Blue-winged Warbler Photo by Jim Rathert, Missouri Dept. of Conservation.

Several hundred species of birds depend upon habitat in the Central Hardwoods Bird Conservation Region (CHBCR) during critical times of their life cycles. Many breed or over-winter here, while others stop during migration between breeding and wintering grounds. Some species are doing quite well, but populations of others are less stable or are more vulnerable to long-term declines.

Species in the greatest need of conservation attention typically have some combination of relatively small ranges, small population sizes, declining trends, and reliance on threatened or already degraded habitats. The CHJV focuses on these priority bird species. Species that have large percentages of their populations in a particular BCR also are considered priorities, but don’t necessarily warrant immediate conservation action if their populations are stable or increasing.

The tables below list the priority birds for the CHBCR, as derived from species assessment processes developed by the North American bird conservation initiatives. The species are grouped by their associations with four broad habitat types (forest-woodlands, grass-shrublands, grasslands and wetlands); only species in need of conservation action and breeding or wintering in the BCR are noted. For a complete list of priority birds, including transients, please contact us.

For a compilation of information on species’ habitat needs and responses to management practices, visit the Partners in Flight Species Management Synthesis.

Forest-Woodland Species | Grass-Shrubland Species | Grassland Species | Wetlands Species

Clicking on a bird’s name will open a page from the Cornell Ornithology Lab
providing a picture, range map and life history information.

Forest-Woodland Priority Species Continental Concern Regional Concern Red-cockaded Woodpecker* (extirpated) Y Y Brown-headed Nuthatch* Y Y Cerulean Warbler Y Y Swainson's Warbler Y Y Bachman's Sparrow* Y Y American Woodcock Y Y Red-headed Woodpecker Y Y Wood Thrush Y Y Worm-eating Warbler Y Y Kentucky Warbler Y Y Ruffed Grouse   Y Yellow-billed Cuckoo   Y Whip-poor-will   Y Northern Flicker   Y Eastern Wood-Pewee   Y Blue-gray Gnatcatcher   Y * denotes pine woodland specialists

Old growth forest Photo by Paul Nelson, US Forest Service.

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Grass-Shrubland Priority Species Continental Concern Regional Concern Blue-winged Warbler Y Y Prairie Warbler Y Y Painted Bunting Y Y Bell's Vireo Y Y Bewick's Wren   Y Northern Bobwhite   Y Eastern Kingbird   Y White-eyed Vireo   Y Brown Thrasher   Y Yellow-breasted Chat   Y Eastern Towhee   Y Field Sparrow   Y Orchard Oriole   Y

Grass-shrubland habitat Photo by Paul Nelson, US Forest Service.

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Grassland Priority Species Continental Concern Regional Concern Greater Prairie-Chicken Y Y Short-eared Owl Y Y Bell's Vireo Y Y Henslow’s Sparrow Y Y Loggerhead Shrike   Y Sedge Wren   Y Lark Sparrow   Y Grasshopper Sparrow   Y Northern Bobwhite   Y Eastern Kingbird   Y Eastern Meadowlark   Y

Key Cave National Wildlife Refuge Photo by Steve Seibert, US Fish and Wildlife Service.

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Wetland Priority Species Continental Concern Regional Concern Swallow-tailed Kite (extirpated) Y Y King Rail Y Y Least Tern Y Y American Black Duck Y Y Horned Grebe Y Y Swainson's Warbler Y Y James Bay Canada Goose Y Y Cerulean Warbler Y Y Prothonotary Warbler Y Y Lesser Scaup   Y Pied-billed Grebe   Y American Bittern   Y Least Bittern   Y Yellow-crowned Night-Heron   Y American Coot   Y

Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge Photo courtesy US Fish and Wildlife Service.

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