Wildlife of Nebraska

Paul A. Johnsgard is Foundation Regents Professor Emeritus in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. He has received conservation and research awards from the National Audubon Society, the American Ornithologists’ Union, the National Wildlife Federation, and other state and national organizations. Johnsgard is the author of more than one hundred books on natural history, including Those of the Gray Wind: The Sandhill Cranes; Prairie Dog Empire: A Saga of the Shortgrass Prairie; and The Nature of Nebraska: Ecology and Biodiversity, all available in Bison Books editions.

“Celebrates the gifts of a half century spent roaming Nebraska’s back roads, trails, and sometimes-forgotten places.”-Nebraska Magazine “Many scientists and historians have written about the natural history of the Great Plains, but few so compellingly as Paul Johnsgard.”-Annals of Iowa “A classic of nature writing that combines the keen observance of the scientist with the sensitivity of the naturalist.”-Outdoor Press “Nature writing at its best.”-Nancy Plain, Roundup Magazine

• List of Illustrations    Acknowledgments    Abbreviations and Symbols    Chapter 1. Introduction to Nebraska and Its Biological Environment    The Geography and Biogeography of Nebraska    Nebraska as a Biological Transition and Genetic Suture Zone    Dispersal Corridors and Historic Biogeographic Changes    Global Warming and Changing Climates    Chapter 2. Mammals    Dawn of the Age of Mammals, 150–65 Million Years Ago    Nebraska’s Mammals, 58–24 Million Years Ago    Nebraska’s Mammals, 23–22 Million Years Ago    Nebraska’s Mammals, 12–10 Million Years Ago    Selected Species Profiles    Family Didelphidae (Opossums)    Virginia Opossum. Didelphis virginiana    Family Leporidae (Hares and Rabbits)         White-tailed Jackrabbit. Lepus townsendii    Black-tailed Jackrabbit. Lepus californicus    Eastern Cottontail. Sylvilagus floridanus    Desert Cottontail. Sylvilagus audubonii    Family Soricidae (Shrews)     Cinereus (Masked) Shrew. Sorex cinereus    Family Vespertilionidae (Vesper Bats)     Townsend’s Big-eared Bat. Corynorhinus townsendii    Big Brown Bat. Eptesicus fuscus    Silver-haired Bat. Lasionycteris noctivagans    Eastern Red Bat. Lasiurus borealis    Hoary Bat. Lasiurus cinereus    Little Brown Myotis. Myotis lucifugus    Family Felidae (Cats)     Canada Lynx. Lynx canadensis    Bobcat. Lynx rufus    Cougar (Puma, Mountain Lion). Puma concolor    Family Canidae (Dogs)     Coyote. Canis latrans    Gray Fox. Urocyon cinereoargenteus    Red Fox. Vulpes vulpes    Swift Fox. Vulpes velox    Family Mustelidae (Weasels)     American Badger. Taxidea taxus    American Mink. Neovison vison    Northern River Otter. Lontra canadensis    Long-tailed Weasel. Mustela frenata    Black-footed Ferret. Mustela nigripes    Family Mephitidae (Skunks)     Striped Skunk. Mephitis    Eastern Spotted Skunk. Spilogale putorius    Family Procyonidae (Raccoons)Northern Raccoon. Procyon lotor    Family Cervidae (Deer)     Elk. Cervus canadensis    White-tailed Deer. Odocoileus virginianus    Mule Deer. Odocoileus hemionus    Family Antilocapridae (Pronghorns)     Pronghorn. Antilocapra americana    Family Bovidae (Bison, Sheep, and Goats)     American Bison. Bison bison    Bighorn (Mountain) Sheep. Ovis canadensis    Family Sciuridae (Squirrels, Marmots, and Prairie Dogs)     Black-tailed Prairie Dog. Cynomys ludovicianus    Southern Flying Squirrel. Glaucomys volans    Thirteen-lined Ground Squirrel. Ictidomys tridecemlineatus    Least Chipmunk. Tamias minimus    Family Castoridae (Beavers)     Beaver. Castor canadensis    Family Heteromyidae (Pocket Mice and Kangaroo Rats)     Ord’s Kangaroo Rat. Dipodomys ordii    Olive-backed Pocket Mouse. Perognathus fasciatus    Plains Pocket Mouse. Perognathus flavescens    Family Dipodidae (Jumping Mice)     Meadow Jumping Mouse. Zapus hudsonicus    Family Cricetidae (New World Mice)     Prairie Vole. Microtus ochrogaster    Meadow Vole. Microtus pennsylvanicus    Bushy-tailed Woodrat. Neotoma cinerea    Eastern Woodrat. Neotoma floridana    Muskrat. Ondatra zibethicus    Northern Grasshopper Mouse. Onychomys leucogaster    White-footed Deer Mouse. Peromyscus leucopus    American Deer Mouse. Peromyscus maniculatus    Western Harvest Mouse. Reithrodontomys megalotis    Plains Harvest Mouse. Reithrodontomys montanus    Family Erethizontidae (Porcupines)     Porcupine. Erethizon dorsatum    Chapter 3. Birds    The Recent History of Nebraska’s Birds    Declining and Extripated Species    Introduced and Invading Species    Overall Population Trends    The Geography of Nebraska’s Bird Fauna    Selected Species Profiles    Class Aves (Birds)     Family Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Swans)     Snow Goose. Anser caerulescens    Ross’s Goose. Anser rossii    Cackling Goose. Branta hutchinsii    Canada Goose. Branta canadensis    Trumpeter Swan. Cygnus buccinator    Wood Duck. Aix sponsa    Blue-winged Teal. Spatula (Anas) discors    Cinnamon Teal. Spatula cyanoptera    Northern Shoveler. Spatula clypeata    Gadwall. Mareca strepera    American Wigeon. Mareca americana    Mallard. Anas platyrhynchos    Northern Pintail. Anas acuta    Green-winged Teal. Anas crecca    Canvasback. Aythya valisineria    Redhead. Aythya americana    Ring-necked Duck. Aythya collaris    Lesser Scaup. Aythya affinis    Bufflehead. Bucephala albeola    Common Goldeneye. Bucephala clangula    Common Merganser. Mergus merganser    Ruddy Duck. Oxyura jamaicensis    Family Odontophoridae (New World Quails)     Northern Bobwhite. Colinus virginianus    Family Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Turkeys)     Ring-necked Pheasant. Phasianus colchicus    Sharp-tailed Grouse. Tympanuchus phasianellus    Greater Prairie-Chicken. Tympanuchus cupido    Wild Turkey. Meleagris gallopavo    Family Podicipedidae (Grebes)     Eared Grebe. Podiceps nigricollis    Clark’s Grebe. Aechmophorus clarkii    Western Grebe. Aechmophorus occidentalis    Family Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)     Eurasian Collared-Dove. Streptopelia decaocto    Mourning Dove. Zenaida macroura    Family Cuculidae (Cuckoos)     Yellow-billed Cuckoo. Coccyzus americanus    Family Caprimulgidae (Nightjars)     Common Nighthawk. Chordeiles minor    Common Poorwill. Phalaenoptilus nuttallii    Family Apodidae (Swifts)     White-throated Swift. Aeronautes saxatalis    Family Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)     Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Archilochus colubris    Family Rallidae (Rails and Coots)     Common Gallinule. Gallinula galeata    American Coot. Fulica americana    Family Gruidae (Cranes)     Sandhill Crane. Antigone canadensis    Whooping Crane. Grus americana    Family Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)     Black-necked Stilt. Himantopus mexicanus    American Avocet. Recurvirostra americana    Family Charadriidae (Plovers)     Killdeer. Charadrius vociferus    Piping Plover. Charadrius melodus    Mountain Plover. Charadrius montanus    Snowy Plover. Charadrius nivosus    Family Scolopacidae (Sandpipers, Snipes, and Phalaropes)     Upland Sandpiper. Bartramia longicauda    Long-billed Curlew. Numenius americanus    Baird’s Sandpiper. Calidris bairdii    Least Sandpiper. Calidris minutilla    Long-billed Dowitcher. Limnodromus scolopaceus    Spotted Sandpiper. Actitis macularia    Lesser Yellowlegs. Tringa flavipes    Greater Yellowlegs. Tringa melanoleuca    Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Tryngites subruficollis    Wilson’s Phalarope. Phalaropus tricolor    Red-necked Phalarope. Phalaropus lobatus    Family Laridae (Gulls and Terns)     Least Tern. Sterna albifrons    Black Tern. Chlidonias niger    Forster’s Tern. Sterna forsteri    Family Gaviidae (Loons)     Common Loon. Gavia immer    Family Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants)     Double-crested Cormorant. Phalacrocorax auritus    Family Pelecanidae (Pelicans)     American White Pelican. Pelecanus erythroryhnchos    Family Ardeidae (Herons and Egrets)     American Bittern. Botaurus lentiginosus    Great Blue Heron. Ardea herodias    Snowy Egret. Egretta thula    Family Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)     White-faced Ibis. Plegadis chihi    Family Cathartidae (New World Vultures)     Turkey Vulture. Cathartes aura    Family Pandionidae (Ospreys)     Osprey. Pandion haliaetus    Family Accipitridae (Hawks and Eagles)     Golden Eagle. Aquila chrysaetos    Bald Eagle. Haliaeetus leucocephalus    Northern Harrier. Circus hudsonicus    Sharp-shinned Hawk. Accipiter striatus    Cooper’s Hawk. Accipiter cooperii    Northern Goshawk. Accipiter gentilis    Swainson’s Hawk. Buteo swainsoni    Red-tailed Hawk. Buteo jamaicensis    Ferruginous Hawk. Buteo regalis    Rough-legged Hawk. Buteo lagopus    Family Strigidae (Typical Owls)     Eastern Screech-Owl. Megascops asio    Great Horned Owl. Bubo virginianus    Burrowing Owl. Athene cunicularia    Long-eared Owl. Asio otus    Short-eared Owl. Asio flammeus    Northern Saw-whet Owl. Aegolius acadicus    Family Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)     Belted Kingfisher. Megaceryle alcyon    Family Picidae (Woodpeckers)     Lewis’s Woodpecker. Melanerpes lewis    Red-headed Woodpecker. Melanerpes erythrocephalus    Downy Woodpecker. Dryobates pubescens    Hairy Woodpecker. Dryobates villosus    Northern Flicker. Colaptes auratus    Family Falconidae (Falcons)     American Kestrel. Falco sparverius    Merlin. Falco columbarius    Peregrine Falcon. Falco peregrinus    Prairie Falcon. Falco mexicanus    Order Passeriformes (Passerine Birds)     Family Tyrannidae (New World Flycatchers)     Western Wood-Pewee. Contopus sordidulus    Eastern Wood-Pewee. Contopus virens    Willow Flycatcher. Empidonax traillii    Least Flycatcher. Empidonax minimus    Cordilleran Flycatcher. Empidonax occidentalis    Say’s Phoebe. Sayornis saya    Western Kingbird. Tyrannus verticalis    Eastern Kingbird. Tyrannus tyrannus    Family Laniidae (Shrikes)     Loggerhead Shrike. Lanius ludovicianus    Family Vireonidae (Vireos)     Warbling Vireo. Vireo gilvus    Family Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)     Pinyon Jay. Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus    Black-billed Magpie. Pica hudsonia    American Crow. Corvus brachyrhynchos    Family Alaudidae (Larks)     Horned Lark. Eremophila alpestris    Family Hirundinidae (Swallows)     Bank Swallow. Riparia riparia    Tree Swallow. Tachycineta bicolor    Violet-green Swallow. Tachycineta thalassina    Northern Rough-winged Swallow. Stelgidopteryx serripennis    Barn Swallow. Hirundo rustica    Cliff Swallow. Petrochelidon pyrrhonota    Family Paridae (Chickadees and Titmice)     Black-capped Chickadee. Poecile atricapillus    Family Sittidae (Nuthatches)     Red-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta canadensis    White-breasted Nuthatch. Sitta carolinensis    Pygmy Nuthatch. Sitta pygmaea    Family Certhiidae (Treecreepers)     Brown Creeper. Certhia americana    Family Troglodytidae (Wrens)     Rock Wren. Salpinctes obsoletus    House Wren. Troglodytes aedon    Family Polioptilidae (Gnatcatchers)     Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Polioptila caerulea    Family Regulidae (Kinglets)     Golden-crowned Kinglet. Regulus satrapa    Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Regulus calendula    Family Turdidae (Thrushes)     Eastern Bluebird. Sialia sialis    Mountain Bluebird. Sialia currucoides    Townsend’s Solitaire. Myadestes townsendi    Veery. Catharus fuscescens    Swainson’s Thrush. Catharus ustulatus    Hermit Thrush. Catharus guttatus    American Robin. Turdus migratorius    Family Mimidae (Thrashers, Catbirds, and Mockingbirds)     Gray Catbird. Dumetella carolinensis    Brown Thrasher. Toxostoma rufum    Sage Thrasher. Oreoscoptes montanus    Family Bombycillidae (Waxwings)     Bohemian Waxwing. Bombycilla garrulus    Cedar Waxwing. Bombycilla cedrorum    Family Motacillidae (Pipits)     American Pipit. Anthus rubescens    Sprague’s Pipit. Anthus spragueii    Family Fringillidae (Finches)     Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Leucosticte tephrocotis    House Finch. Haemorhous mexicanus    Red Crossbill. Loxia curvirostra    Pine Siskin. Spinis pinus    American Goldfinch. Spinis tristis    Evening Grosbeak. Coccothraustes vespertinus    Family Calcariidae (Longspurs and Snow Buntings)     Chestnut-collared Longspur. Calcarius ornatus    McCown’s Longspur. Rhynchophanes mccownii    Family Passerellidae (New World Sparrows and Towhees)     Grasshopper Sparrow. Ammodramus savannarum    Lark Sparrow. Chondestes grammacus    Lark Bunting. Calamospiza melanocorys    Chipping Sparrow. Spizella passerina    Brewer’s Sparrow. Spizella breweri    American Tree Sparrow. Spizelloides arborea    Dark-eyed Junco. Junco hyemalis    White-crowned Sparrow. Zonotrichia leucophrys    White-throated Sparrow. Zonotrichia albicollis    Vesper Sparrow. Pooecetes gramineus    Henslow’s Sparrow. Centronyx henslowii    Song Sparrow. Melospiza melodia    Swamp Sparrow. Melospiza georgiana    Spotted Towhee. Pipilo maculatus    Eastern Towhee. Pipilo erythropthalmus    Family Icteriidae (Yellow-breasted Chat)     Yellow-breasted Chat. Icteria virens    Family Icteridae (Blackbirds, Orioles, and Meadowlarks)     Yellow-headed Blackbird. Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus    Bobolink. Dolichonyx oryzivorus    Eastern Meadowlark. Sturnella magna    Western Meadowlark. Sturnella neglecta    Baltimore Oriole. Icterus galbula    Bullock’s Oriole. Icterus bullockii    Red-winged Blackbird. Agelaius phoeniceus    Brown-headed Cowbird. Molothrus ater    Brewer’s Blackbird. Euphagus cyanocephalus    Common Grackle. Quiscalus quiscula    Family Parulidae (New World Warblers)     Orange-crowned Warbler. Oreothlypis celata    Common Yellowthroat. Geothlypis trichas    American Redstart. Setophaga ruticilla    Yellow Warbler. Setophaga petechia    Yellow-rumped Warbler. Setophaga coronata    Wilson’s Warbler. Cardillina pusilla    Family Cardinalidae (Cardinals, Tanagers, and Grosbeaks)     Scarlet Tanager. Piranga olivacea    Western Tanager. Piranga ludoviciana    Rose-breasted Grosbeak. Pheucticus ludovicianus    Black-headed Grosbeak. Pheucticus melanocephalus    Lazuli Bunting. Passerina amoena    Indigo Bunting. Passerina cyanea    Dickcissel. Spiza americana    Chapter 4. Reptiles and Amphibians    An Introduction to Nebraska’s Reptiles and Amphibians    Selected Species Profiles    Amphibians (Salamanders, Toads, and Frogs)     Order Caudata (Salamanders)    Family Ambystomatidae (Mole Salamanders)    Barred Tiger Salamander. Ambystoma malvortium    Order Anura (Frogs and Toads)     Family Pelabatidae (Spadefoots)     Plains Spadefoot. Spea bombifrons    Family Bufonidae (Toads)     Woodhouse’s Toad. Anaxyrus (Bufo) woodhousei    Family Ranidae (Typical Frogs)     American Bullfrog. Lithobates (Rana) catesbiana    Plains Leopard Frog. Lithobates (Rana) blairi    Northern Leopard Frog. Lithobates (Rana) pipiens    Family Hylidae (Chorus Frogs)     Cope’s Gray Treefrog. Hyla chrysocelis    Boreal Chorus Frog. Pseudacris maculata    Reptiles (Turtles, Lizards, and Snakes)     Order Chelonia (Turtles)     Family Chelydridae (Snapping Turtles)     Eastern Snapping Turtle. Chelydra serpentina    Family Embydidae (Pond and Box Turtles)     Western Painted Turtle. Chrysemys picta    Ornate Box Turtle. Terrapene ornata    Family Trionychidae (Softshell Turtles)     Midland Smooth Softshell Turtle. Apalone mutica    Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle. Apalone spinifera    Order Lacertilia (Lizards)     Family Scincidae (Skinks)     Many-lined Skink. Eumeces (Plestiodon) multivirgatus    Northern Prairie Skink. Plestiodon septentrionalis    Family Phrynosomatidae (Spiny, Earless, Tree, and Horned Lizards)     Greater (Mountain) Short-horned Lizard. Phrynosoma hernandesi    Prairie Lizard. Sceloporus (undulatus) consobrinus    Common Sagebrush Lizard. Sceloporus graciosus    Order Serpentes (Snakes)     Family Colubridae (Harmless Egg-laying Snakes)     Gophersnake (Bullsnake). Pituophis catenifer    Family Natricidae (Live-bearing Snakes)     Wandering (Western Terrestrial) Gartersnake. Thamnophis elegans    Plains Gartersnake. Thamnophis radix    Common Gartersnake. Thamnophis sirtalis    Family Dipsadidae (Rear-fanged Snakes)     Plains (Western) Hog-nosed Snake. Heterodon nasicus    Eastern Hog-nosed Snake. Heterodon platyrhinos    Family Viperidae (Pitvipers)     Prairie (Western) Rattlesnake. Crotalus viridis    Massasauga Rattlesnake. Sistrurus catenatus    Chapter 5. Species Checklist and Status/Habitat Codes    Data Sources and Abundance, Habitat, and Conservation Categories    Mammals    Birds    Reptiles and Amphibians    Amphibians    Lizards    Snakes    Chapter 6. Some Natural Treasures of Nebraska    References