The atlas is especially interested in a suite of Priority Species — rare to uncommon breeders that are of high conservation interest. We will not detect most of these species in high numbers during atlas point counts, so any instance where you can track down a priority species is useful. You can find the list of priority species on the Quick Reference Guide. We ask that when you find one of these species, you provide additional information about the habitat and location (often just in eBird, more rarely via the Priority Species Information Form — see superscript numbers in Quick Reference Guide for details). This info is needed because in many instances, these breeding records will go into the Natural Heritage Inventory database.
We have been profiling Priority Species in a series we call Species Survey Strategies (SSS). Here, we’ve tried to organize the list of Priority Species and the list of SSS by habitat, so you can decide which habitats you might have, and which species you need to look for. For help figuring out which habitat types are in your block, don’t forget you can use the landcover layers on the interactive map.
Northern Coniferous/Mixed Forest
Atlas Priority Species: Bay-breasted Warbler, Boreal Chickadee, Connecticut Warbler, Northern Goshawk, Long-eared Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Spruce Grouse, Swainson’s Thrush, Tennessee Warbler
Species Survey Strategies:
- Rare Forest Raptors (Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk)
- Boreal Residents (Spruce Grouse, Black-backed Woodpecker, Boreal Chickadee, Gray Jay)
- Boreal Non-residents (Olive-sided Flycatcher, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Palm Warbler, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher)
- Irruptive Finches (Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill)
- Chimney Swift
- Nocturnal Atlasing Part III (Owls and nightjars)
Southern Forest
Atlas Priority Species: Acadian Flycatcher, Carolina Wren, Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Red-shouldered Hawk, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler
- Rare Forest Raptors (Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk)
- Southern Forest Birds (Acadian Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Cerulean Warbler, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Warbler)
Marsh
Atlas Priority Species: American Bittern, American Wigeon, Black Tern, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Black-necked Stilt, Common Tern, Eared Grebe, Forster’s Tern, Great Egret, Horned Grebe, King Rail, LeConte’s Sparrow, Least Bittern, Nelson’s Sparrow, Northern Pintail, Red-necked Grebe, Snowy Egret, Western Grebe, Whooping Crane, Yellow Rail, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Wilson’s Phalarope
- Colonial Waterbirds Part I (American White Pelican, Black-crowned Night Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull)
- Colonial Waterbirds Part II (Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Forster’s Tern)
- Secretive Sedge Meadow Specialists (Yellow Rail, Nelson’s Sparrow, Le Conte’s Sparrow)
- Black Tern (Special 2015 Survey Protocol)
Pine Barrens
Atlas Priority Species: Common Nighthawk, Connecticut Warbler, Kirtland’s Warbler, Long-eared Owl, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Upland Sandpiper
- Irruptive Finches (Pine Siskin, Red Crossbill)
- Common Nighthawk
- Threatened Grassland Species (Upland Sandpiper)
- Nocturnal Atlasing Part III (Owls and nightjars)
- Boreal Non-residents (Olive-sided Flycatcher)
Early Successional
Atlas Priority Species: Golden-winged Warbler, Philadelphia Vireo, Wilson’s Warbler
Shrubby
Atlas Priority Species: Bell’s Vireo, Lark Sparrow, Loggerhead Shrike, Northern Bobwhite, Yellow-breasted Chat
Grassland
Atlas Priority Species: Cattle Egret, Greater Prairie-Chicken, Henslow’s Sparrow, LeConte’s Sparrow, Long-eared Owl, Northern Bobwhite, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Short-eared Owl, Upland Sandpiper, Western Meadowlark
- Secretive Sedge Meadow Specialists (Yellow Rail, Nelson’s Sparrow, Le Conte’s Sparrow)
- Threatened Grassland Species (Upland Sandpiper, Henslow’s Sparrow)
- Nocturnal Atlasing Part III (Owls and nightjars)
Northern Lakes
Atlas Priority Species: Bufflehead, Common Goldeneye
Urban/Yard
Atlas Priority Species: Common Nighthawk, Carolina Wren, European Goldfinch, Great Tit, Peregrine Falcon, Purple Martin
- Common Nighthawk
- Chimney Swift
- European Escapes (European Goldfinch, Great Tit)
Coastal
Atlas Priority Species: Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Great Black-backed Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Piping Plover
- Colonial Waterbirds Part I (American White Pelican, Black-crowned Night Heron, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Herring Gull, Ring-billed Gull)
- Colonial Waterbirds Part II (Caspian Tern, Common Tern, Forster’s Tern)
- Nocturnal Atlasing Part III (Owls and nightjars)