Birds of the southern Williamette Valley, Oregon

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The preceding list gives the status of 212 species of birds that occur in the Willamette Valley of western Oregon. In addition two species are included on the basis of records the author believes incorrect and should be considered hypothetical. Ten of these species are exotic and the occurrence of 32 native species has not been previously recorded in literature. Twenty-seven additional species have been recorded since the publication of the “Birds of Oregon” (Gabrielson and Jewett, 1940). Most of these later records have been contained in the Christmas bird counts of the Eugene Natural History Society (1947 to 1950). Since 1917 at least 28 native species have been added to the local list from among the 37 families discussed by Shelton. Most of the new records are for species either typically Austral in distribution or coastal forms never before recorded from localities in the Willamette Valley. Of the 115 species present during the breeding season, at least 109 species are known to, or very probably do, breed within the limits of the area. There are three more species that may possibly breed locally. Seventy-one species are permanent residents or visitors, 42 species occur only during the summer, 25 species occur only in winter, 24 species are known only as migrants whereas 21 species are known only as stragglers or erratic visitors. For 27 species, data are insufficient to ascertain their proper status. The local breeding birds are overwhelmingly Transition zone species, whereas most of the winter visitors are Boreal species that have moved south to avoid severe northern winters. Most of the local migrants are either Boreal or Transition zone breeding species moving to their breeding or wintering grounds. It seems certain that the avifauna of this area is more closely linked with more northerly areas than with the areas east of the Cascades or the valleys of southwestern Oregon. The few Austral species occurring locally as “migrants,” stragglers or as of uncertain status, are undoubtedly the result of the inevitable wandering of single individuals of species which occur regularly and often abundantly a few hundred miles to the east or south of this area. In some parts of the southern Willamette Valley conditions are favorable for the breeding of certain Austral species, but there is no extensive Austral fauna linking this area with a California fauna as is found in the Umpqua and especially the Rogue River valleys to the south.

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Reference Code: A51GUL01IDUS

Full Citation: Gullion, G. W. 1951. Birds of the southern Williamette Valley, Oregon. Condor 53(3): 129-149.

Location: ANIMAL EF: OREORTYX PICTUS