New Host and Distributional Records for Helminth and Arthropod Parasites of Birds (Aves: Strigiformes; Accipitriformes; Piciformes; Passeriformes) from Southeastern Oklahoma

Abstract

Between November 2020 and March 2022, 14 individual salvaged birds (11 species) within four orders and nine families from McCurtain County, Oklahoma, were examined for ecto-and endoparasites. Avian orders (families) and host species included: Strigiformes (Strigidae): barred owl (Strix varia) and two great-horned owls (Bubo virginianus); Accipitriformes (Accipitridae): red-tailed hawk, (Buteo jamaicensis); Piciformes (Picidae): red-headed woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) and downy woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens); Passeriformes (Turdidae, Troglodytidae, Mimidae, Parulidae, Paridae, Icteridae): two American robins (Turdus migratorius), Carolina wren (Thryothurus ludovicianus), brown thrasher (Toxotoma rufum), two yellow warblers (Setophaga petechia), tufted titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor), and common grackle (Quiscalus quiscula). Eighteen parasite taxa were found in the birds examined, including four digenean trematodes, four cestodes, three nematodes, two acanthocephalans, and five lice. We document five new host and 14 new geographic distributional records for the parasites from select birds of the state.