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The Illinois
Ornithological Society

Birds of Illinois, Part 1: Waterfowl to Cranes

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. 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 436 species have been officially recorded in the state as of July, 2006. This list is available for downloading as a Microsoft Word Document, a Rich Text Format Document, or an Excel Spreadsheet*. 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.

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

Key

Evidence Type

Status Information

Breeding Information

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

Part 1: Waterfowl to Cranes You are here

Part 2: Plovers to Shrikes

Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows

Order Anseriformes

Family Anatidae: Whistling-Ducks, Swans, Geese and Ducks

Order Galliformes

Family Phasianidae: Partridges, Pheasants, Grouse, Ptarmigans and Turkeys

Family Odontophoridae: New World Quails

Order Gaviiformes

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Family Gaviidae: Loons

Order Podicipediformes

Family Podicipedidae: Grebes

Order Pelecaniformes

Family Sulidae: Boobies

Family Pelecanidae: Pelicans

Family Phalacrocoracidae: Cormorants

Family Anhingidae: Anhingas

Family Fregatidae: Frigatebirds

Order Ciconiiformes

Family Ardeidae: Bitterns, Herons and Egrets

Family Threskiornithidae: Ibises and Spoonbills

Family Ciconiidae: Storks

Family Cathartidae: American Vultures

Order Falconiformes

Family Accipitridae: Ospreys, Kites, Eagles, Harriers and Hawks

Family Falconidae: Falcons

Order Gruiformes

Family Rallidae: Rails, Gallinules and Coots

Family Gruidae: Cranes

Part 2

(Continued on next page)

Footnotes

1 Ruffed Grouse in NW Illinois may represent a remnant native population or wild dispersals from Wisconsin or Iowa. A very small population in Pope County may be the result of late 1950's or early 1960's releases of wild-trapped birds. All other populations in Union and Alexander County or extreme western Jo Daviess County are the results of wild-trapped birds released during the period 1982-94 and are not considered established.

2 During the summers of 1991-98 Greater Prairie-Chickens from out-of-state were introduced into Illinois' only remaining populations in Jasper and Marion counties.

3 The native Wild Turkey population in Illinois was extirpated in the early 1900's. Turkeys were first reintroduced in the Shawnee Forest in 1959 from out-of-state stock. Once established there, Illinois birds have been and continue to be introduced to unpopulated locations throughout the state.

4 Peregrine Falcon was extirpated as a breeding species; the current breeding population is reintroduced.

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