Lots of noteworthy rarities continue into the third week of January, including very long staying birds like the Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5) and Brown Jay (4) in South Texas, joined by an accommodating Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and the Cattle Tyrant (5) up the coast. New to this spot, but not to birders who have enjoyed them for weeks, are the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in Virginia, and the Taiga Flycatcher (4) in British Columbia. First local records Blue Rock-Thrush (5) in Hawaii and Eurasian Bullfinch (4) in Yukon were also seen in the last week, as was the emblem of newly permanent rarities, the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland.
Early January saw a fascinating find in Quebec, where a European Robin (5), seen in a residential neighborhood in northern Montreal, represents a 1st record for the province and for Canada, and only the 4th or so record for the ABA Area. Previous records from Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida, along with many records from Iceland, suggest that this endearing species is capable of making the trek across the Atlantic, potentially with some help from sea traffic. Such provenance, it should be noted, wouldn’t prevent its inclusion on the ABA Checklist, provided the bird was never captive, though inclusion on one’s personal list is, of course, up to the individual. In any case, this individual has been more than accommodating for birders making the effort to see it.
Down the coast to Connecticut, where the state’s 6th Western Meadowlark in Tolland Co, and the state’s 12th Bohemian Waxwing in Litchfield Co, were both discovered this month.
New York has become rare goose central in early 2026, where the staet’s 2nd Taiga Bean-Goose (3) was seen in Rensselaer Co, joining the state’s 3rd Tundra Bean-Goose (3), found not long before in Nassau Co.
Interesting birds in North Carolina this week include a trio of Common Ground-Doves in Sampson Co, a Crested Caracara in Camden Co, and the state’s 5th MacGillivray’s Warbler in Wayne Co.
In Kansas, a Crested Caracara near the town of Winfield is the state’s 4th.
And notable for British Columbia, a Summer Tanager was visiting a feeder near Campbell River.
Omissions and errors are not intended, but if you find any, please message blog AT aba.org and we 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 installments of the ABA Rare Bird Alert. Readers should note that most of these reports have not yet been vetted by a records committee. All birders are urged to submit documentation of rare sightings to the appropriate state or provincial records 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.
