Eastern Limits Reached in Kansas

Eleven species (tables [6] and [7]) reach their eastern distributional limits in Kansas. Six of these are woodland birds. Four of these are members of well-known species-pairs: the Red-shafted Flicker, Bullock Oriole, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Lazuli Bunting. Presence to the east of complementary species has much to do with the absence of these species in eastern Kansas. Four of the eleven are birds of grasslands, and they drop out as the short-grass prairie is restricted easterly.

The Rock Wren may be considered characteristic of xeric scrub in Kansas, and it is not found to the east in the absence of such scrub.

Southern Limits Reached in Kansas

Eight species (tables [6] and [7]) reach their southern distributional limits in Kansas. Half of these birds are of woodland habitats, and of these four, the Black-capped Chickadee and Cedar Waxwing are chiefly of sub-boreal distribution. The Black-capped Chickadee also finds its niche partly pre-empted in southern Kansas by the Carolina Chickadee.

The Bobolink and Sharp-tailed Grouse are grassland species that are seemingly adapted to cooler, dryer grassland than is found in most of Kansas.

The Redhead, Wilson Phalarope, and Black Tern are limnic species, perhaps limited southerly by high summer temperatures; the three species are entirely marginal anywhere in Kansas.

Table 8.—Birds of the Eastern Deciduous Forest Found in Western Kansas in Riparian Woodland

Accipiter cooperii[C]
Coccyzus americanus[C]
Centurus carolinus
Melanerpes erythrocephalus
Tyrannus tyrannus
Myiarchus crinitus
Contopus virens
Sayornis phoebe
Cyanocitta cristata
Dumetella carolinensis
Toxostoma rufum
Sialia sialis
Vireo olivaceus
Icterus spurius[C]
Icterus galbula
Quiscula quiscalus
Piranga rubra[C]
Passerina cyanea
Richmondena cardinalis
Pipilo erythrophthalmus[C]
Spizella passerina[C]

[C] Breeds farther west in North America in other types of vegetation.