Birds

The sharp knocking and laughing call of the Pileated Woodpecker coming from the woods. The Hollywood-iconic cry of the Red-Tailed Hawk over the canyon. The red flash of a Northern Cardinal darting through the trees. These are but a few of the over 140 species of birds which call the woods, waters, and rocks of Little River Canyon National Preserve home.

Birds play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems at Little River Canyon, pollinating plants, hunting prey, and scavenging carrion. In a single visit, visitors may witness Great Blue Herons and Belted Kingfishers catching fish at Canyon Mouth Park, Bald Eagles and Gold Eagles perched in trees down in the canyon, and Turkey Vultures and Black Vultures soaring on the currents along the canyon rim, while songbirds liven up the woods around you. Birds even lend their names to viewing locations on the canyon rim - Hawk's Glide and Crow Point.

 

North Alabama Birding Trail Marker

Alabama Birding Trails

Little River Canyon National Preserve is one of the 19 featured stops along the Northeast Loop of the North Alabama Birding Trail.

Watch for the North Alabama Birding Trail markers along the Little River Canyon Rim Parkway (AL Highway 176) at the driveway to the Jacksonville State University Little River Canyon Center on the north end, and at Eberhart Point at the south end.

 

You can view, save, or print the Bird Checklist below by selecting Birds from the Select a Species Category drop down list below.

 

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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 Park:

Little River Canyon National Preserve

Select a Species Category (optional):

All Amphibians Birds Fish Mammals Reptiles Vascular Plants

Get Checklist Get Full List List Differences

Species attribute definitions

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