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 […]
REDPOLL
Acanthis 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 2021). […]
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 […]