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

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Gray CatbirdNeotropical migrant and summer resident

A common and widespread species in Ohio nesting in a variety of shrubby successional habitats including disturbed woodlands with dense shrub layers, shrub dominated corridors along fencelines and bordering streams, and even in ornamental shrubbery around urban and rural residences.

Along riparian corridors this species is associated with shrubby edge habitats and is most numerous in disturbed areas affected by clearcutting or intensive logging.