Over 150 bird species nest in the Interior Low Plateaus physiographic area. The most widely distributed species include Indigo Bunting, Field Sparrow, Horned Lark, and Northern Cardinal. Fairly common birds also experiencing consistent population declines include Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Bobwhite, Worm-eating Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, White-eyed Vireo, and several others. Bewick’s Wren, Cerulean Warbler, and Henslow’s Sparrow are among the most rapidly declining in and vulnerable species.

The diversity of birds in the physiographic area reflects the diversity of habitats. The Interior Low Plateaus covers 17,846,900 ha in parts of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. Subdivisions distinguish the physiographic area. Subdivisions include the Bluegrass region, the Shawnee Hills, the Western Highland Rim, Central Basin, Eastern Highland Rim, and the Tennessee Valley. Important bird habitats include western mesophytic, oak-hickory, and beech-maple forests, forested wetlands, riparian areas, grasslands, oak savannas, barrens, glades, old fields, and short rotation pine. Birds have been systematically scored by the Partners in Flight prioritization process, and grouped by the above broad habitat types for setting objectives.

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