Ruby LakeWildlife |
Wildlife of Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) in Nevada. Published by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).
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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Ruby Lake
National
Wildlife Refuge
Wildlife Checklist
Thousands of acres of
seasonal playa wetlands
and semi-permanent
bulrush marsh transition
into wet and dry
meadows then shrubsteppe as the elevation
gradually increases.
This diversity of habitats
provides a haven for the
wildlife living here.
© Clair Kofoed
Once covered by
a 200-foot deep ancient
lake, the “Ruby Marshes”
now provide habitat for
hundreds of species of
birds and mammals.
USFWS
A Refuge
for Migrating
Birds and Other
Wildlife
Ruby Lake National Wildlife
Refuge was established in 1938 as
“a refuge and breeding ground for
migratory birds and other wildlife.”
It encompasses nearly 40,000 acres
at the south end of Ruby Valley. The
refuge is 16 miles long and over 3
miles at its widest point. This land
was once covered by a 200-foot deep,
300,000 acre lake; today about 17,000
acres of marsh and other wetlands
remain on the refuge.
The Habitat
The refuge, at an elevation of 6,000
feet, centers on an extensive bulrush
marsh interspersed with pockets
of open water. Islands scattered
throughout the marsh provide
good nesting habitat for waterfowl
and marsh birds. Playa and other
ephemeral wetlands provide
important habitat for migrating and
nesting shorebirds. Over 200 springs
flow into the marsh, the largest of
which is Cave Creek Spring. Some
of the spring flows are directed
into a collection ditch along the
marsh’s northwest border. Riparian
habitat found along Cave Creek, the
collection ditch, and springs is used
by many song birds as well as large
and small mammals.
With slight increases in elevation, wet
meadows graduate into dry meadows
and shrub-steppe habitat. Sandhill
cranes, long-billed curlews, and other
wildlife depend on the availability
of healthy wet meadows. Sagebrush
associated species like pronghorn and
greater sage-grouse use both shrubsteppe and meadows on the refuge
to forage and raise their young. At
the highest elevations of the refuge,
rocky cliffs both provide nesting and
perching habitat for raptors and other
birds, bats, and small mammals.
General Key
Habitat Codes
The following symbols are used
to indicate in which habitats each
wildlife species would most likely be
found. It is important to remember
that use of an area may depend on
the season and an animal’s activity,
especially for birds that are highly
mobile.
1 - marsh, open water areas
2 - riparian areas
3 - meadows, grasslands
4 - shrub-steppe
5 - wooded areas
6 - rocky areas, cliffs, caves
7 - buildings, residential areas
8 - widespread
Seasons
Sp - Spring (March - May)
S - Summer (June - August)
F - Fall (September - November)
W - Winter (December - February)
Abundance (depending on season)
a - abundant; a common species
which is very numerous
c - common; certain to be seen in
suitable habitat
u - uncommon; present, but not
certain to be seen
o - occasional; seen only a few times
during a season
r - rare; known to be present but not
every year
* - birds known to nest locally
Aspen leaves
© Joan Kenyon
Pronghorn
© C. Holden
Birds at
Ruby Lake
Common
Yellowthroat
© Torvik
Bird life can be seen throughout
all of the habitat types, from the
valley floor to the rocky cliffs. The
following bird list includes 222
species which may be observed on
the refuge. In addition, 31 species
are listed as accidentals because they
have only been observed a few times
in the area.
The refuge is a significant migratory
bird area in Nevada and is located
at the cross-roads of the Pacific and
Central Flyways. In spring and
fall, refuge wetlands provide an
important feeding and resting stop
for waterfowl and shorebirds. During
summer, the marsh provides excellent
habitat for nesting ducks and
marsh birds including canvasbacks,
redheads, white-faced ibis, great blue
heron, black-crowned night-heron,
American bittern, eared grebes, and
many others. Greater sandhill cranes,
black-necked stilts, and American
avocets nest along the marsh’s edge.
Ducks and songbird species nest
throughout the meadows and riparian
areas. In winter, the refuge provides
critical habitat for trumpeter swans
and a few other hardy waterfowl due
to the presence of many springs and
associated ice-free areas.
Common names follow the 7th
Edition of the AOU Checklist of
North American Birds (1998)
including revisions contained in all
supplements up to and including
the 57th (2016).
Sandhill Crane
© R. Bacon
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
F
W
Loons
Common Loon
1
r
r
Grebes
*Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
*Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark’s Grebe
1
1
1
1
1
c c
o
c c
r r
r r
c
o
c
u
Pelicans
American White Pelican
1
o
u
u
Cormorants
*Double-crested Cormorant
1
u
u
u
r
Bitterns, Herons and Egrets
*American Bittern
*Great Blue Heron
*Great Egret
*Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
*Black-crowned Night-Heron
1
1, 2
1, 3
1, 3
3
1, 2
1, 2
c
c
u
u
u
r
c
c
c
u
u
u
r
c
c
c
u
u
r
c
c
o
Ibises and Spoonbills
*White-faced Ibis
1, 3
c
a
c
r
New World Vultures
*Turkey Vulture
8
c
c
u
Swans, Geese and Ducks
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross’s Goose
*Canada Goose
*Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
*Gadwall
*American Wigeon
*Mallard
*Blue-winged Teal
1
r
r
1 o
1
r r r
1, 3
a a a a
1
u u u c
1
o
u u
1, 2
o o o
1
a a a c
1
c u c c
1
a a a c
1
o o o r
Swans, Geese, and Ducks continued next page
u
u
r
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
F
W
1
a a c
1
c c c
1
c u a
1
c u c
1
a a a
1
a a a
1
c o o
1
c c c
1
u c
1
u u
1 r
1
o o
1
u u
1
r r
1
c c c
u
u
c
c
u
u
c
u
c
c
r
o
u
r
u
Swans, Geese, and Ducks continued
*Cinnamon
Teal
*Northern Shoveler
*Northern Pintail
*Green-winged Teal
*Canvasback
*Redhead
*Ring-necked Duck
*Lesser Scaup
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow’s Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
*Ruddy Duck
Osprey, Kites,
Hawks and Eagles
Osprey
Bald Eagle
*Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Swainson’s Hawk
*Red-tailed Hawk
Ferruginous Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
*Golden Eagle
1
r r
8 o
8
c c c
8
o o o
8
o o o
5
r r r
8
r r
8
o o o
8
c c c
8
o o o
3, 4
u u
8
u u u
o
c
r
o
r
o
o
c
o
Falcons and Caracaras
*American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
*Prairie Falcon
3
c c c
3, 4 o
8
r r
6, 3
u u o
u
o
r
r
Gallinaceous Birds
*Chukar
*Greater Sage Grouse
*Dusky Grouse
*Gray Partridge
3, 6
o o o
4, 3
u u u
5
u u u
3, 4
o
u
u
o
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
F
W
Rails
*Virginia Rail
*Sora
*Common Gallinule
*American Coot
1
1
1
1
u
u
r
a
u
u
r
a
u
r
r
a
c
Cranes
*Sandhill Crane
3
c
c
c
Plovers
Black-bellied Plover
*Killdeer
1
3
r
c
c
c
Stilts and Avocets
*Black-necked Stilt
*American Avocet
1
1
u
u
c
c
u
u
Sandpipers and Phalaropes
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Solitary Sandpiper
*Willet
*Spotted Sandpiper
*Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
*Wilson’s Snipe
*Wilson’s Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
1
1
1
3
1
3
1, 3
1
1
1
1, 2
1
1
o o
o o
r
u u
u u
c c
r
r
o
o
u c
o o
o
o
o
r
o
u
Skuas, Jaegers, Gulls, and Terns
Franklin’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
*California Gull
*Caspian Tern
*Forster’s Tern
*Black Tern
1
1
1
1
1
1
r
o
u
u
c
c
r
o
u
u
c
c
r
u
u
u
u
u
Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Collared Dove
*Mourning Dove
7
8
8
o
c
c
o
c
c
o
c
c
r
o
o
u
o
o
r
u
o
r
r
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
F
W
r
r
Barn Owls
Barn Owl
8
Typical Owls
Western Screech-Owl
*Great Horned Owl
*Burrowing Owl
*Long-eared Owl
*Short-eared Owl
*Northern Saw-whet Owl
5 r
2, 6
c c c c
3, 4
o o o
5, 2
o o o o
3, 4
u u u o
5
o o o r
Nightjars
*Common Nighthawk
*Common Poorwill
8
5, 4
c
u
c
u
u
u
Swifts
*White-throated Swift
6
u
u
u
Hummingbirds
*Black-chinned Hummingbird
*Calliope Hummingbird
*Broad-tailed Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
2
5
2, 5
1, 2, 7
u
u
c
o
u
u
c
u
u
u
u
u
Kingfishers
*Belted Kingfisher
2
u
u
u
o
Woodpeckers
*Lewis’s Woodpecker
*Red-naped Sapsucker
*Williamson’s Sapsucker
*Downy Woodpecker
*Hairy Woodpecker
*Northern Flicker
2
2, 5
5
2, 5
2, 5
2, 5
u
o
o
u
u
c
u
o
o
u
u
c
u
u
o
u
u
c
r
Tyrant Flycatchers
Olive-sided Flycatcher
*Western Wood-Pewee
*Willow Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
*Gray Flycatcher
*Dusky Flycatcher
*Cordilleran Flycatcher
*Say’s Phoebe
5
5, 2
u
2
o
5
o
5
u
4, 5
u
2, 5
u
3, 7
c
o
u
o
o
u
u
u
c
Common Name
r
u
u
c
u
u
u
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Kingbird
r
c
r
c
F
W
*Western
5, 2
2, 7
Shrikes
*Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Shrike
4, 3
u u u o
4, 3 u
Vireos
Cassin’s Vireo
*Plumbeous Vireo
*Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
2, 5
2, 5
2
2
o
u u
u u
r
o
u
u
r
Crows, Jays and Magpies
*Western Scrub-Jay
*Pinyon Jay
*Clark’s Nutcracker
*Black-billed Magpie
*American Crow
*Common Raven
5
5
5
8
8
8
c
u
o
c
o
c
c
u
o
c
u
c
c
u
o
c
u
c
c
c
o
c
o
c
Larks
*Horned Lark
3, 4
c
c
c
c
Swallows
*Tree Swallow
*Violet-green Swallow
*N. Rough-winged Swallow
Bank Swallow
*Cliff Swallow
*Barn Swallow
2, 3
2, 6
6
3
7, 6
7
c
c
c
u
a
c
c
c
c
u
a
c
a
a
c
u
a
c
Titmice and Chickadees
*Mountain Chickadee
*Juniper Titmouse
5
5
u
u
u
u
u
u
c
c
Bushtits
*Bushtit
5
u
u
u
u
Nuthatches
*Red-breasted Nuthatch
*White-breasted Nuthatch
5
5
u
o
u
o
u
o
u
o
Creepers
*Brown Creeper
5
u
u
u
r
Habitat Sp S
r
c
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
F
W
r
r
o
r
u
Wrens
*Rock Wren
*Canyon Wren
*House Wren
Winter Wren
*Marsh Wren
6
6
2
2
1
u u
o o
c c
r
a a
u
o
c
r
a
Gnatcatchers
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
6
c
u
Dippers
American Dipper
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
*Yellow-rumped Warbler
2
c
u u
u
Kinglets
Golden-crowned Kinglet
*Ruby-crowned Kinglet
6 u
6, 2
u
u u
Thrushes
*Mountain Bluebird
*Townsend’s Solitaire
*Swainson’s Thrush
*Hermit Thrush
*American Robin
5
5
2
2, 5
2, 7
c
u
u
o
c
c
u
u
o
c
c
u
u
o
a
r
u
r
o
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Gray Catbird
*Northern Mockingbird
*Sage Thrasher
2
2, 7
4
r
o
c
r
o
c
r
o
c
r
Starlings
*European Starling
7
c
c
c
o
Wagtails and Pipits
American Pipit
3
o o
o
r
Yellowthroat
Wilson’s Warbler
*Yellow-breasted Chat
c c
u u
r
u u
c c
u
u u
c
u
o
u
u
u
u
Tanagers
*Western Tanager
5
u
u
Sparrows and Towhees
*Green-tailed Towhee
*Spotted Towhee
American Tree Sparrow
*Chipping Sparrow
*Brewer’s Sparrow
*Vesper Sparrow
*Lark Sparrow
*Black-throated Sparrow
*Sagebrush Sparrow
*Savannah Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
*Fox Sparrow
*Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
*White-crowned Sparrow
Harris’s Sparrow
*Dark-eyed Junco
*House Sparrow
4
u u u
2, 4
u u u
2, 7
o
5
u u u
4
a a a
4, 3
c c c
4
u u u
4
u u u
4
u u u
3
a a a
3
r r r
2
u u u
2, 1
c c c
2
r r r
2 r
2 r
2, 4
u o u
7
r r
5
c o u
7
u u u
2, 5
2, 3
2
3
u
r
u
r
u
r
u
r
u
r
u
3
1, 3
3
r
u
a
r
c
a
r
c
a
Northern Waterthrush
*MacGillivray’s Warbler
*Common
8 r
2, 7
u u u o
Wood Warblers
*Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
*Virginia’s Warbler
*Yellow Warbler
Cardinals, Grosbeaks and Allies
*Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
*Lazuli Bunting
Indigo Bunting
2
2, 5
5
2
Blackbirds and Orioles
*Bobolink
*Red-winged Blackbird
*Western Meadowlark
u
o
u
c
W
2, 7
5
2
2
1, 2
2
2
*Black-throated Gray Warbler
Waxwings
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
u u
o
u u
c c
F
Blackbirds and Orioles continued next page
u
r
r
o
o
r
o
c
r
r
o
r
c
o
u
o
Common Name
Habitat Sp S
F
W
c
c
u
c
c
r
o
o
Blackbirds and Orioles continued
*Yellow-headed
Blackbird
Blackbird
*Great-tailed Grackle
*Brown-headed Cowbird
*Bullock’s Oriole
1
8
1, 7
8
2
Finches
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
*Black Rosy-Finch
*Pine Grosbeak
*Cassin’s Finch
*House Finch
*Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
*American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
3, 4, 6
o
3, 4 o
5
o o o o
5
u u u u
2, 7
u u u o
5
u u u o
3, 2
u u r
3, 2
u u u o
5
o o r
*Brewer’s
Accidentals
Least Bittern
Little Blue Heron
Eurasian Wigeon
Greater Scaup
Long-tailed Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
California Quail
Semipalmated Plover
Baird’s Sandpiper
Upland Sandpiper
Bonaparte’s Gull
Mew Gull
Band-tailed Pigeon
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Flammulated Owl
Eastern Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Steller’s Jay
Ruddy Ducks:
Hen and Drake
a
c
u
c
c
a
c
u
c
c
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Western Bluebird
Varied Thrush
White Wagtail
Blackpoll Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
American Redstart
Louisiana Waterthrush
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Hooded Oriole
Red Crossbill
© Ken Morris
Mammals at
Ruby Lake
The following list includes mammals
found on the refuge as well as
those that are suspected to occur
in the area or have an unknown
abundance (?). Mammals that have
been identified only prior to 1940 (h)
are also included. All are considered
residents except for migrant species
of bats. Visibility of mammals varies
seasonally because of hibernation,
migration between summer and
winter ranges, or snow cover. The
common names follow Mammal
Species of the World. A Taxonomic
and Geographic Reference (3rd ed.)
by Wilson and Reeder (2005).
Species
Habitat
Abundance
Shrews
Merriam Shrew
Vagrant Shrew
Northern Water Shrew
4
3
2
?
u
?
Bats
Little Brown Myotis
Long-eared Myotis
Long-legged Myotis
Western Small-footed Bat
Silver-haired Bat
Canyon Bat
Big Brown Bat
Hoary Bat
Spotted Bat
Townsend’s Big-eared Bat
Pallid Bat
Brazilian Free-tailed Bat
Western Red Bat
Fringed Myotis
6, 7
7, 6
7, 6
6, 5
5, 7
6
5,6,7
5
7, 6
6, 7
6, 3
6
2, 5
6
c
c
?
c
r
?
?
?
?
?
?
r
r
?
Mustelids
Short-tailed Weasel
Long-tailed Weasel
American Mink
American Badger
Western Spotted Skunk
Striped Skunk
2, 3
2
1, 2
8
4, 2
7, 4
r
u
?
c
r
r
Canids next page
Species
Habitat
Abundance
Canids
Coyote
Red Fox
8
8
c
?
Felines
Mountain Lion
Bobcat
4
4
u
u
Squirrels
Yellow-bellied Marmot
Piute Ground Squirrel
Wyoming Ground Squirrel
Belding’s Ground Squirrel
Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel
White-tailed Antelope Squirrel
Least Chipmunk
Uinta Chipmunk
6
4, 3
4, 3
3, 4
5
4
4, 5
5, 6
u
?
?
c
u
?
c
r
Pocket Gophers
Botta’s Pocket Gopher
Northern Pocket Gopher
3
8
?
c
Pocket Mice/Kangaroo Rats
Little Pocket Mouse
Great Basin Pocket Mouse
Dark Kangaroo Mouse
Ord’s Kangaroo Rat
Chisel-toothed Kangaroo Rat
4
4
4
4
4
?
c
u
c
c
Jumping Mice
Western Jumping Mouse
2
?
Mice and Voles
Western Harvest Mouse
Canyon Mouse
North American Deer Mouse
Piñon Mouse
Northern Grasshopper Mouse
Desert Woodrat
Bushy-tailed Woodrat
Montane Vole
Long-tailed Vole
Sagebrush Vole
House Mouse
3
6
8
5, 6
3, 4
4
6
3
2, 3
4
7
u
h
c
h
?
?
u
c
u
?
c
Species
Habitat
Abundance
Aquatic Mammals
American Beaver
Common Muskrat
1, 2
1
o
c
Porcupines
Common Porcupine
2, 5
c
Hares and Rabbits
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Black-tailed Jackrabbit
Mountain Cottontail
Pygmy Rabbit
4, 3
4, 3
4, 6
4
r
c
c
u
Deer
Elk
Mule Deer
3
8
o
c
Pronghorn
Pronghorn
3, 4
u
Fishes at
Ruby Lake
The tiny relict dace is the refuge’s
only native fish. Efforts are currently
underway to restore populations of
this fish on more areas of the refuge.
Lahontan speckled dace persist on
the refuge from a 1950’s stocking.
Largemouth bass, introduced in the
1930’s, reproduce in the marsh. Other
non-native sportfish that either have
been or are currently stocked on
the refuge include rainbow, brown,
eastern brook, and cutthroat trout.
Trout hybrids stocked on the refuge
include tiger and bowcut trout.
Relict dace.
USFWS/D.C. Carr
Amphibians
and Reptiles
The northern leopard frog is an
amphibian in decline throughout the
west, and Ruby Lake NWR supports
one of Nevada’s most important
remaining populations. Four species
of lizards are known to occur on the
refuge and it is likely that there are
several more that have not yet been
documented. Snakes found on the
refuge include the venomous Great
Basin Rattlesnake so be careful where
you step. The refuge also has the Great
Basin Gophersnake which is sometimes
mistaken for a rattlesnake. Snakes
are protected on the refuge and they
play an important ecological role as
both predator and prey. Snakes are
attracted to warm surfaces, especially
roads which will retain heat into the
night. This behavior, however, can be
disastrous for snakes. Please drive
slowly and be observant to avoid hitting
snakes on refuge roads, the county
road, and whenever you are in an area
with snakes. Your efforts can help
ensure the long term survival of these
important species. The common names
follow the 7th Edition of the Society for
the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles
Scientific and Standard English Names
of Amphibians and Reptiles of North
America (2012).
Species
Habitat
The best time to observe wildlife is
during morning and evening hours.
Binoculars or a spotting scope greatly
assist in identifying wildlife and
observing their behavior. Using your
vehicle as a blind increases viewing
opportunities; you can view wildlife
from a vehicle by driving the refuge
auto tour route through the marsh.
For a unique opportunity to see
marsh wildlife close up, the South
Marsh is open during part of the year
to canoes and small motor boats.
If you spot a species not found on
this list, or one listed as accidental or
rare, or find anything which differs
widely from the information printed
here, please let us know by e-mailing
rubylake@fws.gov.
For further
information,
contact:
Thanks so much for your help!
Refuge Manager
Ruby Lake National Wildlife Refuge
HC 60, Box 860
Ruby Valley, NV 89833
Telephone: 775-779-2237
Fax: 775-779-2370
E-mail: rubylake@fws.gov
Abundance
Amphibians
Northern Leopard Frog
1, 2, 3
c
Reptiles: Snakes
Great Basin Gophersnake
Terrestrial Gartersnake
Western Yellow-bellied Racer
Great Basin Rattlesnake
Desert Nightsnake
8
2, 3, 4
3, 4
4
6
a
c
c
c
u
6, 7
4
4, 7
4
c
a
u
u
Reptiles: Lizards
Western Fence Lizard
Common Sagebrush Lizard
Western Skink
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Viewing Wildlife
Leopard frog.
© Koen Breedveld
Ruby Lake
National Wildlife Refuge
HC 60, Box 860
Ruby Valley, Nevada 89833-9802
775-779-2237 phone
775-779-2370 fax
http://www.fws.gov/refuge/ruby_lake
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
http://www.fws.gov
Refuge Information
1 800-344-WILD
This brochure will be made
available in other formats
upon request.
June 2017
Canvasback hen with brood
© Clair Kofoed