Passerines pages initiated July 20, 1999; Last updated:  February 18, 2003

Chapter 9:

PASSERINES, Part V
(Grosbeaks through Weaver Finches)

Mississippi Coast Arrival / Departure Records

KEY:

CARDINALS, GROSBEAKS and ALLIES (Cardinalidae)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

Permanent resident

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): April 1--May 25; September 1--November 17; December 16--January 10.

SPRING early dates:

SPRING late dates:

SUMMER records:

FALL early dates:

FALL late dates:

WINTER records:

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)

ALL records:

Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): March 31--November 9; December 17. 

SPRING early dates:

FALL late dates:

WINTER records:

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

ALL records:

Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): March 15--November 18; December 13--January 24.

SPRING early dates:

FALL late dates:

WINTER records:

Painted Bunting (Passerina ciris)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): April 6 -- November 4

SPRING early dates:

FALL late dates:

WINTER records:

Dickcissel (Spiza americana)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): August 24 -- April 30

FALL early dates:

SPRING late dates:

Summer records:

BLACKBIRDS, GRACKLES, and ORIOLES (Icteridae)

Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): April 21--May 26; September 29; November 28; December 11.

SPRING early dates:

SPRING late dates:

FALL records:

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Permanent resident

Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna)

Permanent resident

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

This is not a simple visual ID for most experts, not to mention the novice among us, particularly in this region where Eastern Meadowlark reins supreme. While most Western's may stand out as paler birds, call notes continue to be a good clue that the bird "may" be a Western Meadowlark, especially for those birders not experienced with separating these two look-alike species. Eastern Meadowlarks have been known to sing Western songs--or at least something similar (JRW, 10 July, 1994, Tunica County -- Schiefer 1994).

ALL records:

Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): October 14--April 27
Rare, irregular fall / winter visitor.

ALL records, for now:

Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): October 21 - April 8

FALL early dates:

SPRING late dates:

Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): November 9 - April 8

FALL early dates:

SPRING late dates:

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Permanent resident

Boat-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus major)

Permanent resident

Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus)

Very recent addition to our state's official checklist, with one accepted sight record (1996) and another sight record yet to be submitted (1994).

ALL records:

Shiny Cowbird (Molothrus bonariensis)

ALL records:

Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus)

ALL records in seasonal order:

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Permanent resident

Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius)

Nests on the coast.
Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): March 15--September 10, November 10, December 12--February 11.

SPRING early dates:

FALL late dates:

WINTER records:

Bullock's Oriole (Icterus bullockii)

ALL records:

Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): January 21 -- May 14; August 24 -- October 7; December -- March 18, includes Bullock's Oriole, which at the time was lumped with Baltimore Oriole into Northern Oriole. The few Bullock's records are separated out from these dates...

SPRING early dates:

SPRING late dates:

FALL early dates:

FALL late dates:

WINTER records:

SISKINS, CROSSBILLS and ALLIES (Fringillidae)

Pine Siskin (Carduelis pinus)

Irruptive winter visitor. Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): November 27 -- May 8.

FALL early dates:

SPRING late dates:

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): November 7 -- May 7.

FALL early dates:

SPRING late dates:

Purple Finch (Carpodacus purpureus)

Winter resident, unpredictable. Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): October 18 - April 19.

FALL early dates:

SPRING late dates:

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

A relatively recent addition to our avifauna. First state record was January 11, 1980, Starkville, Oktibbeha County (J. Jackson 1981b). First fledglings observed in Starkville July 1986 (Jackson et al. 1986). First coastal sighting November 18, 1980 at Port Bienville Industrial Park, Hancock County - JAT, MH, (Toups and Hodges 1981a; Purrington 1981) - female bird.
Now increasingly common permanent resident on the coast.

Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

No coastal records.

Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus)

Irruptive winter resident.
Range by Toups and Jackson (1987): December 26--April 30.

WINTER early dates:

SPRING late dates:

OLD WORLD SPARROWS (Passeridae)

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Permanent resident

Send broken links or other suggestions / comments to Stacy Peterson; [email protected]

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