Setophaga fusca
Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant east, rare casual central and west.
Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6893, 15 May 1920 Ashland, Cass Co.
Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022).
Spring: May 4, 5, 6 <<<>>> Jun 1, 1, 2
Later dates are 5 Jun 1961 Douglas-Sarpy Cos, 13 Jun 2010 Omaha, Douglas Co, 17 Jun 2016 in Fontenelle Forest, Sarpy Co, and very late 9-29 Jun 1981 Garden Co (Williams 1981).
Migration takes place in May.
Reports from the Panhandle are surprisingly numerous; there are about 19 in the period 9 May-1 Jun and an additional report 9- 29 Jun 1981 Garden Co (Williams 1981). It is of interest that there are two summer records for the Black Hills in South Dakota, including possibly territorial birds in 1967 (Tallman et al 2002).
- High counts: 15 at Walnut Grove Park, Omaha 23 May 2008, 6 at Fontenelle Forest 17 May 1996, 6 in Sarpy Co 14 May 2011, and 5 at Schramm SP, Sarpy Co 12 May 2018.
- A season total of 7 was “their most ever for a spring season” by observers in Sarpy Co in 1995. An impressive 45 were reported by all observers in spring 2008 and 38 in 2022; the 50 reported in 2023 was likely enhanced by competitive Birding Bowl activities.
Fall: Aug 21, 21, 22 <<<>>> Oct 1, 2, 2
Later dates are 6 Oct 2019 Scotts Bluff Co, 12 Oct 1997 immature male Ash Hollow SHP, Garden Co (Brogie 1998), 14 Oct 2018 Sarpy Co, 19 Oct 1974 Douglas Co (Williams 1975), 26 Oct 1999 Schramm SP, Sarpy Co (Jorgensen 2001), and 9 Nov 2002 adult female Dixon Co (Brogie 2003).
Migration is from late Aug through Sep.
Away from the east this species is rare in fall, with only 27 reports in all; a surprising 12 of these are from the Panhandle: 23 Aug 1996 Morrill Co, 26 Aug 2018 Kimball Co, 26 Aug 2023 Antelope Co, 27 Aug 2007 Morrill, Scotts Bluff Co, 2 Sep 2001 Crescent Lake NWR, Garden Co, two on 5 Sep 2013 Lake Ogallala, Keith Co, three on 6 Sep 2012 Gering Cemetery, Scotts Bluff Co, 13 Sep 2008 female banded and photographed Scotts Bluff Co (Brogie 2009), 13 Sep 2020 Old Stage Road, Scotts Bluff Co, 17 Sep 2011 Scotts Bluff Co, 29 Sep 1979 Dawes Co (Rosche 1982), 6 Oct 2019 Scotts Bluff Co, and 12 Oct 1997 Ash Hollow SHP.
- High counts: 10 at Jewell Park, Bellevue, Sarpy Co 27 Aug 1996, 6 at Walnut Grove Park, Omaha, Douglas Co 9 Sep 2018, and 3 at Fontenelle Forest 20 Sep 2017.
- A total of about 30 were reported during fall 2018.
Images
Abbreviations
NWR: National Wildlife Refuge
SHP: State Historical Park
SP: State Park
UNSM: University of Nebraska State Museum
Literature Cited
Brogie, M.A. 1998. 1997 (Ninth) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 66: 147-159.
Brogie, M.A. 2003. 2002 (14th) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 71: 136-142.
Brogie, M.A. 2009. 2009 (21st) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 77: 160-168.
Gill, F., D. Donsker, and P. Rasmussen (Eds). 2022. IOC World Bird List (v 12.2). Doi 10.14344/IOC.ML.12.2. http://www.worldbirdnames.org/.
Jorgensen, J.G. 2001. 1999 (Eleventh) Report of the NOU Records Committee. NBR 69: 85-91.
Rosche, R.C. 1982. Birds of northwestern Nebraska and southwestern South Dakota, an annotated checklist. Cottonwood Press, Crawford, Nebraska, USA.
Tallman, D.A., Swanson, D.L., and J.S. Palmer. 2002. Birds of South Dakota. Midstates/Quality Quick Print, Aberdeen, South Dakota, USA.
Williams, F. 1975. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 29: 77-81.
Williams, F. 1981. Southern Great Plains Region. American Birds 35: 955-957.
Recommended Citation
Silcock, W.R., and J.G. Jorgensen. 2024. Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca). In Birds of Nebraska — Online. www.BirdsofNebraska.org
Birds of Nebraska – Online
Updated 14 Jan 2024