Temporal differences in point counts of bottomland forest landbirds

We compared number of avian species and individuals in morning and evening point counts during the breeding season and during winter in a bottomland h ardwood forest in west-central Mississippi. USA. In both seasons, more spec ies and individuals were recorded during morning counts than during evening counts. We also compared morning and evening detections for 18 species dur ing the breeding season and 9 species during winter. Blue Jay (Cyanocitta c ristata), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura), and Red-bellied Woodpecker (Mel anerpes carolinus) were detected significantly more often in morning counts than in evening counts during the breeding season. Tufted Titmouse (Baeolo phus bicolor) was recorded more often in morning counts than evening counts during the breeding season and during winter. No species was detected more often in evening counts. Thus, evening point counts of birds during either the breeding season or winter will likely underestimate species richness, overall avian abundance, and the abundance of some individual species in bo ttomland hardwood forests.