Project Gutenberg's Check-list of the Birds of Kansas, by Harrison B Tordoff This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org Title: Check-list of the Birds of Kansas Author: Harrison B Tordoff Release Date: November 24, 2010 [EBook #34429] Language: English Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 *** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHECK-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF KANSAS *** Produced by Chris Curnow, Joseph Cooper and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Volume 8, No. 5, pp. 307-359, 1 figure in text March 10, 1956 Check-list of the Birds of Kansas BY HARRISON B. TORDOFF UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE 1956 UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS PUBLICATIONS MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY [Cover] [Pg 307] Volume 8, No. 5, pp. 307-359, 1 figure in text March 10, 1956 Check-list of the Birds of Kansas BY HARRISON B. TORDOFF UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS LAWRENCE 1956 University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, A. Byron Leonard, Robert W. Wilson Volume 8, No. 5, pp. 307-359, 1 figure Published March 10, 1956 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas PRINTED BY FERD VOILAND, JR., STATE PRINTER TOPEKA, KANSAS 1956 25-9006 CHECK-LIST OF THE BIRDS OF KANSAS By Harrison B. Tordoff [Pg 308] [Pg 309] Kansas was one of the first states for which a detailed book on birds was published (N. S. Goss, "History of the Birds of Kansas," Topeka, Kansas, 1891). Ornithological progress in Kansas in recent years, however, has not kept pace with work in many other states. As a result, knowledge of the birds of Kansas today is not sufficiently detailed to make possible a modern, definitive report. One purpose of this check-list is to show gaps in our information on birds of the state. Each student of birds can contribute importantly by keeping accurate records of nesting, distribution, and migration of any species in Kansas and by making these records available through publication in appropriate journals. The Museum of Natural History at the University of Kansas solicits records and specimens which contribute to our knowledge of birds in Kansas. Files and collections at the Museum are available to any qualified person for study. The last state-wide list of birds was prepared by W. S. Long (Trans. Kansas Acad. Sci., 43, 1940:433-456). This list and the unpublished thesis from which the list was abstracted have been of great value in preparing the present report. Many other persons have contributed and among these the names of the following must be mentioned because of the value of their contributions: Ivan L. Boyd, L. B. Carson, Arthur L. Goodrich, Jr., Richard Graber, Jean Graber, Harold C. Hedges, R. F. Miller, John M. Porter, and Marvin D. Schwilling. Full standing in this check-list has been given only to species for which at least one specimen from Kansas has been examined by some qualified student. Exceptions to this admittedly arbitrary rule have been made in three cases, Trumpeter Swan, Turkey, and Carolina Paroquet, because there is no reason to doubt that each of these three species once occurred in Kansas and because opportunity for obtaining specimens from Kansas has been lost through disappearance of the species from the state. Other species reported from the state but not authenticated by specimens have been relegated to the Hypothetical List and their names and my remarks concerning these birds are enclosed in brackets. This procedure is intended to encourage collection of such species; it is not intended necessarily to indicate doubt of a record. In the case of a carefully identified but uncollected accidental, opportunity for obtaining a specimen may not exist again for a long period. This is unfortunate but emphasizes the need for judicious collecting. A total of 375 species (or 459 species and subspecies), of which four are introduced, is included in this check-list. Additionally, 15 species are discussed in the Hypothetical List. An asterisk (*) preceding an account indicates positive evidence of breeding in Kansas of the species so marked. The total of species known to have bred at least once in the state is 173. Nomenclature in this list follows the American Ornithologists' Union "Check-List of North American Birds" (1931, 4th edition) and its supplements. Species on the Hypothetical List are included in their current taxonomic position in the main list. Gavia immer (Brünnich). Common Loon. Uncommon transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Gavia stellata (Pontoppidan). Red-throated Loon. Rare transient. One specimen: female (Univ. Michigan Mus. Zool. 65778), Marais des Cygnes River, near Ottawa, Franklin County, October 20, 1925, Captain Joe R. White. Several sight records from Shawnee and Johnson counties within past 10 years. No subspecies recognized. Colymbus grisegena. Red-necked Grebe. Rare transient. One specimen: female (KU 7697), Kansas River east of Lawrence, Douglas County, October 29, 1910, Logan I. Evans. Subspecies in Kansas: C. g. holböllii (Reinhardt). Colymbus auritus. Horned Grebe. Rare transient. Two authentic specimens: Manhattan, Riley County, September 30, 1878; male (KU 27465), 2½ miles north of Lawrence, Douglas County, November 16, 1945, E. C. Olson and Ralph L. Montell. Several sight records, from eastern, central, and western Kansas. Subspecies in Kansas: C. a. cornutus Gmelin. Colymbus caspicus. Eared Grebe. Regular transient throughout state; more common than Horned Grebe. Subspecies in Kansas: C. c. californicus (Heermann). Aechmophorus occidentalis (Lawrence). Western Grebe. Rare transient, perhaps more common in west but status poorly known. No subspecies recognized. * Podilymbus podiceps. Pied-billed Grebe. Common transient and irregular summer resident, rare winter resident. Subspecies in Kansas: P. p. podiceps (Linnaeus). Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin. White Pelican. Common transient throughout state. Occasional individuals, probably sick or wounded, remain beyond normal migration periods in spring and fall. No subspecies recognized. Pelecanus occidentalis. Brown Pelican. Accidental. One specimen: adult, sex not determined (KU 10468), Parker, Linn County, June, 1916, found dead by G. G. McConnell. One seen at Wichita, Sedgwick County, by R. H. Sullivan, April 25, 1910. Subspecies in Kansas: P. o. carolinensis Gmelin. * Phalacrocorax auritus. Double-crested Cormorant. Regular transient, in small to moderate numbers. One nesting record: several nests, eggs, and small young seen, Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, August, 1951, Otto Tiemeier. Subspecies in Kansas: P. a. auritus (Lesson). Phalacrocorax olivaceus. Mexican Cormorant. Accidental. One record: specimen taken 4 miles south of Lawrence, Douglas County, April 2, 1872. Present location unknown but specimen identified by S. F. Baird and R. Ridgway. Subspecies in Kansas: P. o. mexicanus (Brandt). Anhinga anhinga. Water-turkey. Accidental. Several specimens and sight observations are on record but most are prior to 1900. Several records and one specimen at Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, since 1928 (Frank Robl). In recent years, some reported Water-turkeys have proved to be cormorants. Subspecies in Kansas: A. a. leucogaster (Vieillot). Fregata magnificens. Man-o'-war-bird. Accidental. One record: specimen (present location unknown) taken on the North Fork of the Solomon River, Osborne County, August 16, 1880, by Frank Lewis. Subspecies in Kansas: F. m. rothschildi Mathews. * Ardea herodias. Great Blue Heron. Common transient and summer resident nesting in widely scattered colonies. Subspecies in Kansas: three reported, A. h. herodias Linnaeus in northeast, A. h. wardi Ridgway in southeast, and A. h. treganzai Court in west, but status [Pg 310] [Pg 311] of these poorly known because of lack of sufficient breeding specimens. Casmerodius albus. American Egret. Regular postbreeding summer visitant; occasional spring and summer resident. No definite nesting record. Subspecies in Kansas: C. a. egretta (Gmelin). * Leucophoyx thula. Snowy Egret. Regular postbreeding summer visitant; rare and local summer resident; occasional in spring. One nesting record: two nests found, summer, 1952, 6 miles north and 4½ miles west of Garden City, Finney County, Marvin D. Schwilling. Subspecies in Kansas: L. t. thula (Molina). Hydranassa tricolor. Louisiana Heron. Accidental. Two records: specimen taken at Lake Inman, McPherson County, August 9, 1934, by R. E. Mohler and Richard H. Schmidt; one seen, 1½ miles south of Iatan Marsh, Atchison County (near Iatan, Missouri), September 12, 1948, first reported by R. F. Miller and Mr. and Mrs. Ivan L. Boyd, seen by several other observers. Subspecies in Kansas: H. t. ruficollis (Gosse). * Florida caerulea. Little Blue Heron. Regular postbreeding summer visitant; rare and local summer resident; occasional in spring. Usually more common than Snowy Egret. One nesting record: one nest found, summer, 1952, 6 miles north and 4½ miles west of Garden City, Finney County, Marvin D. Schwilling. Subspecies in Kansas: F. c. caerulea (Linnaeus). * Butorides virescens. Green Heron. Common transient and summer resident. Subspecies in Kansas: B. v. virescens (Linnaeus). * Nycticorax nycticorax. Black-crowned Night Heron. Transient and summer resident, breeding in scattered colonies. Subspecies in Kansas: N. n. hoactli (Gmelin). * Nyctanassa violacea. Yellow-crowned Night Heron. Summer resident throughout state, rare in north; numbers perhaps augmented in late summer by postbreeding stragglers. Subspecies in Kansas: N. v. violacea (Linnaeus). * Botaurus lentiginosus (Rackett). American Bittern. Common transient; summer resident locally. Two definite nesting records: nest with 4 newly hatched young (male collected, KU 30468), ½ mile east and 2 miles south of Welda, Anderson County, June 9, 1951, Maurice F. Baker; nest with eggs, 6 miles north and 3½ miles west of Kalvesta, Finney County, summer, 1952, Raymond Erkic (fide Marvin D. Schwilling). No subspecies recognized. * Ixobrychus exilis. Least Bittern. Transient and irregular summer resident. Two nests found at Lake Quivira, Johnson County, June 3, 1949, Harold C. Hedges; on June 28, one of the nests contained 4 eggs, on July 10 this nest was empty. No other definite nesting records. Subspecies in Kansas: I. e. exilis (Gmelin). Mycteria americana Linnaeus. Wood Ibis. Accidental. Several sight records and one specimen: male (KU 9489), 5 miles north-*east of Goodland, Sherman County, October 4, 1913, Willis Feaster. No subspecies recognized. * Plegadis mexicana (Gmelin). White-faced Glossy Ibis. Irregular transient and summer visitant; more common in west. One definite nesting record: photograph of downy young ("Kansas Fish and Game," vol. 9, no. 3, Jan. 1952, p. 7) taken at Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, presumably in summer of 1951, by L. O. Nossaman. Frank Robl has seen individuals in summer in Cheyenne Bottoms on many occasions. Reports of Eastern Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) in Kansas probably are based on dark-faced immatures of the present species, although the eastern species has been taken in Oklahoma. No subspecies recognized. Ajaia ajaja (Linnaeus). Roseate Spoonbill. Accidental. One authentic specimen (present location not known): male, near Douglass, on Four-Mile Creek, Butler County, March 20, 1899, taken by Dr. R. Matthews, identification verified by Jerold Volk and Wilfred Goodman. No subspecies recognized. Phoenicopterus ruber Linnaeus. Flamingo. Accidental. Two birds seen in autumn, 1928, at Little Salt Marsh, Stafford County, one of which was killed on opening day of duck season and now (1955) is mounted at Kansas Forestry, Fish, and Game Commission headquarters at Pratt. No subspecies recognized. Olor columbianus (Ord). Whistling Swan. Transient and winter resident, formerly common, now rare. Many specimens are on record; at least four were taken in winter. No subspecies recognized. Olor buccinator (Richardson). Trumpeter Swan. Formerly occasional migrant, no longer occurs in Kansas. All specimens from Kansas alleged to be of this species are actually Whistling Swans. The early sight records seem valid, however, and the species should remain on the state list. No subspecies recognized. * Branta canadensis. Canada Goose. Common transient; some winter in suitable places. This species was found nesting along the Missouri River near Atchison by early explorers. Modern breeding records probably pertain to captives or their descendants. Subspecies in Kansas: B. c. moffitti Aldrich, B. c. leucopareia (Brandt), B. c. minima Ridgway, and B. c. hutchinsi (Richardson) have been collected in Kansas. Additionally, subspecies interior Todd and parvipes (Cassin) probably pass through the state but no specimens have been saved. Canada Geese of widely varying size are regularly seen in migration. Branta bernicla. Brant. Accidental. Several sight records and one specimen: unsexed bird (KU 7490), Leavenworth County, November 15, 1879, A. Lange. Some hunters refer to immature Blue Geese as "brant." Orville O. Rice saw 4 brant 2 miles north of Burlington, near the Neosho River, Coffey County, March 24, 1955, that appeared to be Black Brant, Branta nigricans (Lawrence). Subspecies in Kansas: B. b. hrota (Müller). Anser albifrons. White-fronted Goose. Regular transient throughout state, more common in central and western parts. Subspecies in Kansas: A. a. frontalis Baird. Chen hyperborea. Snow Goose. Common transient throughout state. [Pg 312] [Pg 313] [Pg 314] Subspecies in Kansas: C. h. hyperborea (Pallas). Chen caerulescens (Linnaeus). Blue Goose. Common transient in east, less common in central and western parts of state. In east, this species predominates in early spring migration whereas the Snow Goose is most numerous later. Hybrids between the two are regularly seen. No subspecies recognized. [Chen rossii (Cassin). Ross Goose. One reported at Wyandotte County Lake, November 22, 1951, by John Bishop. Placed in Hypothetical List in absence of a specimen.] Dendrocygna bicolor. Fulvous Tree-duck. Accidental. Frank Robl carefully examined and identified three specimens killed in 1929 or 1930, in Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County. None saved. Specimens collected also in nearby areas of Missouri. Subspecies in Kansas: D. b. helva Wetmore and Peters, on geographical grounds. * Anas platyrhynchos. Mallard. Abundant transient, regular winter resident, irregular and local summer resident. Modern breeding distribution poorly known but several nests found in widely scattered areas in past years. Nests regularly in Kearny, Finney, and Barton counties. Subspecies in Kansas: A. p. platyrhynchos Linnaeus. Anas rubripes Brewster. Black Duck. Regular but rare or uncommon transient and winter resident in east and central (Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County) sections. No subspecies recognized. Anas fulvigula. Mottled Duck. Accidental. Four specimens allegedly of this species have been reported. Of these, two are actually Mallards, one is a Gadwall, and one, female, Neosho Falls, Woodson County, March 11, 1876, Goss, is a Mottled Duck. Subspecies in Kansas: A. f. maculosa Sennett. Anas strepera Linnaeus. Gadwall. Transient and occasional winter resident throughout state. Rare summer resident but no satisfactory nesting record reported. No subspecies recognized. * Anas acuta Linnaeus. Pintail. Abundant transient throughout state, irregular winter resident, local summer resident nesting in recent years in Barton, Finney, Meade, and Leavenworth counties, but summer distribution poorly known. No subspecies recognized. Anas carolinensis Gmelin. Green-winged Teal. Common transient, rare winter resident (records from Meade County and Kansas City). No subspecies recognized. * Anas discors Linnaeus. Blue-winged Teal. Common transient, locally common summer resident. No subspecies recognized. Anas cyanoptera. Cinnamon Teal. Rare transient in east, uncommon or fairly common transient in west. Subspecies in Kansas: A. c. septentrionalis Snyder and Lumsden. * Spatula clypeata (Linnaeus). Shoveller. Common transient throughout state. Frank Robl found a female with young in Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, in approximately 1930. Nest with eggs found 1½ miles south of Friend, Finney County, in spring, 1952, Marvin D. Schwilling. No subspecies recognized. [Mareca penelope (Linnaeus). European Widgeon. Carl and David Holmes reported a pair at Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County, April 16, 1954. Placed on Hypothetical List until a specimen is taken.] Mareca americana (Gmelin). Baldpate. Common transient throughout state, rare winter resident. No subspecies recognized. * Aix sponsa (Linnaeus). Wood Duck. Transient, rare in west to locally common in extreme east. Summer resident in eastern part of state; breeding distribution poorly known. No subspecies recognized. * Aythya americana (Eyton). Redhead. Fairly common transient and occasional winter resident throughout state. Frank Robl found a nesting pair in Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, in 1928 (approximate). The adults were neither captives nor cripples. No subspecies recognized. Aythya collaris (Donovan). Ring-necked Duck. Fairly common transient throughout state, rare winter resident. No subspecies recognized. Aythya valisineria (Wilson). Canvas-back. Fairly common transient and occasional winter resident throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Aythya marila. Greater Scaup Duck. Rare transient, status poorly known. Several sight records, one in winter. Floyd T. Amsden, a competent sportsman and amateur ornithologist of Wichita, identified 3 male specimens killed 3 miles north and 1 mile east of Sharon, Barber County, on October 27 (2) and November 3 (1), 1951. Frank Robl has seen specimens killed in Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County. Every effort should be made to preserve specimens from Kansas. Subspecies in Kansas: A. m. nearctica Stejneger, on geographical grounds. Aythya affinis (Eyton). Lesser Scaup Duck. Common transient throughout state. A few records of wintering and summering (non-*breeding) individuals. No subspecies recognized. Bucephala clangula. Golden-eye. Uncommon transient and winter resident. Specimens from Kansas alleged to be the Barrow Golden-eye (Bucephala islandica) all are of the present species. Subspecies in Kansas: B. c. americana (Bonaparte). Bucephala albeola (Linnaeus). Buffle-head. Fairly common transient and occasional winter resident throughout state. [Pg 315] [Pg 316] No subspecies recognized. Clangula hyemalis (Linnaeus). Old-squaw. Rare transient and winter visitant. At least five specimens taken (but only two or three preserved) and numerous sight records, from widely separated parts of state. No subspecies recognized. Somateria mollissima. Eider. Accidental. One record: immature male (KU 3620), Kansas River near Lecompton, Douglas County, November 3, 1891, A. L. Wiedman. Subspecies in Kansas: S. m. v. nigra Bonaparte (identification checked by A. Wetmore). Somateria spectabilis (Linnaeus). King Eider. Accidental. One record: immature male (KU 27487), Kansas River 1 mile east of Lawrence, Douglas County, November 27, 1947, R. L. Montell. No subspecies recognized. Melanitta deglandi. White-winged Scoter. Rare transient. Nine specimens from Douglas and Leavenworth counties, taken from 1927 to 1938; several sight records from eastern Kansas. Subspecies in Kansas: M. d. deglandi (Bonaparte). Melanitta perspicillata (Linnaeus). Surf Scoter. Rare transient. Eight known specimens (three of which are now in University of Kansas collection), all taken in autumn, seven in Douglas County, one in Sedgwick County; several sight records from eastern Kansas. No subspecies recognized. Oidemia nigra. Common Scoter. Accidental. The two preserved specimens from Kansas supposedly of this species are actually Surf Scoters. L. B. Carson, however, identified an adult male Common Scoter killed by a hunter at Horton Lake, Brown County, in the early 1930's. Others have been seen by reliable field observers. Every effort should be made to secure specimens from Kansas. Subspecies in Kansas: O. n. americana Swainson, on geographical grounds. * Oxyura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. Common transient throughout state, rare winter resident. One breeding record: Frank Robl saw an adult female with one small young at Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, in approximately 1929. Subspecies in Kansas: O. j. rubida (Wilson). Lophodytes cucullatus (Linnaeus). Hooded Merganser. Uncommon transient and winter resident throughout state. Probably nests occasionally (two specimens at KU taken in east in June), but no proof of this available. No subspecies recognized. Mergus merganser. American Merganser. Common transient and winter resident throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: M. m. americanus Cassin. Mergus serrator. Red-breasted Merganser. Uncommon transient throughout state; probably also rare winter resident but records lacking. This species is more common than Hooded Merganser in west, less common than Hooded in east. Subspecies in Kansas: M. s. serrator Linnaeus. * Cathartes aura. Turkey Vulture. Common transient throughout state; common summer resident west at least to Clark County. Breeding distribution in west poorly known. Subspecies in Kansas: C. a. teter Friedmann. Coragyps atratus (Meyer). Black Vulture. Once occurred in southeast, but no record since 1885. Goss quotes Dr. George Lisle ("a close observer") as finding this species common and breeding at Chetopa, Labette County, on the Oklahoma line, prior to 1883. Lisle found a nest with two eggs in 1858. Goss also reports one killed by Watson at Ellis, Ellis County, on March 27, 1885, but the location of the specimen is unknown. The species may still occur in southeastern Kansas. No subspecies recognized. * Elanoïdes forficatus. Swallow-tailed Kite. Formerly summer resident in at least eastern half of state. Last specimen from Kansas taken by Dr. G. C. Rinker at Hamilton, Greenwood County, May 17, 1914. Subspecies in Kansas: E. f. forficatus (Linnaeus). * Ictinia misisippiensis (Wilson). Mississippi Kite. Common summer resident in south-central Kansas, east to Harvey, north to Barton, and west to Kearny counties. Occasional records from Douglas (nested once), Johnson, Greenwood, and Hamilton counties. No subspecies recognized. Accipiter gentilis. Goshawk. Rare and irregular winter visitor in east. Status in west unknown. Subspecies in Kansas: A. g. atricapillus (Wilson). * Accipiter striatus. Sharp-shinned Hawk. Transient and winter resident throughout state; less common in east. Status in summer poorly known; one nest found in Cloud County, July 11, 1938, J. M. Porter. Subspecies in Kansas: A. s. velox (Wilson). * Accipiter cooperii (Bonaparte). Cooper Hawk. Resident throughout state but nesting records only from the eastern half, west to Cloud County. No subspecies recognized. * Buteo jamaicensis. Red-tailed Hawk. Abundant transient and winter resident in east; in High Plains of west, largely restricted to river bottoms in winter. Common summer resident in east; status in summer in west poorly known. Subspecies in Kansas: B. j. borealis (Gmelin) is the breeding bird of eastern Kansas. B. j. calurus Cassin probably nests in west but no specimens available. B. j. borealis, B. j. calurus, B. j. kriderii Hoopes, and B. j. harlani (Audubon), the latter considered here as conspecific with jamaicensis, all occur as transients and winter residents. More specimens needed to establish details of distribution of various subspecies. * Buteo lineatus. Red-shouldered Hawk. Uncommon transient and summer resident and irregular winter resident in eastern Kansas. Breeding records from Leavenworth and Woodson counties; doubtless breeds in other eastern counties but definite evidence lacking. Subspecies in Kansas: B. l. lineatus (Gmelin). * Buteo platypterus. Broad-winged Hawk. Fairly common transient and local summer resident in eastern Kansas. Breeding records only from [Pg 317] [Pg 318] [Pg 319] Douglas, Leavenworth, and Johnson counties, where species nests regularly. Subspecies in Kansas: B. p. platypterus (Vieillot). * Buteo swainsoni Bonaparte. Swainson Hawk. Abundant transient in west, fairly common in east. Nests commonly throughout western two-thirds of state and at least occasionally in eastern portion. Supposed winter records should be substantiated by specimens. No subspecies recognized. Buteo lagopus. Rough-legged Hawk. Winter resident, fairly common in east to common in west. Subspecies in Kansas: B. l. s. johannis (Gmelin). * Buteo regalis (Gray). Ferruginous Rough-leg. Common transient and winter resident in west, rare in east. Rare summer resident in west. Two nesting records: nest with four young, south fork of Smoky Hill River, near Wallace, May 27, 1883, Goss; nest with three young, west of Russell Springs, Logan County, May 29, 1954, Marvin D. Schwilling. No subspecies recognized. Parabuteo unicinctus. Harris Hawk. Accidental. Two records: male, Wichita, Sedgwick County, December 14, 1918, LeRoy Snyder; female (KU 10752), 7½ miles southwest of Lawrence, Douglas County, December 25, 1918, Fred Hastie. Subspecies in Kansas: P. u. harrisi (Audubon). * Aquila chrysaëtos. Golden Eagle. Formerly common resident throughout state. Now common in winter in west to rare in east. One positive nesting record: a pair nested for several years (prior to 1891) in southeastern Comanche County on a high gypsum ledge, Goss. Subspecies in Kansas: A. c. canadensis (Linnaeus). Haliaeetus leucocephalus. Bald Eagle. Rare transient and winter resident in east; fairly common winter resident in west, where large numbers may gather to roost. Subspecies in Kansas: H. l. alascanus Townsend. Previous students refer all Bald Eagles from the state to H. l. leucocephalus (Linnaeus) but specimens in the K. U. collection, all taken in winter, are large (three females, wing, 645, 655, 680 mm.) and are clearly of the northern subspecies. Circus cyaneus. Marsh Hawk. Resident, common in winter, less common and local in summer. Subspecies in Kansas: C. c. hudsonius (Linnaeus). Pandion haliaetus. Osprey. Occurs irregularly throughout state but less frequently in west. Most records in spring and autumn but a few at other seasons. No definite nesting record. Subspecies in Kansas: P. h. carolinensis (Gmelin). Falco rusticolus. Gyrfalcon. Accidental. One specimen: Manhattan, Riley County, December 1, 1880, A. L. Runyan (specimen at Kansas State College). Subspecies in Kansas: F. r. obsoletus Gmelin. Falco mexicanus Schlegel. Prairie Falcon. Rare summer and fairly common winter resident in west; occasional transient and winter resident in east. No satisfactory breeding records. No subspecies recognized. * Falco peregrinus. Duck Hawk. Rare transient and winter resident, probably more common in west. Formerly nested but no nesting record since before 1900. Subspecies in Kansas: F. p. anatum Bonaparte. Falco columbarius. Pigeon Hawk. Uncommon transient and rare winter resident in east; more common in migration in west but status there in winter not known. Subspecies in Kansas: F. c. columbarius Linnaeus is most frequent in eastern part, west to Reno County; F. c. richardsonii Ridgway is the common subspecies in west, occasional in east; F. c. bendirei Swann is known in Kansas from one specimen (KU 4425) from Ellis County, October, 1875, taken by Dr. L. Watson (identified by James L. Peters). * Falco sparverius. Sparrow Hawk. Common resident and transient throughout state (but status in winter in northwest not known). Subspecies in Kansas: F. s. sparverius Linnaeus. Bonasa umbellus. Ruffed Grouse. Formerly common resident in eastern part; now probably extirpated in state but observers in extreme east should watch for it. One authentic specimen (KU 31944), southeastern Kansas, between 1885 and 1910, Alexander J. C. Roese. No definite nesting record. Subspecies in Kansas: B. u. umbellus (Linnaeus). * Tympanuchus cupido. Greater Prairie Chicken. Resident, but highly local; absent in southwestern quarter of state. Subspecies in Kansas: T. c. pinnatus (Brewster). * Tympanuchus pallidicinctus (Ridgway). Lesser Prairie Chicken. Resident, but local, in southwestern quarter of state, north to Hamilton and Finney counties and east to Pawnee and Barber counties. A few old records east to Anderson and Neosho counties in winter. No subspecies recognized. Pedioecetes phasianellus. Sharp-tailed Grouse. Formerly resident in western part of state; scattered old records from eastern localities. Now extirpated, or nearly so, in Kansas; observers in northwestern counties should watch for it. No definite nesting record. Subspecies in Kansas: P. p. jamesi Lincoln. * Colinus virginianus. Bob-white. Resident, common in east, less common and local in west. Subspecies in Kansas: C. v. virginianus (Linnaeus) in east, intergrading through central part with C. v. taylori Lincoln in west. * Callipepla squamata. Scaled Quail. Locally common resident in southwest, formerly north to Wallace County but now primarily south of Arkansas River, eastern limit not known. Breeding records from Hamilton, Kearny, Finney, Stanton, Morton, Stevens, and Clark counties, Marvin D. Schwilling. Subspecies in Kansas: C. s. pallida Brewster. [Pg 320] [Pg 321] * Phasianus colchicus Linnaeus. Ring-necked Pheasant. Introduced. Common in western two-thirds, gradually invading east where a few are now found in most counties. Origin of North American stock obscure; no subspecies now recognized here. Meleagris gallopavo. Turkey. Formerly common resident, west along streams at least to Riley County; now extirpated in Kansas. No known specimen from Kansas with authentic data. No definite nesting record. Subspecies in Kansas: M. g. silvestris Vieillot. Grus americana (Linnaeus). Whooping Crane. Regular transient, now rare. Probably most individuals go through east-central part of state. Several early specimens from state and several recent sight records and one specimen: adult female (KU 31198), found crippled 8½ miles south of Sharon, Barber County, October 31, 1952, Thane S. Robinson. No subspecies recognized. Grus canadensis. Sandhill Crane. Transient, rare in east, common to abundant in west. Subspecies in Kansas: G. c. canadensis (Linnaeus) and G. c. tabida (Peters); comparative status of the two subspecies not known. * Rallus elegans. King Rail. Transient and summer resident, locally common. Subspecies in Kansas: R. e. elegans Audubon. Rallus limicola. Virginia Rail. Transient and summer resident, but breeding status poorly known. One breeding record: adult with six small, downy young, 8 miles south of Richfield, Morton County, May 24, 1950, Richard and Jean Graber. Subspecies in Kansas: R. l. limicola Vieillot. * Porzana carolina (Linnaeus). Sora. Common transient throughout state; status in summer poorly known. Two breeding records: Osawatomie, Miami County, prior to 1914 (no other details), record by Colvin, a careful observer; two nests, at least one with eggs, Finney County State Lake, August 21, 1951, Marvin D. Schwilling. Additional nesting records should be sought. No subspecies recognized. Coturnicops noveboracensis. Yellow Rail. Rare or generally overlooked transient. Records only from eastern part of state (west to Sedgwick County). Subspecies in Kansas: C. m. noveboracensis (Gmelin). * Laterallus jamaicensis. Black Rail. Rare or generally overlooked summer resident. At least ten records, including at least seven specimens from widely scattered localities. Two breeding records: nest with eight eggs, Manhattan, Riley County, June, 1880, C. P. Blachly; nest with nine eggs, near Garden City, Finney County, June 6, 1889, H. W. Menke. Subspecies in Kansas: L. j. jamaicensis (Gmelin). Porphyrula martinica (Linnaeus). Purple Gallinule. Rare and irregular summer visitant. Five specimens taken in April and June in Douglas, Sedgwick, and Riley counties. Several sight records from eastern Kansas. No subspecies recognized. * Gallinula chloropus. Florida Gallinule. Rare summer resident; status poorly known. Two breeding records: nest found "on a board," Coffey County, June (year not given), P. B. Peabody; nest (female, KU 27509, and two eggs taken), 3 miles northeast of Lawrence, Douglas County, May 22, 1945 (previously published as 1946), R. L. Montell. Subspecies in Kansas: G. c. cachinnans Bangs. * Fulica americana. American Coot. Uncommon summer resident, abundant transient, and local winter resident in east and central parts; status in west poorly known. Breeding record: 3 newly hatched young (KU 16694-6), Little Salt Marsh, Stafford County, June 13, 1927, H. C. Parker and W. H. Burt. The few other nesting localities include one in Finney County. Subspecies in Kansas: F. a. americana Gmelin. Charadrius hiaticula. Semipalmated Plover. Regular transient throughout state, often fairly common. Subspecies in Kansas: C. h. semipalmatus Bonaparte. Charadrius melodus. Piping Plover. Rare transient. Three specimens from Douglas County, March and April, and a female (KU 15492) from Little Salt Marsh, Stafford County, July 16, 1925, T. E. White. Nests in Nebraska, south at least to Lincoln; observers in north-central Kansas should watch for possible breeding birds. Subspecies in Kansas: C. m. circumcinctus (Ridgway). * Charadrius alexandrinus. Snowy Plover. Summer resident on salt plains of Clark, Comanche, Stafford, Barton, and probably other counties. Breeding range in Kansas poorly known. One definite nesting record: adults with young, and one nest with 3 eggs, Comanche County, June 18, 1886, Goss. One female (KU 7787), from Lawrence, Douglas County, April 22, 1909, L. L. Dyche. Subspecies in Kansas: C. a. tenuirostris (Lawrence). * Charadrius vociferus. Killdeer. Common transient and summer resident throughout state. Occasional winter resident. Subspecies in Kansas: C. v. vociferus Linnaeus. * Eupoda montana (Townsend). Mountain Plover. Summer resident in High Plains of western Kansas, but current status poorly known. Many specimens from west and one positive breeding record: two half-grown, partly downy males (KU 5512, 5513), 5 miles south of Tribune, Greeley County, June 21, 1911, Bunker and Rocklund. No subspecies recognized. Pluvialis dominica. Golden Plover. Regular transient in east, sometimes common; more common in spring than in autumn. Formerly abundant; status in west not known. Subspecies in Kansas: P. d. dominica (Müller). Squatarola squatarola (Linnaeus). Black-bellied Plover. Regular transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Arenaria interpres. Ruddy Turnstone. Rare transient. Several sight records from eastern part of state and two specimens: one killed at Topeka, [Pg 322] [Pg 323] Shawnee County, August 16, 1898, F. W. Forbes (location of specimen unknown); male, Hamilton, Greenwood County, October 1, 1911, G. C. Rinker. Subspecies in Kansas: A. i. morinella (Linnaeus). * Philohela minor (Gmelin). American Woodcock. Uncommon transient west to Scott and Kearny counties. Probably does not occur farther west. One early nesting record: adult with several "at least one-fourth grown" young, near Neosho Falls, Woodson County, May 25, 1874, Goss. No subspecies recognized. Capella gallinago. Wilson Snipe. Common transient and occasional winter resident throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: C. g. delicata (Ord). * Numenius americanus. Long-billed Curlew. Transient and uncommon summer resident in west; occasional transient in east. Female and two downy young (KU 11607, 8, 9) taken 1 mile from Spring Creek, Morton County, June 27, 1927, W. H. Burt and L. V. Compton. Subspecies in Kansas: N. a. americanus Bechstein is the breeding form; N. a. parvus Bishop occurs in migration (specimens from Riley, Lyon, and Douglas counties). [Numenius phaeopus. Hudsonian Curlew. Reported by Goss, and one seen at Iatan Marsh, Atchison County, May 16, 1948, by Harold C. Hedges, but here placed in Hypothetical List until a specimen from Kansas is taken.] Numenius borealis (Forster). Eskimo Curlew. Formerly abundant transient in eastern Kansas; now extinct, or nearly so. One unsexed bird (KU 6951) taken in Douglas County, May 6, 1873, by N. J. Stevens. No subspecies recognized. * Bartramia longicauda (Bechstein). Upland Plover. Abundant transient and locally common summer resident in suitable habitat; most numerous in west. Nesting records from Johnson, Wabaunsee, Chase, Finney, and Kearny counties. No subspecies recognized. * Actitis macularia (Linnaeus). Spotted Sandpiper. Common transient and summer resident throughout state. Breeding records from Leavenworth County and Kansas City region. No subspecies recognized. Tringa solitaria. Solitary Sandpiper. Common transient throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: T. s. solitaria Wilson is most common in eastern part and T. s. cinnamomea (Brewster) is most common in western part of Kansas, with much overlap of the two. Catoptrophorus semipalmatus. Willet. Transient throughout state, usually uncommon, but sometimes locally common. Subspecies in Kansas: C. s. inornatus (Brewster). C. s. semipalmatus (Gmelin) has been reported, probably erroneously; all specimens seen are of the western subspecies, inornatus. Totanus melanoleucus (Gmelin). Greater Yellow-legs. Common transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Totanus flavipes (Gmelin). Lesser Yellow-legs. Common transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Calidris canutus. American Knot. Rare transient. Sight records from eastern and western Kansas; only one specimen preserved, Hamilton, Greenwood County, September 19, 1911, G. C. Rinker. Subspecies in Kansas: C. c. rufa (Wilson). Erolia melanotos (Vieillot). Pectoral Sandpiper. Common transient through state. No subspecies recognized. Erolia fuscicollis (Vieillot). White-rumped Sandpiper. Common transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Erolia bairdii (Coues). Baird Sandpiper. Common transient in east; abundant transient in west. No subspecies recognized. Erolia minutilla (Vieillot). Least Sandpiper. Common transient throughout state, but less numerous in west than in east. No subspecies recognized. Erolia alpina. Red-backed Sandpiper. Rare or uncommon transient; reported only from eastern half of state, west to Cloud County. Few specimens have been preserved. Subspecies in Kansas: E. a. pacifica (Coues). Limnodromus griseus. Short-billed Dowitcher. Rare or uncommon transient in east, status in west not known. One specimen: male (KU 29403), 3 miles east of Lawrence, Douglas County, May 14, 1946, R. L. Montell. Dowitchers having noticeably short bills should be collected when possible. Subspecies in Kansas: L. g. hendersoni Rowan. Limnodromus scolopaceus (Say). Long-billed Dowitcher. Common transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Micropalama himantopus (Bonaparte). Stilt Sandpiper. Common transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Ereunetes pusillus (Linnaeus). Semipalmated Sandpiper. Common transient throughout state. No subspecies recognized. Ereunetes mauri Cabanis. Western Sandpiper. Uncommon transient in east; probably common in west but status there unknown. No subspecies recognized. [Pg 324] [Pg 325] [Pg 326] Tryngites subruficollis (Vieillot). Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Uncommon but regular transient in autumn in eastern Kansas, west to Republic County; few spring records. No subspecies recognized. Limosa fedoa (Linnaeus). Marbled Godwit. Rare or uncommon transient throughout state. Status somewhat uncertain because some observers confuse this species with female Hudsonian Godwits. The latter are larger and often much duller than male Hudsonian Godwits. Marbled Godwits, however, show no contrasting tail pattern in flight. No subspecies recognized. Limosa haemastica (Linnaeus). Hudsonian Godwit. Uncommon transient in eastern and central Kansas; status in west poorly known (reported from Ness and Kearny counties). No subspecies recognized. Crocethia alba (Pallas). Sanderling. Rare transient in eastern and central Kansas; status in west not known. Three specimens have been taken, two from Douglas County (October) and one from Stafford County (July). No subspecies recognized. * Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. Avocet. Uncommon transient in east; common transient and uncommon summer resident in west. Breeding records from Kearny, Finney, Haskell, Meade, and Barton counties. No subspecies recognized. Himantopus mexicanus (Müller). Black-necked Stilt. Rare transient. Records from Crawford, Sedgwick, Cloud, Stafford, Finney, and Kearny counties; few recent records. No satisfactory nesting record. No subspecies recognized. Phalaropus fulicarius (Linnaeus). Red Phalarope. Very rare transient. Two specimens: female (KU 3778), Lake View, Douglas County, November 5, 1905, E. E. Brown; male (Ottawa Univ. 96), near Ottawa, Franklin County, October 25, 1926, Wesley Clanton (identification checked by Tordoff). No subspecies recognized. * Steganopus tricolor Vieillot. Wilson Phalarope. Common transient throughout state. One definite nesting record: adult male with downy young, Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, June 26, 1954, Ted F. Andrews and Homer Stephens. Goss mentioned "breeding birds" in Meade County but the record is not convincing. No subspecies recognized. Lobipes lobatus (Linnaeus). Northern Phalarope. Rare transient. Goss shot five and preserved one (now in Goss collection) of 17 or 18 seen at Fort Wallace, Wallace County, May 25, 1883. Several sight records. No subspecies recognized. Stercorarius pomarinus (Temminck). Pomarine Jaeger. Accidental. One record: immature male (KU 6967), Kansas River near Lawrence, Douglas County, October 10, 1898, Gus Berger and Banks Brown. This specimen erroneously reported as a Parasitic Jaeger, Stercorarius parasiticus (Linnaeus), in previous lists of birds of Kansas. No subspecies recognized. Stercorarius longicaudus Vieillot. Long-tailed Jaeger. Accidental. One record: female (KU 32610), Cheyenne Bottoms, Barton County, June 23, 1955, William M. Lynn and Larry D. Mosby. No subspecies recognized. [Larus hyperboreus. Glaucous Gull. One bird with crippled leg seen at Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County, January 27, 1951, and several days thereafter, by many observers including the author. Placed on Hypothetical List until specimen is taken in Kansas.] Larus argentatus. Herring Gull. Transient, regular along Missouri River, uncommon to rare elsewhere in state; probably rare winter resident. Subspecies in Kansas: L. a. smithsonianus Coues. Larus californicus Lawrence. California Gull. Accidental. One record: specimen (location unknown) taken by Goss, Arkansas River, Reno County, October 20, 1880. No subspecies recognized. Larus delawarensis Ord. Ring-billed Gull. Transient, locally common; rare winter resident. No subspecies recognized. Larus atricilla Linnaeus. Laughing Gull. Accidental. One specimen taken 3 miles east and 2½ miles south of Canton, in Marion County, May 15, 1933, Richard H. Schmidt (specimen in his collection); sight records from Barton and Shawnee counties. No subspecies recognized. Larus pipixcan Wagler. Franklin Gull. Transient, abundant in west, common in east. No subspecies recognized. Larus philadelphia (Ord). Bonaparte Gull. Rare transient. All specimens from eastern part, west to Cloud County; status in west not known. No subspecies recognized. [Rissa tridactyla. Kittiwake. Immature bird seen at Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County, October 20, 1951, by L. B. Carson and O. S. Pettingill, Jr. In the absence of a specimen, the species is placed on the Hypothical List.] Xema sabini. Sabine Gull. Three records: immature male, taken at Humboldt, Allen County, September 19, 1876, Peter Long (now in Goss collection); immature male, taken at Hamilton, Greenwood County, October 3, 1909, G. C. Rinker; immature bird seen but not collected on October 18, 28, and 29, 1952, at Lake Shawnee, Shawnee County, by several observers (Orville O. Rice secured good photographs of this bird). Subspecies in Kansas: X. s. sabini (Sabine). Sterna forsteri Nuttall. Forster Tern. Transient, locally common in eastern half of state; status in west unknown. [Pg 327] [Pg 328] No subspecies recognized. Sterna hirundo. Common Tern. Rare transient. Two specimens: female, Anderson County, May 11, 1878 (in Goss collection); male, Munger's Lake, near Hamilton, Greenwood County, September 2, 1912, G. C. Rinker. Subspecies in Kansas: S. h. hirundo Linnaeus. * Sterna albifrons. Least Tern. Uncommon transient and local summer resident throughout state. One definite nesting record: five nests, each with two eggs, Arkansas River at Coolidge, Hamilton County, July 1, 1936, Otto Tiemeier. Subspecies in Kansas: S. a. athalassos Burleigh and Lowery. Hydroprogne caspia (Pallas). Caspian Tern. Uncommon transient throughout state. Many sight records but only one specimen: female (KU 17147), Douglas County, September 27, 1928, Harold Standing (skin and body skeleton of this tern saved; erroneously reported previously as two specimens). No subspecies recognized. Chlidonias niger. Black Tern. Common transient and, in north-central part, regular summer resident but no positive breeding record. Subspecies in Kansas: C. n. surinamensis (Gmelin). * Columba livia Gmelin. Rock Dove. Introduced. Common around habitations; nesting locally in feral state on cliffs in western Kansas. No subspecies recognized because of mixed ancestry of birds introduced into New World. * Zenaidura macroura. Mourning Dove. Common transient and summer resident, uncommon winter resident. Subspecies in Kansas: Z. m. carolinensis (Linnaeus) in east, Z. m. marginella (Woodhouse) in west, intergrading in central part. * Ectopistes migratorius (Linnaeus). Passenger Pigeon. Extinct. Formerly irregular transient and summer resident. Two specimens, both males, taken at Neosho Falls, Woodson County, April 14, 1876, by Goss, who also reported this species to nest there occasionally. No subspecies recognized. [Columbigallina passerina. Ground Dove. One seen on Kansas River, 3 miles west of St. Marys, Pottawatomie County, November 11, 1954, by Thomas A. Hoffman and James Mulligan. Placed in Hypothetical List in absence of a specimen from Kansas.] [Scardafella inca (Lesson). Inca Dove. One seen daily at Halstead, Harvey County, November 10, 1951, to January 21, 1952, by Edna L. Ruth and others. One seen in Topeka, Shawnee County, last week of June, 1952, E. J. Rice. Placed in Hypothetical List in absence of a specimen from Kansas.] * Conuropsis carolinensis. Carolina Paroquet. Extinct. Formerly common resident in wooded areas of east; west along stream bottoms. Goss reported nesting of small flock near Neosho Falls, Woodson County, in spring, 1858. No specimen from Kansas preserved. Subspecies in Kansas: C. c. ludovicianus (Gmelin), on geographical grounds. * Coccyzus americanus. Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Common transient and summer resident throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: C. a. americanus (Linnaeus). * Coccyzus erythropthalmus (Wilson). Black-billed Cuckoo. Uncommon transient and summer resident. Nesting records: female (KU 15480) and nest containing two Black-billed Cuckoo eggs and one Yellow-billed Cuckoo egg, 7½ miles southwest of Lawrence, Douglas County, June 5, 1926, Charles D. Bunker; nests found in Cloud County in June, 1932 (1), 1933 (1), 1934 (1), 1935 (1), 1938 (2), J. M. Porter. No subspecies recognized. * Geococcyx californianus (Lesson). Road-runner. Resident in south-central and southwestern Kansas; abundance and distribution subject to wide fluctuation, current status unknown. Four nests found, April to July, 1934, 4½ miles east of Arkansas City, Cowley County, Walter Colvin. No subspecies recognized. Crotophaga sulcirostris. Groove-billed Ani. Accidental. Three records: specimen (KU 31948), McCune, Crawford County, between 1885 and 1910, Alexander J. C. Roese; specimen, Lyon County, November 1, 1904; male (KU 31951), 6¾ miles northeast of Blue Rapids, Marshall County, October 28, 1952, Elizabeth G. McCleod. Subspecies in Kansas: C. s. sulcirostris Swainson. * Tyto alba. Barn owl. Uncommon resident throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: T. a. pratincola (Bonaparte). * Otus asio. Screech Owl. Common resident throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: Following reported: O. a. naevius (Gmelin) in northeast, O. a. hasbroucki Ridgway in south-central, O. a. aikeni (Brewster) and O. a. swenki Oberholser in west. The status of these subspecies is poorly known; additional breeding specimens and revisionary study are needed. * Bubo virginianus. Horned Owl. Common resident throughout state. Subspecies in Kansas: B. v. virginianus (Gmelin) in east, B. v. occidentalis Stone in west. Nyctea scandiaca (Linnaeus). Snowy Owl. Rare and irregular winter visitant throughout state. No subspecies recognized. [Surnia ulula. Hawk Owl. None of the several sight records from Kansas is convincing to me. Reports from eastern Kansas indicating regular occurrence there of this far-northern species are surely erroneous and probably pertain to Short-eared Owls.] * Speotyto cunicularia. Burrowing Owl. Common summer resident in west; irregular...