Birds of Hackmatack National Wildlife Refuge

Hackmatack NWR is home to many common species of breeding and migratory birds. We have a diverse array of habitat, from wetlands to grasslands, prairie and woodland. Many of the species found here have been targeted by Illinois and Wisconsin as SGCN – Species of Greatest Conservation Need.

In addition to the birds listed here, see the Articles section for bird counts that have been done during The Big Sit. This is an international event started by the New Haven Bird Club in 1992. Their challenge: How many birds can you identify in one day while staying within a 17-foot diameter circle? Our bird counts list all of the birds seen and/or heard during The Big Sit. Audubon members are present at our events to help identify the birds.

About the Whooping Crane

Of particular note is the federally endangered Whooping Crane, which has been seen in the Hackmatack NWR area. This magnificent bird, the tallest bird in North America, was whittled away by European settlers until in 1941, the Texas wintering flock was down to only 15 birds. Our refuge neighbor to the north, the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, has worked to restore an experimental population of these cranes. See the story on journeynorth.org.

Photo by Alan Scmmierer

Eastern Meadowlark
(Sturnella magna)

Great Horned Owl
(Bubo virginianus)

Pileated Woodpecker
(Dryocopus pileatus)

Red-bellied Woodpecker
(Melanerpes carolinus)

Ruby Crowned Kinglet
(Regulus calendula)

Acadian Flycatcher
American Bittern
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Bald Eagle
Baltimore Oriole
Barred Owl
Black Tern
Black-billed Cuckoo
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Blue Jay
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Blue-winged Warbler
Bobolink
Brown-headed Cowbird

Canada Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Chimney Swift
Chipping Sparrow
Common Tern
Common Yellowthroat
Forster’s Tern
Golden-winged Warbler
Gray Catbird
Great Blue Heron
Great Crested Flycatcher
Green Heron
Henslow’s Sparrow
House Wren
Indigo Bunting
Kentucky Warbler
Kildeer Plover

Least Flycatcher
Loggerhead Shrike
Mourning Dove
Northern Harrier
Northern Cardinal
Northern Flicker
Osprey

Red-eyed Vireo
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-winged Blackbird
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Sandhill Crane
Song Sparrow
Tennessee Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Upland Sandpipers
Warbling Vireo
Willow Flycatcher
Wilson’s Phalarope
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Vireo
Yellow-throated Warbler

Bird Resource Links:

McHenry Audubon
McHenry Audubon’s Checklist of Birds

Friends of Hackmatack NWR

P.O. Box 413
Richmond, IL 60071
friendsofhackmatacknwr@gmail.com

Call 262-448-3558 to listen for the latest updates on upcoming activities. If you need to reach us, please leave a message and we will return your call.

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