Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus Status: Increasing. Fairly common regular spring and fall migrant west and central, uncommon east. Locally uncommon regular breeder western Sandhills, rare Scotts Bluff Co and Rainwater Basin, rare casual elsewhere. Documentation: Specimen: HMM 28534, 12 May 1956 Adams Co. Taxonomy: AviList (2025) recognizes four species within Himantopus, including H. mexicanus of the […]
SNOWY PLOVER
ANARHYNCHUS nivosus nivosus Status: Rare regular spring visitor central, rare casual elsewhere. Rare regular breeder northeast, rare casual southcentral and Lake McConaughy, Keith Co. Rare casual summer visitor central and west. Rare casual fall migrant statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM6114, 16 May 1903 Lincoln, Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: Genetic studies resulted in a recent transfer of […]
WHOOPING CRANE
Grus americana Status: Locally rare regular spring and fall migrant central, rare casual elsewhere. Rare casual summer visitor central and west. State and federally listed as Endangered. Documentation: Specimen: HMM 3823 (two birds), spring 1899 Grand Island, Hall Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025). Changes Since 2000: Figure 1. Spatial distribution of […]
SANDHILL CRANE
Antigone canadensis canadensis, A. c. tabida Status: Increasing. Abundant regular spring and fall migrant central, common west, uncommon east. Rare regular breeder locally statewide. Rare casual summer visitor statewide. Rare casual winter visitor central Platte River Valley, accidental east. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM7836, 19 Mar 1959 Overton, Dawson Co. Taxonomy: This species was moved recently […]
GREATER PRAIRIE-CHICKEN
Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus Status: Locally common regular resident central and locally east, rare west. Uncommon casual winter visitor east of breeding range. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM10301, 25 Nov 1912 Comstock, Custer Co. Taxonomy: Three subspecies are recognized (AviList 2025, Johnson et al 2020): cupido, the extinct Heath Hen, attwateri, surviving in coastal Texas only with […]
GRAY PARTRIDGE
Perdix perdix Status: Introduced. Decreasing. Variably uncommon to rare regular resident northeast and north-central, locally rare Sioux and Scotts Bluff Cos. Documentation: Specimen: WSC 683, Nov or Dec 1978 or 1979 Wayne Co. Taxonomy: In its native Western Palearctic, eight subspecies are currently recognized (AviList 2025). North American introductions were of several subspecies and existing […]