Birds of Indian Boundary Park

On bird walks conducted by the Chicago Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, a number of year-round and migratory birds have been spotted in the park. The bird photos shown below were obtained from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. For more information about the birds, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology or the Chicago Audubon Society.

Take some time while strolling through the park to observe and listen to the birds and pause to watch the graceful movements of a Great Blue Heron fishing along the shore. Please do not feed the the birds or ducks; there is an ample natural food supply in the park which provides a healthy diet.

Bird information provided here is sourced from the following guides:

• The Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Eastern North America, David Allen Sibley, 2003
  
• Peterson Field Guides, Birds of Eastern and Central North America, 5th Edition, Roger Tory Peterson, 2002
  
• National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Birds, 1994

Canada goose

Canada goose (Branta canadensis)

• a year round inhabitant of the park lagoon as well as parks, golf courses and just about any other body of water in the Midwest
  
• nests on the ground near water but may nest in a large abandoned nest in a tree
  
• nests have been reported on stone piles on flat rooftops in Chicago
  
• feeds on grasses, seeds and aquatic plants
  

Mallard drake

Mallard or wild duck (Anas platyrhynchos)

• a commonly seen, year-round inhabitant of the lagoon
  
• can also be found in marshes, rivers and grain fields
  
• the male has an iridescent green head and a white neck ring
  
• the female has a mottled brown color
  
• nests on the ground on hidden marsh grass or brush pile. Feeds on water plants, seeds, grass, insects and small aquatic animals
  

Double-crested cormorant

Double-crested cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

• a summer visitor to the lagoon who winters in the southern U.S.
  
• found along the coasts, islands, bays, lakes and rivers
  
• may be found perched on a post with wings spread
  
• nests made of sticks found in trees, on the ground or on cliffs in colonies
• feeds on fish and crustaceans
  

Great blue heron with fish

Great blue heron (Ardea herodias)

• a summer dweller at the lagoon
  
• can also be found near marshes, swamps and shorelines
  
• nests made of sticks found in trees or on ground in colonies.
  
• feeds on fish, frogs, crayfish, rodents and insects
  

Ring-billed Gull

Ring-billed gull (Larus delawarensis)

• year-round visitor to the park 
• found along lakes and rivers
  
• nests on the ground or in low trees in colonies
• feeds on marine life, plant and animal food, refuse and carrion
  

Downy woodpecker

Downy woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

• year-round visitor to the park

• found in wooded areas, parks and gardens
• nests in holes in trees
• feeds on tree-boring insects and suet feeders
  

Rock dove

Rock dove (Columba livia) or rock pigeon

• commonly found in parks and gardens in towns and cities as well as on farmland
  
• nests on window ledges, buildings,cliffs and bridges
  
• feeds on refuse, seeds

Mourning dove

Mourning dove (Zenaida macroura)

• commonly found throughout the city in parks, lawns and open fields all year
• nests in low bushes and trees
  
• feeds on seeds,waste grain, fruits and insects

Northern Flicker

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

• a year-round resident of the park
  
• found in open country with trees, parks and large gardens
  
• nests in tree cavities, power poles or birdhouses
  
• can be found feeding on the ground on ants or beetle larvae
  

Blue jay

Blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata)

• a year-round resident of the park found in yards and parks
  
• nests in trees and conifers
  
• feeds on seeds, acorns, fruit and insects
  

Ruby-crowned kinglet

Ruby-crowned kinglet (Regulus calendula)

• a small greenish migratory bird found in wooded areas
  
• males have a red patch on the head, usually concealed
  
• feeds on insects and larvae

American robin

American robin (Turdus migratorius)

• migratory songbird known as the harbinger of spring in the Midwest
• nests of twigs, grass and mud in trees, window sills and light fixtures among other places
  
• feeds on worms, insects, snails, berries and fruits
  

European starling

European starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

• commonly found year-round throughout cities and farmland
• nests of twigs, grass, feathers and trash in a tree or building cavity
• feeds on insects, seedsand berries

Black-throated green warbler (female)

Black-throated green warbler (Setophaga virens)

• migratory in spring
  
• winters in the tropics and summers in Canada
  
• nests made of leaves and grass with hair and cobweb linings near the ground in a shrub or small tree
  
• feeds on insects
  

American goldfinch (male)

American goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

• year round resident seen in gardens and parks
  
• male has bright yellow feathers with black bars on the wings in the spring and summer fading to dull green in the winter
  
• feeds on seeds, especially cone flowers and thistle
  

Common yellowthroat

Common yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 

• migratory in the spring
  
• summers in the Midwest and the East Coast
  
• winters in Gulf States and the South
  
• nests made grass and bark strips lined with hair and feathers
  
• feeds on insects
  

American redstart

American redstart (Setophaga ruticilla)

• migratory in the spring
  
• summers in Alaska and Canada
• winters in Florida and the tropics
• nests made of grass, bark shreds, plant fibers and spiderweb
• feeds on insects

Northern cardinal

Northern cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

• year-round resident of Chicago found in gardens, thickets and woodland edges
  
• nests of deep cup of twigs, leaves and plant fibers concealed in a thicket
  
• feeds on seeds and insects
  
• can be found at feeders in the city especially if sunflower seeds are offered

House finch

House finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)

• year-round resident of Chicago found in city yards and parks
  
• nests of cup of grass in a bush, thicket or building cavity
  
• feeds on berries and seeds put out for other birds
  

House sparrow

House sparrow (Passer domesticus)

• year-round resident of Chicago found in gardens and parks
  
• nests of loose mass of grass, feathers, paper strips, string or other debris placed in building or natural cavities
  
• feeds on seeds and insects