Species

Melanitta deglandi Status: Rare casual spring migrant statewide. Uncommon regular fall migrant statewide. Rare casual winter visitor. Documentation: Specimen: SUI 18764, 14 Oct 1903 Crystal Lake, South Sioux City, Dakota Co. Taxonomy: Three subspecies have generally been recognized (for example, Clements et al 2016): M. f. fusca, Velvet (European) Scoter, M. f. stejnegeri, Asiatic White-winged […]

Melanitta perspicillata Status: Rare casual spring migrant statewide. Accidental in summer. Uncommon regular fall migrant statewide. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM10300, 7 May 1911 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Changes since 2000: Of 15 accepted spring reports, 11 are during 2000-2022, suggesting an increase in Interior United States spring movement. […]

Histrionicus histrionicus Status: Rare casual winter visitor east and central. Documentation: Specimen: HMM 2499, about 1901 Platte River a little west of Grand Island (Swenk, Notes Before 1925). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Winter: There are six accepted records. 6 Nov 1992 Calamus Reservoir, Garfield Co, photograph of a mounted sub-adult […]

Somateria mollissima V-NIGRUM Status: Accidental in fall. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM12341, about 29 Nov-2 Dec 1967 Maloney Canal, Lincoln Co (Tate 1969). Taxonomy: Currently six subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022), four of which are native to North America: Pacific Common Eider S. m. v-nigrum, Atlantic Common Eider S. m. dresseri, Northern Common Eider […]

Somateria spectabilis Status: Accidental in fall. Documentation: Photograph: 10-24 Nov 1985 DeSoto NWR, Washington Co (Mollhoff 1989, Kent 1987, Cortelyou 1986). Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). Record: There is one record of two birds that remained at DeSoto NWR 10-24 Nov 1985 (Kent 1987); identification of the birds as King Eiders […]

Aythya affinis Status: Common, locally abundant, regular spring and fall migrant statewide. Rare casual summer visitor statewide. Uncommon regular winter visitor west, south, and east, rare casual north. Documentation: Specimen: UNSM ZM 7679, 11 Apr 1913 Lancaster Co. Taxonomy: No subspecies are recognized (Gill et al 2022). For Nebraska records of hybrids see Ring-necked Duck […]