Species

Melozone fusca Status: Accidental in fall. Documentation: Description: 18 Sep 1975 Gering, Scotts Bluff Co (Brashear 1976). Taxonomy: The “brown towhees” were assigned to a separate genus, Melozone, in 2010 (Chesser et al 2010) based on genetic studies by DaCosta et al (2009). The former Brown Towhee (Pipilo fusca) was split (Monroe et al 1989) […]

Centronyx bairdii Status: Rare casual spring and fall migrant statewide. Accidental breeder Sioux Co. Documentation: Specimen: HMM 14237, 19 May 1935 Juniata, Adams Co (Brooking 1935). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). This species and Henslow’s Sparrow were assigned to genus Centronyx from Ammodramus, based on genetic studies that indicated former Ammodramus was paraphyletic […]

Zonotrichia atricapilla Status: Rare casual spring and fall migrant and winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Photograph: 25-26 Nov 1984 Alliance, Box Butte Co (Thomas 1984; Mollhoff 1989). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Golden-crowned Sparrow hybridizes occasionally with other Zonotrichia species, White-crowned, and White-throated Sparrows, although none are recorded for Nebraska. Nearest are two hybrids […]

Artemisiospiza nevadensis Status: Accidental in fall. Documentation: Description: 6 Aug 1989 Sowbelly Canyon, Sioux Co (Stage and Stage 1990). Taxonomy: Former Sage Sparrow (Amphispiza belli) consisted of two subspecies groups, coastal belli and interior nevadensis, but genetic studies by Cicero & Johnson (2007) led to Chesser et al (2013) elevating each group to species status […]

Amphispiza bilineata Status: Rare casual summer visitor. Rare casual winter visitor east. Documentation: Photograph: 17 Dec 1973 Omaha, Douglas Co (Meier 1974; Williams 1974). Taxonomy: Nine subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025), six in Mexico, and three in the US: deserticola, breeding and wintering from California to southwest Wyoming and southwest New Mexico, opuntia, breeding and […]

Plectrophenax nivalis nivalis Status: Uncommon regular winter visitor statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7618, 17 Nov 1897 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Four subspecies are recognized AviList 2025), two in Eurasia and two in North America: townsendi, resident on western Alaska islands, and nivalis, breeding and wintering throughout the remainder of the North American range. Nebraska birds […]