The Illinois
Ornithological Society

Birds of Illinois

Birds of Illinois, Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows

This list is based on the forthcoming revised checklist of Illinois birds. The checklist is based on the deliberations of the seven-member Illinois Ornithological Records Committee (IORC). IORC was organized in 1986 to review Illinois bird records using evidence submitted to the Committee. Such evidence may include an identifiable specimen, photograph, a digital or electronic image, video or audio tape recording, and/or written documention. See the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee page for more information about IORC. The taxonomy and nomenclature used here follow the sixth edition of the American Ornithologists' Union checklist (AOU 1998) and its supplements (through the 44th supplement, Banks et al 2003, issued July 2003). A total of 439 species have been officially recorded in the state as of September, 2008.

The list is available for downloading as a Microsoft Word Document, a Rich Text Format Document, an Excel Spreadsheet*, or a PDF**. A Birds of Illinois by Category* Excel Spreadsheet is also available. To save one of these files to your computer, right-click directly on the desired link and select Save Target As from the menu that appears. Choose where you want to save the file to and click the Save button.

Recent Additions: Mountain Plover and Cave Swallow

*Requires Excel. If you don't have Excel on your computer you can download the free Excel Viewer 2003 from Microsoft to view Excel spreadsheets.

**Requires Adobe Reader. If you don't have Adobe Reader on your computer, go to the Adobe Reader download page and follow the instructions to download it. Adobe Reader is safe and completely free.

Key

Evidence Type

  • photo = photograph
  • spec = specimen
  • doc = written documentation

Status Information

  • Regular = Species for which there are records in at least eight of the past ten years.
  • Casual = Species for which there are accepted records in three to seven of the past ten years.
  • Accidental = Species for which there are accepted records in no more than two of the past ten years.
  • Extirpated = Species which were formerly Casual or Regular in Illinois but which have not been recorded in the wild in the state for at least 50 years.
  • Extinct = Species which have occurred in the state but no longer occur anywhere in the world.

Breeding Information

  • For species that have bred in Illinois, an additional notation appears in the entry, following a slash ("/").
  • B = Species which currently breed more or less regularly in the state. In general, this is defined by breeding in at least eight of the last ten years or 40 or more of the last 50 years.
  • b = Species which have bred at least once in the past 50 years, but do not currently breed regularly.
  • (B) = Species which formerly bred more or less regularly in the state, but which have not been confirmed as breeding in the past 50 years.
  • (b) = Species which have been confirmed as breeding in the state, but never regularly, and with no confirmed records of breeding in the past 50 years.

Two terms are restricted to breeding species, based on Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) designations. These are:

  • Endangered = Species whose breeding populations are in danger of extirpation within Illinois; listed as endangered by the IDNR.
  • Threatened = Species whose breeding populations are at risk of becoming endangered within Illinois; listed as threatened by the IDNR.

Part 1: Waterfowl to Cranes

Part 2: Plovers to Shrikes

Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows You are here

Order Passeriformes (continued)

Family Vireonidae: Vireos

  • White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) (spec) Regular / B
  • Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) (spec) Regular / B
  • Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) (spec) Regular / b
  • Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) (spec) Regular
  • Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) (spec) Regular / B

Family Corvidae: Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, and Crows

  • Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) (spec) Regular / B
  • Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica) (photo) Accidental
  • Clark's Nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana) (spec) Accidental
  • Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) (spec) Accidental
  • American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (spec) Regular / B
  • Fish Crow (Corvus ossifragus) (spec) Regular / B (S)
  • Common Raven (Corvus corax) (spec) Extirpated / (B)

Family Alaudidae: Larks

  • Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) (spec) Regular / B

Family Hirundinidae: Swallows

  • Purple Martin (Progne subis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) (spec) Regular / B
  • Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) (photo) Accidental / b (cross-breeding)
  • Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) (spec) Regular / B
  • Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) (spec) Regular / B
  • Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) (photo) Accidental
  • Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (spec) Regular / B

Family Paridae: Chickadees and Titmice

  • Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) (spec) Accidental
  • Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) (spec) Regular / B

Family Sittidae: Nuthatches

  • Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) (spec) Regular / b (N)
  • White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) (photo) Accidental

Family Certhiidae: Creepers

  • Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)

Family Troglodytidae: Wrens

  • Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) (spec) Casual
  • Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
  • House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) (spec) Regular / B
  • Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) (spec) Regular
  • Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) (spec) Regular / B

Family Polioptilidae: Gnatcatchers

  • Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) (spec) Regular / B

Family Regulidae: Kinglets

  • Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) (spec) Regular / b (N)
  • Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) (spec) Regular

Family Turdidae: Wheatears, Bluebirds, Solitaires, and Thrushes

  • Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) (photo) Accidental
  • Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) (photo) Accidental
  • Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) (spec) Casual
  • Veery (Catharus fuscescens) (spec) Regular / B
  • Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) (spec) Regular
  • Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) (spec) Regular
  • Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) (spec) Regular
  • Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) (spec) Regular / B
  • American Robin (Turdus migratorius) (spec) Regular / B
  • Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) (spec) Regular

Family Mimidae: Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers

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  • Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) (spec) Regular / B
  • Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) (photo) Accidental
  • Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) (spec) Regular / B
  • Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) (photo) Accidental

Family Sturnidae: Starlings

  • European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B

Family Motacillidae: Pipits

  • American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) (spec) Regular
  • Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (spec) Accidental

Family Bombycillidae: Waxwings

  • Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) (spec) Casual
  • Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) (spec) Regular / B

Family Calcariidae: Longspurs and Snow Bunting

  • Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (spec) Regular
  • Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) (photo) Accidental
  • Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) (spec) Regular
  • Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (spec) Regular

Family Parulidae: American Wood Warblers

  • Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) (spec) Regular / B
  • Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (spec) Regular / b (N)
  • Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina) (spec) Regular
  • Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlypis celata) (spec) Regular
  • Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) (spec) Regular / b
  • Northern Parula (Parula americana) (spec) Regular / B
  • Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia) (spec) Regular / B
  • Chestnut-sided Warbler (Dendroica pensylvanica) (spec) Regular / B
  • Magnolia Warbler (Dendroica magnolia) (spec) Regular
  • Cape May Warbler (Dendroica tigrina) (spec) Regular
  • Black-throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens) (spec) Regular
  • Yellow-rumped Warbler (Dendroica coronata) (spec) Regular
  • Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens) (phot) Accidental
  • Black-throated Green Warbler (Dendroica virens) (spec) Regular / b
  • Townsend's Warbler (Dendroica townsendi) (photo) Accidental
  • Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis) (photo) Accidental
  • Blackburnian Warbler (Dendroica fusca) (spec) Regular
  • Yellow-throated Warbler (Dendroica dominica) (spec) Regular / B
  • Grace's Warbler (Dendroica graciae) (photo) Accidental / B
  • Pine Warbler (Dendroica pinus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Kirtland's Warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii) (spec) Accidental
  • Prairie Warbler (Dendroica discolor) (spec) Regular / B
  • Palm Warbler (Dendroica palmarum) (spec) Regular
  • Bay-breasted Warbler (Dendroica castanea) (spec) Regular
  • Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata) (spec) Regular
  • Cerulean Warbler (Dendroica cerulea) (spec) Regular / B
  • Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (spec) Regular / B
  • American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) (spec) Regular / B
  • Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) (spec) Regular / B
  • Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) (spec) Regular / b (S) (endangered) 9
  • Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) (spec) Regular / B
  • Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (spec) Regular
  • Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) (spec) Regular / B
  • Kentucky Warbler (Oporornis formosus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) (spec) Regular
  • Mourning Warbler (Oporornis philadelphia) (spec) Regular / b
  • MacGillivray's Warbler (Oporornis tolmiei) (spec) Accidental
  • Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) (spec) Regular / B
  • Hooded Warbler (Wilsonia citrina) (spec) Regular / B
  • Wilson's Warbler (Wilsonia pusilla) (spec) Regular
  • Canada Warbler (Wilsonia canadensis) (spec) Regular / b
  • Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) (spec) Regular / B

Family Emberizidae: Towhees, Sparrows, and Juncos

  • Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) (photo) Accidental
  • Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) (photo) Regular
  • Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) (photo) Accidental
  • Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) (spec) Accidental / (b)
  • American Tree Sparrow (Spizella arborea) (spec) Regular
  • Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) (spec) Regular / B
  • Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) (spec) Regular / b (N, local)
  • Brewer's Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (spec) Accidental
  • Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) (spec) Regular / B
  • Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) (photo) Accidental
  • Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) (spec) Casual
  • Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) (spec) Regular /
  • Henslow's Sparrow (Ammodramus henslowii) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
  • Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) (spec) Regular / (b) (N)
  • Nelson's Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsoni) (spec) Regular
  • Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) (spec) Regular
  • Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) (spec) Regular / B
  • Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) (spec) Regular
  • Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) (spec) Regular / B
  • White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) (spec) Regular / b (NE)
  • Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) (spec) Regular
  • White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) (spec) Regular
  • Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) (spec) Accidental
  • Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) (spec) Regular

Family Cardinalidae: Tanagers, Neotropical Grosbeaks, and Buntings

  • Hepatic Tanager (Piranga flava) (photo) Accidental
  • Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) (spec) Regular / B
  • Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) (spec) Regular / B
  • Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) (spec) Casual
  • Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) (spec) Casual
  • Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) (spec) Regular / B
  • Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena) (spec) Accidental
  • Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) (spec) Regular / B
  • Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris) (spec) Regular / b (local)
  • Dickcissel (Spiza americana) (spec) Regular / B

Family Icteridae: Bobolink, Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, Grackles, Cowbirds, and Orioles

  • Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) (spec) Regular / B
  • Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) (spec) Regular / B
  • Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
  • Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) (spec) Regular
  • Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) (spec) Regular / B (N)
  • Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) (spec) Regular / B
  • Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) (spec) Casual
  • Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) (spec) Regular / B
  • Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (spec) Regular / B
  • Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) (spec) Regular / B
  • Scott's Oriole (Icterus parisorum) (photo) Accidental

Family Fringillidae: Holarctic Finches

  • Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) (photo) Accidental
  • Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) (spec) Casual
  • Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) (spec) Regular / (b)
  • House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
  • Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (spec) Regular / b
  • White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) (spec) Regular
  • Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) (spec) Regular
  • Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) (photo) Accidental
  • Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) (spec) Regular / b
  • American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) (spec) Regular

Family Passeridae: Old World Sparrows

  • House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
  • Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B

 

Footnotes

9 Swainson's Warbler was last confirmed breeding in Illinois in 1982.

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Birds of Illinois, Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows