HABITAT PREFERENCE 



An important characteristic of terrestrial birds is that each species has 

 strong preferences for particular habitats, especially during the breeding 

 season. While this is true of most wildlife, birds seem to be more selective 

 than other vertebrates and their habitat preferences are better known. 

 Factors important in habitat selection include the type of vegetation 

 (grasses, herbaceous plants, shrubs, and trees), vegetation structure 

 (density, height), plant species composition (deciduous, coniferous), 

 presence of particular nesting sites or cavities and preferred nesting 

 materials, song perches, and food abundance. 



The habitat preferences of terrestrial birds are indicated in tables 16-1 

 through 16-4. For simplicity, nine classes of habitats are identified: (1) 

 coastal shoreline, islands and outer headlands; (2) shores of lakes, ponds, 

 streams, and rivers; (3) palustrine; (4) open fields and wet meadows; (5) old 

 fields, edges, and other early successional habitats; (6) coniferous forests; 

 (7) deciduous forests; (8) mixed forests; and (9) rural and developed land. 

 Brief descriptions of these habitats, and the birds commonly occurring in 

 each, follow. 



Outer Islands and Headlands 



Coastal islands and upland habitats along the shores of marine and estuarine 

 waters are the primary nesting habitat for two very important terrestrial bird 

 species; the bald eagle and the osprey. Both species nest in large trees near 

 water, usually in areas with little human disturbance. Both species also nest 

 inland along shores of lakes, ponds, and rivers, and in palustrine habitats, 

 but the majority of their breeding populations are located along the coast. 



The coast is also an important migration area for peregrine falcons and 

 merlins. Many other species migrate along the coast but use habitats not 

 unique to the coast. Snow buntings and lapland longspurs may winter along the 

 coast as well. 



Shores of Lakes, Rivers, Ponds, and Streams 



Only five species of terrestrial birds are found primarily along streams, 

 lakes, and ponds, all of which are breeding species: belted kingfisher, tree 

 swallow, rough-winged swallow, bald eagle, and osprey. The belted kingfisher 

 nests in holes dug into banks and feeds on small fishes. The two swallows 

 nest in cavities and feed on flying insects over the water. Bald eagles and 

 ospreys also nest in these habitats, although they are most abundant along the 

 coast and outer islands. 



Palustrine 



Approximately 28 species of birds utilize wetland habitats along the coast; 22 

 are breeding residents, one is a permanent resident (bald eagle), one is a 

 winter resident (short-eared owl), and four are migratory residents. Breeding 

 birds typically found in wetlands include rails (Virginia and sora rails, 

 common gallinule, and American coot), Wilson's snipe, marsh hawks, marsh 

 wrens, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, common yellowthroats , Wilson's 

 warblers, swamp sparrows, and Lincoln's sparrows. Others that may be found 



16-11 



10-80 



