Birds

This Pileated Woodpecker loves to watch the Park Rangers work through the windows.

NPS Photo

Both units of Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park are geographically comprised of upland bluff, north-facing rich slope, south-facing dry slope, stream corridor and cultivated habitat. The park attracts species that prefer edges and small woodlots.

The most numerous of these species include the Common Grackle, Indigo Bunting and Red-eyed Vireo. Additional woodlots species such as chickadees, titmice and tanagers can be viewed here. Migrating birds such as the Blue-headed Vireo and Swamp Sparrow can occasionally be seen at Knob Creek along with other regular transients like the Osprey and Northern Harrier.

Staying late for an evening program? Both Chuck-will's Widow and Whip-poor-will are present on the Knob Creek unit and can be heard from the parking lot at night. The park is also host to three species of owls. Great Horned, Barred and Eastern Screech owl are all found on the Knob Creek Unit as well.

 

Robins during winter at Abraham Lincoln Birthplace NHP

NPS Photo

During winter the park primarily hosts wandering woodlot songbird flocks consisting of common species such as Golden-crowned Kinglets, White-throated Sparrows and Slate-colored Juncos. The most interesting winter birds are finches. Purple Finch, Pine Siskin and Red-breasted Nuthatch can be viewed near the Birthplace Unit Visitor Center.

To observe birds in the park, we recommend you come early. The park grounds are open at sunrise. There are benches overlooking the fields at the Kentucky Boyhood Home Unit at Knob Creek, and along The Pathway of a President trail at the Birthplace Unit.

 

Play Bird Bingo

You can play Bird Bingo with your family during your visit to the Birthplace Unit! Ask a Park Ranger for a playing card!

 

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Species Attribute Definitions

Definitions

Occurrence

Occurrence values are defined below. One or more Occurrence Tags may be associated with each Occurrence value.

Present: Species occurs in park; current, reliable evidence available.

Probably Present: High confidence species occurs in park but current, verified evidence needed.

Unconfirmed: Species is attributed to park but evidence is weak or absent.

Not In Park: Species is not known to occur in park.

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Occurrence Tags

Adjacent: Species is known to occur in areas near to or contiguous with park boundaries.

False Report: Species was reported to occur within the park, but current evidence indicates the report was based on misidentification, a taxonomic concept no longer accepted, or other similar problem of error or interpretation.

Historical: Species' historical occurrence in park is documented. Assigned based on judgment as opposed to determination based on age of the most recent evidence.

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Abundance

Abundant:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, and counted in relatively large numbers.
• Plants: Large number of individuals; wide ecological amplitude or occurring in habitats covering a large portion of the park.

Common:

• Animals: May be seen daily, in suitable habitat and season, but not in large numbers.
• Plants: Large numbers of individuals predictably occurring in commonly encountered habitats but not those covering a large portion of the park.

Uncommon:

• Animals: Likely to be seen monthly in appropriate habitat and season. May be locally common.
• Plants: Few to moderate numbers of individuals; occurring either sporadically in commonly encountered habitats or in uncommon habitats.

Rare:

• Animals: Present, but usually seen only a few times each year.
• Plants: Few individuals, usually restricted to small areas of rare habitat.

Occasional:

• Animals: Occurs in the park at least once every few years, varying in numbers, but not necessarily every year.
• Plants: Abundance variable from year to year (e.g., desert plants).

Unknown: Abundance unknown

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Nativeness

Native: Species naturally occurs in park or region.

Non-native: Species occurs on park lands as a result of deliberate or accidental human activities.

Unknown: Nativeness status is unknown or ambiguous.

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List Differences

The Checklist contains only those species that are designated as "present" or "probably present" in the park.

The Full List includes all the checklist species in addition to species that are unconfirmed, historically detected, or incorrectly reported as being found in the park. The full list also contains species that are "in review" because their status in the park hasn't been fully determined. Additional details about the status of each species is included in the full list.

The checklist will almost always contain fewer species than the full list.

Select a Species Category (optional):

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Species attribute definitions

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Animals