Strix varia Status: Fairly common regular resident east, rare east central, rare casual elsewhere. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7741, 28 Nov 1937 Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co. Taxonomy: Four weakly-defined subspecies are recognized by some authors (Pyle 1997, Mazur and James 2020, Clements et al 2016), two in Texas and the southern US (helveola, georgica), one in […]
NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL
Aegolius acadicus acadicus Status: Rare regular breeder west, rare casual north central. Rare casual summer visitor away from northwest. Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: SUI 28762, Wood River, Hall Co 14 Oct 1884. Taxonomy: There are two subspecies recognized, brooksi of the Queen Charlotte Islands of western Canada, […]
[BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER]
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 west central, uncommon and local east 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), […]