Okefenokee Swamp Vertebrates 
59 
(see above) in the swamp have, for the most part, differing avifaunas, 
quantitative investigation of several of these is not yet complete and 
others (pure cypress and shrub swamp) have just begun. Despite this it is 
possible, based on present knowledge, to provide a fairly accurate general 
picture of the habitat distribution of birds in the swamp by grouping the 
previously identified habitat types into more general categories: swamp 
forest, upland forest, and prairie (Table 3). These general categories in- 
clude all specific habitat types known to occur in the swamp and sur- 
rounding uplands. 
Swamp forests include bay, cypress, and blackgum forests in various 
stages of succession as well as a considerable portion of the shrub 
swamps. Upland forests are dominated by slash and longleaf pine with 
associated understory. Remnants of hardwood and mixed pine- 
hardwood forests exist in the upland forests, but prescribed burning has 
substantially reduced them. Upland forests are found on several swamp 
islands, but generally occur on the periphery of the swamp. Prairies con- 
tain grass-sedge meadows and aquatic macrophytes as described, with 
treehouses (small floating islands with an overstory) and shrub batteries 
scattered more or less throughout. 
Table 3. List of birds of the Okefenokee Swamp and their status (A = accidental, 
B = breeding, H = hypothetical, R = permanent resident, S = summer 
resident, T = transient, W = winter resident). Based on Wright and 
Harper (1913), Hebard (1941), checklists (Anon. 1971, 1974), ONWR 
records, and personal observations (J. Meyers). All common names are 
those standardized and listed with scientific names by the American 
Ornithologists’ Union check-list committee (A.O.U. 1957, 1973, 1976). 
P = prairie, Sf = swamp forest, Uf = upland forest. 
SPECIES 
STATUS 
HABITAT 
ORDER GAVIIFORMES 
Family Gaviidae 
Gavia immer, Common Loon 
W 
P 
ORDER PODICiPEDIFORMES 
Family Podicipedidae 
Podiceps auritus, Horned Grebe 
W 
P 
Podilymbus podiceps, Pied-billed Grebe 
R,T 
P 
ORDER PELICANIFORMES 
Family Pelicanidae 
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, White Pelican 
A 
P 
Family Phalacrocoracidae 
Phalacrocorax auritus, Double-crested Cormorant 
T 
P 
Family Anhingidae 
Anhinga anhinga, Anhinga 
B,R 
P 
