Hydroprogne caspia Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Uncommon regular summer visitor Lake McConaughy, rare casual elsewhere. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM14209, 5 May 1893 Salt Lake, Lancaster Co (Hudson 1934). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Spring: Apr 20, 21, 22 <<<>>> Jun 13, 13, 14 There are earlier dates 9 Apr […]
COMMON TERN
Sterna hirundo hirundo Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare casual summer visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6625, Sep 1892 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Four subspecies are currently recognized (AviList 2025), two breeding in central to eastern Asia (tibetana and minussensis), one in Siberia and northeast China (longipennis), and the fourth (hirundo) in […]
[WHITE-TAILED TROPICBIRD]
Phaethon lepturus Status: No accepted records. Taxonomy: There are six subspecies recognized in tropical oceans, one in the Americas, catesbyi of the Caribbean (AviList 2025). Comments: One reported flying along the South Platte River in Lincoln Co 13-14 May 1973 (Cortelyou 1973a) was later suggested to be a tern trailing a fishing line (Cortelyou 1973b). […]
ARCTIC TERN
Sterna paradisaea Status: Rare casual spring and fall migrant statewide. Documentation: Photograph: 20 Sep 2000 molting adult Lake Minatare, Scotts Bluff Co (Dinsmore 2000). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Spring: There are three accepted records: 16-19 May 2003 alternate adult Lake McConaughy, Keith Co (Brogie 2004) 31 May 2015 alternate adult photographed Marsh […]
ROYAL TERN
Thalasseus maximus Status: Accidental in fall. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM 18317, 10 Sep 2008 Platte Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are currently recognized (AviList 2025). Fall: There is one record. A moribund individual was found at Lakes North and Babcock, Platte Co 8-10 Sep 2007 (Rehme et al 2008), following Hurricane Ike, which caused severe damage […]
ICELAND GULL
Larus glaucoides Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor Keith and Lincoln Cos, rare elsewhere. Documentation: Description: 15 Jan 1907, Dorchester, Saline Co (Swenk 1907, Bray et al 1986). Because of the existence of a cline from west to east (dark to light) in overall coloration encompassing forms assigned as “groups” to L. […]