Alectoris chukar Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: There are 14 subspecies in the native Eurasian range (Clements et al 2016). Comments: Several attempts were made to establish this species in Nebraska with releases between 1938 and 1943 of about 6500 birds, but these were unsuccessful, possibly due to predation (Mathisen and Mathisen 1960, Halbert 1940). […]
[COMMON QUAIL]
Coturnix coturnix Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: Four or five subspecies are currently recognized, although taxonomy is controversial (McGowan et al 2020, Gill et al 2022). Common Quail is considered monophyletic since the split of Japanese Quail Coturnix japonica (Gill et al 2021, McGowan and Kirwan 2020). Comments: The only information regarding this species (rather […]
GREATER SAGE-GROUSE
Centrocercus urophasianus Status: Extirpated. Documentation: Specimens: pair, SUI 16130 and 16131, 27 Dec 1894, “Nebraska”. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Records: Current understanding of the pre-settlement range, including Nebraska, and current range, which does not include Nebraska, is mapped in Schroeder et al (2004). These authors show this species as no […]
[CALIFORNIA QUAIL]
Callipepla californica Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: Five subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022); it is not known which subspecies was/were released in Nebraska. Comments: The only release of these birds was of about 70 in Butler, Madison, Knox, and Douglas Cos in 1939; a covey was reported in Madison Co in 1939 (Halbert […]
PIED-BILLED GREBE
Podilymbus podiceps podiceps Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Common regular breeder Sandhills, fairly common elsewhere. Rare casual winter visitor North Platte and Platte River valleys southward. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6004, 20 Apr 1890 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Three subspecies are recognized, one in North America, podiceps (Pyle 2008). Spring: Feb 19, 19, 20 […]
GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE
Anser albifrons GAMBELLI Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant central, fairly common east, uncommon west. Rare regular summer visitor south and east, rare casual north and west. Rare regular winter visitor central and east, rare casual west. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM12412, 1937 or 1938 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Taxonomy of this species in North America has […]