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The Illinois
Ornithological Society

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

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

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 hudsonica) (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 troglodytes) (spec) Regular
  • Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) (spec) Regular / B

Family Regulidae: Kinglets

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

Family Sylviidae: Old World Warblers, Gnatcatchers

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

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 Parulidae: American Wood Warblers

  • Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora pinus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (spec) Regular / b (N)
  • Tennessee Warbler (Vermivora peregrina) (spec) Regular
  • Orange-crowned Warbler (Vermivora celata) (spec) Regular
  • Nashville Warbler (Vermivora 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 (Seiurus noveboracensis) (spec) Regular
  • Louisiana Waterthrush (Seiurus 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 Thraupidae: Tanagers

  • 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

Family Emberizidae: Towhees, Sparrows, Juncos, Longspurs and Old World Buntings

  • Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) (photo) Accidental
  • Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) (photo) Regular
  • Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Cassin's Sparrow (Aimophila cassinii) (photo) Accidental
  • Bachman's Sparrow (Aimophila 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 Sharp-tailed 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
  • Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (spec) Regular
  • Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) (spec) Regular
  • Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) (photo) Accidental
  • Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (spec) Regular

Family Cardinalidae: Neotropical Grosbeaks and Buntings

  • Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) (spec) Regular / B
  • Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
  • Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) (photo) 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: Bobolinks, 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 (Carduelis flammea) (spec) Regular
  • Hoary Redpoll (Carduelis hornemanni) (photo) Accidental
  • Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus) (spec) Regular / b
  • American Goldfinch (Carduelis 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
Part 2

 

Footnotes

9 Swainson's Warbler was last confirmed breeding in 1982, and has not been documented in the summer since 1988.

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