James L. Howitz and David Bosanko
December 1987
Revised January 1909, 1996

Introduction
Codes used to denote the status of bird species
Print version of Annotated Checklist (PDF)

Click on Orders, Families, or Subfamilies to learn more
about species present at Cedar Creek Natural History Area.

 

Loons  (Order Gaviiformes, Family Gaviidae)
Common Loon, Gavia immer
Grebes (Order Podicipediformes, Family Podicipedidae)
Pied-billed Grebe, Podilymbus podiceps
Horned Grebe, Podiceps auritus
Red-necked Grebe, P. grisegena
Pelicans, Anhingas, Cormorants, etc. (Order Pelecaniformes)
Cormorants (Family Phalacrocoracidae)
Double-crested Cormorant, Phalacrocorax auritus
Storks, Herons, Bitterns, etc. (Order Ciconiiformes)
Herons, Bitterns (Family Ardedidae)
American Bittern, Botaurus lentiginosus
Least Bittern, Ixobrychus exilis
Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias
Great Egret, Casmerodius albus
Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis
Green Heron, Butorides striatus
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Nycticorax nycticorax
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, N. violaceus
Ducks, Geese, Swans, Screamers (Order Anseriformes)
Ducks, Geese, Swans (Family Anatidae)
Geese, Swans (Subfamily Anserinae)
Tundra Swan, Cygnus columbianus
Trumpeter Swan, C. buccinator
Greater White-fronted Goose, Anser albifrons
Snow Goose, Chen caerulescens
Canada Goose, Branta canadensis
Ducks (Subfamily Anatinae)
Wood Duck, Aix sponsa
Green-winged Teal, Anas crecca
American Black Duck, A. rubripes
Mallard, A. platyrhynchos
Northern Pintail, A. acuta
Blue-winged Teal, A. discors
Northern Shoveler, A. clypeata
Gadwall, A. strepera
American Wigeon, A. americana
Canvasback, Aythya valisineria
Redhead, A. americana
Ring-necked Duck, A. collaris
Lesser Scaup,  A. affinis
Common Goldeneye, Bucephala clangula
Bufflehead, B. albeola
Hooded Merganser, Lophodytes cucullatus
Common Merganser, Mergus merganser
Red-breasted Merganser, M. serrator
Ruddy Duck, Oxyura jamaicensis
Vultures, Hawks, Falcons, Ospreys, etc. (Order Falconiformes)
New World Vultures (Family Cathartidae)
Turkey Vulture, Cathartes aura
Ospreys, Hawks, Eagles, etc. (Family Accipitridae)
Ospreys (Subfamily Pandioninae)
Osprey, Pandion haliaetus
Hawks, Eagles, Kites, etc. (Subfamily Accipitrinae)
American Swallow-tailed Kite, Elanoides forficatus
Bald Eagle, Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Northern Harrier, Circus cyaneus
Sharp-shinned Hawk, Accipiter striatus
Cooper's Hawk, A. cooperii
Northern Goshawk, A. gentilis
Red-shouldered Hawk, Buteo lineatus
Broad-winged Hawk, B. platypterus
Red-tailed Hawk, B. jamaicensis
Rough-legged Hawk, B. lagopus
Golden Eagle, Aquila chrysaetos
Falcons (Family Falconidae)
American Kestrel, Falco sparverius
Merlin, F. columbarius
Pheasants, Quail, Grouse, Turkeys, etc. (Order Galliformes, Family Phasianidae)
Pheasants, Quail (Subfamily Phasianinae)
Ring-necked Pheasant, Phasianus colchicus
Grouse (Subfamily Tetraoninae)
Spruce Grouse, Dendragapus canadensis
Ruffed Grouse, Bonasa umbellus
Turkeys (Subfamily Meleagridinae)
Wild Turkey, Meleagris gallopavo
Cranes, Rails, etc. (Order Gruiformes)
Rails (Family Rallidae)
Virginia Rail, Rallus limicola
Sora, Porzana carolina
American Coot, Fulica americana
Cranes (Family Gruidae)
Sandhill Crane, Grus canadensis
Plovers, Sandpipers, Gulls, Terns, etc. (Order Charadriiformes)
Plovers (Family Charadriidae)
Killdeer, Charadrius vociferus
Sandpipers (Family Scolopacidae)
Greater Yellowlegs, Tringa melanoleuca
Solitary Sandpiper, T. solitaria
Spotted Sandpiper, Actitis macularia
Upland Sandpiper, Bartramia longicauda
Western Sandpiper, Calidris mauri
Short-billed Dowitcher, Limnodromus griseus
Common Snipe, Gallinago gallinago
American Woodcock, Scolopax minor
Gulls, Terns, Jaegers (Family Laridae)
Gulls (Subfamily Larinae)
Franklin's Gull, Larus pipixcan
Bonaparte's Gull, L. philadelphia
Ring-billed Gull, L. delawarensis
Herring Gull, L. argentatus
Terns (Subfamily Sterninae)
Common Tern, Sterna hirundo
Forster's Tern, S. forsteri
Black Tern, Chlidonias niger
Pigeons, Doves (Order Columbiformes)
Pigeons, Doves (Family Columbidae)
Rock Dove, Columba livia
Mourning Dove, Zenaida macroura
Cuckoos (Order Cuculiformes, Family Cuculidae)
Black-billed Cuckoo, Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Yellow-billed Cuckoo, C. americanus
Owls (Order Strigiformes, Family Strigidae)
Eastern Screech-Owl, Otus asio
Great Horned Owl, Bubo virginianus
Barred Owl, Strix varia
Great Gray Owl, S. nebulosa
Long-eared Owl, Asio otus
Short-eared Owl, A. flammeus
Northern Saw-whet Owl, Aegolius acadicus
Goatsuckers, etc. (Order Caprimulgiformes)
Goatsuckers (Family Caprimulgidae)
Common Nighthawk, Cordeiles minor
Whip-poor-will, Caprimulgus vociferus
Swifts, Hummingbirds (Order Apodiformes)
Swifts (Family Apodidae)
Chimney Swift, Chaetura pelagica
Hummingbirds (Family Trochilidae)
Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Archilochus colubris
Rollers, Bee-eaters, Kingfishers, etc. (Order Coraciiformes)
Kingfishers (Family Alcedinidae)
Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon
Woodpeckers, Barbets, Toucans, etc. (Order Piciformes)
Woodpeckers (Family Picidae)
Red-headed Woodpecker, Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Red-bellied Woodpecker, M. carolinus
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius
Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens
Hairy Woodpecker, P. villosus
Black-backed Woodpecker, P. arcticus
Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus
Passerines (Order Passeriformes)
Tyrant Flycatchers (Family Tyrannidae)
Acadian Flycatcher, E. virescens
Alder Flycatcher, E. alnorum
Eastern Kingbird, T. tyrannus
Eastern Phoebe, Sayornis phoebe
Eastern Wood Peewee, C. virens
Great Crested Flycatcher, Myiarchus crinitus
Least Flycatcher, E. minimus
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Contopus borealis
Western Kingbird, Tyrannus verticalis
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Empidonax flaviventris
Larks (Family Alaudidae)
Horned Lark, Eremophila alpestris
Swallows (Family Hirundinidae)
Purple Martin, Progne subis
Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor
Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Stelgidopteryx serripennis
Bank Swallow, Riparia riparia
Cliff Swallow, Hirundo pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow, H. rustica
Crows, Jays (Family Corvidae)
Blue Jay, Cyanocitta cristata
Gray Jay, Perisoreus canadensis
Black-billed Magpie, Pica pica
American Crow, Corvus brachyrhynchos
Northern Raven, C. corax
Chickadees, Titmice (Family Paridae)
Black-capped Chickadee, Parus atricapillus
Tufted Titmouse, P. bicolor
Nuthatches (Family Sittidae)
Red-breasted Nuthatch, Sitta canadensis
White-breasted Nuthatch, S. carolinensis
Creepers (Family Certhiidae)
Brown Creeper, Certhia americana
Wrens (Family Troglodytidae)
House Wren, Troglodytes aedon
Winter Wren, T. troglodytes
Sedge Wren, Cistothorus platensis
Marsh Wren, C. palustris
Thrushes, Old World Warblers, etc. (Family Muscicapidae)
Gnatcatchers, Kinglets (Subfamily Sylviinae)
Golden-crowned Kinglet, Regulus satrapa
Ruby-crowned Kinglet, R. calendula
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila caerulea
Thrushes (Subfamily Turdinae)
American Robin, Turdus migratorius
Eastern Bluebird, Sialia sialis
Gray-cheeked Thrush, C. minimus
Hermit Thrush, C. guttatus
Swainson's Thrush, C. ustulatus
Townsend's Solitaire, Myadestes townsendi
Varied Thrush, Ixoreus naevius
Veery, Catharus fuscescens
Wood Thrush, Hylocicla mustelina
Mockingbirds, Thrashers (Family Mimidae)
Gray Catbird, Dumetella carolinensis
Brown Thrasher, Toxostoma rufum
Waxwings (Family Bombycillidae)
Bohemian Waxwing, Bombycilla garrulus
Cedar Waxwing, B. cedrorum
Shrikes (Family Laniidae)
Northern Shrike, Lanius excubitor
Loggerhead Shrike, L. ludovicianus
Starlings (Family Sturnidae)
European Starling, Sturnus vulgaris
Vireos (Family Vireonidae)
Red-eyed Vireo, Vireo olivaceus
Solitary Vireo, V. solitarius
Yellow-throated Vireo, V. flavifrons
Warbling Vireo, V. gilvus
Philadelphia Vireo, V. philadelphicus
Wood Warblers, Tanagers, Blackbirds, etc. (Family Emberizidae)
Wood Warblers (Subfamily Parulinae)
American Redstart, Setophaga ruticilla
Bay-breasted Warbler, Dendroica castanea
Black-and-White Warbler, Mniotilta varia
Blackburnian Warbler, Dendroica fusca
Blackpoll Warbler, D. striata
Black-throated Blue Warbler, D. caerulescens
Black-throated Green Warbler, D. virens
Blue-winged Warbler, Vermivora pinus
Canada Warbler, Wilsonia canadensis
Cape May Warbler, Dendroica tigrina
Cerulean Warbler, D. cerulea
Chestnut-sided Warbler, D. pensylvanica
Common Yellowthroat, Geothlypis trichas
Connecticut Warbler, Oporornis agilis
Golden-winged Warbler, Vermivora chrysoptera
Hooded Warbler, Wilsonia citrina
Magnolia Warbler, Dendroica magnolia
Mourning Warbler, Oporornis philadelphia
Nashville Warbler, Vermivora ruficapilla
Northern Parula, Parula americana
Northern Waterthrush, Seiurus noveboracensis
Orange-crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata
Ovenbird, Seiurus aurocapillus
Palm Warbler, Dendroica palmarum
Pine Warbler, D. pinus
Prairie Warbler, D. discolor
Tennessee Warbler, Vermivora peregrina
Yellow-rumped Warbler, Dendroica coronata
Yellow Warbler, Dendroica petechia
Wilson's Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla
Tanagers (Subfamily Thraupinae)
Scarlet Tanager, Piranga olivacea
Western Tanager, P. ludoviciana
Cardinal Finches (Subfamily Cardinalinae)
Northern Cardinal, Cardinalis cardinalis
Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus
Indigo Bunting, Passerina cyanea
Dickcissel, Spiza americana
Sparrows (Subfamily Emberizinae)
American Tree Sparrow, Spizella arborea
Chipping Sparrow, S. passerina x
Clay-colored Sparrow, S. pallida
Dark-eyed Junco, Junco hyemalis
Field Sparrow, S. pusilla
Fox Sparrow, Passerella iliaca
Grasshopper Sparrow, Ammodramus savannarum
Harris' Sparrow, Z. querula
Lark Sparrow, Chondestes grammacus
Lincoln's Sparrow, M. lincolnii
Rufous-sided Towhee, Pipilo erythrophthalmus
Savannah Sparrow, Passerculus sandwichensis
Snow Bunting, Plectrophenax nivalis
Song Sparrow, Melospiza melodia
Swamp Sparrow, M. georgiana
Vesper Sparrow, Pooecetes gramineus
White-crowned Sparrow, Z. leucophrys
White-throated Sparrows, Zonotrichia albicollis
Icterids (Subfamily Icterinae)
Bobolink, Dolychonyx oryzivorus
Red-winged Blackbird, Agelaius phoeniceus
Eastern Meadowlark, Sturnella magna
Western Meadowlark, S. neglecta
Yellow-headed Blackbird, Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus
Rusty Blackbird, Euphagus carolinus
Brewer's Blackbird, E. cyanocephalus
Common Grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
Brown-headed Cowbird, Molothrus ater
Northern Oriole, Icterus galbula
Cardueline Finches (Subfamily Carduelinae)
Pine Grosbeak, Pinicola enucleator
Purple Finch, Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch, C. mexicanus
Red Crossbill, Loxia curvirostra
White-winged Crossbill, L. leucoptera
Common Redpoll, Carduelis flammea
Pine Siskin, C. pinus
American Goldfinch, C. tristis
Evening Grosbeak, Coccothraustes vespertina
Weaver Finches (Family Passeridae)
House Sparrow, Passer domesticus

The purposes of this checklist are:

1. To update "The birds of the Cedar Creek Natural History Area" by Stephen J. Maxson and George-Ann Davis, which appeared in 1974.
2. To provide a record of the occurrence, abundance, breeding status, and location of the birds of Cedar Creek to allow for comparison with such data in the future, and to have a record of population and range fluctuations for these birds.
3. To provide a ready reference for potential researchers by listing those species sufficiently common that they could profitably be studied at Cedar Creek.

The Cedar Creek Natural History Area consists of about 2100 hectares in northern Anoka and southern Isanti Counties, Minnesota. A variety of habitats are present. These include abandoned fields, bur oak savannah, northern pin oak forest, marshes, alder and willow swamps, aspen-birch woodlands, mixed deciduous forest, tamarack swamp, cedar bog, mixed pine woods, black spruce bog, and open water.

a - abundant - present in large numbers at the proper time of year, easy to find.
c - common - present in reasonable numbers, not difficult to find.
u - uncommon - present in very small numbers, may be absent in some years,
r - rare - usually absent, includes all species for which there are only one or two or a very few records at a given time of year.
- - absent - no records at that time of year.

*** - nests at Cedar Creek, probably every year.
** - nests at Cedar Creek in some years.
* - nesting at Cedar Creek nearly certain (at least in some years), though there are no records of nests or broods.
( ) - nesting at Cedar Creek possible.
O - does not nest at Cedar Creek.
 

n - nest has been found at Cedar Creek.
b - brood (young out of the nest) has been found at Cedar Creek.
 
 

The nomenclature and taxonomy follow the sixth edition of the American Ornithologists' Union Checklist of North American Birds, even though erroneous phylogenetic relationships can be inferred using this system.

Marsh nesting species may be much less common on the area or completely absent during severe droughts, as in 1988.

The numbers 24, 26, 76 and 56 refer respectively to Anoka County roads 24, 26, and 76 and Isanti County road 56.