| APPENDIX F. Details on general and special habitat features
required or preferred by grassland bird species. |
|
| Species are arranged into groups based on general habitat requirements,
as in Table 5. Species of management concern
are shown in bold. |
|
| SHORTGRASS SPECIES: a |
| |
Killdeer |
Bare ground/rocks/gravel, mudflats, short vegetation (if any);
also various types of pavement. |
| |
Horned lark |
Prefers habitats with very short and sparse vegetation or bare
soil (e.g., plowed agricultural fields, heavily grazed pasture,
dry prairies); early nester. |
| |
Common nighthawk |
Areas with short, sparse grass cover or bare soil are preferred,
often sandy or gravelly ground with rocky knolls, tolerates some
scattered woody vegetation (e.g., dry or sand prairies, barrens).
Also flat, gravel rooftops. |
| |
Vesper sparrow |
Some bare ground required, sparse or short vegetation (e.g., row
crops, fallow fields, barrens); elevated song perches (tree, shrub,
forb, fence, etc.) frequently used. |
| |
Grasshopper sparrow |
Some bare soil required; most common in habitats with relatively
short (5-20 cm height-density) vegetation and fairly diverse structure.
Can inhabit taller grass habitats if vegetation is patchy and not
overly dense. Stiff-stemmed forbs used for song perches. |
| |
Upland sandpiper |
Short to medium height grasslands (5-35 cm height-density); shortgrass
especially important for brood-rearing and foraging; makes frequent
use of perching posts. Tends to prefer large, open fields (&ge100
acres). |
| |
Western meadowlark |
Likes relatively short, open, idle or grazed grasslands; only
a limited amount (<5% cover) of scattered woody vegetation above
1 m tall is tolerated; fencelines, forbs, and posts, etc. used for
perches. Tends to prefer habitats with less woody cover and shorter
vegetation height-density than eastern meadowlark. | |
|
| MIDGRASS SPECIES: a |
| |
Savannah sparrow |
A habitat generalist. Occurs in habitats with a broad range of
vegetation structure; most common in fairly lush, short to medium
height grasslands (e.g., hay, pasture). Often uses stiff-stemmed
forbs for song perches. Does not require significant standing residual
vegetation in the spring. |
| |
Eastern meadowlark |
Generalist species, occurring in a variety of habitats. Prefers
idle or lightly grazed, grass-dominated habitats with stiff-stemmed
forbs; other structures and scattered trees, saplings, and shrubs
also readily used for perches when available. Herbaceous vegetation
typically 10-35 cm height-density; prefers a dense litter layer. |
| |
Bobolink |
Generalist; prefers habitats with lush herbaceous vegetation of
medium to tall height-density; readily uses a variety of perches
(e.g., forbs, shrubs, occasionally trees) for singing. Does not
require standing residual vegetation in spring. |
| |
Dickcissel |
Prefers upland grasslands with medium to tall height-density and
a significant component of forbs (some stiff-stemmed); forbs, sparse
woody vegetation, fences, and utility lines are readily used for
singing perches. Arrives and nests late. |
|
|
| TALLGRASS SPECIES: a |
| |
Le Conte's sparrow |
Occurs in relatively tall, dense vegetation, typically sedge meadows,
but also northern uplands such as idle grasslands or grass hay;
prefers abundant residual vegetation. |
| |
Red-winged blackbird |
Very generalized nesting habitat but most common in habitats
with relatively tall, dense vegetation. |
| |
Yellow rail |
Specialist; occurs in large (>100 acre) expanses of sedge-dominated
meadows (typically narrow-leaved varieties), mainly in the north;
few scattered shrubs tolerated; abundant residual vegetation preferred. |
| |
Nelson's sharp-tailed sparrow |
Specialist; mainly restricted to large sedge meadows (especially
those dominated by narrow-leaved sedges) in the extreme north and
northwest parts of the state; likes abundant residual vegetation.
Similar habitat to that preferred by yellow rails. |
| |
Henslow's sparrow |
Prefers habitats with tall to moderately tall, dense vegetation
(grass-dominated); prefers habitat with tall standing residual vegetation
and a dense litter layer in spring. Some shrubs tolerated; woody
cover above 1 m typically <2%. |
| |
Common yellowthroat |
Requires relatively tall, dense vegetation. Shrub component preferred
but not necessary (when shrubs are present, herbaceous vegetation
can be shorter). Abundant residual vegetation preferred. Tends to
prefer wet sites, but occurs in uplands as well. |
| |
Sedge wren |
Occurs most frequently in habitats on upland or lowland sites
with homogeneous stands of tall, dense vegetation (grass or sedge-dominated);
typically requires abundant litter. Variable breeding phonology;
may nest late. |
| |
Swamp sparrow |
Tall, dense vegetation (grass or sedge-dominated), with or without
shrubs; most common in wet sites; abundant residual vegetation preferred.
Most common in cattail-dominated emergent marshes. |
|
|
SPECIES REQUIRING WOODY VEGETATION OR OTHER NESTING STRUCTURE: |
| |
Cattle egret |
Pastures, idle short grass; trees or shrubs needed for nesting. |
| |
Red-tailed hawk |
Woodlot or mature trees for nesting and perching; adjacent grasslands
used for foraging. |
| |
American kestrel |
Mature trees with cavities or nest boxes near grasslands for foraging. |
| |
Gray partridge |
Occurs in relatively open cultivated agricultural landscapes;
grassy nest cover is typically near brushy fencerows, hedgerows,
and shrub clumps used for escape cover. Grains and weed seeds needed
for winter food. |
| |
Ring-necked pheasant |
Most common in tall grassy nest cover with standing residual vegetation
present in spring; requires winter food (corn/sorghum) and cover
(shrub carr or cattail marsh, dense standing residual vegetation,
upland brushy areas). |
| |
Northern bobwhite |
Idle grasslands, old fields preferred for nesting and foraging;
rowcrops and small grains used for foraging; shrubs, brush piles,
brushy hedgerows, etc. needed for escape cover and roosting; grains
required for winter food. |
| |
Mourning dove |
Likes some bare ground; patchy vegetation used for nesting and
foraging; adjacent woody cover used for perching and also for nesting. |
| |
Red-headed woodpecker |
Generalist; requires mature trees for nesting cavities. Most characteristic
of landscapes with scattered open-grown trees. |
| |
Mourning dove |
Prefers lowland habitats with shrubs north of the tension zone
(e.g., alder swamps, bogs, stream edges). |
| |
Willow flycatcher |
Prefers lowland habitats with shrubs (especially willow-dominated
shrub swamps), but also occurs in upland habitats with shrubs. Occurs
mostly south of the tension zone. |
| |
Eastern kingbird |
Generalist; occurs in a variety of relatively open habitats and
habitats with scattered shrubs or trees, edges between wooded and
grassland habitats; both upland and lowland sites. At least one
sapling or tree required (for nesting and perching). |
| |
Barn swallow |
Generalized foraging habitat, often over forages over low grasslands
and crop fields; nesting structure required (e.g., bridge, barn). |
| |
Eastern bluebird |
Tree cavity or nest box required for nesting; perches used for
foraging; open to somewhat open habitats with relatively short grass
vegetation are typically preferred for foraging. |
| |
Loggerhead shrike |
Requires some—or at least one—shrubs, saplings, or small
trees (usually spiny or thorny) for nesting, perching, and impaling
prey (e.g., hawthorn, plum, red cedar, apple, crabapple); prefers
idle to lightly grazed shortgrass to midgrass habitats for foraging.
Also perches on wires; impales prey on barbed wire. |
| |
Bell's vireo |
Prefers clumps of shrubs or saplings, or shrubby edges of small
woods for nesting, with adjacent grassland or herbaceous cover.
Often nests near water or wetlands or in lowland sites (e.g., draws
or shallow ravines), but also regularly nests in uplands. |
| |
Clay-colored sparrow |
Scattered or locally dense shrubs (typically 1-25% woody cover
above 1m tall) in an idle grassland context. Inhabits both upland
or lowland sites. |
| |
Field sparrow |
Scattered shrubs or saplings (typically 1-25% woody cover above
1 m tall) mixed with idle grassland; also shrubby woods edge. Prefers
dry, upland sites. |
| |
Lark sparrow |
Habitat specialist. Strongly prefers sites with bare soil or sand
blows (e.g., sand prairie) and short, sparse herbaceous vegetation;
prefers habitats with a few scattered shrubs or small saplings. |
| |
Song sparrow |
Generalist; shrub component preferred but not necessary (when
shrubs are not present vegetation must be relatively tall and dense);
often some bare soil; stiff-stemmed forbs used frequently for perching
and singing. |
| |
Brewer's blackbird |
Prefers short to moderate height grassland with some bare soil
(often on recently burned or plowed sites) and typically with a
light litter layer. Scattered shrubs, trees, saplings, and snags
often used for perching, but does not require woody vegetation in
nesting fields. |
| |
Common grackle |
Generalist; cultivated cropland and relatively short grassland
used for foraging; conifers, deciduous shrubs and small trees, and
cattails used for nesting. |
| |
Brown-headed cowbird |
Generalist; perches required for searching for host nests. Relatively
short-grass vegetation needed for foraging. |
| |
Orchard oriole |
Generalist; requires trees for nesting. Typical nesting habitats
include farmyards with trees, hedgerows or roadsides with trees,
savannas, and open or oak/river barrens. |
| |
American goldfinch |
Generalist; inhabits a wide variety of grasslands and edges with
thistles and other Compositae spp.. Prefers, but does not require,
a shrub component. |
|
|
SPECIES REQUIRING OPEN WATER: |
| |
Dabbling ducks: American green-winged teal,
Northern pintail, Blue-winged teal, Northern shoveler, Gadwall,
American wigeon |
All require water for breeding pairs (temporary and seasonal)
and broods (semipermanent and permanent). Pair and brood water should
be within 1 mile of each other. Idle grass nest cover should ideally
be located within 1/2 mile of a wetland basin (permanent or semi-permanent).
Herbaceous nesting cover requirements are somewhat variable between
species (see Table 1). |
| |
Mallard |
Same requirements for wetlands as other dabbling ducks, but an
extreme generalist for nest cover. |
| |
Wilson's phalarope |
Specialist in sedge- or grass-dominated meadows interspersed with
open shallow water (averages around 15% cover of water). Tends to
inhabit blocks of suitable habitat >100 acres in size. |
|
|
| SPECIES REQUIRING LARGE AREAS (AREA-SENSITIVE): |
| For all species in this group, the overall amount, types,
and distribution of grassland habitats are more important than individual
field sizes. |
| |
Northern harrier |
Inhabits large, open landscapes of idle grass fields, sedge meadows,
open bogs, dry and wet old fields, and some cropland; some shrub
cover is allowable (typically <20% cover). Both uplands and lowlands
used; forages over a wide range of grassland habitats. Prefers blocks
of uncultivated grassland >100 to 250 acres and larger. |
| |
Greater prairie-chicken |
Requires large expanses of open, idle grassland, which can be
scattered in agricultural landscapes of pasture, grass hay, grains,
and some row crops. Large open landscapes with blocks of idle grassland
>250 acres are best. Short-grass micro-sites are required for booming
grounds, while taller vegetation is used for nesting and roosting.
Minimal scattered woody vegetation, such as shrub or sapling clumps,
or woods edges are used for roosting cover, especially in winter.
Grains are an important winter food. Small breeding range in Wisconsin
centers on managed properties. |
| |
Sharp-tailed grouse |
Prefers brush prairie, open and diverse barrens, cut- or burned-over
forest lands; also uses wetlands such as sedge meadows and bogs.
Requires significant brush also sapling cover (more than is required
for prairie-chickens), especially in fall and winter. Some open,
relatively shortgrass habitat required for dancing grounds. Needs
large expanses of open habitat (optimally in blocks >250 acres). |
| |
Barn owl |
Requires a natural or artificial nesting structure, such as a
tree cavity or box. Requires large landscapes of open farmland,
idle grassland, and wet meadow for hunting; may be limited by snow
depth in winter. |
| |
Short-eared owl |
Prefers large open expanses of idle grassland, sedge meadows,
pastures, and bogs; some shrub cover often present. Typically nests
in blocks of idle grassland >100 to 250 acres and larger. |
|
|
| a Species in the first three categories
are arranged roughly in order of increasing height-density of required
vegetation. In subsequent categories, species are listed in taxonomic
order. |
