Migratory Birds at Severson Dells Forest Preserve

(Empidonax alnorum) 

Alder Flycatchers can weigh 0.4-0.5 oz. and have a wingspan of 8.3-9.4 in. They eat mainly insects and sometimes berries and seeds, and they live in wet shrubby areas. They were previously categorized with Willow Flycatchers, as the only difference between the two species is their call. Their call is similar to that of an Eastern Phoebe, but says “fee-bee-o” instead. 

Alder Flycatcher

PHOTO CREDITS: JOHN SCHWARZ

(Riparia riparia)

Bank Swallows have a wingspan of 9.8-11.4 in. and weigh 0.4-0.7 oz. Their diet consists of aerial insects, and they live in holes in banks near water. Swallows make a twittering noise. 

Bank Swallow

PHOTO CREDITS: FRANCESCO VERONESI

 (Setophaga castanea)

Bay-Breasted Warblers weigh 0.4-0.6 oz and have a wingspan of 7.9-8.7 in. Their diet consists of insects, arachnids, and fruit. Bay-Breasted Warblers live in coniferous forests. There have been occasions when they hybridized with Blackpoll, Yellow-rumped, and Blackburnian Warblers. Their call is a high “seetzy-seetzy-seetzy.” 

Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea)

PHOTO CREDITS: DAN PANCAMO

(Mniotilta varia)

Their wingspan is 7.1-8.7 in. and weigh 0.3-0.5 oz. Their diet consists of insects. Black-and-White Warblers live in deciduous and mixed forests. Black-and-White Warblers sing “weezy-weezy-weezy” during mating season.

Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotilta varia)

PHOTO CREDITS: KELLY COLGAN AZAR

(Setophaga caerulescens)

These warblers weigh about 0.3-0.4 oz. and have a wingspan of 6.7-7.9 in. They mainly eat insects, but also fruits and seeds. Black-throated Blue Warblers live in deciduous and mixed forests with dense undergrowth. Their call is “zoo, zoo, zoo, zoo, zee.”

Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens)

PHOTO CREDITS: JOHN SCHWARZ

(Setophaga virens)

They weigh 0.2-0.4 oz. and have a wingspan of 6.7-7.9 in. Their diet consists of insects and berries. Black-throated Green Warblers live in coniferous and mixed forests. Black-throated Green Warblers have a call that sounds like “zoo-zee-zoo-zoo-zee.

Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens)

PHOTO CREDITS: DAN PANCAMO

(Setophaga fusca)

They weigh 0.3-0.5 oz. and have a wingspan of 7.9-8.3 in. Their diet consists of insects, arachnids, and berries. Blackburnian Warblers live in coniferous and mixed forests. They have multiple calls, two of which are “sleet-sleet-sleet-sleet” and “teetsa, teetsa, teetsa, teetsa, tseee.”

Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca)

Photo Credits: Wikimedia Commons user Mdf

 (Setophaga striata)

They weigh 0.4-0.5 oz. and have a wingspan of 8.3-9.1 in. Blackpoll Warblers live in coniferous forests, such as the boreal forest of Canada, and deciduous forests. Their diet consists of insects, arachnids, and fruits. Blackpoll Warblers have a very high-pitched call that flickers while it says “seet-seet-seet-seet-seet.”

PHOTO CREDITS: SIMON PIERRE BARRETTE

(Vireo solitarius)

They have a wingspan of 7.9-9.4 in. and weigh 0.5-0.6 oz. Blue-headed Vireos live mostly in mixed forests. Their diet consists of insects, berries, and fruits. Blue-headed Vireos’ call sounds like maracas being shaken.

PHOTO CREDITS: ANDY REAGO & CHRISSY MCCLARREN

(Cardellina canadensis)

They have a wingspan of 6.7-8.7 in. and weigh 0.3-0.5 oz. Canada Warblers live in mixed forests and near moist areas such as swamps and streams. Their diet consists of insects and arachnids. Their call is a rapid chittering series.

PHOTO CREDITS: JEREMY MEYER

(Setophaga tigrina)

They weigh 0.3-0.4 oz. and have a wingspan of 7.5-8.7 in. Cape May Warblers live in coniferous forests. Their diet consists of insects and fruit. Cape May Warblers have a “seet” call that is repeated 4-8 times

PHOTO CREDITS: JOHN SCHWARZ

(Oporornis agilis)

They weigh about 0.5 oz. and have a wingspan of about 8.7 in. Connecticut Warblers live in spruce bogs and thickets. Their diet consists of insects, arachnids, and fruit. Though they are named Connecticut Warblers because the first bird was recorded there, Connecticut Warblers are rarely seen in Connecticut. Their call is a chirpy “beecher-beecher-beecher-beech.”

PHOTO CREDITS: JOHN SCHWARZ

(Aquila chrysaetos)

They can weigh anywhere from 6.6-13.5 lbs. and have a wingspan of 6-7.2 ft. Golden Eagles are most commonly found in grasslands and cliffsides in Western North America. The Golden Eagle is respected by many cultures, and is the national animal of Mexico, Germany, Austria, Albania, and Kazakhstan. Their call is a high-pitched “kee-kee-kee” or “yelp” noise.

Photo Credits: Tony Hisgett

(Vermivora chrysoptera)

Golden-winged Warblers are about 5.1 in. tall and weigh about 0.3-0.4 oz. Golden-winged Warblers live in wet, shrubby areas. Once the young have started to fly, they move to older forests. These birds eat insects and arachnids. Golden-winged Warblers have one of the smallest breeding populations, with 410,000 individuals, but are not yet considered “endangered.” One factor may be competition and hybrid breeding with the Blue-winged Warbler, which either results in a “Brewster’s Warbler” or a “Lawrence’s Warbler.” They make noises such as “tzip,” “zeeee,” and buzzing sounds

PHOTO CREDITS: CALEB PUTNAM

(Catharus minimus)

They weigh 0.9-1.1 oz. and are 6.3-6.7 in. in length. Gray-cheeked Thrushes live in scrubby areas of the tundra and boreal forest. They eat insects, spiders, and fruit. Gray-cheeked Thrushes sing, like most thrushes, a reedy, flute-like song that descends in pitch.

PHOTO CREDITS: JOHN BENSON

(Catharus guttatus)

Their wingspan is 9.8-11.4 in., and they weigh 0.8-1.3 oz. Hermit Thrushes live in open wooded areas. They eat insects, berries, arachnids, and some amphibians. Hermit Thrushes sing “oh, holy holy, a, purity, purity, eh, sweetly, sweetly.”

PHOTO CREDITS: ALAN SCHMIERER

(Setophaga citrina)

Hooded Warblers weigh 0.3-0.4 oz. and are about 5 in. in length. They live in deciduous and mixed forest undergrowth, and their diet includes insects and arachnids. Their call is “ta-wit ta-wit ta-wit tee-o.”

PHOTO CREDITS: KEN JANES

(Setophaga magnolia)

Their wingspan is 6.3-7.9 in. and they weigh 0.2-0.5 oz. Magnolia Warblers live in short coniferous forests and some mixed forests. Their diet consists of insects and arachnids. Magnolia Warblers have a call that sounds like “weeta-weeta-weeteo.”

PHOTO CREDITS: WILLIAM H. MAJOROS

(Cistothorus palustris)

They weigh 0.3-0.5 oz. and are 3.9-5.5 in. long. Marsh Wrens live in marshes with reeds. Their diet consists of insects, arachnids, and other invertebrates. Marsh Wrens make a high pitched trilling noise.

PHOTO CREDITS: TOM KEORNER

(Oreothlypis ruficapilla)

They can grow to be 0.2-0.4 oz. and have a wingspan of 6.7-7.9 in. Nashville Warblers live in coniferous and deciduous forests. Their diet is predominantly insects. They sing “teebit-teebit-teebit” and “chipper-chipper-chipper.” Nashville Warblers are considered “Climate Threatened,” which means that climate change could potentially threaten their population.

PHOTO CREDITS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER HORMONYONPLANETEARTH

(Circus cyaneus)

Northern Harriers are usually 10.6-26.5 oz. and have a wingspan of 3.4-3.9 ft. They live in open areas such as marshes, prairies, and meadows. Their diet consists of small mammals, birds, large insects, reptiles, and amphibians. Its facial features resemble those of owls more than hawks. Their call consists of various “kek” notes.

PHOTO CREDITS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER DFAULDER

(Mimus polyglottos)

They weigh 1.6-2 oz. and have a wingspan of 12.2-13.8 in. Northern Mockingbirds live in open areas with dense undergrowth such as thickets, brush, and also in urban areas such as neighborhoods and parks. Their diet includes insects, berries, and fruit. Northern Mockingbird are named for their ability to mimic other birds’ songs.

PHOTO CREDITS: WIKIMEDIA COMMONS USER CALIBAS

(Parkesia noveboracensis)

Northern Waterthrushes live in coniferous forests that are boggy and wet. Their diet consists of insects, fish, and crustaceans. They weigh 0.5-0.9 oz. and have a wingspan of 8.3-9.4 oz. Northern Waterthrushes sing a series of “chee-chee-chee-chip-chip-chew-chew-chew” that accelerates towards the end.

PHOTO CREDITS: JESSICA BOLSER/USFWS

(Oreothlypis celata)

Their average wingspan is 7.5 in. and they weigh 0.2-0.4 oz. Orange-crowned Warblers live in all types of forests and their undergrowth, and their diet includes insects, arachnids, seeds, and fruit. Orange-crowned Warblers make a high pitched trill noise.

PHOTO CREDITS: DAN PANCAMO

(Pandion haliaetus)

They weigh about 49.4 to 70.5 oz. with a wingspan of 59.1-70.9 in. Ospreys prefer to live by bodies of water where food is abundant. They eat predominantly fish, but occasionally snack on mammals and other birds. The average lifespan for an Osprey is about 25 years. They communicate by using visual display, flight displays, and giving calls/alarms that are usually high pitched.

Photo Credits: Gareth Rasberry

(Setophaga palmarum)

They weigh about 0.2-0.5 oz. and have a wingspan of 7.9-8.3 in. Palm Warblers live in the boreal forest of Canada, and they eat insects, seeds, and berries. Palm Warblers sometimes make a call that sounds like a Chipping Sparrow’s and also make a “seep” noise.

PHOTO CREDITS: KELLY COLGAN AZAR

(Vireo philadelphicus)

They weigh 0.4-0.5 oz. and are 4.3-5.1 in. in length. Philadelphia Vireos live mostly in deciduous forests and their edges, and they eat insects and berries. Philadelphia Vireos make a call that is similar to the Red-eyed Vireos: the call says “See me? Here I am. Up here. See me?”

PHOTO CREDITS: KELLY COLGAN AZAR

(Setophaga pinus)

Their wingspan is 7.5-9.1 in. and they weigh 0.3-0.5 oz. Pine Warblers live, as their name suggests, in pine forests. They eat insects, arachnids, seeds, fruit, and berries. Pine Warblers sing a series of trills.

Photo Credits: Mickey Estes

(Protonotaria citrea)

Prothonotary Warblers live in wet wooded areas such as swamps and flooded forests. Their diet consists of insects, other invertebrates such as snails, fruit, and seeds. Prothonotary Warblers are slightly smaller than Song Sparrows.Their name comes from their bright yellow plumage that resembles the robes of Roman Catholic Prothonotaries. Their call is a series of “tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet-tweet” sounds.

PHOTO CREDITS: DON FAULKNER

(Progne subis)

Purple Martins weigh 1.6-2.1 oz. and have a wingspan of 15.4-16.1 in. Purple Martins live near water where tree cavities or banks are abundant for burrows. They also roost in nesting boxes. Like other swallows, their diet consists of flying insects. In certain situations, they make calls such as “hee-hee,” “choo,” or “zwack/zweet.”

PHOTO CREDITS: INGRID TAYLAR

(Regulus calendula)

Their wingspan is 6.3-7.1 in. and they weigh 0.2-0.4 oz. Ruby-crowned Kinglets live mostly in coniferous forests, but also live in mixed woodlands. Their main diet is insects, and they occasionally eat berries and seeds. Ruby-crowned Kinglets chatter and twitter.

PHOTO CREDITS: FLICKR USER NIGEL

(Grus canadensis)

Their wingspan is around 6.5 ft. long and they can weigh 7.5-10.8 lbs.  Some may stand up to 4 ft. tall.Sandhill Cranes can be found in open areas with water such as grasslands, marshes, and wetlands. Their diet consists of seeds, tubers, invertebrates, small amphibians and reptiles, and sometimes small mammals. Sandhill Cranes make loud, low rattling calls that somewhat resemble goose honks at some points. 

Photo Credits: Joseph C Boone

(Tringa solitaria)

They weigh 1.1-2.3 oz. and grow to be 7.5-9.1 in. in length. Solitary Sandpipers live in wetland areas such as bogs and near ponds. Their diet consists of insects, arachnids, mollusks, and crustaceans. They are one of only 2 species of Sandpipers that lay their eggs in tree nests. Solitary Sandpipers sing a similar “peet-weet” to Spotted Sandpipers that is more shrill. 

Photo Credits: Kelly Colgan Azar

(Porzana carolina)

Soras weigh 1.7-4 oz. and are about 7.9-9.8 in. in height. The Sora lives in wetland areas such as marshes and along the edges of large bodies of water. They eat seeds and invertebrates such as insects and snails. They have multiple calls, some of which are “sor-AH” and a repeated “ker-wee.”

PHOTO CREDITS: MIKE BAIRD

(Actitis macularius)

They have a wingspan of 14.6-15.7 in. and weigh 1.2-1.8 oz. Spotted Sandpipers live in areas mostly near freshwater, such as rivers, ponds, and lakes. Their diet consists of insects, fish, and crustaceans. Spotted Sandpipers make “pee-weet” sounds and sometimes trill the “pee” part.

PHOTO CREDITS: JIM HUDGINS/USFWS

(Catharus ustulatus)

Their wingspan is 11.4-12.2 in. and they weigh 0.8-1.6 oz. Swainson’s Thrushes live in coniferous forests near streams. Their diet consists of insects and berries. Swainson’s Thrushes sing a musical, reedy song that increases in pitch.

PHOTO CREDITS: KELLY COLGAN AZAR

(Oreothlypis peregrina)

They have an average wingspan of 7.9 in. and weigh about 0.3-0.5 oz. Tennessee Warblers live in coniferous forests, mainly those of Canada while breeding. Their diet consists of insects and berries. Their most common song is a 2-3 note trill set with multiple syllables.

PHOTO CREDITS: JERRY OLDENETTEL

(Rallus limicola)

Their wingspan is 12.6-15 in. and they weigh 2.3-3.4 oz. Virginia Rails live in marshes. They eat insects, crustaceans, fish, and seeds. Virginia Rails sing a repeated, clicking “kid-ick” noise.

Photo Credits: Mike Baird

(Sturnella neglecta)

Their wingspan is about 16 in. and they weigh 3.1-4.1 oz. Western Meadowlarks look practically identical to Eastern Meadowlarks, but can be differentiated most easily by their call. Western Meadowlarks live in open areas such as meadows, grasslands, prairies, and agricultural fields, and they eat insects, arachnids, and seeds. Their call is a series of descending gurgles, whereas the Eastern Meadowlark most commonly whistle.

PHOTO CREDITS: BECKY MATSUBARA

(Cardellina pusilla)

Adults weigh 0.2-0.4 oz. and have a wingspan of 5.5-6.7 in. Wilson’s Warblers live in thickets near water, and they eat insects, arachnids, and berries. Their most common call is a kissy sounding “chip.” Like the Nashville Warbler, Wilson’s Warblers are considered “Climate Threatened.”

PHOTO CREDITS: MICHAEL WOODRUFF

(Helmitheros vermivorum)

They weigh 0.4-0.5 oz. and are 4.3-5.1 in. in length. Worm-eating Warblers live in the understory of deciduous forests. Their diet consists of insects such as grasshoppers, caterpillars, and other larvae, but usually does not include earthworms. Worm-eating Warblers make an insect-like trill noise.

PHOTO CREDITS: TOM FRIEDEL/WWW.BIRDPHOTOS.COM

(Empidonax flaviventris)

They have a wingspan of 7.1-7.9 in. and weigh around 0.3-0.6 oz. Yellow-Bellied Flycatchers live in coniferous forests and swamplands. They eat insects and sometimes fruit. They are odd in the sense that they build their nests on the ground as opposed to in a tree. Their calls are a “tu-wee” and a “che-lek.”

PHOTO CREDITS: SIMON PIERRE BARRETTE

(Sphyrapicus varius)

This type of woodpecker can grow to be 1.5-1.9 oz. and have a wingspan of 13.4-15.7 in. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers live in both deciduous and coniferous forests, and their main diet, as their name suggests, is tree sap, as well as insects and fruit. They make horizontal lines of holes in the trunks of trees. Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers make a “quee-ah quee-ah” noise and also make a mewing noise.

PHOTO CREDITS: DOMINIC SHERONY

(Setophaga coronata)

Their wingspan is 7.5-9.1 in. and they weigh 0.4-0.5 oz. Yellow-rumped Warblers live mostly in coniferous forests, but also live in mixed forests. Their diet includes insects, berries, fruit, and food from feeders. Yellow-rumped Warblers sing a warble that ends in a high note.

Photo Credits: Kelly Colgan Azar

(Setophaga dominica)

Their average wingspan is 8.3 in. and they weigh 0.3-0.4 oz. Yellow-throated Warblers live in both deciduous and coniferous forests near streams or rivers. Their diet includes insects and arachnids. Yellow-throated Warblers sing “teew-teew-teew-tew-tew-twi.”

PHOTO CREDITS: PETE GUMASKAS