BIRDS OF THE

NEBRASKA SANDHILLS

Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest

and Nebraska National Forest

(Bessey Ranger District)

Field Checklist

This checklist includes 235 

bird species found in the 

116,000-acre Samuel R. 

McKelvie National Forest and 

adjacent portions of the Niobrara River, as well as Merritt 

Reservoir in Cherry County, 

and the 90,000-acre Nebraska 

National Forest near Halsey 

and the adjacent portions of the 

Dismal and Middle Loup Rivers in Thomas County and Blaine 

County. Both units are located in the sandhill grasslands of 

north central Nebraska and both contain large areas of planted 

coniferous forest.

The 20,000 acres of planted trees on the Bessey District is 

the largest man-made forest in the United States and some 

natural riparian woodlands occur in both units, as do shrubs in 

“sandhill thickets” but still, the dominant vegetation of these 

areas is typical of sandhill prairie. Land uses include a variety 

of outdoor and wildlife related recreation as well as livestock 

grazing.

Many people have provided the observations that have been 

used to compile this checklist, and the Nebraska National 

Forest wishes to thank all contributors. Special thanks go to 

Wayne Mollhoff and James E. Ducey for their comments, and 

to Richard A. Peterson who was responsible for compiling the 

completed list.

Observers are encouraged to report observations of species 

listed as rare or uncertain occurrence status, and species not 

listed to:

Bessey Ranger District Office near Halsey (Phone: 

308-533-2257) or the Ranger Station, 19 miles south 

of Nenzel (Phone: 402-823-4154).

Check list Symbols

NEOTROPICAL MIGRANTS:

This term describes species that breed in North America and 

spend their nonbreeding period primarily south of the United 

States. It is limited to species that use that use terrestrial habitats. These species are designated with an (N) after the species 

name. The populations of some of these species are declining, 

and studies are underway to determine the causes.

SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL

USED OCCUrreNCE

alaudidae: larks

 Horned Lark 4, 9, 11 R

hiruninidae: swallows

 Tree Swallow 14, 6 M

 N. Rough-winged Swallow (N) 10, 6 S

 Bank Swallow (N) 10, 6 M, S ?

 Cliff Swallow (N) 10, 6 S

 Barn Swallow (N) 12, 6 S

corvidae: Jays and crows

 Blue Jay 1, 14 R

 Black-billed Magpie 14 R

 American Crow 14 R

paridae: titmice

 Black-capped Chickadee 1, 12 (feeders) R

sittidae: nuthatches

 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1, 12 (feeders) R

 White-breasted Nuthatch 1, 12 (feeders) R

certhidae: creepers

 Brown Creeper 1, 13 W

troglodytidae: wrens

 Rock Wren 10 M * S ? (m)

 House Wren (N) 1, 12 S

 Winter Wren 2, 3 M *

 Marsh Wren 7 (tall) S *

 Sedge Wren 7 (short) 2 ? (b)

muscicapidae: kinglets and thrushes

 Golden-crowned Kinglet 1 M, W *

 Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1, 3 M

 Eastern Bluebird 13, 14 M, S *

 Mountain Bluebird 13, 14 M, W *

 Townsend’s Soltaire 1, 3 W

 Veery (N) 2, 3 M *

 Gray-cheeked Thrush (N) 1, 3 M *

 Swainson’s Thrush (N) 1, 3 M

 Hermit Thrush 1, 3 M *

 Wood Thrush (N) 1, 3 M *, S ? (b)

 American Robin 14, 1, 3 R

mimidae: mockers and thrashers

 Gray Catbird (N) 1, 3 S

 Northern Mockingbird 14, 3 S ?

 Brown Thrasher 1, 3 S

motacillidae: pipits

 American Pipit 4, 5, 8, 11 M

 Sprague’s Pipit 5, 11 M *

SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL

USED OCCUrreNCE

bombycillidae: waxwings

 Bohemian Waxwing 1, 3 W *

 Cedar Waxwing 1, 3 M, R *

laniidae: shrikes

 Northern Shrike 1, 3, 14 W *

 Loggerhead Shrike 1, 3, 14 S

sturnidae: starlings

 European Starling 14, 12, 11 R

vireonidae: vireos

 Bell’s Vireo (N) 2, 3 S (b)

 Solitary Vireo (N) 1, 3 M, S ?

 Yellow-throated Vireo (N) 1 S ? (b)

 Warbling Vireo (N) 1 S

 Red-eyed Vireo (N) 1, 3 S

emberizidae: warblers, sparrows, blackbirds, etc.

(Sub-family Parulimnae: Wood Warblers)

 Tennessee Warbler (N) 1 M

 Orange-crowned Warbler (N) 1, 3 M

 Nashville Warbler (N) 1, 2, 3 M

 Yellow Warbler (N) 1, 3 S

 Chestnut-sided Warbler (N) 2, 3 M *

 Cape May Warbler (N) 1 M *

 Yellow-rumped Warbler 1, 3 1, 3 M

 Black-throated Green Warbler (N) 1, 3 M *

 Bay-breasted Warbler (N) 1, 3 M *

 Blackpoll Warbler (N) 1 M

 Black and White Warbler (N) 1, 3 S *

 American Redstart (N) 1 S

 Ovenbird (N) 1, 3 M, S *

 Northern Waterthrush (N) 2, 3 M

 Mourning Warbler (N) 3 M *

 Common Yellowthroat 2, 3, 7 S

 Wilson’s Warbler (N) 1, 3 M

 Yellow-breasted Chat (N) 3 S

(Thraupinae: Tanagers)

 Western Tanager (N) 1 M *

 Scarlet Tanager (N) 1 S * (b)

(Cardinalineae: Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings)

 Northern Cardinal 1, 3 R *

 Rose-breasted Grosbeak (N) 1, 3 M, S ? (b)

 Black-headed Grosbeak (N) 1, 3 S

 Blue Grosbeak (N) 3 S

 Lazuli Bunting (N) 1, 3 M

 Indigo Bunting (N) 1, 3 S

 Dickcissel (N) 3, 5, 11 S *

(Emberizanae: Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, Longspurs)

 Rufous-sided towhee 3 S

 American Tree Sparrow 3, 11 W

 Chipping Sparrow (N) 3, 11, 14 S

 Clay-colored Sparrow (N) 3, 11 M

 Field Sparrow 3, 11, 14 S

SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL

USED OCCUrreNCE

(Emberizanae: Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, Longspurs, Cont.)

 Vesper Sparrow 3, 5, 11, 14 S

 Lark Sparrow 3, 11, 14 S

 Lark Bunting 5, 11 S

 Savannah Sparrow 2, 5 (wet meadow) 8, 11 M, S ?

 Grasshopper Sparrow 5, 11 S

 LeConte’s Sparrow 5, 7 (wet meadow+short) M ?

 Song Sparrow 2, 3, 7 M, R ?

 Lincoln’s Sparrow (N) 2, 3 M

 White-throated Sparrow 2, 3, 11 M

 Fox Sparrow 3, 11 M *

 Harris’ Sparrow 3, 11 M, W *

 Dark-eyed Junco 3, 11, 14 W

 Lapland Longspur 4, 5, 9, 11 M, W *

 Chestnut-collared Longspur 4, 5, 9, 11 M

(Icterinae: Meadowlarks, Blackbirds and Orioles)

 Bobolink 5 (wet meadow), 11 M, S ?

 Red-winged Blackbird 3, 7, 11 S

 Eastern Meadowlark 5 (wet meadow), 11 M, S ?

 Western Meadowlark 4, 5, 9, 11 S

 Yellow-headed Blackbird (N) 7, 11 M, S

 Rusty Blackbird 2, 3, 11 M *

 Common Grackle 14, 11 S

 Brown-headed Cowbird ALL S

 Orchard Oriole 1, 3 S

 Northern Oriole (N) 1, 3 S

Fringillidae: finches

 Purple Finch 1, 3, 12 (feeders) W *

 Red Crossbill 1, 12 (feeders) M, R *

 White-winged Crossbill 1, 12 (feeders) W *

 Common Redpoll 3, 11, 12 (feeders) W *

 Pine Siskin 1, 2, 11, 12 (feeders) R

 American Goldfinch 1, 2, 3, 11, 12 (feeders) R

 Evening Grosbeak 1, 12 (feeders) W *

Passeridae: weaver finches

 House Sparrow 11, 12 (feeders) R

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
RELATIVE ABUNDANCE:

Most species listed in this checklist occur regularly within the 

area described above, however, some species are designated as 

rare (*) because they occur irregularly, and/or in very low numbers. A few species are thought to be regular, but are listed as 

uncertain (?) because of few reports and/or the difficulty of 

identification.

Management Divisions

Species that primarily occur in the area of the Nebraska National Forest (Bessey Ranger District) = (b).

Species that primarily occur in the area of the Samuel R. McKelvie National Forest = (m).

Seasonal Occurrence

M = Migrant (primarily spring and fall or transient anytime)

W = Winter Visitor (primarily Dec, Jan, Feb occurrence)

S = Summer Resident (indicates nesting, June, July occurrence)

R = Permanent Resident (found year round)

Major Habitats Used

TERRESTRIAL HABITATS

1. Trees: Ponderosa pine, red cedar and jack pine in the 

planted coniferous forest; green ash, boxelder, elm, 

hackberry in the planted deciduous and the few natural 

woodlands, and cottonwood and peachleaf willow in 

riparian areas. Some hackberry occurs in the “sandhills 

thickets”.

2. Riparian Shrubs: Willow

3. Other Shrubs: Snowberry, wild rose, chokecherry and 

American plum.

4. Short Grass: Hairy grama, blue grama and bluegrass.

5. Mid and Tall Grasses: Prairie sandreed, sand bluestem, 

little bluestem, switchgrass, and porcupine grass.

AQUATIC HABITATS

6. Open Water: Occurs in streams, stockponds and reservoirs (mostly frozen December to March).

7. Marsh: Primarily sedge, rush, cattails and bulrushes.

8. Shorelines: Bare ground around reservoirs, lakes, and 

along streams.

9. Prairie Dog Colonies: Limited to Nebraska National 

Forest.

10. Cliffs, steep banks, cutbanks, blowouts, gullies.

11. Cropland (very limited), weed patches and ditches.

12. Buildings, bridges and various structures.

13. Burned areas with standing dead trees.

14. Woodland/Forest Edge: Trees with adjacent grasslands.

SPECIES HABITAT SEASONAL

USED OCCUrreNCE

GAVIIDAE: LOONS

 Common Loon 6 M * (m)

PODICIPEDIDAE: GREEBES

 Pied-billed Grebe 6, 7 S (m)

 Horned Grebe 6 M

 Eared Grebe 6, 7 M (m), S ?

 Western Grebe 6 M (m)

 Clark’s Grebe 6 M ?

PELICANIDAE: PELICANS

 American White Pelican 6, 8 M (m)

phalacoracidae: cormorants

 Double-crested Cormorant 6, 8, 1 M (m), S ?

ardeidae: bitterns and herons

 American Bettern 7 M, S * 

 Great Heron 7, 8, 1 S

 Green-backed Heron 7, 8, 1 S (b)

 Black-crowned Night Heron 7, 8, 1 M, S ?

anatidae: swans, geese, ducks

 Trumpeter Swan 6, 7 M *

 Greater White-fronted Goose 6, 8, 11 M *

 Snow Goose 6, 8, 11 M

 Ross’ Goose 6, 8, 11 M ?

 Canada Goose 5, 6, 8, 11 M, S *

 Wood Duck 6, 7, 1 S

 Green-winged Teal 5, 6, 7, 8 M

 Mallard 5, 6, 7, 8 S, R *

 Northern Pintail 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)

 Blue-winged Teal 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)

 Cinnamon Teal 5, 6, 7, 8 S ?

 Northern Shoveler 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)

 Gadwall 5, 6, 7, 8 S (m)

 American Wigeon 5, 6, 7, 8 S * (m)

 Canvasback 6, 7 M (m)

 Redhead 6, 7 M, S ? (m)

 Ring-necked Duck 6, 7 M (m)

 Lesser Scaup 6, 7 M (m)

 Common Goldeneye 6 M, W *

 Bufflehead 6 M *

 Hooded Merganser 6 M *

 Common Merganser 6 M, W *

 Ruddy Duck 6, 7 S (m)

cathartidae: vultures

 Turkey Vulture 10, 12, 1, 3, 4, 5 S

accipitridae: kites, eagles, hawks

 Osprey 6, 1 M

 Bald Eagle 6, 1, 9, ALL W

 Northern Harrier 3, 5, 7 R

 Sharp-shinned Hawk 1, 3 M, S *

 Cooper’s Hawk 1, 3 M, R ?

 Northern Goshawk 1, 3 W *

 Broad-winged Hawk (N) 1, 3, 5, 8 M *

 Swainson’s Hawk (N) 14, 5, 9, 11 S

species habitat seasonal

 used occurrence

 accipitridae: kites, eagles, hawks, (continued)

 Red-tailed Hawk 14, 5, 9 R

 Ferruginous Hawk 4, 5, 9, 11, 14 M, W *

 Rough-legged Hawk 5, 14 W

 Golden Eagle 10, 14, 9, ALL W, R ? (m)

falconidae: falcons

 American Kestel 13, 14, 11 R

 Merlin (N) 13, 11, 8 M, W *

 Peregrine Falcon (N) 4, 5, 8, 9, 11 M*

 Prairie Falcon 10, 4, 5, 9, 11 M, R ? (m)

phasianidae: pheasant, grouse, turkey, quail

 Ring-necked Pheasant 3, 5, 7, 11 R

 Greater Prairie Chicken 5, 11 R (b)

 Sharp-tailed Grouse 3, 5, 11 R

 Wild Turkey 3, 11, 14 R

 Northern Bobwhite 1, 3, 11, 14 R (b)

rallidae: rails and coots

 Virginia Rail 7 S *

 Sora 7 S *

 Americn Coot 6, 7 S

gruidae: cranes

 Sandhill Crane 8, 11 M

 Whooping Crane 8, 11 M *

charadriidae: plovers

 Black-bellied Plover 8 M ?

 Semi-palmated Plover 8 M * (m)

 Piping Plover 8 M ?

 Killdeer 4, 8, 9 S

 American Avocet 6, 7 (short), 8 M, A *

scolopacidae: sandpipers and phalaropes *

 Greater Yellowlegs 8 M (m)

 Lesser Yellowlegs 8 M (m)

 Solitary Sandpiper 8 M

 Willet 5, 7, (short), 8 M S *

 Spotted Sandpiper 8 S

 Upland Sandpiper (N) 5 S

 Long-billed Curlew (N) 4, 5(wet meadow), 8, 9 S

 Marbled Godwit 5, 7 (short), 8 M ?

 Sanderling 8 M ?

 Semi-palmated Sandpiper 8 M (m)

 Western Sandpiper 8 M ?

 Least Sandpiper 8 M (m)

 White-rumped Sandpiper 8 M (m)

 Baird’s Sandpiper 8 M (m)

 Pectoral Sandpiper 8 M (m)

 Stilt Sandpiper 8 M ?

 Buff-breasted Sandpiper 4, 8 M ?

 Short-billed Dowitcher 8 M ?

 Long-billed Dowitcher 8 M (m)

 Common Snipe 5 (wet meadow), 7, 8 M, S ?

 Wilson’s Phalarope 6, 7 (short), 8 M, S ?

species habitat seasonal

 used occurrence

 laridae: gulls and terns

 Franklin’s Gull 6, 7, 8 M

 Ring-billed Gull 6, 8 M (m)

 Herring Gull 6, 8 M (m)

 Common Tern 6, 8 M ?

 Forster’s Tern 6, 7, 8 M, S ?

 Least Tern 6, 8 M * (b)

 Black Tern 6, 7, 8 M, S ?

Columbidae: pigeons and doves

 Rock Dove 10, 11, 12 R (b)

 Mourning Dove 14, 3, 5 S

cuculidae: cuckoos

 Black-billed Cuckoo (N) 1, 3 S

 Yellow-billed Cuckoo (N) 1, 3 S

tytonidae: barn owl

 Barn Owl 10, 11, 12, 14 S *

strigidae: typical owls

 Eastern Screech Owl 1, 3 R

 Great Horned Owl 14, ALL R

 Burrowing Owl (N) 4, 9 S

 Long-eared Owl 14 R *

 Short-eared Owl 5, 7, 1 R *

 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1, 3 M *, R ?

caprimulgidae: goatsuckers

 Common Nighthawk (N) 4, 5, 11, 1 S

 Common Poorwill 10, 1 S

apodidae: swifts

 Chimney Swift (N) 12 S (b)

trochilidae: hummingbirds

 Ruby-throated Hummingbird (N) 12 (feeders) M * (b)

alcedinadae: kingfishers

 Belted Kingfisher 6, 10 R

picidae: woodpeckers

 Red-headed Woodpecker 13, 14 S

 Red-bellied Woodpecker 1 M, R ?

 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 M * (b)

 Downy Woodpecker 1 R

 Hairy Woodpecker 1, 13 R

 Northern Flicker 13, 14 R

tyrannidae: tyrant flycatchers

 Western Wood Pewee (N) 1 S

 Eastern Wood Pewee (N) 1 M,S ?

 Willow Flycatcher (N) 2, 3 S (b)

 Least Flycatcher (N) 1, 3 M

 Eastern Phoebe 1, 12 S *

 Say’s Phoebe 5, 10, 12 S *

 Great Crested Flycatcher (N) 1 S *

 Western Kingbird (N) 14 S

 Eastern Kingbird (N) 14 S