Acanthis flammea Status: Uncommon regular winter visitor north, east, and west, rare south. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7139, 11 Dec 1895 Crawford, Dawes Co. Taxonomy: Taxonomy is complex, and various authorities present differing views (Pyle 1997, Chesser et al 2009, Mason and Taylor 2015, Clements et al 2016, Knox and Lowther 2020, Funk et al 2021). […]
BRAMBLING
Fringilla montifringilla Status: Rare casual winter visitor. Documentation: Photograph: 14-19 Apr 1999 Scottsbluff, Scottsbluff Co (Dinsmore 2000, Jorgensen 2001, 2003). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Winter: There are three accepted records: 14 Dec 2014-31 Jan 2015 female Lincoln Co (Brogie 2016; Brogie 2015 cites incorrect initial date as 14 Feb). 8-16 […]
EVENING GROSBEAK
Coccothraustes verspertinus vespertinus, C. v. brooksi Status: Rare casual summer visitor northwest. Rare casual winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: brooksi, UNSM ZM7114, 29 Oct 1900 Long Pine, Brown Co. Photograph: vespertinus, Sarpy Co 1 Feb 1986 (Swanson, this account). Taxonomy: Three subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022): brooksi, breeding from British Columbia to northern […]
LESSER GOLDFINCH
Spinus psaltria psaltria, P. p. hesperophilus Status: Uncommon regular summer visitor Panhandle, rare casual elsewhere. Rare casual breeder Panhandle. Rare casual winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Photograph: 20 May 1984 Monroe Canyon, Sioux Co (Swanson 1984, Williams, 1984). Taxonomy: Spinus, a former sub-genus of Carduelis, was raised to generic status based on genetic data (Chesser et […]
LAPLAND LONGSPUR
Calcarius lapponicus alascensis, C. l. subcalcaratus Status: Abundant regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimens: lapponicus (=subcalcaratus), UNSM ZM7676, 8 Feb 1889, Lincoln, Lancaster Co; alascensis, UNSM ZM7603, 16 Nov 1901, Haigler, Dundy Co. Taxonomy: Five subspecies are currently recognized (Hussell and Montgomerie 2020, Gill et al 2022), two of which […]
PINE GROSBEAK
Pinicola enucleator leucura, P. e. montana Status: Rare casual winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimens: montana, UNSM ZM10416, 30 Nov 1910 Crawford, Dawes Co; leucura, UNSM ZM7127, 29 Nov 1932 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Most authorities recognize nine subspecies, four of which occur in Eurasia, leaving five that occur in North America; here we follow Young and […]