lARUS vEGAE Documentation: Photographs: 19 Sep 2026 Pawnee Lake SRA, Lancaster Co by Tobin Brown (https://ebird.org/checklist/S395550836). Status: Record currently under NOURC review. Taxonomy: Current considerations suggest treatment of the four groups now generally recognized within traditional Herring Gull as separate species (Hebert et al 2024): L. argentatus European Herring Gull, L. smithsonianus American Herring Gull, L. vegae […]
Trumpeter Swan x Whooper Swan (hybrid)
Cygnus buccinator x CYGNUS cygnus Status: Accidental in winter Record: A single bird was observed and photographed at Gavin’s Point Dam, Cedar Co 7 Dec-1 Jan 2026 (Gregory Pavelka, eBird.org). Comments: The photographs show a yellow ill-defined but fairly extensive yellow patch on the bill of an otherwise Trumpeter-like adult swan (eBird Checklist – 17 […]
2026 Breeding Bird Survey Routes Available
The Breeding Bird Survey (BBS) is a long-term, volunteer-driven bird monitoring program conducted throughout North America. BBS data are used widely by wildlife agencies, researchers, birders and conservation planners. The program began in 1966 and more information about the BBS can be found HERE. I am the state BBS coordinator and perhaps my principal duty […]
[Mourning Warbler x Common Yellowthroat (hybrid)]
Geothlypis philadelphia x GEOTHLYPIS trichas Status: Hypothetical. Record: See eBird Checklist – 1 Jun 2025 – Burchard WMA). The single record is of a bird singing a perplexing song at Burchard WMA, Pawnee Co 1 Jun 2025 that sounded much like a Mourning Warbler, but the only bird known to be present was a Common Yellowthroat, […]
EASTERN WARBLING-VIREO
Vireo gilvus Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Common regular breeder east and east-central, uncommon west-central and west. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6789, 26 Apr 1901 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: AOS split the former Warbling Vireo into two species based on a proposal by Cicero (2025) noting the two groups differ in several ways including […]
WESTERN WARBLING-VIREO
Vireo swainsoni brewsteri Status: Rare spring and fall migrant west (pending further documentation of this newly split species). Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6788, 23 May 1900 Monroe Canyon, Sioux Co (brewsteri) (Bruner, handwritten annotation in his copy of Bruner 1896 in possession of WRS; Brogie 2026). Taxonomy: AOS split the former Warbling Vireo into two species […]