Go To Ground-Nesting Birds 2024 for an Intro to this series & Links to other pages
A list of ground-nesting birds commonly seen in the Backlands
Compiled by and photos by Joshua Barss Donham & Fulton Lavender.
Ducks, Geese & Swans: Canada Goose, American Black Duck, Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Ring-necked Duck
Partridge & Grouse: Ring-necked Pheasant, Ruffed Grouse, Spruce Grouse
Loons : Common Loon
New World Vultures: Turkey Vulture
Hawks & Eagles: Northern Harrier
Sandpipers: Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock
Gulls: Herring Gull
Goatsuckers: Common Nighthawk
Kingfishers: Belted Kingfisher
Thrushes: Hermit Thrush
Warblers: Ovenbird, Black-and-white Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Palm Warbler. (Fulton likes to say that a third of our warblers nest on the ground! In addition to those seen in the Backlands, the Northern Waterthrush (actually a warbler) and the Canada, Tennessee, and Mourning Warblers are ground-nesting species.)
Sparrows: Song Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco
Blackbirds: Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle
Comments Joshua: The Hermit Thrush and the Palm Warbler [in the pics above] were both on the ’island’ between the EPIP and WPIP near the small patch of barrens (the highest point) on that body of land. I see many warblers out there. Its usually the first place where I’ve seen Palm Warblers show up in the Backlands in the spring.
Page posted by David P 3Apr2023