Dolichonyx oryzivorus Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Common regular breeder east and central, uncommon west. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6932, 29 Jul 1902 Carns, Keya Paha Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Spring: Apr 28, 28, 29 <<<>>> summer Earlier dates are 13 Apr 2012 Buffalo Co, 16 Apr […]
DARK-EYED JUNCO
Junco hyemalis There have been varying treatments of the sub-specific taxa within this species over the years; some have been considered full species at times, and as stated by Nolan et al (2002): “The phylogenetic relationships of all junco taxa clearly involve more complex questions than can be answered by presently available evidence”. Current authors […]
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
Sturnella neglecta neglecta Status: Abundant regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Abundant breeder west, central, and northeast, common southeast. Fairly common regular winter visitor south and east, uncommon elsewhere. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM11049, 30 Oct 1890 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Two weakly-differentiated subspecies have been recognized (Pyle 1997, Gill et al 2022): confluenta, breeding from […]
ORCHARD ORIOLE
Icterus spurius spurius Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant and breeder statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM8770, 14 Jun 1898 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Three subspecies have been recognized at times and by various authors (Scharf and Kren 2022): nominate spurius, breeding throughout eastern US north to Canada, fuertesi, breeding in eastern Mexico, and phillipsi, […]
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
Icteria virens virens, I. v. auricollis Status: Uncommon, locally common, regular breeder and spring and fall migrant west and central, rare east. Documentation: Specimens: auricollis, UNSM ZM6909, 3 Jun 1901 Monroe Canyon, Sioux Co; virens, UNSM ZM10757, 15 May 1909 Roca, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Recent genetic studies resulted in assigning of this species to its […]
EASTERN MEADOWLARK
Sturnella magna magna Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant east and central, uncommon west. Common regular breeder southeast, locally common western Sandhills, uncommon elsewhere except rare casual southwest. Rare casual winter visitor southeast. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6952, 2 Mar 1901 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: There are 14 recognized subspecies, three of which occur north […]