This is this official Illinois State List of Birds. The list 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 it by observers and others. Such evidence may include an identifiable specimen, photograph, a digital or electronic image, video or audio tape recording, and/or written documentation. See the Illinois Ornithological Records Committee page for more information about IORC. The taxonomy and nomenclature used here follow the seventh edition of the American Ornithologists’ Union checklist (AOU 1998) and its supplements (through the 65th supplement, Chesser et al 2024, issued July 2024).
A total of 457 species and one species group have been officially recorded in the state as of July 2024. The species group is California/Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay. Represented on the list are 62 families and 21 orders of birds.
Literature Cited
American Ornithologists’ Union. 1998. Check-list of North American Birds. 7th edition. American Ornithologists’ Union, Washington, D.C.
Chesser, R.T., S.M. Billerman, K.J. Burns, C. Cicero, J.L. Dunn, B.E. Hernández-Baños, R.A. Jiménez, O. Johnson, A.W. Kratter, N.A. Mason, P.C. Rasmussen, and J.V. Remsen, Jr. 2024. Sixty-fifth supplement to the American Ornithological Society’s Check-list of North American Birds. Ornithology 141.
IOS Field Checklist (PDF)
KEY:
Evidence Type
-
- photo = photograph
- audio = audio recording
- spec = specimen
- doc = written documentation
Status Information
-
- Regular = Recorded within the state with at least eight records in the previous 10 years and thought to be probable to maintain that rate of records, including those species that are very local and those that cannot be located reliably anywhere in the state. Most species in this category are expected within the state annually.
- Casual = Not meeting the requirements for Regular status, with at least six records in the state and at least three records in the previous ten years.
- Accidental = Either less than six records in the state, or less than three records in the past ten years.
- Accidental (provisional) = Having accepted records, none of which are based on specimen or physical evidence and all of which are documented by no more than one observer.
- Extirpated = Formerly Regular in Illinois but which have not been recorded in the state in the previous 50 years.
- Extinct = Has occurred in the state but no longer exists.
Breeding Information
-
- For species that have bred in Illinois, an additional notation appears in the entry, following a slash (“/”). Where breeding is restricted to a region of the state, this is indicated by enclosed in parentheses a letter(s) indicated the region (e.g. N for north, NE for northeast, etc.)
- 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.
Recent Additions: Barnacle Goose, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Limpkin, Common Ringed Plover, Little Stint, Wandering Tattler, Brown Booby, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Red-naped Sapsucker, Crested Caracara, Western Flycatcher, Small-billed Elaenia, Great Kiskadee, Cassin’s Kingbird, Cassin’s Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, European Goldfinch, Lesser Goldfinch, Painted Redstart
Recent Removals: Western Gull
Recent Removal due to Taxonomy Changes in the 65th AOS Check-list Supplement: Hoary Redpoll (lumped with Common Redpoll with the combined species known now as Redpoll)
Recent Removal due to Taxonomy Changes in the 58th AOS Check-list Supplement: Thayer’s Gull (lumped with Iceland Gull)
Recent Additions/Removals due to Taxonomy Changes in the 57th AOU Check-list Supplement: Green Violetear replaced with Mexican Violetear, Western Scrub-Jay replaced with California/Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay
Order: Anseriformes
Family: Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna autumnalis) (spec) Regular / b
- Fulvous Whistling-Duck (Dendrocygna bicolor) (photo) Accidental
- Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) (spec) Regular / b (cross-breeding)
- Ross’s Goose (Anser rossii) (spec) Regular
- Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) (spec) Regular
- Brant (Branta bernicla) (spec) Casual
- Barnacle Goose (Branta leucopsis) (photo) Accidental
- Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) (spec) Regular
- Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
- Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) (spec) Regular (reintroduced, established) / B
- Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) (spec) Regular
- Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) (spec) Regular / B
- Garganey (Spatula querquedula) (photo) Accidental
- Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) (spec) Regular / B
- Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) (photo) Regular
- Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) (spec) Regular / b
- Gadwall (Mareca strepera) (spec) Regular / b
- Eurasian Wigeon (Mareca penelope) (spec) Casual
- American Wigeon (Mareca americana) (spec) Regular
- Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (spec) Regular / B
- American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) (spec) Regular / b
- Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula) (photo) Casual
- Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) (spec) Regular / b
- Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) (spec) Regular / b
- Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) (spec) Regular / b (NE)
- Redhead (Aythya americana) (spec) Regular / b
- Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) (spec) Regular
- Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula) (photo) Accidental
- Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) (spec) Regular
- Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) (spec) Regular / b
- King Eider (Somateria spectabilis) (spec) Accidental
- Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) (photo) Accidental
- Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) (photo) Regular
- Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) (spec) Regular
- White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) (spec) Regular
- Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) (spec) Regular
- Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (spec) Regular
- Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) (spec) Regular
- Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) (spec) Regular
- Barrow’s Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) (spec) Casual
- Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) (spec) Regular / B
- Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) (spec) Regular
- Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) (spec) Regular / b (NE)
- Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) (spec) Regular / B
Order: Galliformes
Family: Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
- Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Phasianidae (Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail)
- Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) (spec) Regular / B 3
- Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) (spec) Extirpated / (B) 1
- Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) (spec) Extirpated / (b) (N)
- Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) (spec) Regular (SE, local) / B (endangered) 2
- Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) (spec) Accidental (N, introduced) / b
- Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
Order: Podicipediformes
Family: Podicipedidae (Grebes)
- Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) (spec) Regular / B
- Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) (spec) Regular / (b)
- Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) (spec) Regular
- Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) (spec) Regular / b (NE)
- Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) (spec) Regular
- Clark’s Grebe (Aechmophorus clarkii) (doc) Accidental
Order: Columbiformes
Family: Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
- Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
- Passenger Pigeon (Ectopistes migratorius) (spec) Extinct / (B)
- Band-tailed Pigeon (Patagioenas fasciata) (photo) Accidental
- Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B 4
- Inca Dove (Columbina inca) (photo) Accidental
- Common Ground-Dove (Columbina passerina) (spec) Accidental
- White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) (spec) Regular
- Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) (spec) Regular / B
Order: Cuculiformes
Family: Cuculidae (Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis)
- Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris) (spec) Accidental
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) (spec) Regular / B
- Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)
Order: Caprimulgiformes
Family: Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)
- Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) (spec) Regular / B
- Chuck-will’s-widow (Antrostomus carolinensis) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)
- Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) (spec) Regular / B
Order: Apodiformes
Family: Apodidae (Swifts)
- Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
- Mexican Violetear (Colibri thallasinus) (photo) Accidental
- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) (spec) Regular / B
- Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna) (photo) Accidental
- Rufous Hummingbird (Selasphorus rufus) (spec) Regular
- Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin) (spec) Accidental 5
- Broad-tailed Hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus) (photo) Accidental
- Broad-billed Hummingbird (Cynanthus latirostris) (spec) Accidental 6
Order: Gruiformes
Family: Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
- King Rail (Rallus elegans) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) (spec) Regular / B
- Sora (Porzana carolina) (spec) Regular / B
- Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- American Coot (Fulica americana) (spec) Regular / B
- Purple Gallinule (Porphyrio martinicus) (spec) Casual / b (S)
- Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) (spec) Regular / (b) (N)
- Black Rail (Laterallus jamaicensis) (spec) Casual / b (endangered)
Family: Aramidae (Limpkins)
- Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) (spec) Accidental
Family: Gruidae (Cranes)
- Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Whooping Crane (Grus americana) (spec) Accidental
Order: Charadriiformes
Family: Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
- Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) (spec) Regular / B
- American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) (spec) Regular
Family: Charadriidae (Lapwings and Plovers)
- Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) (spec) Regular
- American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) (spec) Regular
- Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) (spec) Regular / B
- Common Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula) (photo, audio) Accidental
- Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) (spec) Regular
- Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) (spec) Regular / b (endangered, State and Federal)
- Wilson’s Plover (Anarhynchus wilsonia) (photo) Accidental
- Mountain Plover (Anarhynchus montanus) (photo) Accidental
- Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus) (photo) Casual
Family: Scolopacidae (Sandpipers)
- Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) (spec) Regular
- Eskimo Curlew (Numenius borealis) (spec) Extinct
- Long-billed Curlew (Numenius americanus) (spec) Accidental / (b)
- Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) (spec) Regular
- Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) (spec) Regular
- Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) (spec) Regular
- Red Knot (Calidris canutus) (spec) Regular (rufa subspecies threatened)
- Ruff (Calidris pugnax) (photo) Regular
- Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Calidris acuminata) (photo) Accidental
- Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) (spec) Regular
- Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea) (photo) Accidental
- Sanderling (Calidris alba) (spec) Regular
- Dunlin (Calidris alpina) (spec) Regular
- Purple Sandpiper (Calidris maritima) (spec) Casual
- Baird’s Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) (spec) Regular
- Little Stint (Calidris minuta) (photo) Accidental
- Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) (spec) Regular
- White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) (spec) Regular
- Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) (spec) Regular
- Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) (spec) Regular
- Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) (spec) Regular
- Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri) (spec) Regular
- Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) (spec) Regular
- Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) (spec) Regular
- American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) (spec) Regular / B
- Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) (spec) Regular / B
- Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) (spec) Regular / B
- Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) (spec) Regular
- Wandering Tattler (Tringa incana) (photo) Accidental
- Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) (spec) Regular
- Willet (Tringa semipalmata) (spec) Regular
- Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) (spec) Regular
- Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) (spec) Regular / b (NE) (endangered)
- Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) (spec) Regular
- Red Phalarope (Phalaropus fulicarius) (spec) Regular
Family: Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
- Pomarine Jaeger (Stercorarius pomarinus) (photo) Accidental 8
- Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) (spec) Regular 8
- Long-tailed Jaeger (Stercorarius longicaudus) (photo) Casual 8
Family: Alcidae (Auks, Murres, and Puffins)
- Dovekie (Alle alle) (doc) Accidental
- Ancient Murrelet (Synthliboramphus antiquus) (spec) Accidental
Family: Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
- Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla) (spec) Regular
- Ivory Gull (Pagophila eburnea) (photo) Accidental
- Sabine’s Gull (Xema sabini) (spec) Regular
- Bonaparte’s Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) (spec) Regular
- Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) (photo) Accidental
- Little Gull (Hydrocoloeus minutus) (photo) Regular
- Ross’s Gull (Rhodostethia rosea) (photo) Accidental
- Laughing Gull (Leucophaeus atricilla) (spec) Regular
- Franklin’s Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) (spec) Regular
- Black-tailed Gull (Larus crassirostris) (photo) Accidental
- Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus) (photo) Casual
- Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) (spec) Regular / B
- California Gull (Larus californicus) (photo) Regular
- Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) (spec) Regular / B
- Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) (photo) Regular
- Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) (photo) Regular
- Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus) (photo) Accidental
- Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens) (photo) Accidental
- Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) (spec) Regular
- Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) (spec) Regular
- Sooty Tern (Onychoprion fuscatus) (spec) Accidental
- Least Tern (Sternula antillarum) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Large-billed Tern (Phaetusa simplex) (doc) Accidental
- Gull-billed Tern (Gelochelidon nilotica) (photo) Accidental
- Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) (spec) Regular / B
- Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea) (photo) Casual
- Forster’s Tern (Sterna forsteri) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Royal Tern (Thalasseus maximus) (photo) Casual
- Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis) (photo) Accidental
- Black Skimmer (Rynchops niger) (photo) Accidental
Order: Gaviiformes
Family: Gaviidae (Loons)
- Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) (spec) Regular
- Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) (photo) Regular
- Common Loon (Gavia immer) (spec) Regular / (b) (N)
- Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) (spec) Accidental
Order: Ciconiiformes
Family: Ciconiidae (Storks)
- Wood Stork (Mycteria americana) (spec) Casual
Order: Suliformes
Family: Fregatidae (Frigatebirds)
- Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) (photo) Accidental
Family: Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
- Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster) (photo) Accidental
- Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) (doc) Accidental
Family: Anhingidae (Darters)
- Anhinga (Anhinga anhinga) (photo) Regular / b
Family: Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)
- Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) (spec) Regular / B
- Neotropic Cormorant (Nannopterum brasilianum) (spec) Regular
Order: Pelecaniformes
Family: Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
- American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) (spec) Regular / B
- Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis) (spec) Casual
Family: Ardeidae (Bitterns, Herons, and Allies)
- Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)
- American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) (spec) Regular / b (endangered)
- Little Blue Heron (Egretta caerulea) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Tricolored Heron (Egretta tricolor) (photo) Casual
- Reddish Egret (Egretta rufescens) (photo) Accidental
- Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Green Heron (Butorides virescens) (spec) Regular / B
- Great Egret (Ardea alba) (spec) Regular / B
- Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) (spec) Regular / B
- Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
- White Ibis (Eudocimus albus) (spec) Regular
- Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) (photo) Regular
- White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) (photo) Regular
- Roseate Spoonbill (Platalea ajaja) (photo) Casual
Order: Cathartiformes
Family: Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
- Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus) (photo) Regular / B (S) (local)
- Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) (spec) Regular / B
Order: Accipitriformes
Family: Pandionidae (Ospreys)
- Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
Family: Accipitridae (Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies)
- White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) (photo) Accidental
- Swallow-tailed Kite (Elanoides forficatus) (spec) Regular / (b)
- Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) (spec) Regular
- Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) (spec) Regular / b
- Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) (spec) Regular / B
- American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) (spec) Regular
- Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) (spec) Regular / B
- Mississippi Kite (Ictinia mississippiensis) (spec) Regular / B (S, local) (threatened)
- Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) (spec) Regular / B
- Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) (spec) Regular / B
- Swainson’s Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) (spec) Regular / B (NE, local) (endangered)
- Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) (spec) Regular
- Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis) (spec) Accidental
Order: Strigiformes
Family: Tytonidae (Barn Owls)
- American Barn Owl (Tyto furcata) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)
Family: Strigidae (Typical Owls)
- Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) (spec) Regular / B
- Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) (spec) Regular / B
- Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) (spec) Regular
- Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) (spec) Accidental
- Burrowing Owl (Athene cunicularia) (spec) Casual
- Barred Owl (Strix varia) (spec) Regular / B
- Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) (spec) Regular / b
- Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) (spec) Accidental
- Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) (spec) Regular / b
Order: Coraciiformes
Family: Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
- Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) (spec) Regular / B
Order: Piciformes
Family: Picidae (Woodpeckers and Allies)
- Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) (photo) Accidental
- Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) (spec) Regular / B
- Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) (spec) Regular / B
- Williamson’s Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus thyroideus) (doc) Accidental
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) (spec) Regular / b
- Red-naped Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus nuchalis) (photo) Accidental
- Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) (spec) Accidental
- Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) (spec) Regular / B
- Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Dryobates borealis) (photo) Accidental
- Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) (spec) Regular / B
- Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) (spec) Regular / B
- Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) (spec) Regular / B
Order: Falconiformes
Family: Falconidae (Caracaras and Falcons)
- Crested Caracara (Caracara plancus) (photo) Accidental
- American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) (spec) Regular / B
- Merlin (Falco columbarius) (spec) Regular / b
- Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) (spec) Casual
- Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) (spec) Regular / B 9
- Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) (spec) Regular
Order: Psittaciformes
Family: Psittacidae (African and New World Parrots)
- Monk Parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
- Carolina Parakeet (Conuropsis carolinensis) (spec) Extinct / (B)
Order: Passeriformes
Family: Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
- Small-billed Elaenia (Elaenia parvirostris) (photo) Accidental
- Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) (spec) Accidental
- Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) (spec) Regular / B
- Great Kiskadee (Pitangus sulphuratus) (photo) Accidental
- Tropical Kingbird (Tyrannus melancholicus) (photo) Accidental
- Cassin’s Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans) (photo) Accidental
- Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) (spec) Regular / B (local)
- Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) (spec) Regular / B
- Gray Kingbird (Tyrannus dominicensis) (photo) Accidental
- Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus) (photo) Regular / b
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana) (photo) Accidental
- Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) (spec) Regular
- Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) (spec) Regular / B
- Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) (spec) Regular
- Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) (spec) Regular / B
- Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) (spec) Regular
- Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) (spec) Regular / B
- Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) (spec) Regular / B (N)
- Western Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) (spec) Accidental
- Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) (spec) Regular / B
- Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) (photo) Casual
- Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) (photo) Accidental
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
- Cassin’s Vireo (Vireo cassinii) (doc) Accidental (provisional)
- Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) (spec) Regular / b
- Plumbeous Vireo (Vireo plumbeus) (photo) Accidental
- Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) (spec) Regular
- Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) (spec) Regular / B
- Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Laniidae (Shrikes)
- Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) (spec) Regular
Family: Corvidae (Crows and Jays)
- Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) (spec) Regular / B
- California/Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica/woodhouseii) (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) Accidental / (B)
Family: Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice)
- Carolina Chickadee (Poecile carolinensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) (spec) Regular / B
- Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) (spec) Accidental
- Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Alaudidae (Larks)
- Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Hirundinidae (Swallows)
- Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) (spec) Regular / B
- Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) (spec) Regular / B
- Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina) (photo) Accidental / b (cross-breeding, one record)
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) (spec) Regular / B
- Purple Martin (Progne subis) (spec) Regular / B
- Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (spec) Regular / B
- Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) (spec) Regular / B
- Cave Swallow (Petrochelidon fulva) (spec) Casual
Family: Regulidae (Kinglets)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) (spec) Regular
- Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) (spec) Regular / b (N)
Family: Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
- Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) (spec) Casual
- Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) (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
Family: Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens)
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Troglodytidae (Wrens)
- Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) (spec) Accidental
- Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) (spec) Regular / b (WC, local) (endangered)
- Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
- Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) (spec) Regular / B
- Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) (spec) Regular
- Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) (spec) Regular / B
- Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
- Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma curvirostre) (photo) Accidental
- Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) (spec) Regular / B
- Sage Thrasher (Oreoscoptes montanus) (photo) Casual
- Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Sturnidae (Starlings)
- European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
Family: Turdidae (Thrushes)
- Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) (spec) Regular / B
- Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) (photo) Casual
- Townsend’s Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) (spec) Regular
- Veery (Catharus fuscescens) (spec) Regular / B (N)
- 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: Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
- Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) (photo) Accidental
Family: Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
- House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
- Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
Family: Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
- American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) (spec) Regular
- Sprague’s Pipit (Anthus spragueii) (spec) Accidental
Family: Fringillidae (Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies)
- Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) (spec) Regular
- Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) (spec) Casual
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) (photo) Accidental
- House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
- Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) (spec) Regular / (b)
- Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) (spec) Regular
- Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (spec) Regular / b
- White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) (spec) Regular
- European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) (photo) Regular (introduced) / B
- Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) (spec) Regular / b
- Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria) (photo) Accidental
- American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Bunting)
- Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) (spec) Regular
- Chestnut-collared Longspur (Calcarius ornatus) (photo) Accidental
- Smith’s Longspur (Calcarius pictus) (spec) Regular
- Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) (spec) Regular
Family: Passerellidae (New World Sparrows)
- Cassin’s Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) (spec) Accidental
- Bachman’s Sparrow (Peucaea aestivalis) (spec) Extirpated / (b)
- Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) (spec) Regular / B
- Black-throated Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata) (photo) Accidental
- Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) (spec) Regular / B
- Lark Bunting (Calamospiza melanocorys) (spec) Casual
- Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) (spec) Regular / B
- Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) (spec) Regular / B (N, local)
- Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) (spec) Regular / B
- Brewer’s Sparrow (Spizella breweri) (spec) Accidental
- Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) (spec) Regular
- American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) (spec) Regular
- Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) (spec) Regular
- White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) (spec) Regular
- Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla) (spec) Casual
- Harris’s Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) (spec) Regular
- White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) (spec) Regular / b (NE)
- Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) (spec) Regular / B
- LeConte’s Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) (spec) Regular / (b) (N)
- Nelson’s Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) (spec) Regular
- Henslow’s Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) (spec) Regular / B
- Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) (spec) Regular / B
- Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) (spec) Regular
- Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) (spec) Regular / B
- Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) (photo) Accidental
- Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) (spec) Regular
- Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chats)
- Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Icteridae (Blackbirds)
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
- Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) (spec) Regular / B
- Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) (spec) Regular / B
- Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) (spec) Regular / B
- Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) (spec) Regular / B
- Bullock’s Oriole (Icterus bullockii) (photo) Accidental
- Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) (spec) Regular / B
- Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum) (photo) Accidental
- Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) (spec) Regular / B
- Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) (spec) Regular / B
- 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
Family: Parulidae (Wood-Warblers)
- Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) (spec) Regular / B
- Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum) (spec) Regular / B
- Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) (spec) Regular / B
- Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) (spec) Regular
- Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) (spec) Regular / b (N)
- Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) (spec) Regular / B
- Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) (spec) Regular / B
- Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) (spec) Regular / B
- Swainson’s Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) (spec) Casual / b (S) (endangered) 10
- Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) (spec) Regular
- Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) (spec) Regular
- Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) (spec) Regular / b
- Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) (spec) Regular
- MacGillivray’s Warbler (Geothlypis tolmiei) (spec) Accidental
- Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) (spec) Regular / b
- Kentucky Warbler (Geothlypis formosa) (spec) Regular / B
- Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) (spec) Regular / B
- Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) (spec) Regular / B
- American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) (spec) Regular / B
- Kirtland’s Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) (spec) Casual
- Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) (spec) Regular
- Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)
- Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (spec) Regular / B
- Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) (spec) Regular
- Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) (spec) Regular
- Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) (spec) Regular
- Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) (spec) Regular / B
- Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) (spec) Regular / B
- Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) (spec) Regular
- Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) (spec) Regular
- Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) (spec) Regular
- Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) (spec) Regular / B
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) (spec) Regular
- Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) (spec) Regular / B
- Prairie Warbler (Setophaga discolor) (spec) Regular / B
- Grace’s Warbler (Setophaga graciae) (photo) Accidental
- Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) (phot) Casual
- Townsend’s Warbler (Setophaga townsendi) (photo) Casual
- Hermit Warbler (Setophaga occidentalis) (photo) Accidental
- Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) (spec) Regular / b
- Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) (spec) Regular / b
- Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) (spec) Regular
- Painted Redstart (Myioborus pictus) (photo) Accidental
Family: Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
- 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) Regular
- Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) (spec) Regular / B
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
- Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) (spec) Accidental
- 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) Casual / b (local)
- Dickcissel (Spiza americana) (spec) Regular / B
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 Eurasian Collared-Doves have spread dramatically through Illinois since first recorded in 1996, and have established breeding populations known from several locations. The species was introduced into the Bahamas in 1974, and spread from there on its own to Florida by the late 1970’s. The Illinois population is the result of the explosive spread of this species through eastern North America. In addition, a population of African Collared-Doves (Streptopelia roseogrisea) has been present in the Joliet area since at least 19xx and dispersers from this population or other escapes have been recorded in most counties of northeastern Illinois. Because of taxonomic uncertainty regarding this form and the fact that most feral populations of African Collared-Doves elsewhere in North America have not proven to be self-sustaining, IORC does not consider African Collared-Dove to be a valid member of the established avifauna in Illinois.
5 Allen’s Hummingbird is represented by an incomplete specimen (ISM 660484, two tail feathers) and a series of photographs.
6 Broad-billed Hummingbird is represented by an incomplete specimen (ISM 660432, a tail feather) and a series of photographs.
7 The status of Accidental for Whooping Crane is based on records of naturally occurring birds. Recently there are regularly occurring records that involve individuals from the experimental migratory population. As the efforts to establish this population as self-sustaining have failed, the occurrence of individuals from it does not influence the species’ status in the state.
8 The status of the three species of jaegers in Illinois remains unclear, reflecting the paucity of accepted documentations, although the genus as a whole is certainly Regular. Historically, Parasitic has been thought to be by far the most frequent species, but recent evidence suggests that Pomarine and Long-tailed are less exceptional than formerly believed. We treat Parasitic Jaegers as regular. The very limited number of recent accepted records for the other two species leaves their status as less than regular. In view of the limited number of well-documented reports identified to species, the Committee will continue to review documentations for all jaegers identified to species until a clearer picture of the relative abundance and timing of migration emerges.
9 Peregrine Falcon was extirpated as a breeding species; the current breeding population is reintroduced.
10 Swainson’s Warbler was last confirmed breeding in Illinois in 1982. Apparent territorial males have been recorded in Jackson, Johnson, and Alexander Counties since 2007.