Sterna hirundo hirundo Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare casual summer visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6625, Sep 1892 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Four subspecies are currently recognized (Gill et al 2022), two breeding in central to eastern Asia (tibetana and minussensis), one in Siberia and northeast China (longipennis), and the fourth […]
[WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD]
Phaethon lepturus Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: There are six subspecies recognized in tropical oceans (Gill et al 2022). Comments: One reported flying along the South Platte River in Lincoln Co 13-14 May 1973 (Cortelyou 1973a) was later suggested to be a tern trailing a fishing line (Cortelyou 1973b). The report was considered inconclusive by […]
ARCTIC TERN
Sterna paradisaea Status: Rare casual spring and fall migrant statewide. Documentation: Photograph: 20 Sep 2000 molting adult Lake Minatare, Scotts Bluff Co (Dinsmore 2000). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Spring: There are three accepted records: 16-19 May 2003 alternate adult Lake McConaughy, Keith Co (Brogie 2004) 31 May 2015 alternate adult […]
ROYAL TERN
Thalasseus maximus Status: Accidental in fall. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM 18317, 10 Sep 2008 Platte Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are currently recognized (Gill et al 2022). Fall: There is one record. A moribund individual was found at Lakes North and Babcock, Platte Co 8-10 Sep 2007 (Rehme et al 2008), following Hurricane Ike, which caused […]
ICELAND GULL
Larus glaucoides Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant Lake McConaughy, Keith Co and Sutherland Reservoir, Lincoln Co, rare elsewhere. Uncommon regular winter visitor Lake McConaughy and Sutherland Reservoir, rare casual elsewhere. Documentation: Description: 15 Jan 1907, Dorchester, Saline Co (Swenk 1907, Bray et al 1986). Because of the existence of a cline from west to […]
CALIFORNIA GULL
Larus californicus californicus, L. c. albertaensis Status: Fairly common regular spring and fall migrant North Platte River Valley (east to Maloney Reservoir), rare casual elsewhere. Locally uncommon regular summer and winter visitor North Platte River Valley (east to Maloney Reservoir), rare casual elsewhere. Documentation: Photograph: 14 Aug 1986 Lake McConaughy, Keith Co (Brogie 1986; Mollhoff […]