Ornithological (Birds) Collection
The Ornithological Collection at Tall Timbers Research Station contains a diversity of study skins, skeletons, skulls, and other preserved specimens. The collection is dominated by species collected in the Southeastern Coastal Plain of the United States, but also includes specimens from 24 countries (Table 1) and 37 states (Table 2). Data for each specimen have been entered into a computerized database. Click here to view the catalogue file BIRDCAT.XLS.
Table 1. Specimens in the ornithological collection grouped by country.
| Unknown | 9 |
Greenland | 1 |
|
| Argentina | 1 |
Honduras | 3 |
|
| Bahamas | 6 |
Italy | 1 |
|
| Brazil | 2 |
Mexico | 41 |
|
| British Guiana | 1 |
Panama | 14 |
|
| Canada | 42 |
Portugal | 2 |
|
| Cape Verde Islands | 1 |
Puerto Rico | 4 |
|
| Columbia | 2 |
Rumania | 1 |
|
| Cuba | 6 |
Sudan | 2 |
|
| Dominican Republic | 1 |
Syria | 1 |
|
| Ecuador | 6 |
U.S. | 3791 |
|
| England | 4 |
West Indies | 2 |
Table 2. Specimens grouped by U.S. states and territories.
| Unknown | 11 |
Mississippi | 7 |
|
| Alabama | 28 |
Montana | 12 |
|
| Alaska | 20 |
Nebraska | 4 |
|
| Arizona | 85 |
Nevada | 1 |
|
| Arkansas | 1 |
New Hampshire | 1 |
|
| California | 20 |
New Jersey | 5 |
|
| Colorado | 2 |
New Mexico | 6 |
|
| Connecticut | 1 |
New York | 3 |
|
| Florida | 2861 |
North Carolina | 6 |
|
| Georgia | 630 |
North Dakota | 1 |
|
| Guam | 1 |
Oklahoma | 3 |
|
| Illinois | 2 |
Oregon | 8 |
|
| Indiana | 2 |
South Dakota | 2 |
|
| Iowa | 4 |
Tennessee | 1 |
|
| Louisiana | 8 |
Texas | 39 |
|
| Maine | 4 |
Utah | 4 |
|
| Maryland | 1 |
Virginia | 1 |
|
| Massachusetts | 1 |
Washington | 3 |
|
| Minnesota | 2 |
Wyoming | 1 |
The collection consists of 3,946 specimens representing 565 species and 3 hybirds. Some recent taxonomic changes (e.g., separation of the seaside sparrow complex) are not reflected in these numbers. At least 34 species are represented by >25 specimens (Table 3). This series might be useful in studies of geographic variation or age and seasonal differences.
Table 3. Total specimens for species with >25 specimens.
| Red-winged Blackbird | 116 |
Summer Tanager | 32 |
|
| Northern Bobwhite | 91 |
Indigo Bunting | 32 |
|
| Savannah Sparrow | 80 |
Ovenbird | 31 |
|
| Common Yellowthroat | 78 |
Vesper Sparrow | 31 |
|
| Veery | 54 |
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 30 |
|
| Yellow-throated Warbler | 50 |
Palm Warbler | 30 |
|
| Boat-tailed Grackle | 49 |
Great Crested Flycatcher | 30 |
|
| Swainson's Thrush | 49 |
Northern Cardinal | 29 |
|
| Song Sparrow | 48 |
Carolina Wren | 29 |
|
| Bachman's Sparrow | 45 |
Red-eyed Vireo | 29 |
|
| Hermit Thrush | 44 |
Acadian Flycatcher | 28 |
|
| Rufous-sided Towhee | 44 |
Marsh Wren | 28 |
|
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 43 |
Grasshopper Sparrow | 28 |
|
| Yellow Warbler | 36 |
Seaside Sparrow | 27 |
|
| American Robin | 36 |
Dark-eyed Junco | 26 |
|
| Orange-crowned Warbler | 35 |
American Redstart | 26 |
|
| Swamp Sparrow | 33 |
Wild Turkey | 25 |
The collection has specimens dating back to the late 1800s, but the peak period of specimen collection occurred from 1950-70 as the research program at Tall Timbers expanded and a study of tower kills was initiated at a nearby television station.
Birds killed at WCTV tower in one night
Number of specimens by month where January = 1 |
Most of these specimens were collected during spring and fall migration. The collection also includes approximately 23 species listed by state and federal wildlife agencies as rare or endangered.
Specimens collected in Florida (n=2,861) represent 345 species and come from 50 counties. The largest number of specimens comes from Leon County (n=1,801), but at least seven Florida counties are represented by >20 specimens (see map below).
Most Florida specimens come from the previously mentioned tower-kill study conducted in Leon County, but other Florida localities with numerous specimens include St. George Island, Dog Island, Bald Point, and Alligator Point. Specimens from Georgia (n = 630) represent 176 species and one hybrid and come mostly from Birdsong and Sherwood plantations in Grady County.
Tall Timbers Research Station Scientific Collections is supported in honor of Howard Melville and Jean Claire Hanna by their grandchildren. For more information about the scientific collections, contact Jim Cox.