Coniferous forests . Two major types of coniferous forests are found 

 along the Maine coast: spruce-fir and white pine-hemlock-hardwood (see 

 chapter 9, "The Forest System"). A third type, scrub pine, is locally common 

 in the characterization area. Fifty-nine species of terrestrial birds 

 regularly occur in coniferous forests. Thirty-four are breeding residents, 14 

 are permanent residents, 7 are only present during winter, and 4 only during 

 migration (tables 16-1 thorugh 16-4) . 



Spruce-fir forests are composed of balsam-fir (Abies balsamea ) , and red, 

 white, and black spruce (Picea rubens , P. glauca , and P. mariana ) . The bird 

 associations occupying these forests have been studied extensively in Maine, 

 and habitat requirements of most species are fairly well known (Davis I960; 

 Morse 1968, 1971a, 1976, 1977; Rabenold 1978; Crawford and Titterington 1979; 

 and Titterington et al. 1979). 



Characteristic bird species found in mature spruce-fir forests are 

 blackburnian, black-throated green, and yellow-rumped warblers, golden-crowned 

 kinglets, and hermit and Swainson's thrushes. Cape May, Tennessee, and bay- 

 breasted warblers are frequently found in spruce-fir stands infested with 

 spruce budworm. The parula and magnolia warblers, slate-colored junco, and 

 white-throated sparrow are found in young forests, and in disturbed or open 

 stands with well-developed understories . The common bird species associated 

 with all successional stages of spruce-fir forests are depicted in figure 16- 

 2. 



The other type of coniferous forest common along the Maine coast is dominated 

 by white pine ( Pinus strobus ) , eastern hemlock ( Tsuga canadensis ) , and several 

 hardwood species. The understory and shrub layers are generally more 

 developed in pine-hemlock-hardwood stands than in spruce-fir. Characteristic 

 bird species found in these forests include pine, black-throated green, 

 yellow-rumped, Canada, and black-and-white warblers, common flickers, and 

 white-throated sparrows (figure 16-3). 



A third type of coniferous forest found along the coast is a scrub pine 

 community. These stands are dominated by either jack, pitch, or red pine 

 ( Pinus banksiana , P. rigida , and P. rubra , respectively). These forests are 

 characteristically low and open with a dense ericaceous shrub layer and, 

 because of this, many species of birds assocaited with these habitats are 

 early successional or edge species. Common birds include rufous-sided 

 towhees , white-throated sparrows, Nashville warblers, common yellowthroats , 

 and yellow-rumped warblers (figure 16-3). 



Deciduous forests . Deciduous forests in coastal Maine are usually 

 intermixed with coniferous forests. Large continuous areas of deciduous 

 forest are uncommon along the immediate coast. Mature deciduous forests are 

 multilayered (ground, shrub, low and high canopy trees), while successional 

 forests, dominated by birches ( Betula spp.) and aspens ( Populus spp.), have 

 only overstory and shrub layers. Approximately 35 species of terrestrial 

 birds utilize deciduous forests. Twenty-five are breeding residents, 8 are 

 permanent residents, 1 is a wintering species, and 1 is a migratory resident 

 (tables 16-1 through 16-4). The most common birds found in deciduous forests 

 are the red-eyed vireo, ovenbird, least flycatcher, American redstart, veery, 

 wood thrush, ruffed grouse, and yellow-bellied sapsucker (figure 16-4). The 

 black-throated blue warbler, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak, and 



16-18 



