Artemisiospiza nevadensis Status: Rare casual fall visitor. Documentation: Photograph: 19 Aug 2025 Exit 1 on I-80, Kimball Co (Michael Willison; Brogie 2026). 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 […]
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW
Amphispiza bilineata Status: Rare casual summer visitor west and west central. 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 […]
SNOW BUNTING
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 […]
THICK-BILLED LONGSPUR
Rhynchophanes mccownii Status: Common regular spring and fall migrant west, rare casual elsewhere. Locally common regular breeder western Panhandle. State listed as Threatened. Documentation: UNSM ZM7565, 20 Jun 1901 Indian Creek, Sioux Co. Taxonomy: Chesser et al (2010) transferred this species from the genus Calcarius to monotypic Rhynchophanes. No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Spring: […]
PURPLE FINCH
Haemorhous purpureus purpureus Status: Uncommon regular spring and fall migrant and winter visitor east and central, rare west. Documentation: UNSM ZM7120, 1891 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Two subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025): purpureus, breeding in south-central and southeast Canada and the northeast USA, wintering to southeast USA, and californicus, breeding in southwest Canada and western […]
REDPOLL
Acanthis flammea Status: Uncommon erratic regular winter visitor north, east, and west, rare south. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7139, 11 Dec 1895 Crawford, Dawes Co. Taxonomy: Five subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025), flammea of northern Eurasia and northern North America, rostrata of northeastern Canada, Greenland, and Iceland, wintering northeastern US and British Isles, cabaret recently expanding […]