Rare Bird Alert

There are more continuing rarities in the ABA Area than new ones right now, with the famous Steller’s Sea-Eagle (ABA Code 4) still holding court in coastal Maine and a rarity quartet of Bat Falcon (5), Social Flycatcher (5), Golden-crowned Warbler (4), and Crimson-crowned Grosbeak (4) in Texas. The New Mexico Blue Mockingbird (4) and Maryland Northern Lapwing (4) are also present into this week.

Despite the relative paucity of new rarities in 2022, we have 1sts to report. In Colorado, a Rufous-backed Robin (3) in Montezuma is a state 1st and the latest in a run of north Mexican species that have turned up in Colorado in recent years like Yellow Grosbeak, Golden-crowned Warbler, and Ruddy Ground-Dove.

In Ohio, birders are currently pondering the presence of a Whooper Swan (3) among a flock of Tundra Swans in Montgomery. The provenance of waterfowl is always a fraught discussion, especially one like Whooper Swan that isn’t uncommon in captive menageries.

In Florida, a Zenaida Dove (4) was photographed this week in Monroe. 

Nova Scotia had a Townsend’s Warbler in Green Bay, a species that is becoming an increasingly common winter visitor in eastern Canada.

And in Mississippi, a Say’s Phoebe was seen in Bolivar. 

Omissions and errors are not intended, but if you find any please message blog AT aba.org and I will try to fix them as soon as possible. This post is meant to be an account of the most recently reported birds. Continuing birds not mentioned are likely included in previous editions listed here. Place names written in italics refer to counties/parishes.

Readers should note that none of these reports has yet been vetted by a records committee. All birders are urged to submit documentation of rare sightings to the appropriate state or provincial committees. For full analysis of these and other bird observations, subscribe to North American Birds, the richly illustrated journal of ornithological record published by the ABA.