Birdwatching Guide

Lake County Forest Preserves

Birdwatching Guide

Hundreds of Species Baltimore oriole

LCFPD.org/birds

Table of Contents 1

how to use this guide

20–21

Of feathers and frisket

2–4

Birdwatching Information

22

Woodpeckers

23

Falcons Flycatchers

5

Countywide Map

6–7

Ducks, Geese & Swans

24

Shrikes Vireos

8

Pheasants, Turkeys & Quails Grebes Doves & Pigeons

24–25

Jays & Crows

25

Lark

9

Cuckoos Nighthawks & Nightjars Swift

26

Swallows Chickadees & Titmice

10

Hummingbird Rails, Coots & Gallinules

27

Nuthatches Creeper Wrens

11

Crane Avocets & Stilts

28

Kinglets & Gnatcatchers Bluebirds & Thrushes

12

Plovers

29

13–14

Godwits, Turnstones, Sandpipers, Dowitchers, Snipes, Woodcocks & Phalaropes

Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers Starling Waxwing Old World Sparrow

14

Gulls & Terns

30

15

Loons Cormorant Pelican

Pipit Finches Longspurs & Old World Buntings

31

16

Bitterns, Egrets & Herons Vulture

New World Sparrows, Juncos & Towhees Yellow-breasted Chat

32

17

Osprey

Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, Grackles, Cowbirds & Orioles

17–18

Eagles, Hawks & Harriers

33–34

Wood Warblers

18–19

Owls

35–36

Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings & Tanagers

19

Kingfisher

General Offices 1899 W. Winchester Road Libertyville, IL 60048

Learn birdwatching techniques at an education program.

847-367-6640 LCFPD.org

847-968-3320 LCFPD.org/birding

For emergencies, call 911. For nonemergency public safety issues, call our Ranger Police at 847-968-3404 (Mon–Fri, 6:30 am–3 pm) or visit LCFPD.org/safety to report a concern. After hours, call the Lake County Sheriff’s 911 Communication Center at 847-549-5200. You can also email FP_police@LCFPD.org.

Bird illustrations © Samantha Gallagher. Photography © Michael Affinito, Bob Callebert, Tim Elliott, Liz Rose Fisher, Phil Hauck, John D. Kavc, Paco Luengo, R. Scott McNeill, Justine Neslund, Thomas G. Wilson.

Writing and design by Environmental Communications Specialist Brett Peto.

How to Use this Guide This guide lists hundreds of bird species that may be found in Lake County, Illinois.

Extremely rare birds—those seen here only a few times since 1900—are not included.

Size Ranges

Hummingbird Extra Small

Sparrow Small

Robin Medium

Crow Large

Goose Extra Large

Shoreline

Wetland

Woodland

Typical habitats

Grassland

Open Water

Size ranges and habitats for each bird family are shown. Additional habitats are listed for certain species. A species may be found in both grasslands and woodlands, for example.

other icons

Non-Native Species

Uncommon Species

Rare Species

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Threatened Species

Endangered Species

Nests in Lake County

Most species in this guide are native. Some common non-native species are indicated with icons. Native species are those that have historically existed in Lake County regardless of human influence. On the other hand, non-native species haven’t historically existed in our area and are typically introduced by humans.

Uncommon and rare native species are indicated, too. Uncommon species are present in Lake County but harder to find. Sightings of rare species are very infrequent or once-in-a-lifetime events. Endangered and threatened species are noted, as well.

Endangered species are in immediate danger of extinction in the wild across all or most of their range. Threatened species are in decline and likely to become endangered.

Words About Birds Birds are usually known by two names: their common name and their scientific name.

Common names use everyday language, such as Baltimore oriole or northern cardinal.

Scientific names come from Latin, used by scholars to identify living things.

Two parts, the genus and the species, make up a scientific name. A genus is a group of closely related organisms that share a recent common ancestor. For example, great horned owls and snowy owls are in the genus Bubo. A species is a smaller group of organisms whose members can successfully reproduce with each other. Snowy owls can breed with other snowy owls, but not with great horned owls.

Common and scientific names, current as of February 17, 2026, are listed in this guide.

1

Bird Basics Birds are warm-blooded vertebrates. They have a backbone and regulate their body temperature—usually 102–104 degrees.

They also have feathers, a toothless beak and a four-chambered heart. All birds reproduce by laying hard-shelled eggs.

And most have lightweight bones.

More than half of all 11,000 or so bird species worldwide are passerines, or perching birds. Think of the robins, blue jays and cardinals you might see in the Lake County Forest Preserves.

Though less common, you could spot a vagrant—a bird that’s strayed far from its normal range. A rare Mexican violetear hummingbird visited a Mundelein couple’s home in 2021. Just one other observation of the species in Illinois was recorded in 2009.

Flight Plans

Their feet are adapted for perching on plants, with three toes pointing forward and one pointing back for a tight grip.

If you want to spot as many birds as possible, visit your forest preserves during spring and fall migrations.

Many other bird families live locally, too, from wading birds to waterfowl to raptors, each with their own unique characteristics and natural histories.

In Illinois, spring migration peaks from March to mid-May. Fall migration kicks off in July—yes, July—and winds down in November. Some birds travel hundreds or thousands of miles. Others barely budge.

Birds are renowned for their beautiful feathers, unique calls and songs, diverse nesting behaviors and—in the case of corvids, such as American crows—even using sticks and leaves as tools.

Lake County’s Birds With nearly 400 species documented, Lake County’s bird diversity is second only to Cook County in the Chicago region. Why do millions of birds live and visit here?

Location, location, location.

The county’s position at the border between cooler, northern climates and warmer, southern climates attracts a blend of species. Lake Michigan creates unique shoreline habitats and milder microclimates.

Nearly 200 inland lakes, the Des Plaines and Fox rivers, prairies, savannas, woodlands and wetlands provide food and shelter for birds. Large tracts of land, such as those in your forest preserves, are needed to support certain species.

Some feathered friends, like northern cardinals, stay here year-round. Resident birds eat seeds, nuts, insect larvae, mammals or other birds. Most of these food sources are available all year.

Birds that eat seasonal foods—fruit, nectar 2

or flying insects—typically head south for winter. Many migrants pass through along the Mississippi Flyway, a major northsouth flight path that brings incredible bird variety and abundance to Chicagoland each spring and fall.

Short-distance migrants relocate not too far from their starting point. Red-headed woodpeckers sometimes migrate only 10–50 miles south of Lake County to follow the annual acorn crop in oak woodlands.

Medium-distance migrants fly across one state or several. Long-distance migrants breed in the U.S. and Canada, and spend winter in Central and South America.

Scientists don’t fully understand just how birds navigate such epic journeys.

However, there are clues. A bird’s instincts to fly in certain directions during certain seasons plays a role. Migratory restlessness, referred to by the German word zugunruhe, affects even caged birds.

Geographical landmarks, the positions of the sun and stars, seasonal food and weather patterns and the Earth’s magnetic field are thought to help with navigation.

Some juvenile birds play follow-the-leader, relying on adults to show them the route.

The amount of daylight in a 24-hour timeframe—photoperiod—is an important, reliable trigger for bird migration.

Increasing daylight can help spark a bird’s trip to northern breeding grounds for spring and summer. Dwindling daylight nudges it to fly south for the winter.

Relocating to warmer areas is vital for birds that can’t survive colder temps or limited food. But traveling long distances exposes birds to predators, weather and other obstacles.

Deforestation, development of natural areas, power lines, cellphone towers, free-roaming domestic cats, skyscrapers and light pollution can disrupt migration.

Migratory birds often face these forces in both wintering and nesting grounds.

Climate change, too, is increasingly altering the patterns of food sources.

Songs 9 Designed to attract a mate or defend breeding territory.

9 Often heard during breeding season.

9 Sung by adult male birds, with some notable exceptions.

9 Tend to be longer and complex.

Calls 9 Designed to communicate nonbreeding messages, such as warning of predators in an area.

A 25-year study in Ithaca, New York found that insects are emerging 3–12 days earlier and their populations are peaking over a shorter time, likely due to warmer springs.

9 Produced by male and female birds.

Finding Feathered Friends

9 Tend to be shorter and simpler.

Ready to take flight with birdwatching?

Combining sounds and GISS can point you toward solid identifications.

Bring this guide and check off what you see. Also carry a notebook or mobile device to take notes; a field guide to birds of the eastern U.S.; and a pair of 7 or 8-power binoculars. These make objects appear seven or eight times closer.

Purchase them or borrow from a friend, family member or library. Binoculars are available to borrow at the Ryerson Welcome Center (Riverwoods) for the length of your visit.

To identify birds, focus first on GISS— General Impression, Size and Shape.

Some birds are round. Others are sleek.

Raptors can be 2–3 feet tall, hummingbirds 2–3 inches. Think of recognizing a friend or family member at a distance.

Listen, too. Birds produce two kinds of sounds: songs and calls.

9 Heard any time of year.

The great horned owl’s hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo song is common, but the barred owl’s who-cooks-for-you call is distinct and less common. Ear tufts are prominent on the great horned, while the barred has none.

Free bird identification and monitoring apps are available to help.

9 Cornell Lab of Ornithology (eBird, Merlin Bird ID).

9 National Audubon Society (Audubon Bird Guide).

Local groups welcome new members.

9 Lake County Audubon Society (lakecountyaudubon.org).

9 Audubon Great Lakes (gl.audubon.org).

Snowy owl

Dark-eyed junco

Sharp-shinned hawk

3

Birdwatching in Your Lake County Forest Preserves Every preserve offers birdwatching from 6:30 am–sunset, daily.

Timing matters. Many birds are most active around sunrise and sunset. There’s often a lull in the afternoon as birds digest morning meals. Nocturnal birds such as owls and night herons awaken after dark.

Visit LCFPD.org/birds and LCFPD.org/preserves for more sites.

Our educators teach birdwatching techniques at programs. See sessions at LCFPD.org/birding or call 847-968-3320.

Practice Better Birdwatching 1.

Seasons shape what you see. Breeding season and spring and fall migration are prime birdwatching windows.

Be quiet, move slowly and limit flash photography. Don’t play recorded calls (playbacks) to lure birds.

Winter offers less activity, but certain northern-breeding species are only visible in Lake County then, such as dark-eyed juncos and short-eared owls.

2.

Location also matters. Learning a species’ typical habitat and geographic range improves your chances of spotting it.

Keep domestic cats indoors. Roaming cats are estimated to kill over 1 million birds per year in Chicagoland.

3.

Prevent window strikes. Birds can’t distinguish between a reflection of a tree and the real thing. Window strikes often result in injury or death. Stickers, tape, poster paint or soap applied in grids or dots reduces collisions.

Spring and fall migrations are peak times for window strikes. See more at feederwatch.org/windows.

4.

Think twice before broadcasting news about the location of a rare bird.

Crowds can unintentionally stress or scare away the animal. Wait to share until after the bird has left the area.

5.

Consider weather. On very hot or cold days, many birds rest to save energy. If disturbed, they’ll use precious calories to fly away.

6.

Support bird conservation. Don’t collect eggs, nests and feathers; it’s against federal law. Plant native plants—see tips at LCFPD.org/nativeplants. Clean birdfeeders regularly.

Upload your notes, photos and videos to eBird (ebird.org) or iNaturalist (inaturalist.org).

For example, the Lake Michigan shoreline at Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve (Lake Forest) is a magnet for migrating raptors like ospreys, peregrine falcons and hawks.

Meanwhile, wide-open grasslands and wetlands at Rollins Savanna Forest Preserve (Grayslake) entice nesting sparrows, ducks, blackbirds and shorebirds. For the best bang for your buck, start with the preserves below.

9 Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa) 9 Cuba Marsh (Deer Park) 9 Des Plaines River Trail* 9 Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest) 9 Independence Grove (Libertyville) 9 Lakewood (Wauconda) 9 Lyons Woods (Waukegan) 9 Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest) 9 Pine Dunes (Antioch) 9 Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)* 9 Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) *Important Bird Area, National Audubon Society

4

Avoid disturbing birds and their habitats. Stay on trails. Keep your distance from active nests, roosts, colonies and food sources. Use binoculars or scopes to look from afar.

BIRDS & HABITAT RESTORATION We remove invasive species such as buckthorn and honeysuckle from the preserves. This benefits birds and overall habitat health, even though it may make some birds more difficult to see up close.

MILLENNIUM TRAIL Planned Section

FOREST PRESERVE STATE LAND

OTHER REGIONAL TRAILS Planned Section

ENTRANCE / PARKING

More than 31,700 acres make up your Lake County Forest Preserves.

METRA STATION

Most preserves are open 6:30 am– sunset, daily. If a preserve gate is open before 6:30 am, the preserve is considered open for use.

CHAIN O’LAKES BIKE PATH Planned Section

Use our interactive trail map to navigate your next adventure: LCFPD.org/maps MAP CURRENT AS OF

February 17, 2026

GENERAL OFFICES & DUNN MUSEUM

CASEY TRAIL

DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL (DPRT) DPRT TO LYONS WOODS Planned Section FORT HILL TRAIL Planned Section MIDDLEFORK GREENWAY Planned Section

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OPERATIONS & PUBLIC SAFETY BEER GARDEN CANOE LAUNCH COMMUNITY GARDEN EDUCATION CENTER OFF-LEASH DOG AREA

5

Ducks, Geese & Swans family Anatidae

Wetland

Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

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Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

American black duck

•

Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth)

Anas rubripes

American wigeon

Species Showcase • Tundra swan

Blue-winged teal

In summer, tundra swans nest in far northern Canada and Alaska. Weighing between 8–23 pounds, these large, white waterfowl visit Lake County during late fall and winter.

Mareca americana

Spatula discors

Bufflehead

Bucephala albeola

Cackling goose

They pause at unfrozen lakes and ponds on their way to and from wintering grounds in the Chesapeake Bay area.

Canada goose

Breeding pairs mate for life. If one mate dies, the other tundra swan may wait a few years before accepting a new partner.

Branta hutchinsii

Branta canadensis

Canvasback

Aythya valisineria

Common goldeneye Bucephala clangula

Common merganser Mergus merganser

Gadwall

Mareca strepera

Greater scaup Aythya marila

Greater white-fronted goose Anser albifrons

Green-winged teal Anas crecca

Hooded merganser

Lophodytes cucullatus

Lesser scaup Aythya affinis

Long-tailed duck Clangula hyemalis

Mallard 6

Anas platyrhynchos

You can tell them apart from mute swans, a non-native invasive species, by how they carry their heads. Mute swans have curvy, S-shaped necks. Tundra swans have straight necks.

Another native species, trumpeter swans, have straight necks and entirely black bills.

Species Showcase • Wood duck Wood ducks are some of the only perching, or tree-nesting, ducks native to the U.S. and Canada. Claws on their feet help them cling to branches and access their nests in tree cavities and wooden boxes. Males, or drakes, are vibrantly colored. Their heads shimmer green, supported by a chestnut breast and yellow-brown sides.

Females, or hens, have a white teardrop around their eyes and a navy patch on the part of the wing closest to the body. Adult wood ducks search for mates in fall and pair up by midwinter for a one-year partnership. Read more: LCFPD.org/wood-duck

Mute swan

Ruddy duck

Northern pintail

Snow goose

Northern shoveler

Surf scoter

Red-breasted merganser

Trumpeter swan

Redhead

Tundra swan

Ring-necked duck

White-winged scoter

Ross’s goose

Wood duck

Cygnus olor

Anas acuta

Spatula clypeata

Mergus serrator

Aythya americana

Aythya collaris

Anser rossii

Oxyura jamaicensis

Anser caerulescens

Melanitta perspicillata

Cygnus buccinator

Cygnus columbianus

Hooded merganser

Melanitta deglandi

Aix sponsa

7

Pheasants, Turkeys & Quails family Phasianidae

Grassland | Woodland

Medium | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Ethel’s Woods (Antioch)

•

Lyons Woods (Waukegan)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake) Northern bobwhite Colinus virginianus

Ring-necked pheasant Phasianus colchicus

Wild turkey

Wild turkey

Meleagris gallopavo

Grebes family Podicipedidae

Open Water | Wetland

Medium | Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake) Eared grebe

Podiceps nigricollis

Horned grebe

Podiceps auritus

Pied-billed grebe

Podilymbus podiceps

Horned grebe

Red-necked grebe Podiceps grisegena

Doves & Pigeons family Columbidae Mourning dove

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Half Day (Vernon Hills)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Mourning dove

Zenaida macroura

Rock pigeon 8

Woodland

Columba livia

Cuckoos family Cuculidae

Woodland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

•

Sedge Meadow (Wadsworth) Black-billed cuckoo

Coccyzus erythropthalmus

Medium

Yellow-billed cuckoo

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Yellow-billed cuckoo Coccyzus americanus

Nighthawks & Nightjars family Caprimulgidae

Grassland | Woodland

Medium | Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest) Common nighthawk Chordeiles minor

Eastern whip-poor-will Antrostomus vociferus

Common nighthawk

Swift family Apodidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Nippersink (Round Lake)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

Grassland | Wetland

Medium | Large

Chimney swift

Chimney swift

Chaetura pelagica

9

Hummingbird family Trochilidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Ruby-throated hummingbird Archilochus colubris

Woodland

Extra Small

Species Showcase

Ruby-throated hummingbird Beating their wings up to 53 times a second, ruby-throated hummingbirds zigzag from flower to flower, sipping nectar.

The sugary liquid fuels their metabolism, one of the fastest in the whole animal kingdom.

Surprisingly, insects and spiders are also on the menu.

Hummingbirds weigh just 0.1–0.2 ounces, yet consume 2–3 times their body weight daily—about 3–7 calories.

That may not seem like much, but in human terms, that’s equivalent to eating 155,000 calories a day.

Attract these speedsters to your home by planting native blooms and filling up flowerlike feeders with sugar water.

Hummingbirds prefer red or orange tube-shaped flowers.

Rails, Coots & Gallinules family Rallidae

Wetland

Medium | Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

•

Spring Bluff (Winthrop Harbor) American coot

Fulica americana

Common gallinule Gallinula galeata

King rail

Rallus elegans

!!

!!

Sora

Porzana carolina

Virginia rail 10

Rallus limicola

American coot

Crane

family Gruidae

Wetland

Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

•

Hastings Lake (Lake Villa)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest) Sandhill crane

Antigone canadensis

Species Showcase • Sandhill crane Sandhill cranes are long-legged, red-capped birds known for their dancing skills.

Courting cranes stretch their wings, pump their heads, bow and leap into the air to form monogamous, usually lifelong bonds—a rarity among birds.

Mated pairs nest on the ground, often in wetlands. Both parents care for their eggs and young. Just eight hours after hatching, chicks can leave the nest and even swim. However, they’ll stay near their parents for the next 9–10 months. Chicks may start breeding as early as two years old or as late as seven.

The species is a Lake County conservation success story. Sandhill cranes were once listed as threatened in Illinois, but made a comeback and were de-listed by 2009.

Avocets & Stilts family Recurvirostridae

Shoreline

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Buffalo Creek (Long Grove)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake) American avocet

Recurvirostra americana

Black-necked stilt

Himantopus mexicanus

American avocet 11

Plovers family Charadriidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch) American golden plover Pluvialis dominica

Pluvialis squatarola

Killdeer

Charadrius vociferus Charadrius melodus

Medium

Species Showcase Killdeer

Killdeer parents want you to look at them. They distract predators from their ground-based nests by putting on a dramatic broken-wing act.

Bending one wing at a sharp angle as if broken, they drag their feet, fan their tail feathers and produce shrill kill-deer calls.

Black-bellied plover

Piping plover

Wetland

!!

Semipalmated plover

Charadrius semipalmatus

If a predator such as a raccoon or red-tailed hawk follows the adult, it will lure them a safe distance away, then “miraculously” recover and escape.

Killdeers are known for building nests in places that are inconvenient to humans, including gravel parking lots, golf courses, lawns and sports fields.

Though they nest in dry areas, the species is considered a shorebird in the plover family. Adults are good swimmers, and young birds can navigate small streams.

Piping plover

12

Godwits, Turnstones, Sandpipers, Dowitchers, Snipes, Woodcocks & Phalaropes family Scolopacidae

Shoreline | Wetland

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest) American woodcock

Red-necked phalarope

Baird’s sandpiper

Ruddy turnstone

Buff-breasted sandpiper

Sanderling

Dunlin

Semipalmated sandpiper

Greater yellowlegs

Short-billed dowitcher

Hudsonian godwit

Solitary sandpiper

Least sandpiper

Spotted sandpiper

Lesser yellowlegs

Stilt sandpiper

Long-billed dowitcher

Upland sandpiper

Marbled godwit

Western sandpiper

Pectoral sandpiper

White-rumped sandpiper

Purple sandpiper

Willet

Red knot

Wilson’s phalarope

Red phalarope

Wilson’s snipe

Scolopax minor Calidris bairdii

Calidris subruficollis Calidris alpina

Tringa melanoleuca Limosa haemastica Calidris minutilla Tringa flavipes

Limnodromus scolopaceus Limosa fedoa

Calidris melanotos Calidris maritima Calidris canutus

Phalaropus fulicarius

Lesser yellowlegs

Phalaropus lobatus Arenaria interpres Calidris alba Calidris pusilla

Limnodromus griseus Tringa solitaria

Actitis macularius

Calidris himantopus Bartramia longicauda

!!

Calidris mauri

Calidris fuscicollis

Tringa semipalmata Phalaropus tricolor

!!

Gallinago delicata

Solitary sandpiper

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Species Showcase • Spotted sandpiper Spotted sandpipers know how to shake their tail feathers. These robin-sized shorebirds constantly bob the back halves of their bodies up and down while walking, feeding and standing still. Even chicks begin bouncing almost as soon as they hatch. Scientists aren’t sure what function the seesawing serves.

Mating males and females assume different roles than many other birds. Females defend territories and sometimes mate with multiple males, laying a clutch of eggs for each one. Males tend to the nest, incubate the eggs, and are usually smaller and less aggressive. Research has found the pituitary glands of males produce extra prolactin, a hormone that promotes parental care.

Gulls & Terns family laridae

Shoreline | Wetland

Large | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Openlands Lakeshore Preserve (Lake Forest)

•

Spring Bluff (Winthrop Harbor) American herring gull

Glaucous-winged gull

Bonaparte’s gull

Great black-backed gull

Caspian tern

Iceland gull

Larus smithsonianus

Chroicocephalus philadelphia Hydroprogne caspia

Common tern

!!

Sterna hirundo

Forster’s tern Sterna forsteri

!!

Franklin’s gull

Leucophaeus pipixcan

Glaucous gull 14

Caspian tern

Larus hyperboreus

Larus glaucescens Larus marinus

Larus glaucoides

Laughing gull

Leucophaeus atricilla

Lesser black-backed gull Larus fuscus

Ring-billed gull

Larus delawarensis

Loons family Gaviidae

Open Water | Wetland

Large | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Hastings Lake (Lake Villa)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville) Common loon Gavia immer

Red-throated loon Gavia stellata

Common loon

Cormorant family Phalacrocoracidae

Wetland

Large | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Buffalo Creek (Long Grove)

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda) Double-crested cormorant Nannopterum auritum

Double-crested cormorant

Pelican family Pelecanidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fox River (Port Barrington)

•

Grassy Lake (Lake Barrington)

•

Hastings Lake (Lake Villa)

•

Tanager Kames (Ingleside)

Shoreline | Wetland

Large | Extra Large

American white pelican

American white pelican

Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

15

Bitterns, Egrets & Herons family Ardeidae

Wetland

Large | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Nippersink (Round Lake)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake) American bittern

Botaurus lentiginosus

!!

Black-crowned night heron Nycticorax nycticorax

!!

Great blue heron Ardea herodias

Great egret Ardea alba

Green heron

Butorides virescens

Least bittern Botaurus exilis

Great egret

!

Species Showcase Great blue heron

With sleek, blue-gray feathers, a tall frame and a 6-foot wingspan, the great blue heron is a towering sight around Lake County’s waterways. These longlegged wading birds fly with slow, graceful flaps and their necks tucked into an S-shape. Look for them perched in trees over water or stalking fish, amphibians and reptiles in shallow wetlands.

Using sticks and twigs, herons build nests near the tops of trees up to 100 feet off the ground. On average, they raise 3–5 chicks per breeding season.

Herons commonly nest in colonies.

Vulture family Cathartidae Turkey vulture

Woodland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Grant Woods (Ingleside)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Turkey vulture

16

Extra Large

Cathartes aura

Osprey family Pandionidae

Shoreline

Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Fox River (Port Barrington)

•

Heron Creek (Lake Zurich) Osprey

Pandion haliaetus

!

Osprey

Eagles, Hawks & Harriers family Accipitridae

Grassland | Woodland

Medium | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Fox River (Port Barrington)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

Northern harrier

American goshawk

Red-shouldered hawk

Bald eagle

Red-tailed hawk

Broad-winged hawk

Rough-legged hawk

Cooper’s hawk

Sharp-shinned hawk

Golden eagle

Swainson’s hawk

Accipiter gentilis

Haliaeetus leucocephalus Buteo platypterus Accipiter cooperii

Circus hudsonius

Buteo jamaicensis Buteo lagopus

Accipiter striatus Buteo swainsoni

Aquila chrysaetos

Northern harrier

Buteo lineatus

!!

!!

Species Showcase • Red-tailed hawk Take a road trip across Lake County and you’re bound to see some red-tailed hawks.

Thought to be North America’s most common hawk, adult red-tails are true to their name. Their gently arcing tail feathers are the color of rusty iron. A band of dark feathers wraps around their white bellies. Red-tailed hawks inhabit open areas with long sightlines to see prey. They soar over grasslands, fields and pastures or perch on trees and utility poles, hunting for small mammals, birds and snakes.

17

Species Showcase • Bald eagle With wingspans up to 7.5 feet and vision eight times sharper than humans, bald eagles are built for the hunt. They snatch fish, amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates out of rivers, lakes and marshes using razor-sharp talons. Eagles aren’t afraid of pickpocketing prey from other birds, either.

Bald eagle nests are enormous, spanning 5–6 feet across and 2–4 feet deep.

January and February are the best months to see bald eagles in Illinois. More than 3,100 of these regal birds spend winter here annually. It’s one of the largest populations of wintering bald eagles in the contiguous U.S.

Owls family Strigidae

Woodland

Medium | Extra Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Lyons Woods (Waukegan)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Barred owl Strix varia

Eastern screech owl Megascops asio

Eastern screech owl

Great horned owl Bubo virginianus

Long-eared owl Asio otus

Northern saw-whet owl Aegolius acadicus

Short-eared owl Asio flammeus

!!

Snowy owl

Bubo scandiacus

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Short- eared owl

Barred owl

Great horned owl

Species Showcase Great horned owl

Great horned owls are likely what most people picture when they think about owls.

The piercing yellow eyes, fluffy ear tufts and hoo, hoo-hoo, hoo, hoo songs are featured in countless books, movies and TV shows.

This species is Lake County’s largest resident owl. It’s also the earliest bird to kick off courtship and nesting.

Because young owlets face a steep learning curve to master flying and hunting at night, parent owls need a head start.

Hooting duets begin annually in December, followed by egg-laying in January.

Read about owls in Horizons magazine

Kingfisher family Alcedinidae

Wetland

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Belted kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon

Belted kingfisher 19

Of and feathers F Of and

feathers Frisket

Local artist Samantha Gallagher drew the 20 beautiful bird illustrations in this guide.

H

ere’s something you may find hard to believe. The illustrations in this guide are some of the first birds that Samantha Gallagher has ever drawn.

Based in Lake County, the freelance scientific illustrator usually focuses on insects and plants.

In 2024, the Forest Preserves approached Gallagher with a need and a vision: 20 beautiful, scientifically accurate bird illustrations for this brand-new Birdwatching Guide.

Gallagher said yes, seeing a chance to experiment with pastel pencils.

“They’re a blend between painting and pencils. That medium seemed like it would be great for drawing birds.”

She was also ready to move beyond the staged poses typically seen in insect illustrations—think of a top-down view of a butterfly with its wings spread flat at a 90-degree angle.

“You’d almost never see that in the wild,” Gallagher said.

Line sketches like the ones on these pages informed each illustration’s composition.

20

For the bird illustrations, she wanted to depict lifelike poses and scenes.

Two blue jays watching over a clutch of eggs nestled among oak leaves.

A yellow warbler eyeing some downy hawthorn flowers as if hunting for insects to eat. A pair of purple martins perching at the entrance to their human-made house.

To achieve this authenticity, Gallagher consulted various sources.

Her first stop: visiting our environmental educators at Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods).

“I looked at bird specimens in person and held them. I took pictures of different angles and saw how bright the colors are. That gave me a sense of scale,” she said.

YouTube was a reliable resource to understand how birds naturally move.

Gallagher watched many videos there, and studied photos in public databases such as iNaturalist and eBird.

S

oon, it was time to draw. Each species demanded a careful strategy to avoid smudging the art.

For example, the rose-breasted grosbeak drawing—showing the bird perched with an elderberry in its beak— required frisket.

Frisket is a stenciling material artists use to protect finished parts of a piece.

“It’s like a sticky note in that it doesn’t leave residue. I used watercolor for the berries and branches, then laid frisket on top and drew the bird. It was simple to peel the frisket off at the end.”

Feathers were another fork in the road.

Smaller birds often have closely packed feathers that can be blended into patches of plumage.

However, individual feathers tend to be visible on larger birds. “Wings are not just random feathers,” said Gallagher.

“They’re very specific.”

t, This hummingbird illustration is so vibran it almost seems ready to fly off the page.

It’s tempting for many artists to endlessly tweak their work. But natural stopping points appeared here.

Pastel pencils pair best with pastel paper, “which is like sandpaper. It wears down the pencils and you can build up layers. Eventually, it gets to a point where the paper physically can’t take more pastel.”

Representing several bird families, the illustrations brought Gallagher closer to Lake County’s wildlife.

“Drawing these birds gave me more awareness. ‘Oh, I didn’t know we had that here. I’ve never seen one of those.’

“It made me feel more connected to the sense of place and how unique Lake County really is.”

She hopes readers of the guide will feel inspired to look for birds—and support them. “If I see a bird on an elderberry shrub, maybe I can plant elderberries and see it at home, too.”

Gallagher spent 8–20 hours perfecting each piece using many artistic tools.

21

Woodpeckers family Picidae

Woodland

Medium | Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Downy woodpecker Dryobates pubescens

Hairy woodpecker Dryobates villosus

Northern flicker Colaptes auratus

Pileated woodpecker Dryocopus pileatus

Red-bellied woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus

Red-headed woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus

Yellow-bellied sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius

Species Showcase Red- bellied woodpecker

This medium-sized woodpecker isn’t very well-named. The red patch on the bottom of the belly is quite faint.

More noticeable are the black-andwhite bars on the back and wings, and the red-capped head. Females have a red nape on the back of their neck. Males have a continuous red nape and crown.

Red-bellied woodpeckers communicate loud and often.

Their rolling, raspy churrrr call is reminiscent of someone talking with a hoarse voice after a concert.

Drumming their pointed bills on trees, utility poles or even metal gutters is another communication method. Males can drum up to 19 times per second.

22

Pileated woodpecker

Falcons family Falconidae

Grassland | Shoreline | Woodland

Medium | Large

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots

American kestrel

•

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Lyons Woods (Waukegan)

•

Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth) American kestrel Falco sparverius

Merlin

Falco columbarius

Peregrine falcon Falco peregrinus

Peregrine falcon

Flycatchers family Tyrannidae

Woodland

Small | Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Lyons Woods (Waukegan)

•

Prairie Wolf (Lake Bluff)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

•

Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth)

Olive-sided flycatcher

Acadian flycatcher

Least flycatcher

Alder flycatcher

Olive-sided flycatcher

Eastern kingbird

Scissor-tailed flycatcher

Eastern phoebe

Willow flycatcher

Eastern wood-pewee

Yellow-bellied flycatcher

Empidonax virescens Empidonax alnorum Tyrannus tyrannus Sayornis phoebe Contopus virens

Empidonax minimus Contopus cooperi

Tyrannus forficatus Empidonax traillii

Empidonax flaviventris

Great crested flycatcher Myiarchus crinitus

23

Shrikes family Laniidae

Woodland

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots

Northern shrike

•

Buffalo Creek (Long Grove)

•

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville) Loggerhead shrike

Lanius ludovicianus

!!

Northern shrike Lanius borealis

Vireos family Vireonidae

Woodland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Grant Woods (Ingleside)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

Red-eyed vireo

Bell’s vireo

Warbling vireo

Blue-headed vireo

White-eyed vireo

Philadelphia vireo

Yellow-throated vireo

Vireo bellii

Vireo solitarius

Vireo philadelphicus

Small

Vireo gilvus

Vireo griseus

Vireo flavifrons

Red-eyed vireo Vireo olivaceus

Jays & Crows family Corvidae American crow

Woodland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Hastings Lake (Lake Villa)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) American crow

Corvus brachyrhynchos

Blue jay 24

Medium | Large

Cyanocitta cristata

Species Showcase • Blue jay Handsome, spunky and common in the eastern U.S., blue jays are familiar visitors to suburban backyards and birdfeeders. Their swoopy blue head crest, necklace of black feathers and cascades of blue-white wing bars are easy to admire. Mating pairs assemble loose nests of sticks and grasses in the forked branches of trees, incubating 4–6 green eggs speckled with brown spots.

Blue jays are acorn aficionados. Skilled at burying healthy acorns, the species is thought to have helped spread oak trees in Chicagoland after glaciers retreated from the area 10,000–12,000 years ago.

Lark family Alaudidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Spring Bluff (Winthrop Harbor)

Grassland

Small

Horned lark

Horned lark

Eremophila alpestris

25

Swallows family Hirundinidae

Grassland | Wetland

Small | Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Old School (Mettawa)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Spring Bluff (Winthrop Harbor) Bank swallow Riparia riparia

Barn swallow

Hirundo rustica

Cliff swallow

Petrochelidon pyrrhonota

Northern rough-winged swallow Stelgidopteryx serripennis

Purple martin Progne subis

Tree swallow

Tachycineta bicolor

Species Showcase • Purple martin Purple martins are the largest member of the swallow family, famous for their aerial acrobatics, swooping and swirling to nab flying insects.

Traveling up to 600 miles a day during migration, purple martins arrive in Lake County in early April after spending the winter in South America. Most nest near cities and towns in human-made purple martin houses throughout the eastern U.S. and southeastern Canada. Such houses are installed at Independence Grove (Libertyville), Lakewood (Wauconda) and Old School (Mettawa) forest preserves.

Chickadees & Titmice family Paridae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Black-capped chickadee Poecile atricapillus

Tufted titmouse 26

Baeolophus bicolor

Woodland

Small

Tufted titmouse

Nuthatches family Sittidae White- breasted nuthatch

Woodland

Small

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

McDonald Woods (Lindenhurst)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Red-breasted nuthatch Sitta canadensis

White-breasted nuthatch Sitta carolinensis

Creeper family Certhiidae

Woodland

Small

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Lyons Woods (Waukegan)

•

McDonald Woods (Lindenhurst)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

Brown creeper

Brown creeper

Certhia americana

Wrens family Troglodytidae Marsh wren

Woodland

Small

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Grant Woods (Ingleside)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) Carolina wren

Thryothorus ludovicianus

Marsh wren

Cistothorus palustris

Northern house wren Troglodytes aedon

Sedge wren

Cistothorus stellaris

Northern house wren

Winter wren

Troglodytes hiemalis

27

Kinglets & Gnatcatchers family REGULIDAE Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Grant Woods (Ingleside)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

Woodland

Small

Ruby- crowned kinglet

Blue-gray gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Golden-crowned kinglet Regulus satrapa

Ruby-crowned kinglet Corthylio calendula

Bluebirds & Thrushes family Turdidae

Woodland

Small | Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Buffalo Creek (Long Grove)

•

Grassy Lake (Lake Barrington)

•

Independence Grove (Libertyville)

•

Old School (Mettawa)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods) American robin

Turdus migratorius

Eastern bluebird Sialis sialis

Gray-cheeked thrush Catharus minimus

Hermit thrush

Catharus guttatus

Swainson’s thrush Catharus ustulatus

Veery

Catharus fuscescens

Wood thrush

Hylocichla mustelina

28

Species Showcase • Eastern bluebird The male bluebird’s vibrant feathers are like one of nature’s exclamation points—“spring is here!”

These migratory beauties spend winters in the southern U.S. and Mexico. In mild winters, they may stick around in the north if food is plentiful.

Bluebirds feast on berries, seeds and insects in open woodlands, meadows, orchards and farmland edges. Watch as they hover to catch insects or “ground-sally”—darting from a perch, landing to grab a snack on the ground, returning to their perch.

Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers family Mimidae

Grassland | Wetland

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Grant Woods (Ingleside)

•

Grassy Lake (Lake Barrington)

•

Half Day (Vernon Hills)

•

Prairie Wolf (Lake Bluff) Brown thrasher

Toxostoma rufum

Gray catbird

Dumetella carolinensis

Gray catbird

Northern mockingbird Mimus polyglottos

Starling family Sturnidae

Woodland

Medium

Non-native species seen countywide European starling Sturnus vulgaris

Waxwing family Bombycillidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Cuba Marsh (Deer Park)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

Woodland

Small | Medium

Cedar waxwing

Cedar waxwing

Bombycilla cedrorum

Old World Sparrow family Passeridae

Grassland | Woodland

Small

Non-native species seen countywide House sparrow

Passer domesticus

29

Pipit family Motacillidae

Grassland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth)

Small

American pipit

American pipit

Anthus rubescens

Finches family Fringillidae

Woodland

Small

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

•

Van Patten Woods (Wadsworth)

American goldfinch

American goldfinch Spinus tristis

European goldfinch

Purple finch

Evening grosbeak

Red crossbill

House finch

Redpoll

Pine siskin

White-winged crossbill

Carduelis carduelis

Coccothraustes vespertinus Haemorhous mexicanus Spinus pinus

Haemorhous purpureus Loxia curvirostra Acanthis flammea Loxia leucoptera

Longspurs & Old World Buntings family Calcariidae Snow bunting

Grassland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Spring Bluff (Winthrop Harbor) Lapland longspur

Calcarius lapponicus

Snow bunting 30

Small

Plectrophenax nivalis

New World Sparrows, Juncos & Towhees family Passerellidae

Grassland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Fort Sheridan (Lake Forest)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

Song sparrow

American tree sparrow

Lark sparrow

Chipping sparrow

LeConte’s sparrow

Clay-colored sparrow

Lincoln’s sparrow

Dark-eyed junco

Nelson’s sparrow

Eastern towhee

Savannah sparrow

Field sparrow

Song sparrow

Fox sparrow

Swamp sparrow

Grasshopper sparrow

Vesper sparrow

Harris’s sparrow

White-crowned sparrow

Henslow’s sparrow

White-throated sparrow

Spizelloides arborea Spizella passerina Spizella pallida

Junco hyemalis

Pipilo erythrophthalmus Spizella pusilla

Passerella iliaca Ammodramus savannarum Zonotrichia querula Centronyx henslowii

Chondestes grammacus Ammospiza leconteii Melospiza lincolnii

Ammospiza nelsoni

Passerculus sandwichensis

•

Hastings Lake (Lake Villa)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

Harris’s sparrow

Melospiza melodia Melospiza georgiana Pooecetes gramineus Zonotrichia leucophrys Zonotrichia albicollis

Yellow-breasted Chat family Icteriidae Forest preserve hotspots hotspots

Small

Woodland

Small | Medium

Yellow- breasted chat

Yellow-breasted chat Icteria virens

31

Blackbirds, Bobolinks, Meadowlarks, Grackles, Cowbirds & Orioles family Icteridae

Grassland

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

McDonald Woods (Lindenhurst)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Pine Dunes (Antioch)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake) Baltimore oriole Icterus galbula

Bobolink

Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Brewer’s blackbird

Euphagus cyanocephalus

Brown-headed cowbird Molothrus ater

Common grackle Quiscalus quiscula

Eastern meadowlark Sturnella magna

Orchard oriole Icterus spurius

Red-winged blackbird

Species Showcase

Agelaius phoeniceus

Rusty blackbird

Red-winged blackbird

Euphagus carolinus

Yellow-headed blackbird

Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus

Eastern meadowlark

!!

Conk-la-REE! Look at ME! The return of red-winged blackbirds is one of the ways nature tells us spring is around the corner.

The male’s red shoulder patches and unmistakable song are first seen and heard at the tail end of winter.

Males usually return to Lake County’s wetlands in March, a month before females arrive.

They use the time to mark territories with dramatic displays from trees and cattails. Females are more secretive, staying low to the ground and weaving cup-shaped nests for the 2–3 clutches of eggs they’ll lay.

32

Small

Species Showcase Baltimore oriole

Baltimore orioles visit Lake County from May–September. Males sport an orange chest, belly and rump, black head, and black wings marked with a white bar.

Females are a muted yellow or brown, with two white wing bars.

Using grasses, bark and artificial fibers, orioles weave sock-like nests high up in trees. The nest has a cozy chamber where mating pairs incubate 3–7 eggs per year.

Attract orioles to your home in spring by putting grape jelly at your birdfeeder.

Orioles are also fond of fruits and berries.

Cut an orange in half, stick the slices onto tree branches and they should eat it up.

Wood Warblers family Parulidae

Woodland

Small

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Des Plaines River Trail

•

Grant Woods (Ingleside)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

Chestnut- sided warbler

American redstart

Canada warbler

Bay-breasted warbler

Cape May warbler

Black-and-white warbler

Cerulean warbler

Blackburnian warbler

Chestnut-sided warbler

Blackpoll warbler

Common yellowthroat

Black-throated blue warbler

Connecticut warbler

Black-throated green warbler

Golden-winged warbler

Blue-winged warbler

Hooded warbler

Setophaga ruticilla

Setophaga castanea Mniotilta varia

Setophaga fusca

Setophaga striata

Setophaga caerulescens Setophaga virens

Vermivora cyanoptera

Cardellina canadensis Setophaga tigrina

Setophaga cerulea

!

Setophaga pensylvanica Geothlypis trichas Oporornis agilis

Vermivora chrysoptera Setophaga citrina

Continued on next page

33

... continued from previous page

Kentucky warbler

Pine warbler

Louisiana waterthrush

Prairie warbler

Magnolia warbler

Prothonotary warbler

Mourning warbler

Tennessee warbler

Nashville warbler

Wilson’s warbler

Northern parula

Worm-eating warbler

Northern waterthrush

Yellow warbler

Orange-crowned warbler

Yellow-rumped warbler

Ovenbird

Yellow-throated warbler

Geothlypis formosa Parkesia motacilla

Setophaga magnolia Geothlypis philadelphia Leiothlypis ruficapilla Setophaga americana Parkesia noveboracensis Leiothlypis celata

Seiurus aurocapilla

Palm warbler

Setophaga palmarum

Species Showcase Yellow warbler

Sweet-sweet-sweet-sweet-I’m-sosweet goes the yellow warbler’s crisp song. True to their name, these peppy birds are almost entirely sunny yellow.

Males have soft chestnut streaks on their chests. Though common throughout Lake County, yellow warblers face pressure from brown-headed cowbirds. Cowbirds don’t build nests.

Instead, they dodge parenting duties and lay their eggs in the nests of more than 200 other bird species.

Surprisingly, most host birds don’t notice. They raise the oversized chicks as their own—but not yellow warblers.

When a female spots an unfamiliar egg in her nest, she buries it under a fresh layer of material. Researchers have found some unlucky nests with as many as six layers built atop intruder eggs.

34

Setophaga pinus Setophaga discolor Protonotaria citrea

Leothlypis peregrina Cardellina pusilla

Helmitheros vermivorum Setophaga petechia Setophaga coronata

Setophaga dominica

Common yellowthroat

Cardinals, Grosbeaks, Buntings & Tanagers family Cardinalidae

Woodland

Medium

Forest preserve hotspots hotspots •

Buffalo Creek (Long Grove)

•

Middlefork Savanna (Lake Forest)

•

Captain Daniel Wright Woods (Mettawa)

•

Rollins Savanna (Grayslake)

•

Lakewood (Wauconda)

•

Ryerson Conservation Area (Riverwoods)

Blue grosbeak

Rose-breasted grosbeak

Dickcissel

Scarlet tanager

Indigo bunting

Summer tanager

Passerina caerulea Spiza americana Passerina cyanea

Pheucticus ludovicianus Piranga olivacea Piranga rubra

Northern cardinal

Cardinalis cardinalis

Species Showcase • Rose-breasted grosbeak This 8-inch-tall migratory bird is named for the male’s triangular, rose-red chest patch. Another identifying characteristic is the species’ chunky bill, perfect for cracking seeds and munching insects and berries.

Grosbeaks are seen in areas with a blend of large trees, thick shrubs and open spaces. You may hear their sweet songs before you see them. “The song sounds like an American robin in an unusually good mood,” writes the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

35

Species Showcase Indigo bunting

Look where woodlands meet fields or pastures—that’s prime real estate for indigo buntings.

These little birds benefit farmers by eating weedy seeds and pesky insects.

Believe it or not, the male’s vivid feathers don’t contain a drop of blue pigment. The feathers are actually black.

Air pockets and proteins in the bunting’s feathers absorb every wavelength of light except blue, bouncing that color back to our eyes in an optical illusion.

It’s a neat quirk—one that only adds to the indigo bunting’s beauty and charm.

Species Showcase • Northern cardinal The northern cardinal may just be the quintessential Midwestern bird. In 1929, Illinois schoolchildren selected it as the State Bird—a title this species has also earned from Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia.

Cardinals remain in Lake County year-round. Males derive their signature red color from pigments in the seeds they eat. Females have red accents on their wings, tail and head to complement their brown bodies. Both sexes display a spiky head crest.

36

Give Your Time & Talent

Are you a skilled birder? Enjoy exploring off-trail?

Help us better understand bird populations in the forest preserves by becoming a wildlife monitor.

Volunteer monitors visit a site two or more times in June to record observations using a standard process. Trainings are hosted annually in late winter and early spring. Skilled birders are also needed to lead bird education programs.

Apply at LCFPD.org/volunteer. Call 847-968-3408 or email volunteer@LCFPD.org with questions.

Help the Forest Preserves Do More

The Preservation Foundation is the charitable partner of the Lake County Forest Preserves.

The mission of the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization is to extend and accelerate the Forest Preserves’ goals through private philanthropy.

Your gift to the Foundation’s Every Acre Strong endowment campaign will help provide a perpetual, dependable funding source and ensure every acre of habitat we restore remains ecologically healthy. Forever.

Give online:

LCFPD.org/donate Give by phone:

847-968-3110 Maximize your support and

minimize taxes through IRA distributions, retirement

plan assets or life insurance.

Connect with Us

Tax ID: 26-0285660

Mail a gift to 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville, IL 60048.

Gifts of appreciated stocks or

securities are easy to make and provide great tax benefits.

Leave a legacy of generosity with an estate gift that meets your

financial and philanthropic goals.

Follow us @LCFPD on social media, subscribe to Horizons magazine and sign up for our monthly e-newsletter: LCFPD.org/connect

37

LCFPD.org/birds Lake County, Illinois, is teeming with birds. This guide will help you get started spotting them in your Lake County Forest Preserves and beyond.

9 Track your sightings with a checklist featuring hundreds of species.

9 Enjoy custom bird illustrations by a local artist.

9 Discover your passion for finding—and protecting—our feathered friends.

Birds shown in this guide represent species that may be found in Lake County.

Presence and abundance can vary between preserves and by season.

Bald eagle

Northern cardinal

Sandhill crane Rose-breasted grosbeak

Yellow warbler