Porzana carolina Status: Fairly common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Fairly common, locally common, regular breeder statewide, rare south of Platte River Valleys. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6106, 17 Sep 1902 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Spring: Apr 4, 5, 5 <<<>>> summer Earlier dates are 22 Mar 2019 Hall Co, […]
WILD TURKEY
Meleagris gallopavo subsp. Status: Common, locally abundant, regular resident statewide. Documentation: Specimen: WSC 550, Holt Co 25 Oct 1980. Taxonomy: Six subspecies are currently recognized (AviList 2025), two in Mexico and four in North America: silvestris Eastern Turkey, osceola Florida Turkey, intermedia Rio Grande Turkey of the central plains from Kansas south, and merriami Merriam’s […]
SHARP-TAILED GROUSE
Tympanuchus phasianellus jamesi Status: Locally common regular resident north and west, rare casual elsewhere. Uncommon casual winter visitor south and east of breeding range. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM12561, 23 Feb 1896 Harrison, Sioux Co. Taxonomy: Seven subspecies are recognized, including extinct hueyi (AviList 2025); Connelly et al (2024) divided these into northern and southern groups. The […]
[LESSER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN]
Tympanuchus pallidicinctus Status: Hypothetical. Status unresolved. The tangible history of this species in Nebraska is based on specimens from near Danbury in extreme southern Red Willow Co shot by hunters and provided to HMM by an H. Frates (Swenk MS, in Sharpe 1968). Sharpe (1968) examined some of the specimens and concluded they were undoubtedly […]
COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD
Calypte costae Status: Rare casual fall visitor. Documentation: Photograph: 11-15 Nov 2001 Lexington, Dawson Co (Jorgensen 2003). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Fall: There are five records: 5 Sep-23 Oct 2013, immature male photographed Lake McConaughy, Keith Co (Brogie 2014) 16 Sep-second week Oct 2010 photographed Gretna, Sarpy Co (Brogie 2017) 16-18 Sep […]
RING-NECKED PHEASANT
Phasianus colchicus Status: Introduced. Fairly common, locally common, regular resident statewide. Documentation: Specimen: WSC 394, 17 Feb 1978 Boone Co. Taxonomy: There are 30 subspecies generally recognized (AviList 2025, Giudice et al 2022). North American birds are mostly from Asian populations, although derivatives of European birds have also been mixed into many North American releases, […]