Riperian Corridor Birds

In many areas of Ohio where the former woodlands have been reduced to small isolated woodlots (usually no more than 10 to 50 acres), the forested stream corridors extend for miles in an unbroken band and provide a large percentage of the woodland habitats required by so many species. This is particularly true for many of Ohio's breeding bird species.

The presence or absence of key indicator species is one way to assess the quality of the riparian forests found along Ohio's scenic rivers.

Riperian Corridor Birds of Ohio

Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens)

Eastern Wood-peweeNeotropical migrant and summer resident.

The most common of the nesting flycatchers in Ohio, this species is common statewide in suitable habitats.

While the largest populations are associated with the more extensive woodlands, pewees will occupy a variety of wooded habitats including parks, cemeteries, wooded edges, and small isolated woodlots.

While pewees are common along wooded riparian corridors throughout Ohio, their numbers are directly correlated to the width of the forested riparian zone along a particular river.

In counts conducted on Big Darby Creek this species outnumbered all the other flycatchers combined (122 vs 107).