Spring 2026: 1 Mar–31 May
Chris Kellner
ckellner@atu.edu
Recommended citation:
Kellner, C. J. 2026. Spring 2026: Arkansas Region. <https://wp.me/p8iY2g-lAp> North American Birds.
An intense drought has continued in Arkansas since last summer and that drought undoubtedly influenced the number of rare birds observed in Arkansas. Nevertheless, several unusual migrants were observed this spring including a Black-throated Blue Warbler, Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and a possible hybrid Lazuli x Indigo Bunting. Also, since 2020 Vermilion Flycatchers have been observed during every Winter or Spring and one observed this spring continued that trend.
Abbreviations WMA = Wildlife Management Area; NWR = National Wildlife Refuge.
Ducks to Kites
Arkansas’s 38th record of a Cinnamon Teal was photographed at Benson Lake on 25 Mar in Arkansas Co (the county’s first record; Ryan Askren).
Arkansas’s 23rd record of a Red-necked Grebe was observed at Lake Dardanelle-Nichols Property (restricted access) on 28 Mar in Pope Co (Kenny Nichols).
Arkansas’s 30th Hudsonian Whimbrel was photographed on 24 Apr at the Weddington Sod Farms in Washington Co (Kenny Younger).
Arkansas’s 15th record of a Long-billed Curlew was observed along the Red River east of Ogden on 7 May in Little River Co (Charles Mills).
Eleven Hudsonian Godwits were photographed at the Rick Evans Grandview Prairie WMA on 9 May (Paul Lowery).
Three Lesser Black-backed Gulls were observed in Arkansas this spring. One was photographed at the Lake Dardanelle Lock and Dam on 3 Mar, Pope Co (Nicole Bow). Two additional birds, representing a first county record, were photographed at Sharp Chapel Rd on 18 Apr, Craighead Co (Matthew Matlock).
Two separate observations of Neotropic Cormorants were reported. One was photographed west of Jonesboro on 19 Apr in Craighead Co (Rhett Raibley), and the other was observed at Felsenthal NWR on Lake Jack Lee in Union Co on 12 May (Leif Anderson).
A Swallow-tailed Kite was photographed at the Hudgin Creek Bridge along Hwy 35 on 19 May in Drew Co (Monte Woody).
Flycatchers to Buntings
A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (a rare spring migrant in Arkansas) was observed in the St. Francis National Forest along CR-239 on 13 May in Phillips Co (Leif Anderson).
Vermilion Flycatchers have recently become more common in Arkansas. This spring one was photographed in Pine Bluff along Hwy 425 on 13 Mar in Jefferson Co (Katlynne Johnson).
Veeries are rare spring migrants in Arkansas; one was photographed at the James W. Trimble Lock and Dam on 24 Apr in Sebastian Co (Matthew Matlock).
The 19th record of a Lesser Goldfinch was photographed at a feeder in Fayetteville on 2 May in Washington Co (Robert Peck).
Clay-colored Sparrows are relatively uncommon in Arkansas. One was observed in the St. Francis National Forest at Stumpy Pt. on 14 May in Phillips Co (Leif Anderson).
An out-of-place Great-tailed Grackle was seen at McDonalds in Crossett on 12 May in Ashley Co (Leif Anderson).
A Louisiana Waterthrush was observed 1.5 weeks earlier than usual along Snow Creek in the Ozark National Forest on 7 March in Pope Co (Leif Anderson).
Also early was a Black-and-white Warbler observed at the United States Forest Service district office in Hector on 3 March (Leif Anderson).
A very rare Black-throated Blue Warbler was observed at the Mississippi River State Park-River Confluence on 9 May in Phillips Co (Leif Anderson).
A beautiful male Western Tanager, Arkansas’s 18th record, was photographed in Pine Bluff on 27 April in Jefferson Co (Katlynne Johnson).
A beautiful male Black-headed Grosbeak was photographed at a feeder in Russellville on 29 April in Pope Co (Valerie Morrison).
A male Lazuli Bunting, Arkansas’s thirty-fifth record, was photographed in north Bella Vista on 28 April in Benton Co (Sarah McGee).
A possible hybrid male Lazuli x Indigo Bunting was photographed along Viney Grove Rd south of Hwy 16 on 4 May in Washington Co (Kenny Younger).
Report edited by Eric DeFonso, 16 Jul 2026.
Photos–Arkansas: Spring 2026
