Atlasers in western Wisconsin - we're calling on you! Find us a Swainson's Hawk! Ron Howard photo.
We now only have 3 species remaining that were confirmed in more than 2 blocks during the first atlas (1995–2000) that we have not yet confirmed for this atlas: Le Conte’s Sparrow, American Wigeon, and White-winged Crossbill. In 2016 we knocked off another 4 of our big season 1 misses (you can revisit that post from the end of season 1 here).
While the atlas has already confirmed 11 species as breeders that were not confirmed during the first atlas, only one of those was a new breeding record for the state: Mississippi Kite.
Here we’ll discuss some possibilities for the next new breeding species for the state. Some of these would be signs of things to come, and some of these would be crazy vagrants, but all of these species are good to keep in mind as you head out into the field for the next 3 field seasons.
1. Eurasian Tree Sparrow
Eurasian Tree Sparrow. Ryan Brady photo.
This species was released in St. Louis in 1870, and gradually became established in nearby Missouri and Illinois. In recent years, they have been rapidly pushing north, especially along riparian corridors. A look at maps from the Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas and eBird suggest that birders in southwest Wisconsin should start checking for this species, and it is likely just a matter of time before they are found nesting in suitable habitat in southern Wisconsin. They particularly like small-town settings, and have nested in wooded town parks, especially around small lakes or rivers, and at farms and woodlots. They typically use nest boxes.
2. Swainson’s Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk. Tom Prestby photo.
Nesting along the border in Minnesota, it would seem that the prairie country in Pierce, St. Croix, or Polk counties should turn up a nesting pair eventually.
3. Prairie Warbler
Prairie Warbler. Ron Howard photo.
This species has never been confirmed breeding in the state, though singing males show up and set up territories nearly annually. It was probable in 5 blocks for WBBA I. In 2015, 2 birds were found on territory, one in Waukesha County, and one in Fond du Lac County, and in 2016 the Waukesha one returned to that territory. We agree with Jim Frank’s assessment from the species account from the first atlas that “proof still awaits the efforts of a patient observer”.
4. Bay-breasted Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler. Nick Anich photo.
Nesting regularly just across the lake on the North Shore of Minnesota, and regularly but sparsely in the Upper Peninsula, especially the Keweenaw, it seems like sooner or later we would confirm this species. One factor working against us is a song that can be confused with other warblers like Black-and-white, Cape May, and American Redstart. If you come across dead and dying spruce, it may be worth a listen, as this species is often tied to areas with spruce budworm outbreaks.
5. White-faced Ibis
Nestling White-faced Ibis. Nick Anich photo.
While not officially on the list of breeding birds in Wisconsin, breeding was suspected in 2014 when adults persisted through summer in Winnebago County in 2014, and later a juvenile was seen with them. We have not had any suspicious sightings during the period of the atlas, but this species merits careful attention in the years to come.
6. Laughing Gull
Laughing Gull. Nick Anich photo.
In May 2015, a pair of Laughing Gulls was present in Manitowoc, and were observed performing courtship behaviors. Then in July 2015, a juvenile Laughing Gull showed up in Manitowoc. Because of the long distances that juvenile gulls can travel (juvenile Bonaparte’s and Franklin’s can show up in WI and they don’t nest here), that record fell short of confirmed. But the circumstances are very suspicious and hopefully Lake Michigan birders can be alert if a pair of Laughing Gulls is seen again.
7. Chuck-will’s-widow
Chuck-will’s-widow. Dick Daniels photo.
There were no reports of Chuck-will’s-widow during WBBA I, but since then, birds had been found singing on a regular basis in Jackson County, and so far during the atlas, a bird was heard singing through May and June in the Kettle Moraine SF on the Jefferson/Walworth County line in both 2015 and 2016. Judging by how hard it is to confirm Eastern Whip-poor-will, even if Chuck-will’s-widows are breeding, confirming them will be a real challenge — are any atlasers up to it?
8. Black-billed Magpie
Fledgling Black-billed Magpie. Nick Anich photo.
Breeding just one county away from Wisconsin, in Minnesota’s Sax-Zim Bog, this species seems like a candidate for an eventual breeding record. Sightings are nearly annual in Douglas and Bayfield counties, though to date they have rarely if ever involved more than 1 bird.
9. Little Blue Heron
Little Blue Heron. Nick Anich photo.
Breeding records for Chicago make this slightly more likely than you’d initially think. The species generally nests in wetlands but actually can nest in a large variety of substrates near wetlands. Nesting was suspected in Brown County in the 1970s but never confirmed.
10. Great-tailed Grackle
Great-tailed Grackle. Ron Howard photo.
This species has expanded greatly from its past stronghold in the American Southwest, and it now is building in numbers in central Iowa, and even into southern Minnesota. It may not make it into Wisconsin during this atlas period, but it seems likely to eventually. Birds prefer cattail marshes for nesting.
11. American Three-toed Woodpecker
American Three-toed Woodpecker. Nick Anich photo.
With confirmed breeding in northern Minnesota and the UP of Michigan, it’s probable that this species has bred in Wisconsin. However sightings of this species are becoming fewer with every passing year, and climate change won’t be working in this species’ favor in the long run. If you know of a burned area near you, check for this species (and Black-backed Woodpecker).
12. Boreal Owl
Boreal Owl. Nick Anich photo.
After owl irruptions, Great Gray Owl numbers are elevated the following year. We’d assume this to be the case with Boreal Owls as well, which generally are quite secretive unless good numbers of them are doing poorly and needing to hunt during the day. If we get an irruption, any of the northern counties seem like fair game, and some early season owling effort might pay dividends.
13. Monk Parakeet
Monk Parakeet. Ron Howard photo.
Given the breeding population in and around Chicago has nested within miles of the Wisconsin border, birders in Kenosha and Racine counties should be keeping an eye out.
14. White-winged Dove
White-winged Dove. Quentin Yoerger photo.
This was our big surprise for our 2016 season, with a bird apparently singing on territory in Lafayette County for over a month. It seems like the regular breeding range only extends northward to Oklahoma, so actual breeding seems like a long shot, but you never know.
15. Solitary Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper. Nick Anich photo.
This species is breeding on the other side of Lake Superior, in Ontario, and there were 2 confirmed reports from the recent Minnesota Atlas. This species actually nests in trees around spruce bogs and ponds. It doesn’t seem completely out of the question to get a southerly breeder, as we have apparently suitable habitat around, but this is another species where climate change is not likely to improve our odds of getting a record. Their migration timing means there are many individuals passing through the state in summer, complicating the picture.
16. Black Rail
If you find a breeding Black Rail, a statue will be built at Horicon in your honor.