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BENEWAH COUNTY BIRD CHECKLIST AND BENEWAH COUNTY 2013 BIG YEAR

Compiled by Shirley Sturts

Below is a list of all the Benewah County Birds that I have records for. This is our first Benewah County Big Year. We'll see how many of these species we can come up with. Call Shirley 664-5318 or e-mail shirley.sturts@gmail.com to get credit for being the first to see a species for the year. Also report any species not on this list, or any species that is marked rare or accidental (include documentation).


  • Common = 108

  • Uncommon =

  • Scarce = 43

  • rare = 28

  • Accidental = 10

  • Benewah County Total (seen since 1950) = 229

  • Historical record only ( h ) (pre-1950) = 7

OCCURRENCE CATEGORIES

( c ) COMMON: Found every year, often seasonal, in many areas, in high to moderate numbers and some searching in appropriate areas may be required.

( u ) UNCOMMON: Found every year, often seasonal, in limited areas, in small numbers, and may require repeated search attempts in more specific areas.

( s ) SCARCE: Found most years, but difficult. Either very specialized and local in distribution; difficult to distinguish from similar, more common species; or only passes through briefly on migration.

( r ) RARE: Not seen every year, mostly irregular, some periodic.

( # ) ACCIDENTAL: Just a few total sightings with a low expectation of being found in the future.

TOTAL SEEN: 167 as of November 9, 2013 October 29, 2013

Species
Date
Location
Observer
SWAN, GEESE, DUCKS
Greater White-Fronted Goose ( r )
19 February
Heyburn State Park
12
Jonathan Isacoff
Snow goose ( s ) 

Cackling Goose (s)

19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Canada Goose ( c ) 
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Trumpeter Swan ( s )
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Tundra Swan ( c )
16 February
Chatcolet Lake
Donni Moen
Wood Duck ( c )
9 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Gadwall ( c )
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Eurasian Wigeon ( s )
5 March
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
American Wigeon ( c )
5 January
Heyburn State Park
Indian Mt. CBC-Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
Mallard ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Blue-winged Teal ( u )
17 May
St. Maries Sewage Ponds
Steven Hofhine
Cinnamon Teal ( c )
17 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Northern Shoveler ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Northern Pintail ( c )
16 February
Chatcolet Lake
Donni Boen
Green-winged Teal ( c )
5 March
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Canvasback ( u ) 
11 March
Heyburn State Park
John Hanna
Redhead ( c ) 
15 February
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Ring-necked Duck ( c ) 
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Tufted Duck ( # ) 
Greater Scaup ( s ) 
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Lesser Scaup ( u ) 
11 March
St. Maries Sewage Ponds
John Hanna
Harlequin Duck ( r )
Surf Scoter ( r )
White-winged Scoter ( r )
Long-tailed Duck ( r ) 
Bufflehead ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Common Goldeneye ( c ) 
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Barrow's Goldeneye ( s )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Hooded Merganser ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Common Merganser ( c )
11 February
St Maries area
Donni Boen
Red-breasted Merganser ( r )
5 March
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Ruddy Duck ( u ) 
22 April
St Maries area
Donni Moen
PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEY
Gray Partridge ( u )
Ring-necked Pheasant ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo. Wayne Melquist
Ruffed Grouse ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo. Wayne Melquist
Spruce Grouse ( s )
Dusky (Blue) Grouse ( s )
Wild Turkey ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo. Wayne Melquist
NEW WORLD QUAIL
California Quail ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Northern Bobwhite (r, introduced) 
LOONS
Red-Throated Loon (#)
26 October
Chatcolet Lake
Carl Lundblad
Pacific Loon ( s )
Common Loon ( c )
26 October
Chatcolet Lake
Carl Lundblad
Yellow-billed Loon ( # )
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe ( c )
15 February
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Horned Grebe 
5 March
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Red-necked Grebe ( c )
11 March
Heyburn State Park
John Hanna
Eared Grebe ( r )
30 May
St.Maries
Donni Moen
Western Grebe ( c )
11 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Clark's Grebe ( # )
PELICANS
N
American White Pelican ( s )
12 April
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Double-crested Cormorant( u )
6 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
HERONS, BITTERNS
American Bittern ( r )
Great Blue Heron ( c )
2 January
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Great Egret ( r )
Snowy Egret ( # )
Cattle Egret ( # )
Black-crowned Night-Heron (r)
IBISES
White-faced Ibis ( # )
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Turkey Vulture ( u )
23 April
St Maries area
Donni Moen
HAWKS, KITES, EAGLES
Osprey ( c )
7 April
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Bald Eagle ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Northern Harrier (c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Sharp-shinned Hawk ( u )
17 February
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Cooper's Hawk ( u )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo
Northern Goshawk ( s )
2 May
Nakama MTN
Jerry Jugo
Broad-winged Hawk (#)
Swainson's Hawk ( s )
Red-tailed Hawk ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Harlan's 
Ferruginous Hawk ( # )
Rough-legged Hawk ( c )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
Golden Eagle ( r )
FALCONS
American Kestrel ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo
Merlin ( u )
Gyrfalcon ( r )
Peregrine Falcon ( r )
Prairie Falcon ( s )
RAILS, COOTS
Virginia Rail ( s )
6 June

Wetlands
Benewah County Century Count
Sora ( u )
American Coot ( c )
5 January
Heyburn state Park
Indian Mt. CBC-Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
CRANES
Sandhill Crane ( r )
PLOVERS
Black-bellied Plover ( r )
American Golden-Plover ( r )
Semipalmated Plover ( r )
Killdeer ( c )
5 January
chatcolet Lake and Round Lake - St.Maries
Indian Mt. CBC-Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz, and Wayne Melquist
STILTS, AVOCETS
American Avocet ( r )
6 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES
Greater Yellowlegs ( s )
8 August
Benewah Lake
Carl Lundblad
Lesser Yellowlegs ( s )
Solitary Sandpiper ( s )
26 August
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Charles Swift
Spotted Sandpiper ( c )
26 August
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Charles Swift
Semipalmated Sandpiper (s)
26 August
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Charles Swift
Western Sandpiper ( s )
26 August
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Charles Swift
Least Sandpiper ( s )
26 August
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Charles Swift
Baird's Sandpiper
14 Sept.
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Pectoral Sandpiper ( s )
14 Sept.
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Stilt Sandpiper ( # )
Long-billed Dowitcher ( s )
Wilson's Snipe ( c )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
Wilson's Phalarope ( s)
30 May
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
---------Red Phalarope (h=1934)
GULLS, TERNS
Parasitic Jaeger ( # )
Franklin's Gull ( r )
Bonaparte's Gull ( u )
26 October
Chatcolet Lake
Carl Lundblad
Mew Gull ( r )
Ring-billed Gull ( c )
5 January
Heyburn State Park
Indian Mt. CBC-Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
California Gull ( c )
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Herring Gull ( u )
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
Thayer's Gull ( s )
Lesser Black-backed Gull (r)
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jon Isacoff (if accepted by IBRC)
Glaucous Gull ( r )
Sabine's Gull ( # )
Caspian Tern ( s )
Common Tern ( s )
Forster's Tern ( s )
Black Tern ( c )
MURRES
Ancient Murrelet ( # )
PIGEONS, DOVES
Rock Pigeon ( c )
Band-tailed Pigeon ( r )
Mourning Dove ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo and Wayne Melquist
Eurasian Collared-Dove (u)
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
CUCKOOS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 
BARN OWLS
Barn Owl ( s )
TYPICAL OWLS
Flammulated Owl ( # )
Western Screech Owl ( s )
Great Horned Owl ( u )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Dave and Yvonne Spicer
Snowy Owl ( r )
Northern Hawk Owl ( # )
Northern Pygmy-Owl ( u )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo
Barred Owl ( s )
Great Gray Owl ( r )
Long-eared Owl ( r )
Short-eared Owl ( s )
3 January
Goose Haven
Wayne Melquist
Northern Saw-whet Owl ( s )
GOATSUCKERS
Common Nighthawk ( c )
Common Poorwill ( r )
SWIFTS
Black Swift ( r )
Vaux's Swift ( u )
5 June
St Maries
Jay Carlisle
White-throated Swift ( # )
HUMMINGBIRDS
Black-chinned Hummingbird( c)
5 May
St. Maries
Lark Lady
Anna's Hummingbird 
Costa's Hummingbird ( # )
Calliope Hummingbird ( c )
1 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Broad-tailed Hummingbird ( # )
Rufous Hummingbird ( c )
28 April
St Maries
Lark Lady
KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher ( c )
17 May
Heyurn State Park
Steve Hofhine
WOODPECKERS
Lewis' Woodpecker ( r )
Red-naped Sapsucker ( c )
April 17
St Maries
Lark Lady
Downy Woodpecker ( c )
5 January
Round Lake to St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo, Wayne Melquist, Dave and Yvonne Spicer
Hairy Woodpecker ( c )
5 January
Round Lake to St. Maries area and Heyburn State Park
Indian Mt. CBC-Wayne Melquist and Dave and Yvonne Spicer, Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
White-headed Woodpecker ( r )
American Three-toed Woodpecker ( s )
Black-backed Woodpecker ( s )
Northern Flicker ( c )
1 January
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Yellow-shafted Flicker 
Pileated Woodpecker ( u )
19 February
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS 
Olive-sided Flycatcher ( u )
Western Wood-Pewee ( c )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Willow Flycatcher ( c )
3 June
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
Least Flycatcher ( s )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Hammond's Flycatcher ( c )
9 May
Trail to the CDAs - Plummer to Benewah Co Line
Lisa Hardy
,,,,,,,,,Gray Flycatcher (h= 1895)
Dusky Flycatcher ( u )
17 May
Heyburn State Park
Steve Hofhie
Western Flycatcher ( c ) 
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Say's Phoebe ( r )
Western Kingbird ( u )
Eastern Kingbird ( c )
27 May
St Joe River
Heidi Retherford
SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike ( r )
Northern Shrike ( u )
2 January
St. Maries Area
Donni Moen
VIREOS
Cassin's Vireo ( c )
9 May
Trail to the CDAs - Plummer to Benewah Co Line
Lisa Hardy
Warbling Vireo ( c )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Red-eyed Vireo ( u )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
CROWS, JAYS
Gray Jay ( u )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
Steller's Jay ( c )
1 January
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
Blue Jay ( s )
2 January
Round Lake
Wayne Melquist
Blue/Steller's Jay
Western Scrub Jay ( # ) 
Clark's Nutcracker ( u )
Black-billed Magpie ( c )
1 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
American Crow ( c )
5 January
St. Maries Area and Heyburn State Park
Indian Mt. CBC- Dave and Yvonne Spicer and Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
Common Raven ( c )
1 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
LARKS
Horned Lark ( u )
18 May
ID60-US95 to WA border
Carl Lundblad
SWALLOWS
Purple Martin ( # )
Tree Swallow ( c )
31 March
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Violet-green Swallow ( c )
26 March
St. Maries
Donni Moen
N. Rough-winged Swallow ( c )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Bank Swallow ( u )
12 July
St. Joe River
Terry Little
Cliff Swallow ( c )
6 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Barn Swallow ( c )
18 May
ID50-US95 to WA border
Carl Lundblad
CHICKADEES
Black-capped Chickadee ( c )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
Mountain Chickadee ( c )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
Chestnut-b Chickadee (c )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
Boreal Chickadee ( # )
NUTHATCHES
Red-breasted Nuthatch ( c )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
White-breasted Nuthatch ( s )
5 January
Round Lake to St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Wayne Melquist and Helen Kevo
Pygmy Nuthatch ( c )
1 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper( c )
5 March
Heyburn State Park
Jonathan Isacoff and Donni Moen
WRENS
Rock Wren ( s )
Bewick's Wren (s )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
House Wren ( c )
6 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Pacific Wren ( c )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
DIPPERS
American Dipper ( s )
12 July
Round Lake
Terry Little
KINGLETS
Golden-crowned Kinglet ( c )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
Ruby-crowned Kinglet ( c )
THRUSHES
Western Bluebird ( c )
17 April
St. Maries
Lark Lady
Mountain Bluebird ( c )
23 March
King Valley & Rieman Rds
Denise Hughes
Townsend's Solitaire ( u )
Veery ( u )
12 July
St. Joe River
Terry Little
Swainson's Thrush ( c )
21 May
St Maries
Donni Moen
Hermit Thrush ( s )
American Robin ( c )
5 January
Round Lake to St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Wayne Melquist and Helen Kevo
Varied Thrush ( c )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
MOCKINGBIRFDS, THRASHERS
Gray Catbird ( c )
27 May
St. Joe River
Heidi Retherford
Northern Mockingbird ( # )
STARLINGS
European Starling ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
PIPITS
American Pipit ( u )
14 Sept.
Desmet Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
WAXWINGS
Bohemian Waxwing ( u )
Cedar Waxwing ( c )
27 May
St. Joe River
Heidi Retherford
WOOD WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler ( c )
9 May
Trail to the CDAs - Plummer to Benewah Co Line
Lisa Hardy
Nashville Warbler ( u )
Yellow Warbler ( c )
9 May
Trail to the CDAs - Plummer to Benewah Co Line
Lisa Hardy
Yellow-rumped Warbler ( c )
30 Apr
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler
12
Townsend's Warbler ( c )
Yellow-throated Warbler ( # )
Palm Warbler ( # )
Black and White Warbler ( # )
Blackpoll Warbler (#) 
American Redstart ( u )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Northern Waterthrush ( s )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
MacGillivray's Warbler ( c )
Common Yellowthroat ( c )
17 May
Heyburn State Park
Steve Hofhine
Wilson's Warbler ( u )
17 May
Heyburn State Park
Steve Hofhine
TANAGERS
Western Tanager ( c )
9 May
Trail to the CDAs - Plummer to Benewah Co Line
Lisa Hardy
EMBERIZIDS
Spotted Towhee ( c )
2 April
St. Maries
Donni Moen
American Tree Sparrow ( s )
Chipping Sparrow ( c )
25 April
St. Maries
Lark Lady
Vesper Sparrow (h 1949)
Lark Sparrow ( h 1950)
Savannah Sparrow ( c )
18 May
ID60-US95 to WA border
Carl Lundblad
Grasshopper Sparrow ( s )
12 July
West of Plummer
Terry Little
Fox Sparrow ( u )
12 July
Heyburn State Park
Terry Little
Song Sparrow ( c )
2 January
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Lincoln's sparrow ( u )
Swamp Sparrow ( # )
White-throated Sparrow ( s )
Harris's sparrow ( r )
White-crowned Sparrow ( u )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo
Dark-eyed Junco ( c )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
----Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)
----Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided)
Snow Bunting ( s )
30 -Oct
Chatcolet Lake
Theresa Potts
SALTATORS
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (#)
Black-headed Grosbeak ( c )
27 May
St. Joe River
Heidi Retherford
Lazuli Bunting ( u )
15 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
BLACKBIRDS
Bobolink ( u )
27 May
St. Joe River
Heidi Retherford
Red-winged Blackbird ( c )
17 February
US 95
Kirsten Dahl
Western Meadowlark ( c )
24 June
St. Maries
Lark Lady
Yellow-headed Blackbird ( c )
22 April
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Rusty Blackbird ( # )
Brewer's Blackbird ( c )
22 April
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Brown-headed Cowbird ( c )
7 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Bullock's Oriole ( u )
12 July
St. Joe River
Terry Little
CARDUELINE FINCHES
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch ( r )
Pine Grosbeak ( s )
5 January
Round Lake to St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Wayne Melquist and Helen Kevo
Purple Finch ( # )
Cassin's Finch ( u )
15 April
St. Maries
Donni Moen
House Finch ( c )
5 January
Round Lake to St.Maries area and Heyburn State Park
Indian Mt. CBC-Wayne Mequist and Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
Red Crossbill ( c )
5 January
Heyburn State Park
Indian Mt. CBC-Kris Buchler, Sally Jones, Roland Craft, Donni Moen, Dan Ratza, Gayle and Mmary Wahlacz
White-winged Crossbill ( r )
Common Redpoll ( s )
5 January
Round Lake - St. Maries
Wayne Melquist
Pine Siskin ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo
American Goldfinch ( c )
5 January
St Maries area
Indian Mt. CBC - Helen Kevo
Evening Grosbeak ( c )
1 January
St.Maries area
Donni Moen
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow ( c )
17 February
US 95
Kristin Dahl