Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests
Crooked River National Grassland

Birds

Perching Birds - Blackbirds & Orioles

Several species of blackbird occur in Oregon, Western Meadowlark, Red winged blackbird, and Brownheaded cow bird are a few. Blackbirds occupy various habitats, feed on insects, fruit, and nectar, and build a variety of nest structures.

The following groups of blackbirds are found in Central Oregon:

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

RANGE: Breeds across North America in Oregon remains east of the Cascade range, can be found in both Crook and Grant counties in Central Oregon.

STATUS: Sensitive species in the state of Oregon

HABITAT: Prefers open prairies, grasslands, wet meadows, pastures, and agricultural areas that are mowed in late summer, and grazed in autumn, winter, and early spring.

NEST: Bobolink nests on the ground, the nest is usually constructed of grasses, sedges, and, forbs.

FOOD: Canadian thistle, dandelion seed, cinquefoil seed, yarrow, false lupine, caterpillars, vetch, groundsel, false-solomon's seal, pepper grass, cutworms, and caterpillars. Migratory birds feed on grains, seeds, and various insects.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Occurs in Crook and Grant counties.

REFERENCES: Cstui et al., and Marshall et. al.

Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) Y/M

RANGE: Breeds from southwestern and central British Columbia to southern Ontario, south throughout the northern United States; resident in the Pacific Coast, Great Plains, and Rocky Mountain states. Winters from southern British Columbia, east-central Montana, and the northern portions of the Gulf States, south to Baja California, northern Mexico, southern Texas, the Gulf Coast, and Florida.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Prefers to be near water in habitats such as riparian woodlands, aspen groves, parklands, cultivated lands, and marshes; often found around human habitation. Uses bulrushes and pines for roosting and daytime resting places and displays from the tops of pine trees. In winter, frequents pastures and fields.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Marshlike areas. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat associations in (1) Salt desert scrub shrubland, (2) Northeast modified grassland, (3) Coastal headland grass and shrubland, (4) Urban and residential areas, (5) Edges of cropland, pasture and orchard, and (6) Streamside wetland and shrubland.

NEST: Nests singly or in loose colonies on the ground or in trees and shrubs 20 to 30 feet above the ground. Places the cup-shaped nest usually at or near the end of a branch.

FOOD: Consumes a diet of about 68 percent vegetative and 32 percent animal material gleaned mostly from the ground. Commonly follows plows searching for insects.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common permanent resident throughout the region, occasionally decreasing in numbers in winter. One of the region's most widespread breeding species, found from the most remote deserts areas to high elevations in the Cascades. Winter concentrations break up in early spring with birds returning to breeding grounds by April and May and active nests found as early as mid-May. Nestlings and adults carrying food documented mostly throughout June, with fledglings found into mid-July. Disperses widely in fall and often gathers in large flocks, especially in agricultural areas.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Beal 1900, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Terres 1980, Williams 1952.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) B/M

RANGE: Breeds from southeastern Alaska, northern British Columbia, and southern Mackenzie east to southern Quebec and southern Newfoundland, and south to Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and central Florida. Winters from northern California, central Arizona, the Great Lakes region, and New England south to Mexico, the Gulf Coast, and southern Florida.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Prefers habitats where low or scattered trees are interspersed with grassland vegetation. Originally occupied open grasslands and avoided unbroken forestlands, but due to agriculture, cattle grazing, and deforestation, occupies a much expanded range. Now found in open coniferous and deciduous woodlands, forest edges, brushy thickets, agricultural land, and suburban areas.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Habitats with open grassy spaces. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat associations in (1) Aspen groves, (2) Salt desert scrub shrubland, (3) Coastal headland grass and shrubland, (4) Urban and residential areas, (5) Edges of cropland, pasture and orchard, (6) Western Oregon riverine woodland, and (7)Streamside wetland and shrubland.

NEST: Builds no nest; lays its eggs in the nests of over 100 species of birds, particularly tyrant flycatchers, finches, vireos, and warblers.

FOOD: Gleans weed seeds, which form over half of the diet, as well as grass seeds, waste grain, and insects from the ground. Commonly forages in pastures searching for insects stirred up by cattle.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common spring and fall migrant and summer resident, rare winter resident. Usually follows other Icterids into nesting habitats. Most often confirmed breeding by observing fledglings being fed by host species between late June and late July. Documented widespread across the region as a possible and probable breeder, although relatively few records of confirmation. The top two cowbird hosts in North America, Song Sparrow and Yellow Warbler, breed commonly in the region, especially in riparian areas; locations of cowbird breeding confirmations correlate with this habitat distribution. Other well-known cowbird hosts that breed regularly in the area include Chipping Sparrow, Spotted Towhee, Common Yellowthroat, and Red-winged Blackbird. Fall distribution similar to other blackbirds, and few records of the species in winter.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Beal 1900, Bent 1958, DeGraff et al. 1980, Forbush and May 1955, Johnsgard 1979, Marshall et al. 2003, Mayfield 1965, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004.

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii) B/M

RANGE: Breeds from southern interior British Columbia and central Alberta to central Maine and central Nova Scotia, south to southern Texas, Mexico, the central Gulf States, central North Carolina, and Delaware. Winters along the Gulf Coast and from Mexico to South America.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: In the East, inhabits orchards, deciduous forest edges, wooded river bottoms, upland forests, partially wooded suburban areas, parks, and shelterbelts. In the west, prefers semiarid mesquite groves and deciduous trees bordering streams or irrigation ditches in open country, prairie, or cultivated areas.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Tall deciduous trees for nesting. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat associations in Western Oregon riverine woodland and streamside wetland and shrubland.

NEST: Usually attaches pendant nest by its rim to the tip of a long drooping branch, 9 to 70 feet, but typically 25 to 30 feet above the ground. Most frequently uses large trees, especially elms and cottonwoods growing in the open, but will use a wide variety of deciduous trees throughout its range.

FOOD: Primarily gleans insects from leaf and twig surfaces; also eats a few spiders and some wild and cultivated fruit.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common spring and fall migrant and summer resident, primarily in riparian habitats and especially those with mature deciduous trees and large shrubs. Begins returning in early May, with the first spring observations of birds already at known nesting sites. Breeding confirmed mostly from mid-June to mid-July, with records concentrated heavily in central and eastern Jefferson County. Also confirmed breeding in northern Deschutes and central Crook counties. Few records after late July. Easily found at Camp Polk Meadow, Haystack Reservoir, Lower Bridge, and Alder Springs.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Bent 1958, DeGraff et al. 1980, Forbush and May 1955, Johnsgard 1979, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Typer in Bent 1958.

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)

RANGE: Breeds from northern California south to Texas and into Mexico.

STATUS: The hooded oriole is presently expanding it's breeding range northward

HABITAT: Common in palm trees where present, otherwise frequents cottonwood or Aspen groves with abundant undergrowth, oftentimes seen in residential areas feeding from hummingbird feeders.

NEST: Hooded Oriole weaves an elaborate pendulum shaped nest that hangs from a tree branch of fine grasses, hair, and other fine weave able material.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: A rare vagrant to central Oregon.

FOOD: Typically feeds on nectar from hummingbird feeders, ornamental flowers such as red hot pokers, and may be seen foraging among foliage.

REFERENCES: Robbins et al., Allen et al., Marshall et al

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) Y

RANGE: Breeds from the southern tip of Alaska, and Yukon down to northern Washington, across the northern part of the United States and Canada including Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, the Great Lakes, and New England. Resident in the rest of the United States south into Baja California, Mexico, and Central America. Northern birds migrate southward in winter.

STATUS: Abundant.

HABITAT: Breeds in marshes and agricultural areas, usually where there are wetlands and also along the edge of hayfields, old fields, and pastures. Prefers areas with trees nearby and where habitat edges are abundant; often perches on old erect vegetation. Is extremely territorial, partitioning territories into areas of several hundred square feet, thus efficiently limiting the numbers that can exploit a resource. Flocks in the winter and moves throughout fields and marshy areas.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Standing vegetation along open fields and marshes. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Nests in a deep narrow cup of grass, reeds, and weed rootlets, usually attached to emergent vegetation (particularly cattails) up to 12 feet above ground. Also nests in weeds and brush patches, croplands such as alfalfa and cereal grains, even upland areas of mixed chaparral.

FOOD: Consumes a diet consisting of both vegetable and animal material, including a variety of grains and seeds, insects, spiders, mites, and snails. Often descends in large numbers on cultivated fields, eating a great deal of the grain.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common to locally abundant permanent resident, with predictable seasonal distribution to and from breeding grounds. Easily found at marshy nest sites, such as Sunriver, Hosmer Lake, Camp Polk Meadow, and Hatfield Lake, as well as smaller cattail marshes throughout the region. Males arrive early at nesting sites, often in late February, and begin singing and defending territories before the arrival of females. Nest building observed by early May and fledglings documented from early June to early August. Disperses widely in fall and often gathers in large flocks in agricultural areas. Winter populations vary in size, probably depending on weather severity.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Albers 1978, Beal 1900, Case and Hewitt 1963, Lowe and Mansell 1983, Miller 1999, Mott et al. 1972, Orians 1961, Payne 1969, Shunk 2004.

Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor) Y

RANGE: Breeds from southern Oregon east of the coast range south through interior California along the Pacific Coast from central California to northwest Baja California. Resident from northern California south throughout breeding range and adjacent agricultural areas. Some northern birds are migratory.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Commonly breeds in freshwater marshes of cattail, tule, bulrush, and sage. Roosts in the strips along marshes between rice fields. Feeds and roosts in dense flocks, ranging from 4 to over 20,000 in a colony, throughout the year. In winter, moves through marshes, open cultivated lands, and pastures.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Cattail or tule marshes.

NEST: Builds nest of cattails, sedges, grasses, or other aquatic vegetation gathered from the surface or in shallow water, and attached to cattails or twigs in shrubs and blackberry thickets, usually near water. Prefers live emergent vegetation for nesting.

FOOD: Gleans food from the ground and low vegetation; eats insects, spiders, and occasionally small tadpoles and snails. In winter, eats rice and a variety of grain crops.

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Rare permanent resident in cattail marches and agricultural areas of western Crook County. Believed to nest annually at Barnes Butte Reservoir, north of Prineville. Breeding confirmation dates between late June and early August. Males disperse early in summer to other cattail patches and pastures mostly to the west, followed by females and juveniles. Found in large flocks outside breeding season, mixed with other blackbirds, along O'Neil Highway between Prineville and Terrebonne.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Miller 1999, Payne 1969, Shunk 2004.

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) Y

RANGE: Breeds from central British Columbia, north-central Alberta, Saskatchewan, and central Canada, south throughout most of the Western United States. Found in most areas west of the Mississippi. Resident throughout the Pacific, southern Rocky Mountain, and southern Great Plain States. Winters also in Oklahoma, Texas, and along the coasts of Mexico and Baja California.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Typically inhabits grasslands, savannahs, cultivated fields, and pastures, preferring open fields with perch sites such as fences, old logs, or dead trees.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Open grasslands. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat associations in (1) Sagebrush steppe, (2) Low-dwarf sagebrush, (3) Salt desert scrub shrubland, (4) Big sagebrush shrubland, (5) Bitterbrush-big sagebrush shrubland, (6) Northeast modified grasslands, and (7) Edges of cropland, pastures, and orchards.

NEST: Builds nest in a shallow depression on dry ground in open grassland, often in grass or a small grass tuft, sometimes in rocky areas. Usually uses grasses for nest material.

FOOD: Gleans food from the ground or low vegetation. Eats both animal and vegetable material; about 70 percent animal material, mainly beetles, but also a variety of other insects and invertebrates; and a variety of grains and seeds. .

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Common permanent resident in eastern portions of the region, with highest concentrations in open sagebrush desert and remote agricultural areas. Absent from forested areas. May decrease in numbers in winter depending on weather severity. Easily found east of Horse Ridge in spring. Returns early to breeding territories, with nesting confirmed as early as mid-May. Highest concentration of confirmed breeding records from Crook and western Jefferson counties. Adults seen carrying food from late May into early August. Disperses widely in fall.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Lanyon 1957, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004.

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) B/M

RANGE: Breeds from southern and central Canada, throughout the western part of the United States, west of the Mississippi River. Winters from southern California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas into Mexico.

STATUS: Common.

HABITAT: Inhabits freshwater marshes of cattails, bulrushes, and reeds, generally over water. Winters in open cultivated fields, pastures, and marshes.

SPECIAL HABITAT REQUIREMENTS: Marshy vegetation. Strongest Oregon nesting habitat association along the edges of freshwater marsh.

NEST: Generally nests in colonies. Builds a woven basketlike cup nest of marsh vegetation lined with fine grass and attaches it to reeds and cattails 1 to 3 feet above water or sometimes in willows in wet areas.

FOOD: Eats both vegetable and animal material gleaned from the ground, mostly vegetative material, which includes seeds and leaves of grasses and forbs, and grain crops. .

IN CENTRAL OREGON: Uncommon spring and fall migrant and locally uncommon summer resident in certain cattail marshes. Breeds annually at Hosmer and Hatfield lakes, Firemen's Pond in Redmond, and Barnes Butte Reservoir north of Prineville. Female documented once in breeding season at Glaze Meadow on Black Butte Ranch. Occasionally seen in migration in mixed flocks of other blackbirds, including annual reports from Brothers. Seen in the region as early as late March. Confirmed breeding between mid-June and early August. Not usually seen after late June or early July.

REFERENCES: Adamus et al. 2001, Beal 1900, Forbush and May 1955, Lowe and Mansell 1983, Miller 1999, Shunk 2004, Willson 1966.