Birds of Illinois, Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows
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 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 44th supplement, Banks et al 2003, issued July 2003). A total of 442 species have been officially recorded in the state as of September, 2013.
The list is available for downloading as a Microsoft Word Document, a Rich Text Format Document, an Excel Spreadsheet*, or a PDF**. 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.
Recent Additions: White-crested/Small-billed Elaenia, Wandering Tattler
Recent Removals: Western Gull
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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.
Order Passeriformes (continued)
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, Crows, and Ravens)
- 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 hudsonicus) (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
Family: Troglodytidae (Wrens)
- Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) (spec) Casual
- House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) (spec) Regular / B
- Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) (spec) Regular
- Sedge Wren (Cistothorus platensis) (spec) Regular / B
- Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) (spec) Regular / B
- Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
- Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) (spec) Regular / B (endangered)
Family: Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Regulidae (Kinglets)
- Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) (spec) Regular / b (N)
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula) (spec) Regular
Family: Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
- Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) (photo) Accidental
Family: Turdidae (Thrushes)
- 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 (Mockingbirds, Catbirds, Thrashers)
[Back to Top]- 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) Accidental
- Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) (spec) Regular / B
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: 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: Parulidae (American 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 pinus) (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) Regular / b (S) (endangered) 10
- Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlyipis peregrina) (spec) Regular
- Orange-crowned Warbler (Oreothlyipis celata) (spec) Regular
- Nashville Warbler (Oreothlyipis 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 formosus) (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) Accidental
- Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) (spec) Regular
- Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) (spec) Regular / B (threatened)
- Northern Parula (Parula 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 / B
- Black-throated Gray Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens) (phot) Accidental
- Townsend's Warbler (Setophaga townsendi) (photo) Accidental
- 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
- Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) (spec) Regular / B
Family: Emberizidae (American Sparrows)
- Green-tailed Towhee (Pipilo chlorurus) (photo) Accidental
- Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) (photo) Regular
- Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) (spec) Regular / B
- Cassin's Sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) (photo) Accidental
- Bachman's Sparrow (Peucaea 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
- Le Conte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii) (spec) Regular / (b) (N)
- Nelson's 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
Family: Cardinalidae (Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings, and Dickcissel)
- 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
- Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) (spec) Regular / B
- Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) (spec) Regular / B
- Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus) (spec) 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 (Bobolink, Blackbirds, Meadowlarks, 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 (Finches)
- Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch (Leucosticte tephrocotis) (photo) Accidental
- Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) (spec) Casual
- House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) (spec) Regular (introduced) / B
- Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus) (spec) Regular / (b)
- Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) (spec) Regular / b
- White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) (spec) Regular
- Common Redpoll (Acanthis flammea) (spec) Regular
- Hoary Redpoll (Acanthis hornemanni) (photo) Accidental
- Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) (spec) Regular / b
- American Goldfinch (Spinus 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: Stilts and Avocets to Shrikes
Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows 
Footnotes
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.
Birds of Illinois, Part 3: Vireos to Old World Sparrows