Ranch Species List
Biodiversity
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Birds of Buck Island Ranch
A checklist by Michael A. McMillian and Reuven Yosef, 2001 Photos at Buck Island Ranch by Alex Calzadillo (burrowing owl), Lourdes Rojas (caracara), Joyce Voneman (barred owl) and Tom Bancroft (cranes & kingbird)
This checklist includes 161 species of birds recorded (through January 2001) at the Buck Island Ranch, Lake Placid, Highlands County, Florida, and site of the MacArthur Agro-ecology Research Center. The list includes 46 species confirmed as nesters, with an additional 9 suspected, but unconfirmed. Of 11 listed species, 4 are confirmed nesters (1 additional species is a possible nester). The list follows the American Ornithologists' Union's "Check-list of North American birds," seventh edition, 1998.
Definitions: * indicates species confirmed nesting, *? indicates species suspected of nesting, (L) are listed species, S is specimen collected
ORDER PODICIPEIFORMES
Family Podicipedidae – Grebes
- Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps
ORDER PELECANIFORMES
Family Pelecanidae - Pelicans
- American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Family Phalacrocoracidae – Cormorants
- Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus
Family Anhingidae – Darters
- Anhinga Anhinga anhinga
ORDER CICONIIFORMES
Family Ardeidae - Herons, Egrest and Bitterns
- American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus
- Least Bittern*? Ixobrychus exilis
- Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias
- Great White Heron (here considered a color form of the Great Blue Heron)
- Great Egret Casmerodius albus
- Snowy Egret (L) Egretta thula
- Little Blue Heron (L) Egretta caerulea
- Tricolored Heron (L) Egretta tricolor
- Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
- Green Heron* Butorides striatus
- Black-crowned Night Heron* Nycticorax nycticorax
- Yellow-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax violaceus
Family Threskiornithidae - Ibises and Spoonbills
Subfamily Threskiornithinae
- White Ibis (L) Eudocimus albus
- Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Subfamily Plataleinae
- Roseate Spoonbill Ajaia ajaja
Family Ciconiidae – Storks
- Wood Stork (L) Mycteria americana
Family Cathartidae – American Vultures
- Black Vulture*Coragyps atratus
- Turkey Vulture*Cathartes aura
ORDER ANSERIFORMES
Family Anatidae - Swans, Geese and Ducks
Subfamily Dendrocygninae
- Black-bellied Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna autumnalis
Subfamily Anserinae
- Snow GooseChen caerulescens
Subfamily Anatinae
- Wood DuckAix sponsa
- American PigeonAnas americana
- MallardAnas platyrhynchos
- Mottled Duck*Anas fulvigula
- Blue-winged TealAnas discors
- Northern ShovelerAnas clypeata
- Northern PintailAnas acuta
- Green-winged TealAnas crecca
- Hooded MerganserLophodytes cucullatus
- Red-breasted MerganserMergus serrator
ORDER FALCONIFORMES
Family Accipitridae - Hawks, Kites and Eagles
Subfamily Pandioninae – Ospreys
- Osprey Pandion haliaetus
Subfamily Accipitrinae - Kites, Hawks, Eagles and Harriers
- American Swallow-tailed KiteElanoides forficatus
- White-tailed Kite*(S) Elanus caeruleus
- Bald Eagle* (L) Haliaeetus leucocephalus
- Northern HarrierCircus cyaneus
- Sharp-shinned HawkAccipiter striatu
- Cooper’s Hawk*Accipiter cooperii
- Red-shouldered Hawk*Buteo lineatus
- Short-tailed HawkButeo brachyurus
- Swainson’s HawkButeo swainsoni
- Red-tailed Hawk*?Buteo jamaicensis
Family Falconidae - Falcons and Caracaras
- Crested Caracara*(L) Caracara cheriway
- American Kestrel Falco sparverius
- Merlin Falco columbarius
- Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
ORDER GALLIFORMES
Family Phasianidae - Pheasants, Grouse and Turkey
Subfamily Meleagridinae – Turkeys
- Wild Turkey* Meleagris gallapavo
Family Odontophoridae – New World Quail
Subfamily Meleagridinae – Turkeys
- Northern Bobwhite*Colinus virginianus
ORDER GRUIFORMES
Family Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules and Coots
- Black Rail Laterallus jamaicensis
- King Rail*? Rallus elegans
- Virginia Rail Rallus limicola
- Sora Rail Porzana carolina
- Purple Gallinule*Porphyrula martinica
- Common Moorehen* Gallinula chloropus
- American Coot Fulica americana
Family Aramidae – Limpkins
- Limpkin (L) Aramus guarauna
Family Gruidae – Cranes
- Sandhill Cranes*(L)Grus canadensis pratensis
ORDER CHARADRIIFORMES
Family Charadriiformes – Plovers
- Killdeer* Charadrius vociferus
Family Recurvirostridae
- Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus
Family Scolopacidae - Sandpipers and Allies
- Greater Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
- Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes
- Solitary Sandpiper Tringa solitaria
- Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularia
- DunlinCalidris alpina
- Semipalmated Sandpiper(S)Calidris pusilla
- Least SandpiperCalidris minutilla
- Dowitcher sp.Limnodromus sp.
- Common SnipeGallinago gallinago
Family Laridae - Skuas, Jaegers, Gulls and Terns
- Laughing GullLarus atricilla
- Ring-billed GullLarus delawarensis
- Caspian TernSterna caspia
- Royal TernSterna maxima
- Forester's ternSterna forsteri
ORDER COLUMBIFORMES
Family Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves
- Rock Dove Columba livia
- Eurasion Collared-Dove*? Streptopelia decaocto
- White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica
- Morning Dove* Zenaida macroura
- Common Ground-Dove*? Columbina passerina
ORDER PSITTACIFORMES
Family Psittacidae - Lories, Cockatoos, Macaws and Parrots
- Rose-ringed Parakeet Psittacula krameri
ORDER CUCULIFORMES
Family Cuculidae - Cuckoos, Roadrunners and Anis
- Yellow-billed Cuckoo* Coccyzus americanus
ORDER STRIGIFORMES
Family Tytonidae - Barn Owls
- Common Barn Owl* Tyto alba
Family Strigidae - Typical Owls
- Eastern Screech Owl* Otus asio
- Great Horned Owl* Bubo virginianus
- Burrowing Owl*(L) Athene cunicularia
- Barred Owl*(S) Strix varia
- Short-eared OwlAsio flammeus
ORDER CAPRIMULGIFORMES
Family Caprimulgidae
Subfamily Caprimulginae
- Chuck-will’s-Widow*? Caprimulgus carolinensis
- Whip-poor Will Caprimulgus vociferus
Subfamily Chordeilnae
- Common Nighthawk* Chordeiles minor
ORDER APODIFORMES
Family Apodidae – Swifts
- Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
ORDER CORACIIFORMES
Family Alcedinidae - Kingfishers
- Belted KingfisherCeryle alcyon
ORDER PICIFORMES
Family Picidae - Woodpeckers and Wrynecks
- Red-headed Woodpecker Melanerpes erythrocephalus
- Red-bellied Woodpecker* Melanerpes carolinus
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Sphyrapicus varius
- Downy Woodpecker* Picoides pubescens
- Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
- Pileated Woodpecker* Dryocopus pileatus
RDER PASSERIFORMES
Family Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers
- Least Flycatcher Empidonax minimus
- Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
- Vermilion Flycatcher Pyrocephalus rubinus
- Great Crested Flycatcher* Myiarchus crinitus
- Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticals
- Eastern Kingbird* Tyrannus tyrannus
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher Tyrannus savana
- Gray Kingbird Tyrannus dominicensis
Family Laniidae – Shrikes
- Loggerhead Shrike* Lanius ludovicianus
Family Vireonidae – Vireos
- White-eyed Vireo* Vireo griseus
- Blue-headed Vireo Vireo solitarius
- Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus
Family Corvidae - Jays, Magpies and Crows
- Blue Jay*Cyanocitta cristata
- American Crow* Corvus brachyrhynchos
- Fish CrowCorvus ossifragus
Family Hirundinidae – Swallows
- Purple Martin Progne subis
- Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow*Stelgidopteryx serripennis
- Bank Swallow Riparia riparia
- Barn Swallow* Hirundo rustica
Family Paridae - Titmice and Chickadees
- Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
Family Troglodytidae – Wrens
- Carolina Wren*Tryothorus ludovicianus
- House WrenTroglodytes aedon
- Sedge WrenCistothorus platensi
- Marsh WrenCistothorus palustris
Family Regulidae
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula
Family Sylviidae
Subfamily Sylviinae
- Blue-gray Gnatcatcher*Polioptila caerulea
Family Turdidae - Thrushes
- Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus
- Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus
- American Robin Turdus migratorius
Family Mimidae - Mockingbirds and Thrashers
- Gray CatbirdDumetella carolinensis
- Northern Mockingbird*Mimus polyglottos
- Brown Thrasher*Toxostoma rufum
Family Sturnidae – Starlings
- European Starling* Sturnus vulgaris
Family Motacillidae - wagtails and Pipits
- American Pipit Anthus rubescens
Family Bombycillidae – Waxwings
- Cedar WaxwingBombycilla cedrorum
amily Parulidae - Emberizid Finches and allies
- Tennessee Warbler Vermivora peregrina
- Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata
- Northern Parula* Parula americana
- Black-throated Blue Warbler Dendroica caerulescens
- Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata
- Black-throated Green Warbler Dendroica virens
- Yellow-throated Warbler Denroica dominica
- Prairie Warbler Dendroica discolor
- Palm Warbler Dendroica palmarum
- Blackpoll Warbler Dendroica striata
- Black and White Warbler Mniotilta varia
- American Redstart Setophaga ruticilla
- Worm-eating Warbler Helmitheros vermivoru
- Ovenbird Seiurus aurocapillus
- Northern Waterthrush Seiurus noveboracensis
- Common Yellowthroat* Geothlypis trichas
- Hooded Warbler Wilsonia citrina
Family Emberzidae - American Sparrows and Towhees
- Eastern Towhee* Pipilo erythrophthalmus
- Bachman’s Sparrow*?(L) Aimophila aestivalis
- Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina
- Vesper Sparrow Pooecetes gramineus
- Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis
- Le Conte’s Sparrow Ammodramus leconteii
- Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia
- Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii
- Swamp Sparrow Melospiza georgiana
- Grasshopper Sparrow Ammodramus savannarum
Family Cardinalidae - Cardinal and Grosbeaks
- Northern Cardinal* Cardinalis cardinalis
- Painted Bunting Passerina ciris
Family Icteridae - American Blackbirds and Orioles
- Bobolink Dolichonyx oryzivorous
- Red-winged Blackbird* Agelaius phoeniceus
- Eastern Meadowlark* Sturnella magna
- Common Grackle*? Quiscalus quiscalus
- Boat-tailed Grackle*? Quiscalus major
- Brown-headed Cowbird Molthrus ater
Family Fringillidae - Old World Finches and allies
Subfamily Carduelinae
- American Goldfinch Carduelis tristis
ORDER Accipitriformes
Family Accipitridae
- Snail Kite Rostrhamus sociabilis
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Fishes of Buck Island Ranch.
A preliminary checklist, compiled by Fred E. Lohrer, 10 Febryary, 2005
This list includes fishes recorded from the Buck Island Ranch, Highlands County, Florida, currently the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center operated by Archbold Biological Station. The classification and nomenclature follow Nelson et al. 2004 ( Nelson, J.S., E.J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C.R. Gilbert, R.N. Lea, and J.D. Williams. 2004. Common and scientific names of fishes from the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Amer. Fish. Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29:1-386). This list includes 16 fish species, and one additional species identified to genus, and includes 3 non-native species. This list is based on: a) records for 11 species recorded by Baber et al. (Baber, M.J., D.L. Childers, K.J. Babbitt, and D.H. Anderson. 2002. Controls on fish distribution and abundance in temporary wetlands. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 59(9):1441-1450); b) records for 5 additional species identified by Eva Hohausova (pers. comm., 10 February 2005); and c) other records submitted by BIR scientisist (these are indicated for each species). Methods. Baber et al. sampled 6 isolated wetlands (not directly connected to ditches) chosen randomly from each of the 3 major habitat types at the Ranch (improved pasture, semi-native prairie, woodland habitat) each month during June - October 1999 using a dip net or throw trap. Hohausova sampled ditches with a dip net during 2003. No voucher specimens exist.--F.E.L.
H=species recorded by Hohausova + = introduced species.
Order Lepisosteiformes
Family Lepisosteidae - gars
- Florida GarLepisosteus platyrhincus
Order Cypriniformes
Family Cyprinidae - carps and minnows
- Shiner species Notropis sp. H
Order Siluriformes
Family Ictaluridae - North American catfishes
- Brown Bullhead Ameiurus nebulosus H
Family Clariidae - labyrinth catfishe
- Walking CatfishClarias batrachus H
Family Callichthyidae - armored catfishes
- Brown HoploHoplosternum littorale H
Order Percopsiformes
Family Aphredoderidae - pirate perches
- Pirate Perch Aphredoderus sayanus H
Order Cyprinodontiformes
Family Fundulidae - topminnows
- Golden Topminnow Fundulus chrysotus
- Banded Topminnow Fundulus cingulatus
- Bluefin Killifish Lucania goodei
Family Poeciliidae - livebearers
- Eastern Mosquitofish Gambusia holbrooki
- Least Killifish Heterandria formosa
Family Cyprinodontidae - pupfishes
- Flagfish Jordanella floridae
Order Perciformes
Family Centrarchidae - sunfishes
- Warmouth Lepomis gulosus
- Largemouth Bass Micropterus salmoides (P.J. Bohlen, pers comm.)
Family Percidae - perches
- Swamp Darter Etheostoma fusiforme H
Family Elassomatidae - pygmy sunfishes
- Everglades Pygmy Sunfish Elassoma evergladei
Family Cichlidae - cichlids
- Black Acara Cichlasoma bimaculatum +
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Mammals of Buck Island Ranch
A checklist by Michael A. McMillian, 1999, revised 8 January 2007. Photos at Buck Island Ranch by Tom Bancroft
This checklist includes mammals recorded from Buck Island Ranch, Highlands County, Florida; currently the MacArthur Agro-Ecology Research Center operated by Archbold Biological Station (ABS). A total of 31 species of mammals (24 native and 7 exotic) has been recorded from Buck Island Ranch as of 14 January 1997. Among the native species, the black bear, panther, and fox squirrel occur only rarely or sporadically on the Ranch. Nomenclature to the species level follows Jones et al. (1986) and subspecific terminology follows Hall (1981), exept for changes proposed by more recent studies. An asterisk denotes an exotic species.
Order Marsupialia [= Polyprotodontia] - marsupials
Family Didelphiidae - opossums
- Virginia opossum Didelphis virginiana pigra
Order Insectivora - moles and shrews
Family Soricidae - shrews
- Least Shrew Cryptotis parva floridana
- Shorttail Shrew Blarina carolinensis peninsulae
Family Talpidae - moles
- Eastern Mole Scalopus aquaticus australis
Order Chiroptera - bats
- bat species (needs work)
Order Xenarthra - armadillos, sloths, and anteaters
Family Dasypodidae - armadillos
- *Nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus mexicanus
Order Lagomorpha - rabbits, hares, and pikas
Family Leporidae - rabbits and hares
- Eastern Cottontail Sylvilagus floridanus floridanus
- Marsh Rabbit Sylvilagus palustris paludicola
Order Rodentia - rodents
Family Sciuridae - squirrels
- Eastern Gray Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis extimus
- Fox Squirrel Sciurus niger shermani
Family Cricetidae - [= Muridae] - native rats and mice
- Eastern Harvest Mouse Reithrodontomys humulis humulis
- Cotton Mouse Peromyscus gossypinus palmariu
- Marsh Rice Rat Oryzomys palustris natator
- Hispid Cotton Rat Sigmadon hispidus floridanus
- Florida Water Rat Neofiber alleni nigrescens
Family Muridae - introduced rats and mice
- *Black Rat Rattus rattus
- *House Mouse Mus musculus
Order Carnivora - carnivores
Family Canidae - wolves, foxes, dogs, coyote
- Coyote Canis latrans
- Red Fox Vulpes fulva
- Gray Fox Urocyon cinereoargenteus floridanus
- *Domestic Dog Canis familiaris
Family Ursidae - bears
- Black Bear Ursus americanus floridanus
Family Procyonidae - raccoons, coatis, and allies
- Raccoon Procyon lotor elucus
Family Mustelidae - weasels, skunks, otters, and allies
- River Otter Lutra canadensis lataxina
- River Otter Lutra canadensis lataxina
- Striped Skunk Mephitis mephitis elongata
Family Felidae - cats
- Florida Panther Felis concolor coryi -- Two sight records: 8 January 2007, animal ran in front of truck, seen by Rachel C. West; and 2006, swimming across Harney Pond Canal and walking on the dike, reported by Patrick J. Bohlen.
- Bobcat Lynx rufus floridanus
- *House Cat Felis catus
Order Artiodactyla - even-toed ungulates
Family Suidae - swine
- *Feral hog Sus scrofa
Family Cervidae - deer, elk, moose, and allies
- *Elk Cervus canadensis
- White-tail Deer Odocoileus virginianus seminolus (?)