Mareca americana x Anas acuta Status: Rare casual winter visitor. Records: There are three records: 17 Nov 2023 Gering WTP, Scotts Bluff Co (Mlodinow, eBird.org) 16 Jan 2022 Scotts Bluff Co (Hunter Baillie, personal communication; photo) 30 Mar 2023 Lake […]
[INDIAN PEAFOWL]
PAVO CRISTATUS Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: No subspecies recognized (Gill et al 2022). Comments: Free roaming, escaped, or released birds are occasionally observed in Nebraska, although there are, however, three flocks that have survived for several years in the state. An intriguing explanation for the presence (Eileen Rooney fide Mary Clausen) of two of […]
Herring x Great Black-backed Gull
LARUS SMITHSONIANUS X Marinus Status: Accidental in fall. Record: The single record is of one at Lake McConaughy, Keith Co 14 Nov 2022 (Mlodinow, eBird.org). It was the size of Great Black-backed but its incoming mantle color was paler than expected for that species (Mlodinow, eBird.org). Comments: The Keith Co record appears to be a first for […]
Herring Gull x Lesser Black-backed Gull
Larus SMITHSONIANUS x LARUS fuscus Status: Rare casual in winter Records: The only Nebraska record is of one at Lake McConaughy, Keith Co 27 Dec 2022 (Mlodinow, eBird.org). There are numerous records of this hybrid in eastern North America, with a few westward, including four along the Colorado Front Range Oct-Jan (eBird.org, accessed Mar 2023). Comments: […]
Snow x Greater White-fronted Goose
Anser caerulescens x Anser albifrons Status: Rare casual spring migrant. Record: The only records are of singles in Dakota Co 19 Feb 2023 (B. F. Huser, eBird.org). and Sarpy Co 8 Feb 2024 (E. Winter, eBird.org). Comments: There are numerous records of this hybrid, most in the Mississippi and Missouri river valleys, with seven in […]
Large increase in number of wintering Trumpeter Swans in Nebraska 2013-2023
Trumpeter Swans appear to have become much more numerous during winter in Nebraska in recent years. Thus, there is a need to quantify this perceived increase to determine whether this is indeed the case. Furthermore, looking at the data will hopefully reveal the sources of the increased numbers of Trumpeter Swans. This post is an […]