Spizella breweri breweri Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant west, rare casual central and east. Fairly common regular breeder western Panhandle. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7444, 12 Jul 1901 Indian Creek, Sioux Co. Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025): taverneri, breeding from southeast Alaska and western Canada to northwestern US, and breweri, breeding from […]
AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
Spizelloides arborea arborea, S. a. ochracea Status: Abundant regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimens: ochracea, SUI 14167, 13 Nov 1884, Wood River, Hall Co, UNSM ZM7414, 18 Feb 1896 Sioux Co; arborea: UNSM ZM7421, 5 Nov 1889 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025): arborea, breeding in Canada […]
EASTERN TOWHEE
Pipilo erythrophthalmus erythrophthalmus Status: Common regular breeder extreme southeast, rare casual elsewhere. Common regular spring and fall migrant within and near breeding range, uncommon elsewhere east and east central, rare casual west central and west. Rare casual winter visitor southeast. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7238, 19 Jan 1900 Saltillo, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Four subspecies are recognized […]
SPOTTED TOWHEE
Pipilo maculatus arcticus, P. m. montanus Status: Common regular breeder west and central, rare east. Uncommon spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare regular winter visitor southeast and south, rare casual elsewhere. Breeding Figure 1. Proportion of “dark-backed” towhees (see text) by “zone” based on a review of eBird reports (Silcock, unpublished data). Distribution by […]
CHIPPING SPARROW
Spizella passerina passerina, S. p. arizonae Status: Abundant regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Common regular breeder statewide, uncommon western Sandhills and southern Panhandle. Rare casual winter visitor southeast. Documentation: passerina: specimen UNSM ZM7426, 27 Apr 1901 Lincoln, Lancaster Co; arizonae: specimen Carnegie Museum of Natural History P23637 Squaw Canyon, Sioux Co. Taxonomy: Five subspecies […]
CLAY-COLORED SPARROW
Spizella pallida Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare casual summer visitor north. Accidental in winter. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7429, 17 May 1890 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Clay-colored Sparrow hybrids with Chipping Sparrow and Field Sparrow are occasionally reported, although none for Nebraska. There are several records […]