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BENEWAH COUNTY BIRD CHECKLIST AND BENEWAH COUNTY 2017 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: 156 as of November 10, 2017

sE
Species
Date
Location
Observer
SWAN, GEESE, DUCKS
Greater White-Fronted Goose ( r )
 
Snow goose ( s ) 
10 Oct
Heyburn State Park
Jon Isacoff

Cackling Goose (s)

Canada Goose ( c ) 
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Trumpeter Swan ( s )
Tundra Swan ( c )
17 Feb
Benewah Lake
Donni Moen
Wood Duck ( c )
2 May
Heyburn State Park
Marlene Cashen
Gadwall ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Eurasian Wigeon ( s )
7 Oct
Heyburn State Park and area
Jon Isacoff
American Wigeon ( c )
17 Feb
Benewah Lake
Donni Moen
Mallard ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Blue-winged Teal ( u )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Cinnamon Teal ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Northern Shoveler ( c )
25 Mar
Heyburn field trip
Lisa Hardy plus others
Northern Pintail ( c )
7 Nov

Heyburn State Park

Jon Isacoff
Green-winged Teal ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Canvasback ( u ) 
Redhead ( c ) 
28 Jan
St. Maries Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Ring-necked Duck ( c ) 
28 Jan
St. Maries Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Tufted Duck ( # ) 
Greater Scaup ( s ) 
7 Nov
Heyburn State Park
Jon Isacoff
Lesser Scaup ( u ) 
28 Jan
St. Maries Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Harlequin Duck ( r )
Surf Scoter ( r )
White-winged Scoter ( r )
Long-tailed Duck ( r ) 
Bufflehead ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Common Goldeneye ( c ) 
28 Jan
St. Maries Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Barrow's Goldeneye ( s )
15 Mar
St. Maries sewage ponds
Mark Stromberg
Hooded Merganser ( c )
28 Jan
Shepherd Rd
Carl Lundblad
Common Merganser ( c )
25 Mar
Heyburn field trip
Lisa Hardy plus others
Red-breasted Merganser ( r )
Ruddy Duck ( u ) 
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
PARTRIDGES, GROUSE, TURKEY
Gray Partridge ( u )
14 Jan
near Tensed
Matt Yawney
Ring-necked Pheasant ( c )
3 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
Ruffed Grouse ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Spruce Grouse ( s )
Dusky (Blue) Grouse ( s )
5 Jun
Reed Creek Rd to St. Joe Baldy
Jon Isacoff
Wild Turkey ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
NEW WORLD QUAIL
California Quail ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Northern Bobwhite (r, introduced) 
LOONS
Red-Throated Loon (#)
Pacific Loon ( s )
Common Loon ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Yellow-billed Loon ( # )
GREBES
Pied-billed Grebe ( c )
5 Jun
Heyburn S.P. - Benewah Lake
Jon Isacoff
Horned Grebe 
7 Oct
Heyburn State Park and area
Jon Isacoff
Red-necked Grebe ( c )
2 May
Heyburn State Park
Marlene Cahen
Eared Grebe ( r )
Western Grebe ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Clark's Grebe ( # )
8 Oct
Heyburn State Park
Katie Sorrenson, Peter Olsoy
PELICANS
 
American White Pelican ( u )
2 May
Heyburn State Park
Marlene Cahen
Double-crested Cormorant( u )
25 Mar
Heyburn field trip
Lisa Hardy plus others
HERONS, BITTERNS
American Bittern ( r )
Great Blue Heron ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Great Egret ( r )
Snowy Egret ( # )
Cattle Egret ( # )
Black-crowned Night-Heron (r)
IBISES
White-faced Ibis ( # )
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Turkey Vulture ( u )
3 Apr
St. Mares
Donni Moen
HAWKS, KITES, EAGLES
Osprey ( c )
2 May
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
Bald Eagle ( c )
3 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
Northern Harrier (c )
9 Sep
St Maries
Donni Moen
Sharp-shinned Hawk ( u )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Cooper's Hawk ( u )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Northern Goshawk ( s )
Broad-winged Hawk (#)
Swainson's Hawk ( s )
Red-tailed Hawk ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Harlan's 
Ferruginous Hawk ( # )
Rough-legged Hawk ( c )
28 Jan
along US95
Carl Lundblad
Golden Eagle ( r )
FALCONS
American Kestrel ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Merlin ( u )
7 Oct
Heyburn State Park and area
Jon Isacoff
Gyrfalcon ( r )
Peregrine Falcon ( r )
Prairie Falcon ( s )
RAILS, COOTS
Virginia Rail ( s )
11 May
Heyburn State Park
Chris West
Sora ( u )
2 May
Heyburn State Park
Marlene Cahen
American Coot ( c )
17 Feb
Benewah Lake
Donni Moen
CRANES
Sandhill Crane ( r )
11 May
Heyburn State Park
Chris West
PLOVERS
Black-bellied Plover ( r )
American Golden-Plover ( r )
Semipalmated Plover ( r )
Killdeer ( c )
8 May
St Maries area
Donni Moem
STILTS, AVOCETS
American Avocet ( r )
SANDPIPERS, PHALAROPES
Greater Yellowlegs ( s )
Lesser Yellowlegs ( s )
Solitary Sandpiper ( s )
Spotted Sandpiper ( c )
11 May
Heyburn State Park
Chris West
Semipalmated Sandpiper (s)
Western Sandpiper ( s )
Least Sandpiper ( s )
Baird's Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper ( s )
Stilt Sandpiper ( # )
Long-billed Dowitcher ( s )
Wilson's Snipe ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift Jon Isacoff
Red-necked phalarope
9 Aug
St. Maries
Gina Sheridan Jon Isacoff
Wilson's Phalarope ( s)
---------Red Phalarope (h=1934)
GULLS, TERNS
Parasitic Jaeger ( # )
Franklin's Gull ( r )
Bonaparte's Gull ( u )
9 Aug
St Maries Sewage Ponds
Jon Isacoff, Gina Sheriedon
Mew Gull ( r )
Ring-billed Gull ( c )
20 Jul
St Maries
Donni Moen
California Gull ( c )
7 Oct
Heyburn State Park and area
Jon Isacoff
Herring Gull ( u )
7 Oct
Heyburn State Park and area
Jon Isacoff
Thayer's Gull ( s )
Lesser Black-backed Gull (r)
Glaucous Gull ( r )
Sabine's Gull ( # )
Caspian Tern ( s )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Common Tern ( s )
Forster's Tern ( s )
Black Tern ( c )
MURRES
Ancient Murrelet ( # )
PIGEONS, DOVES
Rock Pigeon ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Band-tailed Pigeon ( r )
Mourning Dove ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Eurasian Collared-Dove (u)
22 Feb
St. Maries
Donni Moen
CUCKOOS
Yellow-billed Cuckoo 
BARN OWLS
Barn Owl ( s )
TYPICAL OWLS
Flammulated Owl ( # )
Western Screech Owl ( s )
Great Horned Owl ( u )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Snowy Owl ( r )
Northern Hawk Owl ( # )
Northern Pygmy-Owl ( u )
19 Jul
Heyburn Stare Park
Mike Scott
Barred Owl ( s )
Great Gray Owl ( r )
Long-eared Owl ( r )
Short-eared Owl ( s )
Northern Saw-whet Owl ( s )
GOATSUCKERS
Common Nighthawk ( c )
7 Jun
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Common Poorwill ( r )
SWIFTS
Black Swift ( r )
Vaux's Swift ( u )
13 May
Minaloosa Road, Plummer
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
White-throated Swift ( # )
HUMMINGBIRDS
Black-chinned Hummingbird( c)
13 May
St Maries
Lady Lark
Anna's Hummingbird 
Costa's Hummingbird ( # )
Calliope Hummingbird ( c )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Broad-tailed Hummingbird ( # )
Rufous Hummingbird ( c )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
KINGFISHERS
Belted Kingfisher ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
WOODPECKERS
Lewis' Woodpecker ( r )
Williamson's Sapsucker
5 Jun
Reed Creek Rd to St. Joe Baldy
Jon Isacoff
Red-naped Sapsucker ( c )
29 Apr
St. Maries
Lady Lark
Downy Woodpecker ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Hairy Woodpecker ( c )
7 Jan
St Maries area
Donni Moen
White-headed Woodpecker ( r )
American Three-toed Woodpecker ( s )
Black-backed Woodpecker ( s )
Northern Flicker ( c )
3 Jan
St. Maries
Donni Moen
Red-shafted Flicker
Yellow-shafted Flicker 
Pileated Woodpecker ( u )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS 
Olive-sided Flycatcher ( u )
5 Jun
Reed Creek Rd to St. Joe Baldy
Jon Isacoff
Western Wood-Pewee ( c )
5 Jun
Heyburn S.P. - Benewah Lake
Jon Isacoff
Willow Flycatcher ( c )
31 May
St Maries Area
Donni Moen
Least Flycatcher ( s )
5 Jun
Heyburn S.P. - Benewah Lake
Jon Isacoff
Hammond's Flycatcher ( c )
11 May
Heyburn State Park
Chris West
,,,,,,,,,Gray Flycatcher (h= 1895)
Dusky Flycatcher ( u )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Western Flycatcher ( c ) 
5 Jun
Heyburn S.P. - Benewah Lake
Jon Isacoff
Say's Phoebe ( u)
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Western Kingbird ( u )
Eastern Kingbird ( c )
2 Jun
St Maries area
Donni Moen
SHRIKES
Loggerhead Shrike ( r )
Northern Shrike ( u )
2 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
VIREOS
Cassin's Vireo ( c )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Warbling Vireo ( c )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Red-eyed Vireo ( u )
31 May
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
CROWS, JAYS
Gray Jay ( u )
5 Jan
St Maries
Lady Lark- eBird
Steller's Jay ( c )
2 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
Blue Jay ( s )
5 Jan
St Maries
Carrie Hugo
Blue/Steller's Jay
Western Scrub Jay ( # ) 
Clark's Nutcracker ( u )
Black-billed Magpie ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
American Crow ( c )
3 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
Common Raven ( c )
2 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
LARKS
Horned Lark ( u )
SWALLOWS
Purple Martin ( # )
Tree Swallow ( c )
29 Apr
St Maries
Lady Lark
Violet-green Swallow ( c )
29 Apr
St Maries
Lady Lark
N. Rough-winged Swallow ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Bank Swallow ( u )
Cliff Swallow ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Barn Swallow ( c )
2 May
Heyburn State Park
Marlene Cahen
CHICKADEES
Black-capped Chickadee ( c )
2 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
Mountain Chickadee ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Chestnut-b Chickadee (c )
14 Jan
Palouse Divide
Carl Lundblad
Boreal Chickadee ( # )
NUTHATCHES
Red-breasted Nuthatch ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
White-breasted Nuthatch ( u)
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Pygmy Nuthatch ( c )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper( c )
14 Jan
Palouse Divide
Carl Lundblad
WRENS
Rock Wren ( s )
Bewick's Wren (s )
House Wren ( c )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Pacific Wren ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Marsh Wren
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
DIPPERS
American Dipper ( s )
KINGLETS
Golden-crowned Kinglet ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Ruby-crowned Kinglet ( c )
25 Mar
Heyburn field trip
Lisa Hardy plus others
THRUSHES
Western Bluebird ( c )
25 Mar
Heyburn field trip
Lisa Hardy plus others
Mountain Bluebird ( c )
25 Mar
Heyburn field trip
Lisa Hardy plus others
Townsend's Solitaire ( u )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Veery ( u )
Swainson's Thrush ( c )
26 May
St Maries Area
Donni Moen
Hermit Thrush ( s )
5 Jun
Reed Creek Rd to St. Joe Baldy
Jon Isacoff
American Robin ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Varied Thrush ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
MOCKINGBIRFDS, THRASHERS
Gray Catbird ( c )
30 May
St Maries Area
Donni Moen
Northern Mockingbird ( # )
STARLINGS
European Starling ( c )
3 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
PIPITS
American Pipit ( u )
.
WAXWINGS
Bohemian Waxwing ( u )
Cedar Waxwing ( c )
1 Jun
St Maries Area
Donni Moen
WOOD WARBLERS
Orange-crowned Warbler ( c )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Nashville Warbler ( u )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Yellow Warbler ( c )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Yellow-rumped Warbler ( c )
4 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warbler
Townsend's Warbler ( c )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
Yellow-throated Warbler ( # )
Palm Warbler ( # )
Black and White Warbler ( # )
Blackpoll Warbler (#) 
American Redstart ( u )
29 May
St Maries River
Bill and Sally Gundlach
Northern Waterthrush ( u )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
MacGillivray's Warbler ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Common Yellowthroat ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Wilson's Warbler ( u )
5 Jun
Reed Creek Rd to St. Joe Baldy
Jon Isacoff
TANAGERS
Western Tanager ( c )
5 May
Cassandra Hills
Brian E
EMBERIZIDS
Spotted Towhee ( c )
2 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
American Tree Sparrow ( s )
Chipping Sparrow ( c )
13 May
St. Maries area and Plummer area
Donni Moen and Charles Swift/Jon Isacoff
Vesper Sparrow (h 1949)
Lark Sparrow ( h 1950)
Savannah Sparrow ( c )
13 May
Minaloosa Road, Plummer
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Grasshopper Sparrow ( s )
Fox Sparrow ( u )
Song Sparrow ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Lincoln's sparrow ( u )
8 Sep
DeSmet Sewage Ponds
Carl Lundblad
Swamp Sparrow ( # )
White-throated Sparrow ( s )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Harris's sparrow ( r )
White-crowned Sparrow ( u )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Dark-eyed Junco ( c )
2 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
----Dark-eyed Junco (Slate-colored)
----Dark-eyed Junco (Pink-sided)
Snow Bunting ( s )
SALTATORS
Rose-breasted Grosbeak (#)
Black-headed Grosbeak ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Lazuli Bunting ( u )
13 May
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
BLACKBIRDS
Bobolink ( u )
Red-winged Blackbird ( c )
13 Mar
Tensed area
Mike Scott
Western Meadowlark ( c )
29 Mar
Little Carpenter Creek Rd
Donni Moen
Yellow-headed Blackbird ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
Rusty Blackbird ( # )
Brewer's Blackbird ( c )
12 May
St. Maries area
Donni Moen
Brown-headed Cowbird ( c )
4 May
St Maries area
Donni Moen
Bullock's Oriole ( u )
31 May
St Maries Area
Donni Moen
CARDUELINE FINCHES
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch ( r )
Pine Grosbeak ( s )
Purple Finch ( # )
Cassin's Finch ( u )
7 Jan
St Maries area
Donni Moen
House Finch ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Red Crossbill ( c )
13 May
Benewah County Big Day
Charles Swift and Jon Isacoff
White-winged Crossbill ( r )
Common Redpoll ( s )
7 Nov
Stl Maries
Donni Moen
Pine Siskin ( c )
16 Jan
St Maries
Donni Moen
American Goldfinch ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
Evening Grosbeak ( c )
13 Mar
Tensed area
Mike Scott
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
House Sparrow ( c )
5 Jan
Indian Mt. CBC
Indian Mt. CBC
I