Fall 2025: 1 Aug–30 Nov
Chris Kellner
ckellner@atu.edu
Recommended citation:
Kellner, C. J. 2025. Fall 2025: Arkansas. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-l8a> North American Birds.
Arkansas was relatively warm and very dry during the fall which may have reduced the number of unusual birds sighted. However, we did have a very exciting 4th recorded Long-tailed Jaeger along with Sabines, Laughing and Short-billed Gulls.
Abbreviations BKWR Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, LDNP Lake Dardanelle Nichols Property (restricted access), WMA Wildlife Management Area
Not annual in the state, Arkansas’s thirty-seventh Cinnamon Teal was sighted at Grand Lake in Chicot Co 30 Aug (Kenny and Ladonna Nichols). A good tally of thirty-nine Red-breasted Mergansers were sighted on LDNP in Yell Co on 11 Nov (Kenny Nichols).
A Common Ground Dove was observed in Bradley Arkansas in Lafayette Co on 8 Nov (Paul Dickson).
Typically a coastal migrant, Red Knots are very unusual in Arkansas. The thirty-third record was photographed at BKWR in White Co on 28 Aug (Michael Linz).
Arkansas’s fourth state record Long-tailed Jaeger was photographed at BKWR in White Co on 20 Aug (Ryan Turner). Sabines Gulls are rare fall visitors in Arkansas, so a second record for White Co, photographed at BKWR on 6 Sep (Michael Linz and Todd Green) was exciting for those on scene. An adult Laughing Gull was observed at Camp Nine (permission required) in Desha Co on 6 Aug (Dalton Robinson). This was an exceptionally good year for Short-billed Gulls in Arkansas (four of the state’s seven records occurred in 2025); the fourth individual was photographed at Lee Creek Park in Crawford Co on 23 Nov (Matthew Matlock).
An immature Common Tern was photographed at the James W. Trimble Lock and Dam on 18 Sep in Sebastian Co. (Matthew Matlock).
The third recorded Wood Stork for Calhoun Co was sighted in the Ouachita River Bottoms on 9 Aug (Zachary Abbott).
A Rough-legged Hawk was photographed at the University of Arkansas Experimental Farm (restricted access) in Washington Co on 26 Oct 2025.
Brown-headed Nuthatches are rare in the northern third of Arkansas. The third record for Northwest Arkansas was recorded at Mcllroy WMA, Madison Co 11 Oct (Taylor Long).
A Cave Swallow was observed at Darrell Saul Minnow Farm in Prairie Co on 3 Oct (Kenny Nichols).
Red Crossbills are uncommon in Arkansas. One was identified by its diagnostic call as it flew through the Yvonne Neighborhood in Washington Co on 7 Nov (Mitchell Pruitt).
Shy and retiring at any time of year, Nelson’s Sparrows are often even skulkier on migration, so one observed at Chesney Prairie Natural Area in Benton Co on 12 Oct (Jim Landrum) was a good find.
A very late adult male Orchard Oriole was photographed at Jack Nolen Lake in Sebastian Co on 17 Nov (Matthew Matlock).
Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 8 Apr 2026.
Photos–Arkansas: Fall 2025
