Species Accounts – Virginia Bird Atlas

The Second Atlas presents Species Accounts for 203 breeding bird species in Virginia. Species that were not documented during the Second Atlas but that are known as historic breeders in the Commonwealth are treated separately in the Results section.

Taxonomic Order	Common Name	Family (Common)	Family (Scientific)	SGCN	SGCN Sort	Conservation Opportunity Rank
11	Canada Goose	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
12	Mute Swan	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
13	Trumpeter Swan	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
15	Wood Duck	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
20	Gadwall	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
23	Mallard	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
24	American Black Duck	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
45	Hooded Merganser	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
46	Common Merganser	Swans, Geese & Ducks	Anatidae		6
49	Northern Bobwhite	New World Quail	Odontophoridae	Tier III	3	a
50	Wild Turkey	Grouse and Turkeys	Phasianidae		6
51	Ruffed Grouse	Grouse and Turkeys	Phasianidae	Tier III	3	a
54	Pied-billed Grebe	Grebes	Podicipedidae		6
60	Rock Pigeon	Pigeons and Doves	Columbidae		6
62	Eurasian Collared-Dove	Pigeons and Doves	Columbidae		6
65	Mourning Dove	Pigeons and Doves	Columbidae		6
67	Yellow-billed Cuckoo	Cuckoos and Anis	Cuculidae		6
68	Black-billed Cuckoo	Cuckoos and Anis	Cuculidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
69	Common Nighthawk	Goatsuckers	Caprimulgidae	Tier I	1	b
70	Chuck-will’s-widow	Goatsuckers	Caprimulgidae	Tier III	3	b
71	Eastern Whip-poor-will	Goatsuckers	Caprimulgidae	Tier IV	4	b
72	Chimney Swift	Swifts	Apodidae	Tier IV	4	b
74	Ruby-throated Hummingbird	Hummingbirds	Trochilidae		6
83	Clapper Rail	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae	Tier IV	4	b
84	King Rail	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae	Tier I	1	b
85	Virginia Rail	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae	Tier III	3	b
86	Sora	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae		6
87	Common Gallinule	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae		6
88	American Coot	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae		6
91	Black Rail	Rails, Gallinules & Coots	Rallidae	Tier I	1	a
94	Black-necked Stilt	Stilts and Avocets	Recurvirostridae		6
96	American Oystercatcher	Oystercatchers	Haematopodidae	Tier III	3	a
100	Killdeer	Plovers	Charadriidae		6
102	Piping Plover	Plovers	Charadriidae	Tier I	1	a
104	Wilson’s Plover	Plovers	Charadriidae	Tier I	1	a
134	American Woodcock	Sandpipers	Scolopacidae	Tier I	1	a
137	Spotted Sandpiper	Sandpipers	Scolopacidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
140	Willet	Sandpipers	Scolopacidae		6
162	Laughing Gull	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier III	3	a
169	American Herring Gull	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier II	2	b
174	Great Black-backed Gull	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae		6
178	Least Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier III	3	a
179	Gull-billed Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier I	1	a
180	Caspian Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae		6
184	Common Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier II	2	a
186	Forster’s Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier II	2	b
187	Royal Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae		6
188	Sandwich Tern	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae		6
190	Black Skimmer	Gulls, Terns & Skimmers	Laridae	Tier III	3	a
219	Anhinga	Anhingas	Anhingidae		6
221	Double-crested Cormorant	Cormorants	Phalacrocoracidae		6
224	Brown Pelican	Pelicans	Pelecanidae		6
225	American Bittern	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae		6
226	Least Bittern	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
227	Great Blue Heron	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae		6
229	Great Egret	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae		6
231	Snowy Egret	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae	Tier II	2	a
232	Little Blue Heron	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae	Tier I	1	a
233	Tricolored Heron	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae	Tier II	2	a
235	Western Cattle-Egret	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae		6
236	Green Heron	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae	Tier II	2	b
237	Black-crowned Night Heron	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae		6
238	Yellow-crowned Night Heron	Bitterns, Herons & Egrets	Ardeidae		6
239	White Ibis	Ibises and Spoonbills	Threskiornithidae		6
240	Glossy Ibis	Ibises and Spoonbills	Threskiornithidae	Tier I	1	a
243	Black Vulture	New World Vultures	Cathartidae		6
244	Turkey Vulture	New World Vultures	Cathartidae		6
245	Osprey	Osprey	Pandionidae		6
249	Northern Harrier	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
251	Sharp-shinned Hawk	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae	Assessment Priority Species	5
252	Cooper’s Hawk	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
254	Bald Eagle	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
255	Mississippi Kite	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
256	Red-shouldered Hawk	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
257	Broad-winged Hawk	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
260	Red-tailed Hawk	Kites, Hawks & Eagles	Accipitridae		6
263	American Barn Owl	Barn Owls	Tytonidae	Tier I	1	a
264	Eastern Screech-Owl	Typical Owls	Strigidae	Tier IV	4	b
265	Great Horned Owl	Typical Owls	Strigidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
268	Barred Owl	Typical Owls	Strigidae		6
271	Northern Saw-whet Owl	Typical Owls	Strigidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
272	Belted Kingfisher	Kingfishers	Alcedinidae	Tier III	3	b
274	Red-headed Woodpecker	Woodpeckers	Picidae		6
275	Red-bellied Woodpecker	Woodpeckers	Picidae		6
276	Yellow-bellied Sapsucker	Woodpeckers	Picidae		6
277	Downy Woodpecker	Woodpeckers	Picidae		6
278	Red-cockaded Woodpecker	Woodpeckers	Picidae	Tier I	1	a
279	Hairy Woodpecker	Woodpeckers	Picidae		6
280	Northern Flicker	Woodpeckers	Picidae	Tier III	3	b
281	Pileated Woodpecker	Woodpeckers	Picidae		6
283	American Kestrel	Falcons	Falconidae	Tier II	2	a
284	Merlin	Falcons	Falconidae		6
286	Peregrine Falcon	Falcons	Falconidae	Tier I	1	a
290	Great Crested Flycatcher	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae		6
293	Eastern Kingbird	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae	Tier IV	4	a
299	Eastern Wood-Pewee	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae	Tier IV	4	b
301	Acadian Flycatcher	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae		6
302	Alder Flycatcher	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae		6
303	Willow Flycatcher	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae		6
304	Least Flycatcher	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae	Tier II	2	b
307	Eastern Phoebe	Tyrant Flycatchers	Tyrannidae		6
310	White-eyed Vireo	Vireos	Vireonidae		6
312	Yellow-throated Vireo	Vireos	Vireonidae		6
313	Blue-headed Vireo	Vireos	Vireonidae		6
315	Eastern Warbling-Vireo	Vireos	Vireonidae		6
316	Red-eyed Vireo	Vireos	Vireonidae		6
318	Loggerhead Shrike	Shrikes	Laniidae	Tier I	1	a
320	Blue Jay	Jays, Crows & Magpies	Corvidae		6
322	American Crow	Jays, Crows & Magpies	Corvidae		6
323	Fish Crow	Jays, Crows & Magpies	Corvidae		6
324	Common Raven	Jays, Crows & Magpies	Corvidae		6
325	Carolina Chickadee	Chickadees and Titmice	Paridae		6
326	Black-capped Chickadee	Chickadees and Titmice	Paridae		6
328	Tufted Titmouse	Chickadees and Titmice	Paridae		6
329	Horned Lark	Larks	Alaudidae	Tier III	3	a
330	Bank Swallow	Martins and Swallows	Hirundinidae	Tier III	3	b
331	Tree Swallow	Martins and Swallows	Hirundinidae		6
333	Northern Rough-winged Swallow	Martins and Swallows	Hirundinidae	Tier III	3	c
335	Purple Martin	Martins and Swallows	Hirundinidae		6
336	Barn Swallow	Martins and Swallows	Hirundinidae		6
337	Cliff Swallow	Martins and Swallows	Hirundinidae		6
340	Golden-crowned Kinglet	Kinglets	Regulidae		6
342	Cedar Waxwing	Waxwings	Bombycillidae		6
343	Red-breasted Nuthatch	Nuthatches	Sittidae		6
344	White-breasted Nuthatch	Nuthatches	Sittidae		6
345	Brown-headed Nuthatch	Nuthatches	Sittidae		6
346	Brown Creeper	Creepers	Certhiidae		6
347	Blue-gray Gnatcatcher	Gnatcatchers	Polioptilidae		6
349	Northern House Wren	Wrens	Troglodytidae		6
350	Winter Wren	Wrens	Troglodytidae	Tier III	3	c
352	Marsh Wren	Wrens	Troglodytidae	Tier III	3	b
353	Carolina Wren	Wrens	Troglodytidae		6
355	Gray Catbird	Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers	Mimidae	Tier IV	4	a
356	Brown Thrasher	Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers	Mimidae		6
358	Northern Mockingbird	Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers	Mimidae	Tier IV	4	a
359	European Starling	Starlings	Sturnidae		6
360	Eastern Bluebird	Thrushes	Turdidae		6
363	Veery	Thrushes	Turdidae	Tier III	3	b
366	Swainson’s Thrush	Thrushes	Turdidae		6
367	Hermit Thrush	Thrushes	Turdidae	Tier III	3	b
368	Wood Thrush	Thrushes	Turdidae	Tier IV	4	a
369	American Robin	Thrushes	Turdidae		6
372	House Sparrow	Old World Sparrows	Passeridae		6
378	House Finch	Siskins, Crossbills & Allies	Fringillidae		6
379	Purple Finch	Siskins, Crossbills & Allies	Fringillidae		6
382	Red Crossbill	Siskins, Crossbills & Allies	Fringillidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
384	Pine Siskin	Siskins, Crossbills & Allies	Fringillidae		6
386	American Goldfinch	Siskins, Crossbills & Allies	Fringillidae		6
392	Grasshopper Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier IV	4	b
396	Chipping Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae		6
398	Field Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier IV	4	a
402	Dark-eyed Junco	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae		6
406	Vesper Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier I	1	a
408	Seaside Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae		6
410	Saltmarsh Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier II	2	a
411	Henslow’s Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier I	1	b
412	Savannah Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier II	2	a
413	Song Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae		6
415	Swamp Sparrow	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Assessment Priority Species (Coastal Plain subspecies)	5
418	Eastern Towhee	New World Sparrows and Towhees	Passerellidae	Tier IV	4	a
419	Yellow-breasted Chat	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteriidae	Tier IV	4	a
421	Bobolink	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae	Tier III	3	a
422	Eastern Meadowlark	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae	Tier IV	4	b
424	Orchard Oriole	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae		6
426	Baltimore Oriole	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae		6
428	Red-winged Blackbird	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae	Tier IV	4	a
430	Brown-headed Cowbird	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae		6
433	Common Grackle	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae	Tier IV	4	a
434	Boat-tailed Grackle	Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles	Icteridae	Tier III	3	a
435	Ovenbird	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
436	Worm-eating Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
437	Louisiana Waterthrush	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
439	Golden-winged Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier II	2	a
440	Blue-winged Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
441	Black-and-white Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier IV	4	b
442	Prothonotary Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
443	Swainson’s Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Assessment Priority Species	5
451	Mourning Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
452	Kentucky Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier III	3	b
453	Common Yellowthroat	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
454	Hooded Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
455	American Redstart	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
458	Cerulean Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier II	2	a
459	Northern Parula	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
460	Magnolia Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
462	Blackburnian Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
463	Yellow Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier III	3	b
464	Chestnut-sided Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
466	Black-throated Blue Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
468	Pine Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
469	Yellow-rumped Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
470	Yellow-throated Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae		6
471	Prairie Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier IV	4	a
474	Black-throated Green Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier I (Wayne’s Warbler subspecies)	1	b
475	Canada Warbler	Wood Warblers	Parulidae	Tier I	1	b
477	Summer Tanager	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
478	Scarlet Tanager	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
480	Northern Cardinal	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
481	Rose-breasted Grosbeak	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
483	Blue Grosbeak	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
485	Indigo Bunting	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
486	Painted Bunting	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae		6
487	Dickcissel	Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels	Cardinalidae	Tier II	2	a

*SGCN – Species of Greatest Conservation Need