Jamaica Bay and Breezy Point List of Species of Special Emphasis

Species of Special Emphasis Occurring in the Jamaica Bay and Breezy Point (Complex #16)

Scientific Name	Common Name(s)	Global	Federal	NY Rank	NY Stat.	NJ Rank	NJ Stat.	BW # Rank	UC Rank	Jam. Bay
ANIMALS										+
INVERTEBRATES										+
MOLLUSCA										+
Mercenaria mercenaria	northern quahog							BW5	S	+
Mulinia lateralis	dwarf surfclam							BW5?		+
Mya arenaria	softshell clam							BW4	D	+
Mytilus edulis	blue mussel							BW5	S	+
Spisula solidissima	Atlantic surfclam							BW5		+
ARTHROPODA										+
INSECTA										+
Butterflies and Skippers:										+
Asterocampa clyton	tawny emperor	G5		S3	U	S4		BW3BW4	D	+
Celastrina neglectamajor	Appalachian azure	G4		S3	U	SU		BW3BW4	D	+
Panoquina panoquin	salt marsh skipper	G5		SU	U	S5		BW3?	D	+
Parrhasius m-album	white m hairstreak	G5		SU	U	C?		BW2?	D	+
Pieris protodice	checkered white	G5		SU	U	SH		BW2?	R	+
CRUSTACEA										+
Callinectes sapidus	blue crab							BW5	S	+
Homarus americanus	American lobster							BW4	D	+
MEROSTOMATA										+
Limulus polyphemus	horseshoe crab							BW5	S	+
VERTEBRATES										+
FISH										+
Mustelus canis	smooth dogfish (A)	G?		SA	U			BW5	S	+
Raja eglanteria	clearnose skate (A)							BW5	U	+
Raja erinacea	little skate (A)							BW5	S	+
Squalus acanthias	spiny dogfish (A)							BW5	D	+
Acipenser oxyrinchus	Atlantic sturgeon (A-F/AN)	G3		S1	P	S3		BW1	D	+
Ammodytes americanus	American sandlance (A)	G?		SN	U			BW4	S	+
Anguilla rostrata	American eel (A-F/CA)	G5		S5	U	S5		BW4	S	+
Menidia beryllina	inland silverside (A-F)	G5		S2S3	U	S4S5		BW4	S	+
Menidia menidia	Atlantic silverside (A)	G5		S2S3	U			BW4	S	+
Opsanus tau	oyster toadfish (A)							BW4	S	+
Strongylura marina	Atlantic needlefish (A-F)	G5		S2S3	U			BW4	S	+
Paralichthys dentatus	summer flounder (A)	G?		SN	P			BW4	S	+
Scophthalmus aquosus	windowpane (A)	G?		SN	U			BW5	S	+
Alosa aestivalis	blueback herring (A-F/AN)	G5		S3	U	S5		BW4	S	+
Alosa pseudoharengus	alewife (A-F/AN)	G5		S5	U	S5		BW4	S	+
Alosa sapidissima	American shad (A-F/AN)	G5		S4	U	S3S4	W	BW4	S	+
Brevoortia tyrannus	Atlantic menhaden (A)	G?		SN	U			BW5	S	+
Clupea harengus	Atlantic herring (A)	G?		SN	U			BW4	S	+
Myoxcephalus aenaeus	grubby sculpin (A)	G?		S3	U			BW4	S	+
Fundulus diaphanus	banded killifish (F)	G5		S5	U	S5		BW3	S	+
Fundulus heteroclitus	mummichog (A-F)	G5		S3	U	S5		BW4	S	+
Fundulus luciae	spotfin killifish (A-F)	G3G4		S1	U	S3		BW3	S	+
Anchoa mitchilli	bay anchovy (A-F)	G5		S3	U			BW3	S	+
Gadus morhua	Atlantic cod (A)	G?		SN	P			BW4	D	+
Merluccius bilinearis	silver hake (A)	G?		SN	U			BW5	S	+
Microgadus tomcod	Atlantic tomcod (A)	G5		S3	U	S3		BW3	S	+
Urophycis chuss	red hake (A)	G?		SN	U			BW4	D	+
Urophycis tenuis	white hake (A)							BW4	D	+
Apeltes quadracus	fourspine stickleback (A-F)	G5		S4	U	S4			S	+
Gobiosoma bosci	naked goby (A-F)	G5		S2S3	U			BW3?	D	+
Gobiosoma ginsburgi	seaboard goby (A)	G?		S2S3	U			BW3?	D	+
Tautoga onitis	tautog (A)	G?		SN	P			BW4	D	+
Tautogolabrus adspersus	cunner (A)	G?		SN	U			BW3	S	+
Mugil cephalus	striped mullet (A-F)	G5		SN	U			BW4	D	+
Morone americana	white perch (A-F)	G5		S4	U	S5		BW4	S	+
Morone saxatilis	striped bass (A-F/AN)	G5		S4	P	S4	W	BW4	S	+
Pleuronectes americanus	winter flounder (A)	G5?		S3?	P			BW4	D	+
Pomatomus saltatrix	bluefish (A)	G?		SN	P			BW5	S	+
Cynoscion regalis	weakfish (A)	G?		SN	P			BW4	D	+
Leiostomas xanthurus	spot (A)	G5		SN	U			BW4	D	+
Menticirrhus saxatilis	northern kingfish (A)	G?		SA	U			BW4?	D	+
Centropristis striata	black sea bass (A)	G?		SN	P			BW5	S	+
Trinectes maculatus	hogchoker (A-F)	G5		S3	U			BW3	S	+
Stenotomus chrysops	scup (A)	G?		SN	U			BW4	S	+
Peprilus triacanthus	butterfish (A)	G?		SN	U			BW5	S	+
Syngnathus fuscus	northern pipefish (A)	G?		S3	U			BW4	S	+
Prionotus carolinus	northern searobin (A)	G?		SN	U			BW3	S	+
Prionotus evolans	striped searobin (A)	G?		SN	U			BW3	S	+
AMPHIBIANS										+
Scaphiopus h. holbrookii	eastern spadefoot	G5		S3	U (SC)	S4	D	BW3	R	I
Ambystoma maculatum	spotted salamander	G5		S5	U/SC	S3	D	BW4	R	I
REPTILES										+
Caretta caretta	loggerhead sea turtle	G3	T	SZN	T	SN	E	BW2	R	M
Lepidochelys kempii	Atlantic (=Kemp's) ridley sea turtle	G1	E	S1N	E	SN	E	BW1	R	M
Malaclemys t. terrapin	northern diamondback terrapin	G5T5	C2	S4	U/SC	SU		BW3	S	+
Terrapene c. carolina	eastern box turtle	G5		S4	G (SC)	S5	S	BW4	RD	I
BIRDS										+
Gavia immer	common loon	G5		S3	P/SC	SN	S	BW2	R/S	M
Podiceps auritus	horned grebe	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW2?	D	MW
Podilymbus podiceps	pied-billed grebe	G5		S3	P (T)	S1	E/S	BW2	R/D	BM
Phalacrocorax auritus	double-crested cormorant	G5		S3	P	SN	INC	BW3	S/S	SMW
Phalacrocorax carbo	great cormorant	G5		SN	P	S1	S	BW3?	S	M/W
Ardea herodias	great blue heron	G5		S5	P	S2	T/S	BW2BW3	R/S	M
Botaurus lentiginosus	American bittern	G4		S4	P (SC)	S3	T/S	BW1	R/D	M
Bubulcus ibis	cattle egret	G5		S2	P	S3	INC/INC	BW3	S/S	BM
Casmerodius albus	great egret	G5		S2	P	S3	S/S	BW3	S/S	BM
Egretta caerulea	little blue heron	G5		S2	P	S3	T/S	BW2	R/D	SM
Egretta thula	snowy egret	G5		S2S3	P	S3	S/S	BW3	D/D	BM
Egretta tricolor	tricolored heron	G5		S2	P	S3	INC/S	BW3	R/D	BM
Ixobrychus exilis	least bittern	G5		S3	P/SC (T)	S3	D/S	BW2	D/D	B
Nycticorax violaceus	yellow-crowned night-heron	G5		S2	P	S2	T/T	BW2	RD/RD	BM
Nycticorax nycticorax	black-crowned night-heron	G5		S3	P	S3	D/S	BW3	S/S	BM
Plegadis falcinellus	glossy ibis	G5		S2	P	S3	D/S	BW3	S/S	BM
Branta canadensis	Canada goose	G5		S5	G	S5		BW5	S/S	BMW
Branta bernicla	brant	G5		SN	G	SN		BW4	S	MW
Chen caerulescens	snow goose	G5		SN	G	SN		BW3	D	MW
Anas acuta	northern pintail	G5		S2	G	SN		BW2	R	MW
Anas americana	American wigeon	G5		S3	G	SN		BW3	S	MW
Anas clypeata	northern shoveler	G5		S2	G	SN		BW2	R/DS	BM
Anas crecca	green-winged teal	G5		S3	G	SN		BW2BW3	R/S	MW
Anas discors	blue-winged teal	G5		S5	G	S5		BW4	R/D	M
Anas platyrhynchos	mallard	G5		S5	G	S5		BW5	S/S	BMW
Anas rubripes	American black duck	G4		S4	G	S4		BW4	D/S	BMW
Anas strepera	gadwall	G5		S3	G	S5		BW3	R/D	BMW
Aythya valisineria	canvasback	G5		SN	G	SN		BW3	S	MW
Aythya americana	redhead	G5		SE	G	SN		BW1?	U/D	BI
Aythya marila	greater scaup	G5		SN	G	SN		BW4	S	SMW
Aythya affinis	lesser scaup	G5		SA	G	SN		BW4	S	MW
Bucephala clangula	common goldeneye	G5		S2	G	SN		BW3	DS	MW
Bucephala albeola	bufflehead	G5		SN	G	SN		BW4	S	MW
Lophodytes cucullatus	hooded merganser	G5		S4	G	SN		BW2	RD	M
Mergus serrator	red-breasted merganser	G5		S1S2	G	SN		BW4	S	MW
Oxyura jamaicensis	ruddy duck	G5		S1	G	SN		BW2	R?/S	BW
Accipiter cooperii	Cooper's hawk	G4		S4	P/SC	S2	E	BW2	R	MW
Accipter striatus	sharp-shinned hawk	G5		S4	P (SC)	S1	U/U	BW2	R	MW
Buteo lineatus	red-shouldered hawk	G5		S4	T (SC)	S2	E/T	BW1	R?/S	M
Buteo lagopus	rough-legged hawk	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW2?	R	M/W
Circus cyaneus	northern harrier	G5		S3	T (SC)	S2	E/U	BW1	R/D	BMW
Falco columbarius	merlin	G4		SN	P	SN	S	BW2	D	M
Falco peregrinus	peregrine falcon	G3	E (SA)	S2	E	S1	E	BW2	RD/D	BM
Pandion haliaetus	osprey	G5		S4	T (SC)	S3	T/T	BW2	R/S	BM
Fulica americana	American coot	G5		S3	G	S1	D	BW2	R/D	BM
Gallinula chloropus	common moorhen	G5		S4	P	S4		BW3	R?/R	BM
Porzana carolina	sora	G5		S4	G	S4		BW3	R/R	M
Rallus limicola	Virginia rail	G5		S4	G	S4		BW3	R/R	M
Rallus longirostris	clapper rail	G5		S3	P	S5		BW4	S/D	BM
Charadrius melodus	piping plover	G3	T	S2B	E	S1	E	BW2	R/R	B
Charadrius semipalmatus	semipalmated plover	G5		SN	P	S?	S	BW3BW4	S	M
Pluvialis dominica	lesser golden-plover	G5		SN	P	SN	S/S	BW2?	D	M
Pluvialis squatarola	black-bellied plover	G5		SN	P	SN	S/S	BW3BW4	S	M/W
Haematopus palliatus	American oystercatcher	G5		S3	P	S4	INC/S	BW3	D?/R	BM
Arenaria interpres	ruddy turnstone	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW3?	S	M
Bartramia longicauda	upland sandpiper	G5		S4	P/SC (T)	S1	E	BW2	R	B?
Calidris alba	sanderling	G5		SN	P	SN	D	BW3?	S	M
Calidris alpina	dunlin	G5		SN	P	SN	INC	BW3?	S	M
Calidris canutus	red knot	G5		SN	P	SN	D	BW3?	S	M
Calidris fuscicollis	white-rumped sandpiper	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW2?	D	M
Calidris minutilla	least sandpiper	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW3?	S	M
Calidris pusilla	semipalmated sandpiper	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW3?	S	M
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus	willet	G5		S3	P	S4	INC/S	BW3	S/S	BM
Larus philadelphia	Bonaparte's gull	G5		SN	P	SN	S	BW3?	S	M
Rynchops niger	black skimmer	G5		S2	P (SC)	S2	E	BW3	R/D	BM
Sterna antillarum	least tern	G4		S3B	E (T)	S2	E	BW1	R/D	SM
Sterna dougallii	roseate tern	G5	E	S1B	E	S1	E	BW1	R/R	BM
Sterna forsteri	Forster's tern	G5		S1	P	S3	INC/S	BW3	R/S	M
Sterna hirundo	common tern	G5		S3B	T	S3	D/S	BW3	R/S	B
Sterna nilotica	gull-billed tern	G5		S1	P	S3	S	BW2	R/R	B
Coccyzus americanus	yellow-billed cuckoo	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4	D/S	B
Coccyzus erthropthalmus	black-billed cuckoo	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	D/D	B
Asio flammeus	short-eared owl	G5		S2	P/SC (E)	S1	E/U	BW2	H/D	BMW
Asio otus	long-eared owl	G5		S3	P	S3	T/T	BW2	R?/D	M
Tyto alba	common barn-owl	G5		S3	P/SC (P)	S4	S/S	BW3	D/D	B
Archilochus colubris	ruby-throated hummingbird	G5		S5	P	S4	D/S	BW4	D/S	M
Chaetura pelagica	chimney swift	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4BW5	S/S	B/M
Contopus virens	eastern wood-pewee	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4	S/S	M
Empidonax minimus	least flycatcher	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3BW4	R/D?	M
Empidonax traillii	willow flycatcher	G5		S5	P	S4	INC/S	BW4	S/S	B
Myiarchus crinitus	great crested flycatcher	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4BW5	S/S	M
Tyrannus tyrannus	eastern kingbird	G5		S5	P	S5	D/D	BW4BW5	S/S	BM
Eremophila alpestris	horned lark	G5		S5	P (SC)	S3	D/S	BW3BW4	R/D	BMW
Cistothorus palustris	marsh wren	G5		S5	P	S4	D/S	BW4	S/S	BM
Catharus fuscescens	veery	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4	D/S	M
Catharus guttatus	hermit thrush	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	R?/S	M/W
Catharus ustulatus	Swainson's thrush	G5		S5	P	SN	S	BW1	S	M
Hylocichla mustelina	wood thrush	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4	S/S	M
Polioptila caerulea	blue-gray gnatcatcher	G5		S5	P	S4	INC/S	BW4	D/S	M
Dumetella carolinensis	gray catbird	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW5	S/S	BM
Vireo griseus	white-eyed vireo	G5		S4	P	S4	D/S	BW4	D?/S	B
Dendroica caerulescens	black-throated blue warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	R/S	M
Dendroica coronata	yellow-rumped warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW2BW3	S	M/W
Dendroica discolor	prairie warbler	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4BW5	RD/S	M
Dendroica fusca	blackburnian warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	S	M
Dendroica magnolia	magnolia warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	S	M
Dendroica palmarum	palm warbler	G5		S1	P	SN	S	BW1	S	M
Dendroica pensylvanica	chestnut-sided warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4	RD/S	M
Dendroica striata	blackpoll warbler	G5		S3	P	SN	S	BW1	S	M
Dendroica virens	black-throated green warbler	G5		S5	P	SN	S	BW3	R?/S	M
Mniotilta varia	black-and-white warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4	D/S	M
Parula americana	northern parula	G5		S3S4	P	S3	P/S	BW1	R/S	M
Seiurus aurocapillus	ovenbird	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4	S/S	M
Seiurus noveboracensis	northern waterthrush	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	R?/S	M
Setophaga ruticilla	American redstart	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4BW5	DS/S	B?M
Wilsonia canadensis	Canada warbler	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	S	M
Piranga olivacea	scarlet tanager	G5		S5	P	S4	S	BW4	S/S	M
Pheucticus ludovicianus	rose-breasted grosbeak	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW4	S/S	M
Ammodramus caudacutus	sharp-tailed sparrow	G5		S3	P	S4	S/S	BW3	D/D?	BM
Ammodramus maritimus	seaside sparrow	G4		S2S3	P (SC)	S4	S/S	BW3	S/S	BM
Ammodramus savannarum	grasshopper sparrow	G4		S4	P/SC	S2	T/T	BW2	R/R	BM
Junco hyemalis	dark-eyed junco	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3BW4	S	M/W
Melospiza georgiana	swamp sparrow	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3BW4	S/S	M/W
Passerculus sandwichensis	savannah sparrow	G5		S5	P	S2	T/T	BW3	D/S	BM
Pipilo erythrophthalmus	rufous-sided towhee	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4	S/S	B/M
Zonotrichia albicollis	white-throated sparrow	G5		S5	P	SN	S/S	BW2	S	M/W
Dolichonyx oryzivorus	bobolink	G5		S5	P	S2	T/T	BW3	R/S	M
Icterus spurius	northern oriole	G5		S5	P	S5	S/S	BW4BW5	S/S	M
Sturnella magna	eastern meadowlark	G5		S5	P	S4	D/S	BW3BW4	H?/S	M
Carpodacus purpureus	purple finch	G5		S5	P	S4	S/S	BW3	R/S	M
MAMMALS										+
Physeter catodon	sperm whale	G2	E	SN	E	SA	E	BW1?	R	?
Tursiops truncatus	bottle-nosed dolphin	G5		S3	U	SN	S	BW4	R	?
Phoca vitulina	harbor seal	G5		S3	P	SN	S	BW4	D	W
VASCULAR PLANTS										+
Thuja occidentalis	northern white cedar	G5		C		S1	E	BW4	R?	I?
Pinus virginiana	Virginia pine	G5		S1	E	S5		BW3	R	?
Cyperus houghtonii	Houghton's umbrella-sedge	G4?		S3	R	SRF		BW2	R	+
Cyperus retorsus	retrorse flatsedge	G5		S1	U	C		BW3?	R?	+
Cyperus schweinitzii	Schweinitz's flatsedge	G5		S2	R	SE		BW1	R	+
Eleocharis obtusa var. ovata	blunt spikerush	G5T4Q		S1S2	R	C		BW2	R	+
Scirpus torreyi	Torrey's bulrush	G5?		C		S1	E	BW1	R	+
Amaranthus pumilus	seabeach amaranth	G2	T	S1	U	SH	E	BW1	R	+
Asclepias purpurascens	purple milkweed	G4G5		S3	T	S4		BW3BW4	R	?
Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata	beach wormwood	G5T4		S4	U	S2		BW3	R	+
Bidens laevis	smooth bur-marigold	G5		S2	R	C		BW3BW4	H	?
Solidago elliottii	coastal goldenrod	G5		S2	U	S3		BW2BW3	U	?
Arabis hirsuta	hairy rock-cress	G5		C		S2		BW3	D?	?
Honckenya peploides	seabeach sandwort	G5		C		S2		BW3BW4	R	?
Chenopodium rubrum	red goosefoot	G5		S1	U	S1	E	BW1	R	+
Suaeda rolandii	Roland sea-blite	G1G2Q	C2	S1	U	SU	E	BW1	R	+
Cuscuta pentagona	field-dodder	G5		S2S3	R	S4		BW3	D?	+
Cuscuta polygonorum	smartweed dodder	G5		S1	R	S2		BW2	R	+
Quercus phellos	willow oak	G5		S1	E	S5		BW5	R	+(I?)
Lythrum lineare	saltmarsh loosestrife	G5		S1	E	S4		BW3	U	?
Plantago maritima ssp. juncoides	seaside plantain	G5T5		S2	U	S2		BW2	U	?
Polygonum glaucum	seabeach knotweed	G3		S3	U	S1	E	BW3	R	+
Rumex hastatulus	heart-winged sorrell	G5		S1	T	SX.1		BW1	U	?
Potentilla anserina ssp. pacifica (= P. a. ssp. egedii)	silverweed	G5		S2	R	NA		BW2	U	?
COMMUNITIES and ECOSYSTEMS										+
Marine Intertidal Mudflats		G5		S4	U			BW2?	D	+
Marine Intertidal Gravel/Sand Beach		G5		S5	U	SU		BW5	S	+
Low Salt Marsh		G5		S3S4		S5		BW5	D	+
High Salt Marsh		G5		S4S4		S5		BW5	D	+
Salt Panne		G5		S3		S5		BW4	D	+
ANIMAL CONCENTRATION AREAS										+
Coastal Heron Rookery		GU				S3		BW3		+
Migratory Shorebird Concentration Site		G?				S?		BW2		+
Waterfowl Concentration Area				S3S4				BW4		+


See Appendix I for definition of federal, global, state, and bight watershed (BW) ranks and status
See Urban Core chapter for detailed explanation of urban core (UC) ranks, summarized here:
R = rare, D = uncommon or declining, S = apparently secure, H = historical, U = unknown
Jam. Bay column contains codes indicating the status of a species population within the Jamaica Bay habitat complex :
+ = known to occur in the area; seasonal use not specified; B = breeds in the area; S = regular non-breeding use in the summer
M = migrates through the area and has identifiable migratory stopover or staging areas within the area; W = overwinters in the area
P = primarily pelagic; ? = unconfirmed or questionable occurrence or seasonal use; H = occurred historically in the area; I = introduced

Definitions of ranks used in list

Return to Jamaica Bay and Breezy Point habitat complex narrative