The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) oversees a diverse range of bird species across the state. Wisconsin’s varied landscapes, including forests, grasslands, wetlands, large lakes, and major rivers, provide ideal habitat for over 400 species of birds. The DNR monitors bird populations, manages wildlife areas, and works to protect threatened and endangered avian species. This article will provide an overview of the major bird groups found in Wisconsin and highlight some of the state’s iconic bird species.
Major Bird Groups in Wisconsin
Songbirds
Wisconsin hosts around 285 species of songbirds. This diverse group includes familiar backyard birds like cardinals, chickadees, finches, orioles, swallows, warblers, wrens, and many more. Some of the most notable songbirds in Wisconsin include:
– Scarlet Tanager – A stunning songbird with bright red body and black wings. It breeds in mature forests.
– Rose-breasted Grosbeak – A large songbird with a vivid pink breast and melodious song. It nests in the understory of deciduous forests.
– Prothonotary Warbler – A bright yellow warbler that nests in tree cavities along rivers and lakes. It is one of Wisconsin’s rarest breeding warblers.
– Black-capped Chickadee – A common, year-round resident known for its “chick-a-dee-dee” call. It is Wisconsin’s state bird.
Shorebirds
Wetlands and shorelines attract a variety of migrating shorebirds to Wisconsin. Some shorebirds that can be spotted in the state include:
– Killdeer – A common plover identified by its shrill “kill-deer” call. It nests in open fields and gravel shorelines.
– Spotted Sandpiper – A small shorebird that bobbing its tail while foraging. It breeds along Wisconsin’s lakes and rivers.
– Greater Yellowlegs – A large, long-legged sandpiper that feeds in mudflats and marshes during migration.
– Wilson’s Snipe – A stocky shorebird with a long, straight bill. It breeds in Wisconsin’s wet meadows and marshes.
Waterfowl
From ducks to loons to grebes, Wisconsin provides prime breeding and migratory habitat for a wide array of waterfowl. Notable species include:
– Mallard – One of Wisconsin’s most abundant and familiar ducks. It nests near ponds and wetlands across the state.
– Blue-winged Teal – A small, vocal dabbling duck identified by sky blue wing patches. It breeds in Wisconsin’s grassy marshes.
– Trumpeter Swan – One of the world’s largest waterfowl species. It has made a comeback in Wisconsin after being nearly extirpated.
– Sandhill Crane – A tall, elegant bird known for its rattling bugle call. Hundreds of thousands stopover in Wisconsin during spring and fall migrations.
– Common Loon – Wisconsin’s state bird. It breeds on northern lakes and is known for its haunting yodeling calls.
Birds of Prey
From hawks and eagles to owls and falcons, birds of prey are thriving across Wisconsin. Some notable raptor species include:
– Bald Eagle – This iconic raptor has rebounded dramatically after facing extinction. Hundreds of breeding pairs nest along Wisconsin’s rivers and lakes.
– Red-tailed Hawk – One of Wisconsin’s most common and widespread raptors. Its shrill, piercing screams are a fixture of the state’s open country.
– Great Horned Owl – Wisconsin’s most common owl. Its deep hooting can be heard across forests, parks, and backyards year-round.
– Peregrine Falcon – The world’s fastest bird. It has been reintroduced in Wisconsin, where it nests on tall cliffs and urban buildings.
Upland Game Birds
From farm fields to forests to grasslands, upland game birds can be found across much of Wisconsin. Species like ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, wild turkey, and American woodcock are popular game birds targeted by hunters.
Endangered and Threatened Birds in Wisconsin
While many bird species are thriving, others face population declines and habitat loss. Wisconsin has listed several endangered and threatened birds that require conservation attention, including:
Endangered
– Whooping Crane – North America’s tallest bird at 5 feet. Only about 75 migrating whoopers make a stopover in Wisconsin annually.
– Black Tern – A small, sooty-colored tern that nests in marshes. It has declined due to wetland loss and disturbance.
– Yellow-throated Warbler – A bright yellow and olive warbler that nests in swamp forests. Logging of its habitat has caused declines.
Threatened
– Common Tern – A small tern with a black cap and red-orange bill. Nesting colonies along the Great Lakes have diminished.
– Black-billed Cuckoo – A shy, elusive cuckoo of mature forests. It has declined due to habitat loss.
– Golden-winged Warbler – A bright yellow warbler with black wing patches. It nests in scrubby fields that are disappearing.
Key Habitats for Wisconsin’s Birds
Forests
Wisconsin is over 40% forested, providing habitat for forest-dependent birds like owls, woodpeckers, thrushes, warblers, vireos, and more. Both deciduous and coniferous forests host important breeding and migrating birds.
Wetlands
The variety of wetland habitats in Wisconsin, including marshes, swamps, bogs, and sedge meadows, are critical for waterfowl, wading birds, shorebirds, cranes, terns, herons, and other water-loving species.
Grasslands
Grassland birds have declined severely in Wisconsin due to habitat loss. Restored prairies and pastures provide habitat for species like bobolinks, meadowlarks, dickcissels, and grasshopper sparrows.
Large Lakes
The Great Lakes and other large, inland lakes in Wisconsin host huge numbers of migrating and breeding waterbirds, including loons, grebes, mergansers, and more.
Urban Areas
Many birds like peregrine falcons, chimney swifts, and house finches have adapted to nesting and feeding in Wisconsin’s cities and towns.
Role of the Wisconsin DNR
The Wisconsin DNR plays a vital role in conserving the state’s birds and their habitats through the following actions:
– Monitoring bird populations and distributions through surveys like the Breeding Bird Atlas.
– Managing wildlife areas and habitat specifically for birds like waterfowl, grassland species, interior forest birds, and endangered species.
– Working with partners to restore important bird habitats like wetlands, prairies, and forests on public and private lands.
– Protecting sensitive nesting sites and restricting human activity during breeding seasons.
– Enforcing laws that prohibit harming endangered species and regulate hunting seasons and bag limits.
– Educating the public on bird identification, bird feeding, responsible birdwatching, and more.
Birdwatching in Wisconsin
Wisconsin provides abundant year-round birdwatching opportunities. Following are some top sites across the state to observe birds:
Location | Notable Birds |
---|---|
Horicon Marsh | Waterfowl, shorebirds, herons, egrets |
Crex Meadows Wildlife Area | Sandhill cranes, waterfowl, grassland birds |
Necedah National Wildlife Refuge | Whooping cranes, warblers, waterfowl |
Lake Superior shoreline | Loons, ducks, gulls, terns, warblers, kinglets |
Hawk Ridge (Duluth, MN) | Migrating raptors, including thousands of hawks and eagles |
Chiwaukee Prairie | Grassland species like bobolink, dickcissel, meadowlark |
Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge | Eagles, herons, migrating waterfowl |
Conclusion
Wisconsin provides essential habitat for a diverse range of bird species. The state’s forests, grasslands, wetlands, and large lakes support migrating songbirds, endangered species, beloved backyard birds, and everything in between. The Wisconsin DNR plays a critical role in monitoring and managing habitats and populations to conserve both common and rare avian species. With great birding locations across the state, Wisconsin offers bird enthusiasts abundant year-round opportunities to observe these incredible winged creatures.