ILLINOIS AUDUBON SOCIETY 57 



Check List of Illinois Birds 



The following check list of birds found in Illinois is a revision, with 

 annotations and additions, of the one printed in the bulletin a year ago. 

 The material for the revision and additional records has been furnished 

 by Mr. Robert Ridgway of the United States National Museum. Mr. 

 Benjamin T. Gault, of (Hen Kllyn. Mr. Isaac Hess of Philo, and Mr. C. E. 

 Vandercook of Odin. The records and observations of Mr. Gault have 

 for years been regarded as standard for Illinois by Government experts 

 such as Wells \V. Cooke, and by Frank Chapman and other writers. Mr. 

 Ridgway is one of the most eminent ornithologists America has produced. 

 The Illinois Audubon Society is honored by his friendly co-operation in 

 the preparation of this Bulletin. Mr. Hess is a business man of Philo 

 who has for years been a discriminating field student of birds. His list 

 of 108 species of birds whose nests he has visited within a ten mile radius 

 of his home in Champaign County should greatly stimulate the interest 

 of bird observers in Central Illinois. Mr. Vandercook's list of 95 species 

 from Clinton County in Southern Illinois is entitled to the same honor- 

 able mention. A copy of his original notes, as well as those of Mr. Hess, 

 showing nesting dates, is in the files of the Illinois Audubon Society. It 

 was not possible to print all this data at this time, but the Society will 

 be glad to furnish information therefrom to anyone writing for it. 



The check list has been prepared as follows : Mr. Gault's list with 

 comments and accompanying initial letters, referring to Northern, Central 

 and Southern Illinois is printed as sent in. Mr. Ridgway's list for 

 Southern Illinois and Mr. Hess' list for Central Illinois have been embodied 

 in this by the use of asterisks and daggers. The asterisks refer to nesting 

 records in Southern Illinois, double asterisks showing that the record was 

 made in Richland County in which Mr. Ridgway's farm home is located 

 and where his special observations have been made. Mr. Hess' records 

 of nesting birds for Central Illinois are readily distinguished by the dagger 

 marks. Mr. Vandercook's records being like those of Mr. Ridgway's 

 from Southern Illinois blend with those records and do not require special 

 notation but are referred to in the appended notes. 



Mr. Ridgway's notes show that the southern form of Hairy Woodpecker, 

 Meadowlark, and Robin occur in Southern Illinois as given in the list 

 above. He also considers it likely that the southern form of the Downy, 

 Pileated Woodpecker, Blue Jay and Crow prevail in Southern Illinois. 

 Mr. Ridgway adds that the following species which breed in Central 

 Illinois do not breed in Richland County, namely the Bobolink, Song 

 Sparrow, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Chickadee. The latter, (not the 

 Carolina Chickadee). Mr. Ridgway has not been able to find nesting 

 in seven counties of Southern Illinois. 



Mr. Vandercook's notes are with special reference to Clinton County. 

 The Wood Duck was common a few years ago along timbered creeks but 

 now seems to breed only in secluded wooded bottoms. The Great Blue 

 Heron now rarely nests. The Turkey Vulture is greatly on the decrease. 

 Ruffed Grouse are not to be found now. The Pileated Woodpecker once 

 common is now rare. In 1890 a Saw-whet Owl nested, but no other record 

 has been made. The least Fly Catcher nested in 1888. There is one record 

 for the Rose-breasted Grosbeak in 1888, and one for the Logger-head 

 Shrike in 1890. 



