Mareca strepera x Anas acuta Status: Rare casual spring visitor statewide Records: The only record is of one at Mormon Canal, Knox Co 29 Mar 2024 (Tommy Childers, Joni Rauert; eBird.org). Comments: Including the Nebraska record, there are only four Great Plains records, the others one in western Minnesota and two in eastern Colorado, along […]
Was 2024 the worst spring migration for warblers of all time?
By Joel G. Jorgensen – Nebraska Game and Parks Commission & Stephen J. Brenner – Audubon Great Plains Late April through May is perhaps the most anticipated time of year for birders in Nebraska and elsewhere. After months of cold, slow, and uneventful winter birding, most birders relish the opportunity to witness the northward push of […]
Cinnamon x Green-winged Teal (hybrid)
Spatula cyanoptera x ANAS CRECCA Status: Casual in spring. Records: There are two records: 7 May 2017 Father Hupp WMA, Thayer Co (Jorgensen photos, ebird.org) 16-18 Mar 2024 Wagon Train SRA, Lancaster Co (Straus et al, photos, eBird.org) Comments: This is a rare hybrid; the two Nebraska records are the only ones on the Great […]
[Fork-tailed Flycatcher]
Tyrannus savana Status: No accepted records Taxonomy: Four subspecies are recognized, all from southern Mexico to South America (Gill et al 2022). Comments: A report of two in Deuel Co 27 Aug 2023 was not accepted by NOURC, noting that the presence of two birds “would be exceptional” (Brogie 2023). There are about six records […]
[Whooper Swan]
Cygnus cygnus Status: No accepted records Documentation: Photograph: 19 Dec 2023 Two Rivers SRA, Douglas Co (Elizabeth Winter, eBird.org) Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022) Comments: There are two reports of presumed escapees or releases: 19 Dec 2023 Douglas Co (cited above) 6 Mar 2022 Yutan, Douglas Co (Linette Bolin Nelson fide Thane […]
Gray-crowned x Black Rosy-Finch (hybrid)
Leucosticte tephrocotis X LEUCOSTICTE atrata Status: Accidental. Documentation: Photographs: 9 Jan 2024 Toadstool Road, Sioux Co (Mlodinow, eBird Checklist – 9 Jan 2024). Taxonomy: For some time, the three Nearctic forms (Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. tephrocotis, Black Rosy-Finch L. atrata, and Brown-capped Rosy-Finch L. australis) were treated as subspecies of Asian Rosy-Finch L. arctoa, but were […]