Great Nebraska

Naturalists and Scientists

Frank H. Shoemaker

The Birds of Omaha, Jan.-Apr, 1899


THE BIRDS OF OMAHA

A list of the species observed in and observed in and about the city of Omaha

——-

Order PYGOPODES–The Diving Birds

Family PODICIPIDAE–The Grebes

1 Aechmophorus occidentalie (Lawr.)–Western Grebe

Occasional migrant.

4 Colymbus nigricollis californicus (Haerm.)–American Eared Grebe.

Common migrant and occasional summer resident

6 Podilyabus podiceps (Linn.)–Pied-billed Grebe.

Abundant migrant; common summer resident

Family URINATORIDAE–The Loona

7 Urinator imber (Gunn.)–Loon

Migrant, not common.

11 Urinator lumme (Gunn.)–Red-throated Loon.

Rare migrant

Order LONGIPENNES–The Long-winged Orinmere

Family LARIDAE–The Gulls and Terns

51a Larus argentatus suithsonius Coues–American Herring Gull.

Migrant, not common

54 Larus delawarensis Ord–Ring-billed Gull.

Fairly common migrant.

58 Larus atricilla Linn.–Laughing Gull.

Rare migrant

59 Larus franklinii Sw. & Rich.–Franklin’s Gull.

Fairly common migrant.

69 Sterna forsteri Nutt.–Forster’s Tern.

Occasional migrant.

70 Sterna hirundo Linn.–Common Tern.

Rare migrant.

74 Sterna antillarum (Less.)–Least Tern.

Common migrant; occasional summer resident

77 Hydrochelidon nigra surinamensis (Gmel.)–Black Tern.

Common migrant; fairly common summer resident.

Order STEGANOPODES—The Totipalmate Swimmers

Family ANHINGIDAE–The Darters

118 Anhinga anhinga (Linn.)–Anhinga.

Accidental visitor; a single specimen shot near Omaha several years ago.

Family PHALACROCORACIDAE– -The Cormorants

120 Phalacrocorax dilophus (Swain.)–Double-crested Cormorant.

Migrant, not common.

120a Phalacrocorax dilophus floridanus (Aud.)–Florida Cormorant.

Rare migrant.

Family PELECANIDAE–The Pelicans

125 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmel.–American White Pelican

Fairly common migrant

126 Pelecanus fuscus Linn.–Brown Pelican.

Rare migrant.

Order ANSERES–The Short-winged Swimmers

Family ANATIDAE–The Ducks, Brants, Geese, and Swans

129 Merganser americanus (Cass.)–American Merganser.

Common migrant.

130 Merganser serrator (Linn.)–Red-breasted Merganser.

Migrant, not common.

131 Lophodytes cucullatus (Linn.)–Hooded Merganser.

Migrant, not common.

132 Anas boschas Linn.—Mallard.

Abundant migrant; rare summer resident.

133 Anas obscura Gmel. – – Black Duck.

Migrant, not common

135 Anas strepera Linn.–Gadwell.

Common migrant.

136 Anas Penelope Linn.–Widgeon.

Seen at rare intervals in the markets, but probably brought from a distance.

137 Anas americana Gmel.–American Widgeon.

Common migrant.

139 Anas carolinensis Gmel.–Green-winged Teal.

Common migrant.

140 Anas discors Linn.–Blue-winged Teal.

Abundant migrant; rare summer resident.

141 Anas cyanoptera Vieill.–Cinnamon Teal.

Rare migrant.

142 Spatula clypeats (Linn.)–Shoveller.

Common migrant.

143 Dafila acuta (Linn.)—Pintail.

Abundant migrant.

144 Aix sponsa (Linn.)–Wood Duck.

Common migrant; occasional summer resident.

146 Aythya americana (Eyt.)–Red-head Duck.

Abundant migrant.

147 Aythya vallisneria (Wils.)—–Canvas-back Duck.

Common migrant.

148 Aythya marila nearctica Stejn.–Scaup Duck.

Common migrant.

149 Aythya affinis (Eyt.)–Lesser Scaup Duck.

Common migrant.

150 Aythya collaris (Donov.)–Ring-necked Duck.

Fairly common migrant.

151 Glaucionetta clangula americana (Bonap.)—Golden-eye.

Fairly common migrant.

152 Glaucionetta islandica (Gmel.)—Barrow’s Golden-eye.

Rare migrant.

153 Charitonetta albeola (Linn.)—Buffle-head.

Fairly common migrant.

154 Clangula hyemalis (Linn.)—Old-squaw Duck.

Found in market; doubtful.

155 Histrionicus histrionicus (Linn.)–Harlequin Duck.

“A rare migrant; two seen which were killed on the Missouri river. September 16th, 1893; one also killed on September 19th. 1895, on Florence Lake.” (Trostler)

167 Erismatura rubida (Wils.)—Ruddy Duck.

Irregular migrant.

169 Chen hyperborean (Pall.)–Lesser Snow Goose.

Abundant migrant.

169a Chen hyperborean nivalis (Forst.)–Greater Snow Goose.

Fairly common migrant.

169.1 Chen coerulescens (Linn.)–Blue Goose.

Migrant, not common.

171a Anser albifrons gambeli (Hartl.)–American White-fronted Goose.

Common migrant.

172 Branta Canadensis (Linn.)–Canada Goose.

Abundant migrant.

172a Branta Canadensis hutchinsii (Rich.)—Hutchins’ Goose.

Common migrant.

173 Branta bernicla (Linn.)–Brant.

Rare migrant.

180 Olor columbianus (Ord)–Whistling Swan.

Rare migrant.

181 Olor buchinator (Rich.)—Trumpeter Swam.

Rare migrant.

Order HERODIONES–The Herons, Bitterns, Cranes, etc.

Family IBIDAE–The Ibises

186 Plegadis autumnalis (Hasselq.)—Glossy Ibis.

Accidental.

187 Plegadis guarauna (Linn.)–White-faced Glossy Ibis.

“A straggler killed on Florence Lake, August 19th, 1893.”

(Trostler)

Family ARDEIDAE–The Herons and Bitterns

190 Botaurus lentiginosus (Montag.)–American Bittern.

Common migrant; rare summer resident.

191 Ardetta exilis (Gmelin)–Least Bittern.

Common migrant; common summer resident.

194 Ardea Herodias Linn.–Great Blue Heron.

Common migrant; occasional summer resident.

196 Ardea egretta Gmelin–Great White Egret.

“A straggler was killed near Omaha, July 12th. 1894.” (Trostler)

197 Ardea candidissima Gmelin                                                   (Bruner)

?

200 Ardea coerulea Linn.–Little Blue Heron.

Rare migrant; possibly summer resident.

201 Ardea virescens (Linn.)–Great Heron.

Common summer resident.

202 Nycticorax nycticorax naevius (Bodd.)—Black-crowned Night Heron.

Rare migrant. Summer resident ? (Skow)

203 Nycticorax violaceus (Linn.)–Yellow-crowned Night Heron.

?

(Trostler)

Order PALUDICOLAE–The Cranes, Rails, etc.

Family GRUIDAE–The Cranes

204 Grus americana (Linn.)–Whooping Crane.

Common migrant.

205 Grus canadensis (Linn.)–Little Brown Crane.

Rare Migrant.

206 Grus mexicana (Mull.)–Sandhill Crane.

Common migrant.

Family RALLIDAE–The Rails, Coots, and Gallinules

208 Rallus elegans Aud.–King Rail.

Summer resident, not common.

212 Rallus virginianus Linn.–Virginia Rail.

Common migrant.

214 Porzana Carolina (Linn.)–Carolina Rail.

Common migrant.

215 Porzana noveboracensis (Gmelin)–Yellow Rail.

Market.

216 Porzana jamaicensis (Gmelin)–Black Rail.

Market.

219 Gallinula galeata (Licht.)–Florida Gallinule.

Common migrant and summer resident.

221 Fulica americana Gmelin–Coot.

Abundant migrant; formerly a common summer resident.

Order LIMICOLAE–The Shore Birds

Family PHALAROPIDAE–The Phalaropes

223 Phalaropus lobatus (Linn.)–Northern Phalarope.

Rare migrant.

224 Phalaropus tricolor (Vieill.)–Wilson’s Phalarope.

Common migrant.

Family RECURVIROSTRIDAE–The Avocets and Stilts

225 Recurvirostra amerciana Gmelin–American Avocet.

Fairly common migrant.

226 Himantopus mexicanus (Mull.)–Black-necked Stilt.

Migrant, not common.

Family SCOLOPACIDAE–The Snipes, Sandpipers, etc.

228 Philohela minor (Gmelin)—American Woodcock.

Rare summer resident and uncommon migrant.

230 Gallinago delicate (Ord)–Wilson’s Snipe.

Common migrant.

231 Macrorhamphus griseus (Gmelin)–Red-breasted Snipe.

Common migrant.

232 Macrorhamphus scolopaceus (Say)—Long-billed Dowitcher.

Migrant, not common.

233 Micropalama himantopus (Bonap.)–Stilt Sandpiper.

Migrant, not common.

234 Tringa canutus Linn.–Knot.

“A very rare migrant; one killed on Missouri river by a gunner September 30th, 1893.” (Trostler)

239 Tringa maculate Vieill—Jack Snipe.

Common migrant.

240 Tringa fuscicollis Vieill–White-rumped Sandpiper.

Rare migrant.

241 Tringa bairdii (Coues)–Baird’s Sandpiper.

Migrant, not common.

242 Tringa minutilla Vieill–Least Sandpiper.

Abundant migrant.

243a Tringa alpine pacifica (Coues)–Red-backed Sandpiper.

Fairly common migrant.

246 Eureunetes pusillus (Linn.)–Semipalmated Sandpiper.

Common migrant.

247 Eureunetes occidentalis Lawr.–Western Sandpiper.

?

248 Calidris arenaria (Linn.)–Sanderling.

Fairly common migrant.

249 Limosa fedoa (Linn.)–Marbled Godwit.

Common migrant.

254 Totanus melanoleucus (Gmel.)–Greater Yellow-legs.

Abundant migrant.

255 Totanus flavipes (Gmel.)–Yellow-legs.

Abundant migrant.

256 Totanus solitaries (Wils.)–Solitary Sandpiper.

Common migrant.

258a Symphemia semipalmata inornata Brewster–Western Willet.

Migrant, not common.

261 Bartramia longicauda (Bechst.)–Bartramian Sandpiper.

Common migrant, occasional summer resident.

262 Tringites subruficollis (Vieill)–Buff-breasted Sandpiper.

Rare migrant.

263 Acitus maoularia (Linn.)–Spotted Sandpiper.

Abundant migrant, common summer resident.

264 Numenius longirostris Wils.–Long-billed Curlew.

Common migrant.

265 Numenius hudsoniucus Lath.–Hudsonian Curlew.

Rare migrant.

266 Numenius borealis (Forst.)–Eskimo Curlew.

Common migrant.

Family CHARADRIIDAE–The Plovers

270 Charadrius squatarola (Linn.)–Black-bellied Plover.

Rare migrant.

272 Charadrius dominicus Mull.–Golden Plover.

Common migrant.

273 Aegialitus vocifera (Linn.)–Killdeer.

Abundant migrant, common summer resident.

274 Aegialitis semipalmata Bonap.–Semipalmated Plover.

Common migrant.

277a Aegialitis meloda circumcincta Ridgw.–Belted Piping Plover.

Rare migrant.

Order GALLINAE–The Gallinaceous Birds

Family TETRAONIDAE–The Grouse, Partridges, etc.

289 Colinus virginianus (Linn.)–Quail.

Formerly an abundant resident; still common, but numbers diminishing.

300 Bonasa umbellus (Linn.)–Ruffed Grouse

“Rare resident; one killed near Florence, November 4th, 1894, and several killed near Bellevue during winter of 1893.” (Trostler.)

305 Tympanuchus americana (Reich.)—Pinnated Grouse.

Resident, not common. Formerly abundant.

Meleagris gallopavo–

?

Order COLUMBAE–The Pigeons and Doves

Family COLUMBIDAE–The Pigeons

315 Ectopistes migratorius (Linn.)–Passenger Pigeon.

“A flock of fifteen was seen by Geo. W. Sabine, of Omaha, flying over his residence November 28th 1895.” (Trostler.)

316 Zenaidura macrouna (Linn.)–Mourning Dove.

Abundant summer resident.

 

Order RAPTORES–The Birds of Prey

Family CATHARTIDAE–The American Vultures

325 Cathartes aura (Linn.)–Turkey Vulture.

Fairly common summer resident. Several pairs nest each year in the woods south of Omaha.

Family FALCONIDAE–The Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc.

327 Elanoides forficatus (Linn.)–Swallow-tailed Kite.

Rare summer resident.

1899

Jan. 15 – Omaha
Hanscom Park
crow
chickadee
brown creeper

Mar. 19 – Omaha
Griffin Farm
crow
bluejay
prairie horned lark
Lapland longapur

Mar. 26 – Omaha
Griffin Farm
crow
bluejay
prairie horned lark
Lapland longspur

Apr. 9 – Omaha
Hanscom Park; Griffin Farm
crow
bluejay
chickadee
brown creeper
red-headed woodpecker
robin
red-tailed hawk
goldfinch
white-rumped shrike
wn. Meadowlark
prairie horned lark
field sparrow
slate-colored junco
chipping sparrow
tree sparrow
flicker
bluebird
downy woodpecker

Apr. 14 – Omaha
Hanscom Park
robin
flicker
bluejay
chipping sparrow
chickadee
slate-colored junco
tree sparrow
screech owl
downy woodpecker
crow
Oregon junco

Apr. 16 – Omaha
Hanscom Park
chipping sparrow
flicker
brown creeper
crow
chickadee
downy woodpecker
goldfinch
slate-colored junco
bluejay
robin
golden-crowned kinglet
red-bellied woodpecker

Apr. 22 – Omaha
Hanscom Park, Griffin Farm, Saddle Creek, Seymour Lake
chipping sparrow
golden-crowned kinglet
goldfinch
red-headed woodpecker
robin
downy woodpecker
brown creeper
flicker
cowbird
mourning dove
chickadee
field sparrow
bluejay
prairie horned lark
wn. meadowlark

300 Bonasa umbellus (Linn.)–Ruffed Grouse

“Rare resident; one killed near Florence, November 4th, 1894, and several killed near Bellevue during winter of 1893.” (Trostler.)

305 Tympanuchus americana (Reich.)—Pinnated Grouse.

Resident, not common. Formerly abundant.

Meleagris gallopavo–

?

Order COLUMBAE–The Pigeons and Doves

Family COLUMBIDAE–The Pigeons

315 Ectopistes migratorius (Linn.)–Passenger Pigeon.

“A flock of fifteen was seen by Geo. W. Sabine, of Omaha, flying over his residence November 28th 1895.” (Trostler.)

316 Zenaidura macrouna (Linn.)–Mourning Dove.

Abundant summer resident.

 

Order RAPTORES–The Birds of Prey

Family CATHARTIDAE–The American Vultures

325 Cathartes aura (Linn.)–Turkey Vulture.

Fairly common summer resident. Several pairs nest each year in the woods south of Omaha.

Family FALCONIDAE–The Falcons, Hawks, Eagles, etc.

327 Elanoides forficatus (Linn.)–Swallow-tailed Kite.

Rare summer resident.