Haliaeetus leucocephalus Status: Common, locally abundant, regular winter visitor statewide. Common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Uncommon regular resident statewide, except southwest and southern Panhandle. Uncommon regular summer visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7697, 31 Oct 1921 Hall Co. Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025); populations in the northern United States, Alaska, and […]
LEAST BITTERN
Botaurus exilis EXILIS Status: Uncommon regular spring migrant east and east central, rare elsewhere. Uncommon regular breeder north, west, and east. Rare regular fall migrant east. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7658, 18 May 1901 Nebraska City, Otoe Co. Taxonomy: Chesser et al (2024) merged genus Ixobrychus with Botaurus based on genetic data showing the two genera […]
MISSISSIPPI KITE
Ictinia mississippiensis Status: Increasing. Uncommon regular local breeder North Platte and Platte river valleys south in west and central, rare east. Uncommon summer visitor within breeding range. Rare casual spring and fall migrant North Platte and Platte river valleys north. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM17034, 9 Sep 1991 North Platte, Lincoln Co. There is a specimen […]
OSPREY
Pandion haliaetus carolinensis Status: Increasing. Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Fairly common regular breeder west, west central, and east. Rare regular summer visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM14607, Oct 1938 North Platte, Lincoln Co. Taxonomy: Four subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025); two of these occur in North America: carolinensis in the United States […]
TURKEY VULTURE
Cathartes aura Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Fairly common regular breeder statewide. Locally common regular summer visitor statewide. Accidental in winter. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM10880, 24 Jul 1910 Naponee, Franklin Co. Taxonomy: Of six subspecies, three occur in North America (AviList 2025): aura from the southwest United States to Costa Rica and […]
ZONE-TAILED HAWK
Buteo albonotatus Status: Accidental in spring. Documentation: Description: Lake Ogallala, Keith Co, 25 Apr 2007 (Brogie 2008). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Record: One was discovered by Charles Brown, Valerie O’Brien, and Sarah Knutie roosting with six Turkey Vultures at Lake Ogallala 25 Apr 2007 (Brogie 2008). It was watched both in flight […]