| BIRDING
SITES OF NOVA SCOTIA
DIGBY COUNTY SITE CHECKLIST -- BRIER ISLAND |
BIRD
SPECIES
OF
BRIER
ISLAND,
NOVA SCOTIA
DATE(s) ___________________________________________________
WEATHER ___________________________________________________
OBSERVER(s) ___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
___________________________________________________
R - Resident, occurring year round.
M - Migrant, occurring in spring and/or fall.
N - Confirmed breeder.
(N) - Unconfirmed breeder.
(F) - Former breeder: Used to breed on Brier Island but hasn't for many years.
W - Winters.
S - Summer.
V - Visitor.
* - Single observer sighting.
E - Introduced species.
c - common: Observed every year on Brier Island. Usually in good numbers.
u - uncommon: Observed almost every year on Brier Island. Usually in low numbers.
i - irruptive: Observed some years on Brier Island. May be in good numbers.
r - rare: Observed some years on Brier Island. Usually in low numbers.
x - extirpated: Used to be resident on Brier Island but hasn't been seen for many years.
e - exceptional (number of sightings).
p - breeds only on Peters Island.
Number of Species: 346
(In addition, 5 species are single observer sightings)
Format for records:
e.g.
NMc
=
Confirmed breeder/Common migrant; We = Winters/exceptional
WHISTLING-DUCKS, GEESE, SWANS, AND DUCKS
____Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor - *
____Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons - Ve(1)
____Snow Goose Chen caerulescens - Mi
____Canada Goose Branta canadensis - Nc, Mc
____Brant Branta bernicla - Wu, Mc
____Mute Swan Cygnus olor - Ee(1)
____Tundra Swan Cygnus columbianus - Vr
____Wood Duck Aix sponsa - Sr, Mr
____Gadwall Anas strepera - Mu
____American Wigeon Anas americana - Mu
____American Black Duck Anas rubripes - Nc, R
____Mallard Anas platyrhynchos - (N), Wr
____Blue-winged Teal Anas discors - Nu, Mc
____Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata - Mu
____Northern Pintail Anas acuta - Mu
____Green-winged Teal Anas crecca - (N), Wr
____Redhead Aythya americana - Ve(2)
____Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris - Mu
____Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula - Ve(1)
____Greater Scaup Aythya marila - Mc
____Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis - Mu
____King Eider Somateria spectabilis - Sr, Mr
____Common Eider Somateria mollissima - Nc, R
____Harlequin Duck Histrionicus histrionicus - Mu
____Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata - Mc
____White-winged Scoter Melanitta fusca - Mc
____Black Scoter Melanitta nigra - Mc
____Long-tailed Duck Clangula hyemalis - Mc
____Bufflehead Bucephala albeola - Mu
____Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula - Mc
____Barrow’s Goldeneye Bucephala islandica - Ve(3)
____Hooded Merganser Lophodytes cucullatus - Mc, We(1)
____Common Merganser Mergus merganser - Mc
____Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator - (F), Wc
____Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis - Ve(2)
PARTRIDGE, PHEASANTS, AND GROUSE
____Gray Partridge Perdix perdix - E(1)
____Ring-necked Pheasant Phasianus colchicus - Nc, E
____Ruffed Grouse Bonasa umbellus - Nc, R
____Spruce Grouse Falcipennis canadensis - (F), Ve
LOONS
____Red-throated Loon Gavia stellata - Wc, Mc
____Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica - Ve(2)
____Common Loon Gavia immer - Wc, Mc
GREBES
____Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps - Mr
____Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus - Wc
____Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena - Mc, Wc
FULMARS AND SHEARWATERS
____Northern Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis - Mu, Wc
____Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea - Ve(4)
____Greater Shearwater Puffinus gravis - Mc
____Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus - Mc
____Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus - Mu, Su
STORM-PETRELS
____Wilson’s Storm-Petrel Oceanites oceanicus - Mc
____Leach’s Storm-Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa - (F)Sc, Mc
TROPICBIRDS
____White-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon lepturus - Ve(5)
GANNETS
____Northern Gannet Morus bassanus - Su, Mc, Wu
PELICANS
____Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis - V(2)
CORMORANTS
____Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus - Nc, Wr
____Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - Nr, Rc
BITTERNS AND HERONS
____American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus - Mr, We(1)
____Least Bittern Ixobrychus exilis - Ve(1)
____Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias - (F), Mc
____Great Egret Ardea alba - Vr
____Snowy Egret Egretta thula - Vr
____Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea - Vr
____Tricolored Heron Egretta tricolor - Ve(2)
____Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - Vr
____Green Heron Butorides virescens - Sr, Mu
____Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax - Mu
____Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Nyctanassa violacea - Mr
IBISES
____White Ibis Eudocimus albus - Ve(1)
____Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus - Ve(1)
VULTURES
____ Black Vulture Coragyps atratus - Ve(2)
____Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura - Rc
OSPREY
____Osprey Pandion haliaetus - Mc
KITES, HAWKS, AND EAGLES
____Swallow-tailed Kite Elanoides forficatus - *
____Mississippi Kite Ictinia mississippiensis - Ve(4)
____Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus - Mc
____Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus - Nr, Mu
____Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus - (N), Mc
____Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii - Mr
____Northern Goshawk Accipiter gentilis - Nr, Mu
____Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus - Mu
____Broad-winged Hawk Buteo platypterus - Ne, Mc
____Swainson’s Hawk Buteo swainsoni - Ve(3)
____Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis - Mc
____Rough-legged Hawk Buteo lagopus - Mc, Wu
____Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos - Mr
FALCONS
____American Kestrel Falco sparverius - Mc
____Merlin Falco columbarius - Mc
____Gyrfalcon Falco rusticolus - We(6)
____Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus - Mc
RAILS, GALLINULES, AND COOTS
____Clapper Rail Rallus longirostris - Ve(2)
____Virginia Rail Rallus limicola - Mr
____Sora Porzana carolina - Mr
____Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Mr
____American Coot Fulica americana - Ve(1)
LIMPKIN
____Limpkin Aramus guarauna - Ve(1)
CRANES
____Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis - Ve(3)
PLOVERS
____Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola - Mc
____American Golden-Plover Pluvialis dominica - Mu
____Wilson’s Plover Charadrius wilsonia - Ve(1)
____Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus - Mc
____Piping Plover Charadrius melodus - Mu
____Killdeer Charadrius vociferus - Nu, Mc
SANDPIPERS AND PHALAROPES
____American Avocet Recurvirostra americana - Ve(1)
____Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia - Nu, Mc
____Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria - Mr
____Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca - Mc
____Willet Catoptrophorus semipalmatus - Mc
____Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes - Mc
____Upland Sandpiper Bartramia longicauda - Mr
____Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus - Mc
____Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus - Ve(1)
____Hudsonian Godwit Limosa haemastica - Mu
____Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres - Mc
____Red Knot Calidris canutus - Mu
____Sanderling Calidris alba - Mc
____Semipalmated Sandpiper Calidris pusilla - Mc
____Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri - Mr
____Little Stint Calidris minuta - Ve(1)
____Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla - Mc
____White-rumped Sandpiper Calidris fuscicollis - Mc
____Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii - Mu
____Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos - Mu
____Purple Sandpiper Calidris maritima - Wc
____Dunlin Calidris alpina - Mc
____Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea - Ve(1)
____Stilt Sandpiper Calidris himantopus - Mr
____Buff-breasted Sandpiper Tryngites subruficollis - Mr
____Ruff Philomachus pugnax - Ve(3)
____Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus - Mc
____Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus - Ve(3)
____Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicata - Mc
____American Woodcock Scolopax minor - Nu, Mu
____Wilson’s Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor - Mr
____Red-necked Phalarope Phalaropus lobatus - Mc
____Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria - Mc
GULLS, TERNS, AND SKIMMERS
____Laughing Gull Larus atricilla - (N)pe(1), Mu
____Franklin’s Gull Larus pipixcan - Ve(2)
____Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus - Mu
____Bonaparte’s Gull Larus philadelphia - Mu
____Mew Gull Larus canus - Ve(3)
____Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis - Mu
____Herring Gull Larus argentatus - Nc, R
____Thayer’s Gull Larus thayeri - Ve(2)
____Iceland Gull Larus glaucoides - Wc
____Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus - Mr
____Glaucous Gull Larus hyperboreus - Wu
____Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus - Nc, R
____Black-legged Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla - Mc, Wc
____Sabine's Gull Xema sabini - Ve(2)
____Caspian Tern Sterna caspia - Ve(5)
____Royal Tern Sterna maxima - Ve(3)
____Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis - Ve(1)
____Roseate Tern Sterna dougallii - (F), S
____Common Tern Sterna hirundo - (F), S
____Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea - (F), S
____Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri - Ve(1)
_____Least Tern Sterna antillarum - *
____Black Tern Chlidonias niger - Mr
____Black Skimmer Rynchops niger - Ve(2)
SKUAS AND JAEGERS
____Great Skua Catharacta skua - Ve(2)
____South Polar Skua Catharacta maccormicki - Mu
____Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus - Mc
____Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus - Mc
____Long-tailed Jaeger Stercorarius longicaudus - Ve(3)
AUKS, MURRES, AND PUFFINS
____Dovekie Alle alle - Wc
____Common Murre Uria aalge - Wu
____Thick-billed Murre Uria lomvia - Wc
____Razorbill Alca torda - Wc
____Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle - Nc, Mc, Wc
____Atlantic Puffin Fratercula arctica - Mc
DOVES
____Rock Pigeon Columba livia - Nc, R
____White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica - Ve(2)
____Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura - Nc, R
CUCKOOS
____Black-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus erythropthalmus - Mr
____Yellow-billed Cuckoo Coccyzus americanus - Mr
OWLS
____Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus - Nu, R
____Snowy Owl Bubo scandiaca - Wu
____Northern Hawk Owl Surnia ulula - Ve(3)
____Barred Owl Strix varia - Mr
____Long-eared Owl Asio otus - (N), Mu
____Short-eared Owl Asio flammeus - Mu
____Boreal Owl Aegolius funereus - Ve(2)
____Northern Saw-whet Owl Aegolius acadicus - (N), Mc
GOATSUCKERS
____Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor - Mu
____Chuck-will's-widow Caprimulgus carolinensis - Ve(1)
____Whip-poor-will Caprimulgus vociferus - Mu
SWIFTS
____Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica - Mc
HUMMINGBIRDS
____Ruby-throated Hummingbird Archilochus colubris - (N), Mc
KINGFISHERS
____Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon - Nu, Mc
WOODPECKERS
____Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus - Mr
____Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus - Ve(7)
____Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius - Mu
____Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens - Mu
____Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus - Mu
____American Three-toed Woodpecker Picoides dorsalis - *
____Black-backed Woodpecker Picoides arcticus - Mr
____Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus - Nu, Mc
____Pileated Woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus - Ve(2)
FLYCATCHERS AND KINGBIRDS
____Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi - Mu
____Eastern Wood-Pewee Contopus virens - Mc
____Yellow-bellied Flycatcher Empidonax flaviventris - (N), Mc
____Acadian Flycatcher Empidonax virescens - Ve(3)
____Alder Flycatcher Empidonax alnorum - Nc, Mc
____Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii - Ve(1)
____Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus - Mc
____Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe - Mc
____Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya - Ve(2)
____Great Crested Flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus - Mu
____Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis - Mu
____Eastern Kingbird Tyrannus tyrannus - Mc
____Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus forficatus -Ve(2)
SHRIKES
____Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus - Ve(5)
____Northern Shrike Lanius excubitor - Wc
VIREOS
____White-eyed Vireo Vireo griseus - Mr
____Bell’s Vireo Vireo belli - *
____Yellow-throated Vireo Vireo flavifrons - Mr
____Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius - Mc
____Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus - Mr
____Philadelphia Vireo Vireo philadelphicus - Mu
____Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus - Mc
CORVIDS
____Gray Jay Perisoreus canadensis - Ne, Vr
____Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata - Nu , RMc
____Black-billed Magpie Pica pica - Ve(1)
____Eurasian Jackdaw Corvus monedula - Ve(1)
____American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos - RNc
____Common Raven Corvus corax - RNc
LARKS
____Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris - Wc, Mc
MARTINS AND SWALLOWS
____Purple Martin Progne subis - Mr
____Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor - Nc, Mc
____Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis - Mr
____Bank Swallow Riparia riparia - (F), Mc
____Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota - (F), Mu
____Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica - Nu, Mc
TITMICE
____Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus - Nc, Mc
____Boreal Chickadee Poecile hudsonicus - Nu, Mc
NUTHATCHES
____Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta canadensis - (N), Mc
____White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis - Mr
CREEPERS
____Brown Creeper Certhia americana - Mc
WRENS
____Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus - Ve(1)
____House Wren Troglodytes aedon - Mu
____Winter Wren Troglodytes troglodytes - Nu, Mc
____Sedge Wren Cistothorus platensis - Ve(2)
____Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris - Ve(4)
KINGLETS
____Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa - Nc, Mc
____Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula - Mc
GNATCATCHERS
____Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea - Mu
THRUSHES
____Northern Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe - Ve(3)
____Eastern Bluebird Sialia sialis - Nu, Mu
____Townsend's Solitaire Myadestes townsendi - Ve(1)
____Veery Catharus fuscescens - Mc
____Gray-cheeked Thrush Catharus minimus - Mr
____Bicknell's Thrush Catharus bicknelli - Ve(1)
____Swainson's Thrush Catharus ustulatus - Nc, Mc
____Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus - Nr, Mc
____Wood Thrush Hylocichla mustelina - Mr
____American Robin Turdus migratorius - Nc, Mc
STARLINGS
____European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - Nc, R
MIMICS
____Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis - Nc, Mc
____Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos - Ne, Mu
____Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum - We, Mu
PIPITS
____American Pipit Anthus rubescens - Wc, Mc
WAXWINGS
____Bohemian Waxwing Bombycilla garrulus - Ve(3)
____Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum - Nc, Mc
WARBLERS
____Blue-winged Warbler Vermivora pinus - Mr
____Golden-winged Warbler Vermivora chrysoptera - Mr
____Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina - Mu
____Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata - Mu
____Nashville Warbler Vermivora ruficapilla - (N), Mc
____Northern Parula Parula americana - (N), Mc
____Yellow Warbler Dendroica petechia - Nc, Mc
____Chestnut-sided Warbler Dendroica pensylvanica - Mc
____Magnolia Warbler Dendroica magnolia - Nc, Mc
____Cape May Warbler Dendroica tigrina - Mc
____Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens - Mc
____Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata - Nc, Mc
____Black-throated Gray Warbler Dendroica nigrescens - Ve(1)
____Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens - Nc, Mc
____Blackburnian Warbler Dendroica fusca - Mc
____Yellow-throated Warbler Dendroica dominica - Mr
____Pine Warbler Dendroica pinus - Mr
____Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor - Mu
____Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum - Mc
____Bay-breasted Warbler Dendroica castanea - Mc
____Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata - Nu, Mc
____Cerulean Warbler Dendroica cerulea - Ve(2)
____Black-and-white Warbler Mniotilta varia - Nu, Mc
____American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla - Nc, Mc
____Prothonotary Warbler Protonotaria citrea - Ve(4)
____Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivorus - Ve(2)
____Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus - Mc
____Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis - Mc
____Louisiana Waterthrush Seiurus motacilla - Ve(3)
____Kentucky Warbler Oporornis formosus - Ve(2)
____Connecticut Warbler Oporornis agilis - Ve(2)
____Mourning Warbler Oporornis philadelphia - Mc
____Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas - Nc, Mc
____Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina - Ve(4)
____Wilson's Warbler Wilsonia pusilla - Mc
____Canada Warbler Wilsonia canadensis - Mc
____Yellow-breasted Chat Icteria virens - Mi
SPARROWS AND ALLIES
____Eastern Towhee Pipilo erythrophthalmus - We, Mr
____American Tree Sparrow Spizella arborea - Wc, Mc
____Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina - Nu, Mc
____Clay-colored Sparrow Spizella pallida - Mr
____Field Sparrow Spizella pusilla - Mr
____Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus - Mu
____Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus - Mr
____Sage Sparrow Amphispiza belli - Ve(1)
____Lark Bunting Calamospiza melanocorys - Ve(4)
____Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis - Nc, Mc
____Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum - Ve(3)
____Nelson's Sparrow Ammodramus nelsoni - Mr
____Seaside Sparrow Ammodramus maritimus - Ve(1)
____Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca - Mc
____Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia - Nc, RMc
____Lincoln's Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii - Mc
____Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana - Nu, Mc
____White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis - Nc, Mc
____White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys - Mc
____Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis - Nc, Mc
____Lapland Longspur Calcarius lapponicus - Mc
____Snow Bunting Plectrophenax nivalis - Wc, Mc
CARDINALS AND ALLIES
____Summer Tanager Piranga rubra - Mr
____Scarlet Tanager Piranga olivacea - Mu
____Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana - Ve(2)
____Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis - Nu, Mu
____Rose-breasted Grosbeak Pheucticus ludovicianus - Mc
____Blue Grosbeak Guiraca caerulea - Mr
____Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea - (F), Mi
____Dickcissel Spiza americana - Mu
BLACKBIRDS AND ALLIES
____Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorus - (F), Mc
____Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus - Nu, Mc
____Eastern Meadowlark Sturnella magna - Mu
____Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus - Ve(6)
____Rusty Blackbird Euphagus carolinus - Mu
____Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus - Ve(2)
____Common Grackle Quiscalus quiscula - Nc, Mc
____Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater - Nu, Mu
____Orchard Oriole Icterus spurius - Mu
____Baltimore Oriole Icterus galbula - Mc
FINCHES
____Pine Grosbeak Pinicola enucleator - Wi
____Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus - Nu, Mc
____House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus - Me
____Red Crossbill Loxia curvirostra - Mu
____White-winged Crossbill Loxia leucoptera - Mc
____Common Redpoll Acanthis flammea - Wc, Mu
____Hoary Redpoll Acanthis hornemanni - Ve(2)
____Pine Siskin Spinus pinus - Wi, Mu
____American Goldfinch Spinus tristis - Nc, Mc
____Evening Grosbeak Coccothraustes vespertinus - Wi, Mr
OLD WORLD SPARROWS
____House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Nu, R
COMMENTS