Heron Sp S F

____ Tricolored Heron Sp S F

____ Cattle Egret Sp S F

____ Green Heron – 2U Sp S F

____ Black-Crown. N. Heron – U Sp S F W

____ Yell.-Crown. N. Heron – 2R Sp S F

Ibises-----------------------------------------------------

____ Glossy Ibis F

____ American White Ibis Sp F

Geese, Swans, and Ducks--------------------------

____ Great White-Front. Goose Sp F W

____ Snow Goose – 1R Sp F W

____ Canada Goose – 2U Sp S F W

____ Mute Swan* - - - -

____ Tundra Swan F

____ Wood Duck - 2U Sp S F W

____ Gadwall – 1R Sp F W

____ American Wigeon – 1U Sp F W

____ American Black Duck – 1U Sp S F W

____ Mallard – U Sp S F W

____ Blue-Winged Teal Sp S F W

____ Northern Shoveler – 1U Sp F W

____ Northern Pintail – 1R Sp F W

____ Green-Winged Teal – 1U Sp F W

____ Canvasback Sp F W

____ Redhead Sp F W

____ Ring-Neck Duck – 1U Sp F W

____ Greater Scaup Sp W

____ Lesser Scaup Sp F W

____ Common Goldeneye Sp F W

____ Surf Scoter Sp F W

____ White-Winged Scoter F W

____ Black Scoter F W

____ Bufflehead – 1U Sp F W

____ Long-Tailed Duck W

____ Hooded Merganser – 1U Sp F W

____ Common Merganser Sp F W

____ Red-Breasted Merganser Sp F W

____ Ruddy Duck – 1U Sp F W

____ Eurasian Wigeon Sp F W

____ Cinnamon Teal - - - -

____ Brant Goose - - - -

____ Barnacle Goose - - - -

____ Ross’s Goose – 3U W

____ Fulvous Whistling Duck - R Sp S F W

American Vultures-------------------------------------

____ Black Vulture – U Sp S F W

____ Turkey Vulture – U Sp S F W

Osprey, Eagles and Hawks-------------------------

____ Osprey – 2U Sp F

____ Bald Eagle – 2U Sp S F W

____ Golden Eagle F W

____ Northern Harrier – 1R Sp F W

____ Sharp-Shinned Hawk – 1U Sp F W

____ Cooper’s Hawk – U Sp S F W

____ Red-Shouldered Hawk – 2U Sp S F W

____ Broad-Winged Hawk – U Sp S F

____ Red-Tailed Hawk – 2U Sp S F W

____ Northern Goshawk W

____ Mississippi Kite – 2R Sp S F

____ Rough-Legged Hawk F W

Falcons---------------------------------------------------

____ American Kestrel – R Sp S F W

____ Merlin Sp F

____ Peregrine Falcon – 3R Sp F W

Turkey and Quail--------------------------------------

____ Wild Turkey – 2U Sp S F W

____ Northern Bobwhite – 2U Sp S F W

____ Ruffed Grouse - - - -

Rails, Gallinules and Coots-------------------------

____ King Rail Sp F

____ Virginia Rail Sp F W

____ American Coot Sp F W

____ Sandhill Crane F W

____ Yellow Rail - - - -

____ Common Moorhen Sp

____ Purple Gallinule - R Sp S F

____ Sora Sp F W

Plovers---------------------------------------------------

____ Semipalmated Plover Sp S F

____ Piping Plover S F

____ American Gold. Plover Sp S F

____ Black-Bellied Plover F

____ Killdeer – 2U Sp S F W

Stilts-------------------------------------------------------

____ Black-Necked Stilt Sp S F

____ American Avocet S F

Sandpipers and their Allies-------------------------

____ Solitary Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Spotted Sandpiper – 3U Sp S F

____ Greater Yellowlegs – 3R Sp S F

____ Lesser Yellowlegs Sp S F

____ Sanderling S F

____ Pectoral Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Dunlin F

____ Wilson’s Snipe Sp W

____ Upland Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Baird’s Sandpiper F

____ White-Rumped Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Stilt Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Western Sandpiper S F

____ Least Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Semipalmated Sandpiper Sp S F

____ Willet S F

____ Short-Billed Dowitcher Sp S F

____ Long-Billed Dowitcher F

____ Marbled Godwit Sp F

____ Red-Necked Phalarope Sp F

____ Wilson’s Phalarope F

____ Buff-Breasted Sandpiper F

____ American Woodcock – U Sp S F W

Gulls and Terns----------------------------------------

____ Bonaparte’s Gull – 1U Sp F W

____ Ring-Billed Gull – 1C Sp F W

____ Herring Gull – 1U Sp W

____ Great Black-Backed Gull F

____ Franklin’s Gull Sp F

____ Least Tern Sp S F

____ Black Tern – 3U Sp S F

____ Black-Legged Kittiwake - - - -

____ Caspian Tern – 3U Sp S F

____ Common Tern Sp F

____ Forster’s Tern – 3U Sp

Pigeons and Doves-----------------------------------

____ Rock Pigeon* – U Sp S F W

____ Mourning Dove – 2C Sp S F W

____ Common Ground Dove - - - -

Cuckoos-------------------------------------------------

____ Black-Billed Cuckoo – 2U Sp F

____ Yellow-Billed Cuckoo – 3U Sp S F

Owls------------------------------------------------------

____ Barn Owl Sp S F W

____ Eastern Screech Owl – 2U Sp S F W

____ Great Horned Owl – 2U Sp S F W

____ Barred Owl – 2U Sp S F W

____ Short-Eared Owl S W

____ Snowy Owl W

Goatsuckers or Nightjars----------------------------

____ Common Nighthawk – 3R Sp S F

____ Chuck-Will’s Widow Sp S

____ Whip-Poor-Will – 3R Sp S F

Swifts and Hummingbirds---------------------------

____ Chimney Swift – U Sp S F

____ Ruby-Thr. Hummingbird – U Sp S F

Woodpeckers-------------------------------------------

____ Red-Hd. Woodpecker – 2U Sp S F W

____ Rd.-Bell. Woodpecker – 2C Sp S F W

____ Red-Cockad. Woodpecker - - - -

____ Yell.-Bell. Sapsucker – 1U Sp F W

____ Downy Woodpecker – 2U Sp S F W

____ Hairy Woodpecker – 2U Sp S F W

____ Northern Flicker – 2U Sp S F W

____ Pileated Woodpecker – 2U Sp S F W

Flycatchers----------------------------------------------

____ Eastern Wood-Pewee Sp S F

____ Acadian Flycatcher Sp S F

____ Least Flycatcher Sp

____ Eastern Phoebe Sp S F W

____ Great Crested Flycatcher Sp S F

____ Eastern Kingbird Sp S F

____ Olive-Sided Flycatcher Sp F

____ Yellow-Bellied Flycatcher Sp F

____ Willow Flycatcher Sp S F

____ Alder Flycatcher Sp

____ Scis.-Tail. Flycatcher – 2U Sp S F
Vireos-----------------------------------------------------

____ White-Eyed Vireo Sp S F

____ Yellow-Throated Vireo Sp S F

____ Red-Eyed Vireo Sp S F

____ Warbling Vireo Sp S F

____ Philadelphia Vireo Sp F

____ Blue-Headed Vireo - 3 Sp

Jays, Crows, and Ravens---------------------------

____ Blue Jay – 2C Sp S F W

____ American Crow – 2C Sp S F W

____ Common Raven Sp S F W

Larks------------------------------------------------------

____ Horned Lark Sp S F W

Martins and Swallows--------------------------------

____ Purple Martin – U Sp S F

____ Tree Swallow – 2U Sp S F

____ N. R.-Win. Swallow. – 2U Sp S F

____ Bank Swallow – 3U Sp S F

____ Barn Swallow – 2C Sp S F

____ Amer. Cliff Swallow – 2C Sp S F

Chickadees and Titmice-----------------------------

____ Carolina Chickadee – 2C Sp S F W

____ Tufted Titmouse – 2C Sp S F W

Nuthatches and Creepers---------------------------

____ Red-Breasted Nuthatch Sp F W

____ White-Breasted Nuthatch Sp S F W

____ Brown Creeper – 1U Sp F W

Wrens----------------------------------------------------

____ Sedge Wren Sp S F W

____ Bewick’s Wren Sp S F

____ Carolina Wren Sp S F W

____ House Wren Sp S F

____ Winter Wren Sp F W

____ Marsh Wren Sp F

Kinglets and Gnatcatchers--------------------------

____ Golden-Crown. Kinglet – 1U Sp F W

____ Ruby-Crowned Kinglet – 1U Sp F W

____ Blue-Grey Gnatcatcher – 2C Sp S F

Bluebirds, Thrushes, and Robins------------------

____ Eastern Bluebird Sp S F W

____ Hermit Thrush Sp F W

____ Wood Thrush Sp S F

____ Grey-Cheeked Thrush Sp F

____ Swainson’s Thrush Sp F

____ Veery Sp F

____ American Robin Sp S F W

Mockingbirds and Thrashers-----------------------

____ Grey Catbird – U Sp S F

____ Northern Mockingbird – 2C Sp S F W

____ Brown Thrasher – 2U Sp S F W

Starlings-------------------------------------------------

____ European Starling* Sp S F W

Pipits------------------------------------------------------

____ American Pipit – R Sp F W

Waxwings-----------------------------------------------

____ Cedar Waxwing – U Sp S F W

Warblers-------------------------------------------------

____ Blue-Winged Warbler – 3U Sp S F

____ Gold.-Wing. Warbler – 3R Sp F

____ Tennessee Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Oran.-Crown. Warb. – 3R Sp F

____ Nashville Warbler – 3R Sp F

____ Northern Parula – 2C Sp S F

____ Amer. Yellow Warbler – R Sp S F

____ Chestn.-Side.Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Magnolia Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Cape May Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Black-Throat. Blue Warbler Sp F

____ Yell.-Rump. Warbler – 1A Sp F

____ Yell.-Throat. Warbler – 2U Sp S F

____ Blackburnian Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Pine Warbler – 2U Sp S F W

____ Prairie Warbler – 2U Sp S F

____ Palm Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Blackpoll Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Cerulean Warbler – R Sp S F

____ Black & White Warb. – 3U Sp S F

____ American Redstart – 3U Sp S F

____ Prothonotary Warbler – 2U Sp S F

____ Worm-Eating Warbler – U Sp S F

____ Ovenbird – U Sp F

____ Northern Waterthrush – 3U Sp F

____ Louisiana Waterthru. – 2U Sp S F

____ Kentucky Warbler – 2U Sp S F

____ Com. Yellowthroat – 2U Sp S F

____ Hooded Warbler – U Sp S F

____ Wilson’s Warbler Sp S F

____ Canada Warbler – 3U Sp S F

____ Yellow-Breasted Chat – 3U Sp S F

____ Bay-Breast. Warbler – 3U Sp F

____ Blk.-Th. Green Warb. – 3U Sp F

____ Connecticut Warbler Sp

____ Mourning Warbler Sp

Tanagers------------------------------------------------

____ Summer Tanager Sp S F

____ Scarlet Tanager Sp S F

Sparrows------------------------------------------------

____ Eastern Towhee – 2C Sp S F W

____ American Tree Sparrow W

____ Chipping Sparrow – 2A Sp S F

____ Field Sparrow – U Sp S F W

____ Vesper Sparrow Sp F

____ Savannah Sparrow – 1U Sp F W

____ Grasshopper Sparrow – 3R Sp S

____ Fox Sparrow – 1U Sp F W

____ Song Sparrow – 1U Sp S F W

____ Swamp Sparrow – 1U Sp F W

____ White-Throat. Sparrow – 1A Sp F W

____ White-Crown. Sparrow – 1U Sp F W

____ Bachman’s Sparrow S

____ Dark-Eyed Junco – 1A Sp F W

____ Le Conte’s Sparrow Sp F W

____ Nelson’s Sh.-Tail. Sparrow F

____ Lapland Longspur Sp F W

____ Lark Sparrow Sp S

____ Lincoln’s Sparrow – 3R Sp F

____ Snow Bunting - - - -

____ Clay-Colored Sparrow - - - -

____ Harris’s Sparrow - - - -

____ Common Redpoll - - - -

Grosbeaks, Buntings and Finches----------------

____ Northern Cardinal – 2C Sp S F W

____ Evening Grosbeak Sp F W

____ Blue Grosbeak – U Sp S F

____ Rose-Breas. Grosbeak – 3U Sp F

____ Painted Bunting Sp S

____ Indigo Bunting – 2C Sp S F

____ Dickcissel Sp S F

____ Purple Finch – 1U Sp F W

____ House Finch – 2U Sp S F W

____ Pine Siskin – 1R Sp F W

____ American Goldfinch – 2U Sp S F W

____ House Sparrow* – 2U Sp S F W

____ Red Crossbill Sp S F

Blackbirds, Orioles, Shrikes, Grackle, Etc.------

____ Bobolink – 3R Sp F

____ Red-Wing. Blackbird – 2U Sp S F W

____ Rusty Blackbird – 1U Sp F W

____ Brewer’s Blackbird Sp F W

____ Western Meadowlark - R W

____ Eastern Meadowlark – 2U Sp S F W

____ Common Grackle – 2C Sp S F W

____ Brown-Hd. Cowbird – 2C Sp S F W

____ Orchard Oriole – 2U Sp S F

____ Northern Oriole – U Sp S F

____ Loggerhead Shrike Sp S F W

Bird Sighting Notes Date: __________________

Time: _____________ Weather: __________________

Number of Species Observed: _____________________

Location(s): ____________________________________

Observer(s):____________________________________

Notes: ________________________________________

______________________________________________

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA

National Park Service

U.S. Department of the Interior

Fort Donelson National Battlefield

Bird

Species

Checklist

Natural Resources

Inventory and Monitoring Program

September 2013 Edition