Spring 2025: 1 Mar–31 May
Chris Kellner
ckellner@atu.edu
Recommended citation:
Kellner, C. J. 2025. Winter 2025: Arkansas Region. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-k8S> North American Birds.
This was an exciting spring season in Arkansas with exceptionally wet and cooler temperatures through mid-June which may have increased birding participation. Highlights were the state’s first confirmed record of a Clark’s Grebe, and a Yellow Grosbeak that showed up in February continued through early spring.
Abbreviations BKNWR=Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge, WMA=Wildlife Management Area, NWR= National Wildlife Refuge, LM= Lake Maumelle
Ducks through Limpkin
Fulvous Whistling Ducks are rare in Arkansas. Three were observed in Greenway Pond near Stuttgart on 25 Apr in Arkansas Co (Ryan Askren). One blue-phase Ross’s Goose was observed on County Road 66 on 2 Mar in Jackson Co (Kenny Nichols). A Cinnamon Teal, also quite rare in Arkansas, was photographed at Galla Creek WMA on 18 Mar in Pope Co (Leah Murphy). A Mottled Duck was photographed at BKNWR on 12 May in White Co (Michael Linz). A Long-tailed Duck, one of several seen this winter and spring, was first photographed on Dec 8, and continued to reside at the Grubbs Water Treatment Plant until at least 3 Mar in Jackson Co (Michael Linz). Another individual was photographed at the Searcy Water Treatment Plant on 1 Apr in White Co (Daniel Denman).
The 22nd record of a Red-necked Grebe was observed on LM on 3 Mar in Pulaski Co (Steven Warmack). Arkansas’ first record of Clark’s Grebe was photographed at Bufflehead Bay on LM on 3 Mar in Pulaski Co (Michael Linz).
A Black-billed Cuckoo, rare for Arkansas, was observed at Lake Sequoia on 24 Apr in Washington Co (Todd Ballinger). Arkansas’ seventh recorded Broad-billed Hummingbird was photographed at a feeder in Bonnerdale on 24 March in Hot Spring Co (Helen Martin).
A very early spring migrant Purple Gallinule was observed at Bois d’Arc WMA on 14 Apr in Hempsted Co (Anonymous eBirder). Limpkins continue to expand within Arkansas. The first was recorded in 2021. Our sixty-third record was seen at Arkansas Post National Memorial on 13 May in Arkansas Co (Spencer Weitzel).
Cranes through Spoonbills
Five-hundred and thirty-two Sandhill Cranes, an extremely large number for Arkansas, were filmed near the intersection of Miller County Rd 27 and AR 296 on 3 Mar in Miller Co (Charles Mills). Neotropic Cormorants are rarely seen in Arkansas. Two were photographed on Grand Lake on 3 Mar in Chicot Co (Michael Linz). A rare Glossy Ibis was photographed at BKNWR on 17 Mar in White Co (Roger Massey).
A Swallow-tailed Kite was photographed at Felsenthal NWR on 21 Apr in Union Co (Jeff Cromwell).
An American Avocet; the first Carroll Co Record, was photographed in Metalton on 25 Apr in Carroll Co (Nicole Ankele). A rare Red-necked Phalarope was seen at Camp Nine (permission required) on 30 May in Desha Co (Dalton Robinson). Buff-breasted Sandpipers are rarely seen during spring. Four were seen at BKNWR on 26 Apr in White Co (Daniel Denman).
Arkansas’s 25th recorded Little Gull was observed on LM on 11 Mar in Pulaski Co (Andrew Markel). A Common Tern was observed on Lake Dardanelle on 29 Apr in Yell Co (Kenny Nichols). Four-hundred plus Black Terns, the largest number ever reported in Arkansas, were observed at the Arkansas Oxidation Ponds (restricted access) on 20 May in Clark Co. (Renn and Terry Tumlison).
A Yellow-crowned Night Heron, rare in Northwest Arkansas, was photographed on Hamstring Cr. at its intersection with Hemstring Rd. on 25 May in Washington Co (Michelle Parker). Nine Roseate Spoonbills were photographed at the Overflow NWR on 21 May in Ashley Co. (Suzanne Hunter).
Passerines
Olive-sided Flycatchers are rare migrants in Arkansas. One was photographed at Coler Preserve on 28 Apr in Benton Co (Kyler Carlsen). We have seen an uptick in reports of Vermillion Flycatchers recently. One was photographed on Russell Road on 25 Mar in Benton Co (Jim Landrum).
A rare Golden-winged Warbler was observed in Maumelle on 20 Apr in Pulaski Co (Larry Stobaugh). A very early Black-and-white Warbler was observed in Hector on 6 Mar in Pope Co (Leif Anderson). A very late Magnolia Warbler was photographed in Jonesboro on 28 May in Craighead Co (Christina Stiles). The second county record of a Clay-colored Sparrow was photographed at Lake Fort Smith on 19 Apr in Crawford Co (Taylor Long).
A Yellow-headed Blackbird was photographed along Goosepond Rd on 7 May in Saline Co. (Vic Prislipsky). Arkansas’ ninth record of a Scott’s Oriole was photographed at a feeder in Batesville on 14 Mar in Independence Co (Cheryl Wadley). Black-headed grosbeaks are unusual in Arkansas. One was photographed at a feeder near Beaver Lake on 8 May in Carroll Co. (Maria La Cavera). Scarcely recorded, a Lazuli Bunting was observed at Weddington WMA on 25 Apr in Benton Co (Taylor Long).
Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 22 Oct 2025.
Photos–Arkansas: Spring 2025
