Picoides arcticus Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: Nearctic three-toed woodpeckers (Picoides dorsalis, American Three-toed Woodpecker, and P. arcticus, Black-backed Woodpecker) are split from the Palearctic species (P. tridactylus, Eurasian Three-toed Woodpecker) based on genetic and vocal differences (Banks et al 2003). No subspecies are currently recognized (Gill et al 2022). Comments: Despite several Nebraska reports, none are acceptably documented; none […]
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
Sphyrapicus nuchalis Status: Rare casual spring migrant west, accidental east. Rare regular fall migrant west, rare casual eslewhere. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6310, 13 Sep 1919 Monroe Canyon, Sioux Co (Mickel and Dawson 1920). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). This species was treated as a subspecies of Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (AOU 1957) until […]
ACORN WOODPECKER
Melanerpes formicivorus Status: Rare casual summer visitor. Documentation: Photograph: 19 May 1996 Chambers, Holt Co (Brogie 1997). Taxonomy: Seven subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022), five from Mexico through South America, and two in North America north of Mexico: bairdi of Oregon south to northern Baja California and formicivorus of southwestern US to southeast […]
BURROWING OWL
Athene cunicularia hypugea Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant and breeder west and north central, rare casual east. Rare casual winter visitor central and west. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM11338, 24 Mar 1895 Beatrice, Gage Co. Taxonomy: There are 15-18 subspecies recognized (Poulin et al 2020, Gill et al 2022), all but two occurring in […]
SNOWY OWL
Bubo scandiacus Status: Rare, occasionally common, regular winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM 7729, 6 Mar 1918 Harvard, Clay Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are currently recognized (Gill et al 2022). The merging of Nyctea into Bubo was discussed by Banks et al (2003); some authors retain the monotypic genus Nyctea for this species (Weick 2006, […]
GREAT HORNED OWL
Bubo virginianus virginianus, B. v. subarcticus, B. v. lagophonus, B. v. pallescens Status: Common regular resident statewide. Rare regular winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: virginianus, UNSM ZM12752, 4 Nov 1902 Lancaster Co; subarcticus, UNSM ZM-16270 12 Mar 1990 Cuming Co. Taxonomy: Variously 12-15 subspecies are recognized, 4-5 of these from Mexico south through South America […]