Tag Archives: Kentucky Warbler

Mason County

Sand Ridge State Forest

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Sand Ridge is a large expanse (over 7,000 acres) of mixed oak woods, savanna and planted pines.  The habitats offer exceptional birding year-round.

Breeding species include Pileated Woodpecker, Broad-winged Hawk, Barred Owl, Whip-poor-will, Wood Thrush, Orchard Oriole, White-eyed Vireo, Northern Mockingbird, Blue Grosbeak. Pine warbler has bred in the pines near the parking lot west of Cactus Drive and south of Co Rd 2500N (teal-blue marker, below). Along Co Rd 2500N west of the Fish Hatchery entrance, listen for Prairie Warbler. For many years, Sand Ridge had been reliable for Chuck-will’s-widow, but none have been found in recent years. Still, it is worth listening for if you are there on a spring or summer evening.

The Virginia pines near the intersection of Co Rd 2300N (Goofy Ridge Rd) and Co Rd 2300E often has Red Crossbills and White-winged Crossbills during migrations and winter. Evening Grosbeak, Common Redpoll, Pine Siskin and Red-breasted Nuthatch have been found here also.

The Jake Wolf Fish Hatchery, north of Co Rd 2500N east of Cactus Drive (2600E) is a good place to check for herons and egrets.

At the intersection of Cactus Drive and 2300N is the campground. From here, Cactus Drive continues south and becomes Forest City Rd. Staying to the right takes you onto Bishop Road, which is a quiet, sandy road through woodland and savanna. Red-headed Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Kentucky Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Summer Tanager, Blue Grosbeak, and all of the expected species breed here. In winter, huge flocks of American Robins can be found here. Other wintering species include Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Hermit Thrush and Fox Sparrow.


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Adams County, Brown County

Siloam Springs State Park

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Siloam Springs State Park is home to three highly sought-after species in Illinois: Worm-eating Warbler, Bewick’s Wren, and Chuck-will’s-widow, though Bewick’s Wren has not been present since 2014. Worm-eating Warbler can be found in almost any of the ravines found throughout the park, but can be very easily found at the parking lot indicated (Red Oak Trail) on the map. Also note that the county line goes north-south right through that parking lot, and walking east on the trail takes you immediately into Brown County.

Bewick’s Wrens once nested for several years in the vicinity of the Headquarters building, specifically around the equipment storage area, as indicated on the map. Being familiar with it’s song will greatly help locating it.

Other species found in the park include Barred Owl, Eastern Whip-poor-will, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Ovenbird, Northern Parula, Summer Tanager, Wood Thrush, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk.

Bewick’s Wren has also been found at the Benville Cemetery about 3 miles east of the park boundary, at the intersection of Co. Rd. 255E and Co. Rd. 175N. (also marked on the map).


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Chuck-will’s-widow can be found near the Buckhorn Unit parking lot, off County Rd 400 North.

Alexander County

Mill Creek/County Line Road

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Slowly driving this road in the early morning in late May or June can result in a bonanza of southern Illinois specialty warblers, especially Worm-eating Warbler. The north-facing slopes in the area indicated by the pin on the map is very reliable for this species.

Other species found along the 5-mile wooded stretch include Pine Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler, Northern Parula, Louisiana Waterthrush, Acadian Flycatcher, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Blue Grosbeak, Pileated Woodpecker, Barred Owl, Red-shouldered Hawk and Loggerhead Shrike in appropriate habitat.


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Johnson County

Wildcat Bluff – Little Black Slough

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From the Wildcat Bluff parking area, you can access the same network of trails that leads to Boss Island and Heron Pond from Michael Wolf Memorial Wetland. The trail to the west goes steeply down the bluff to the Cache River, where there is a ford consisting of concrete stepping stones that lead across to Boss Island. The woods here are home to most of the southern Illinois breeding specialties, including Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush. The cane breaks along the Cache River have traditionally been breeding grounds for Swainson’s Warbler.  Though this species has been confirmed here in recent years, there is a lot of habitat to deal with. The terrain is very rough and wet, the mosquitos, ticks and chiggers overwhelming, and Cottonmouth is a common and dangerous snake in the wet areas. Timber Rattlesnake is found up on the wooded bluffs. Use common sense if hiking the trail across the river.

The trail to the east goes a short distance to an overlook from near the top of the bluff. This can be an excellent spot to watch for soaring birds of prey, including Red-shouldered Hawk, Black Vulture and especially Mississippi Kite. The kites often fly at or below the observer’s eye-level and sometimes quite close, offering unprecedented views of this aerialist in Illinois. Soaring Anhinga have been seen from here also.


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Johnson County

Michael Wolf Memorial Wetland – Little Black Slough

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Continue to the parking area at the end of Sunflower Lane (“Gate Across Road”). The three small ponds to the west of the parking lot are the best place to look for Anhinga in Illinois, especially the west-most pond. Anhingas have bred in an inaccessible portion of  Little Black Slough for several years, but seem to like to feed in these ponds. When feeding among the dead timber they can be very difficult to see. Other species found breeding in the scrubby habitat around the ponds include Black Vulture, Mississippi Kite, Summer Tanager, Orchard Oriole, Prairie Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, Yellow-breasted Chat, Blue Grosbeak and Ruby-throated Hummingbird.

The long trail that goes north from the parking lot will take you all the way to Heron Pond, or Little Black Slough … or for the adventurous, Boss Island. Getting to Boss Island required crossing a shallow ford. Birds that can be found along the trails Little Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Yellow-crowned night Heron Red-shouldered Hawk, Barred Owl, Summer Tanager, Scarlet Tanager, Northern Parula, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush. The cane breaks along the Cache River have traditionally been breeding grounds for Swainson’s Warbler.  Though this species has been confirmed here in recent years, there is a lot of habitat to deal with.


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Cook County, Cook County Forest Preserves

Cap Sauers Holding Forest Preserve

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Cap Sauers Holding is one of the larger wooded areas in the Palos Hills forest preserves of southwest Cook County.  It is bordered by State Route 83 to the north, 104th Ave. in the east, McCarthy and Ford Roads to the south and private land to the west.  It is primarily a hardwood forest, sometimes savannah forest in character (open) and has areas of more open scrub.  It is crossed by several trails including the Green Trail that runs more or less east-west along its south border along Ford Road, where it is easily accessed.

The Green Trail gives access to two other trails: the Blue Trail that runs almost directly north from Ford Rd. to Route 83, and the Yellow Trail that makes a loop on the east side of the preserve and connects with Swallow Cliff FP on the south and Teasons Woods on the north (across 104th Ave.).  I usually park along Ford Road to access the trails but you can also park at Teasons Woods or Horsetail Lake FP near where the Yellow Trail crosses to Swallow Cliff.  Right along Ford Road listen for Summer Tanagers that have been found here the last few years.  Near where Ford Road makes a curve to the southeast (west of the caretaker’s house and Bergman Slough) the Green Trail is close to the road.  Go right on the trail.  You will first come to the Blue Trail.  Along this trail you can get Blue-winged Warbler, Ovenbird, Yellow Throated Vireo and Scarlet Tanager.  If you continue on the Green Trail the trail curves south bringing you close to the road across from Bergman Slough.  Red-headed Woodpeckers and a Yellow-throated Vireo have nested in this area for many years.

The Green Trail then heads northeast towards the Yellow Trail.  Eastern Towhee, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Scarlet Tanager and Blue-winged Warblers can be found along this stretch and occasionally a Hooded Warbler or two.  A stretch of scrub just before the Yellow Trail can have White-eyed Vireo, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Blue-winged Warbler and Veery.  The Green Trail meets the Yellow Trail in the apex of its loop.  A small creek cuts across this loop and there are bridges over the creek a short distance from the trail intersection both to the left and right.  The area between these bridges has held Hooded and Kentucky Warblers and a Louisiana Waterthrush has been found near the two bridges for several years.  Taking the Yellow Trail north (left) takes you through more Hooded Warbler territory and those of other forest birds.  Going right (south and east) towards Swallow Cliff is good for more Hooded Warblers, Veery, Wood Thrush and Scarlet Tanagers.

Cap Sauers is one of the better areas in Cook County for Saw-whet, Eastern Screech, Great Horned and Barred Owls.  Pileated Woodpeckers have been observed or heard on the west (Green Trail) and north sides.  For Eastern Whip-poor-will, park on Ford Road after dark in Spring and early summer and walk east/right along the trail for ~100-200 yards and listen.


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Forest Preserve Map, Region 7

Knox County

Green Oaks Field Station

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The premier location for breeding landbirds in Knox County, and an excellent birding location in general, is the Green Oaks Field Station.  The Field Station is owned and managed by Knox College as an area for research, conservation, education and recreation, and is generally open only to members of the Knox community (students, alumni, staff and faculty) and their accompanied guests.  Birders who would like to visit the site can contact Jim Mountjoy (jmountjoy@knox.edu) who would be happy to escort interested parties to Green Oaks, time permitting.

Green Oaks is over 700 acres in extent, most of which is forested (some of it mature growth with many centuries-old Eastern White Oaks).  There are also restored prairies, a strip mine lake, and several smaller ponds.  The entrance to the site is a gate on the east side of County Road 1800E, about 4.5 miles south of the town of Victoria.

The best areas for breeding birds are usually the mature forests and deep ravines, which are accessed by several trails.  The South Creek Trail and Locust Trail connect to form a loop of approximately two miles.  Along this route Acadian Flycatchers, Ovenbirds and Kentucky Warblers are usually easily found in season.  Pileated Woodpeckers and Red-shouldered Hawks are also regular, if somewhat less reliable.  Louisiana Waterthrushes and Northern Parulas are regular breeders, in small numbers.  Worm-eating and Cerulean Warblers have also bred here, although they may not be present every year.

The Little John Nature Trail is another area that may produce Louisiana Waterthrushes or Red-shouldered Hawks.  The edges of woodland and roadsides may be concentrate migrant songbirds in season.  The restored prairies have supported breeding Henslow’s Sparrows in some seasons.  Rarities observed at Green Oaks include Golden Eagle, Yellow Rail, Barn Owl and Bewick’s Wren.

Several other good birding areas are located in the area, including Snake Den Road to the south, the Oak Run/Spoon Lake area to the west, and the open country and strip mine lakes of the countryside north of Victoria.


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Cook County, Cook County Forest Preserves

Swallow Cliff Woods South

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The large pine trees around this parking lot has been a good place for Red Crossbill, White-winged Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll and Red-breasted Nuthatch in season. In the woods immediately to the east of the parking area, Summer Tanager has been a regular breeder. Along the Sag Valley Trail to the east, between where the two trails cut off to the south, Kentucky and Hooded Warblers have bred. Barred Owl and Pileated Woodpecker can be found here as well.


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Carroll County

Mississippi Palisades State Park

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Mississippi Palisades is well known for its concentration of breeding forest birds, especially warblers. At other seasons, almost anywhere in or around the park can be great birding, this entry is concerned with the breeding species that can be found primarily May–August. Continue reading Mississippi Palisades State Park →