Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis Status: Uncommon regular winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7618, 17 Nov 1897 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Four subspecies are recognized, two in Eurasia and these two in North America (Gill et al 2022): townsendi, resident on western Alaska islands, and nivalis, breeding and wintering throughout the remainder of the North American […]
THICK-BILLED LONGSPUR
Rhynchophanes mccownii Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant west, rare casual elsewhere. Locally common regular breeder western Panhandle. State listed as Threatened. Documentation: UNSM ZM7565, 20 Jun 1901 Indian Creek, Sioux Co. Taxonomy: Chesser et al (2010) transferred this species from the genus Calcarius to monotypic Rhynchophanes. The English name of this species was […]
PURPLE FINCH
Haemorhous purpureus purpureus Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor east and central, rare west. Documentation: UNSM ZM7120, 1891 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022): purpureus, breeding in south-central and southeast Canada and the northeast USA, wintering to southeast USA, and californicus, breeding in southwest Canada […]
COMMON REDPOLL
Acanthis flammea flammea Status: Uncommon regular winter visitor north, east, and west, rare south. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7139, 11 Dec 1895 Crawford, Dawes Co. Taxonomy: Taxonomy is complex and various authorities present differing views (Pyle 1997, Chesser et al 2009, Mason and Taylor 2015, Clements et al 2016, Knox and Lowther 2020, Funk et al […]
BRAMBLING
Fringilla montifringilla Status: Rare casual winter visitor. Documentation: Photograph: 14-19 Apr 1999 Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff Co (Dinsmore 2000, Jorgensen 2001, 2003). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Winter: There are three accepted records: 14 Dec 2014-31 Jan 2015 female Lincoln Co (Brogie 2016; Brogie 2015 cites incorrect initial date as 14 Feb). 8-16 […]
EVENING GROSBEAK
Coccothraustes verspertinus vespertinus, C. v. brooksi Status: Rare casual summer visitor northwest. Rare casual winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: brooksi, UNSM ZM7114, 29 Oct 1900 Long Pine, Brown Co. Photograph: vespertinus, Sarpy Co 1 Feb 1986 (Swanson, this account). Taxonomy: Three subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022): brooksi, breeding from British Columbia to northern […]