It’s been a while since our last Rare Bird Alert post! We’ve got a lot of catching up to do around the turn of the year.
Rare birds in the ABA Area continuing into 2026 include Mottled Owl (ABA Code 5), Brown Jay (4), Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), and Cattle Tyrant (5), in Texas. Hawaii’s 1st record of Blue Rock-Thrush (5) is still being seen on Oahu, and the Steller’s Sea-Eagle (4) in Newfoundland continues its long residency in eastern Canada.
2026 started off with a bang in Virginia, where a state 1st Red-flanked Bluetail (4) was seen on January 1 in Fairfax Co. This east Asian songbird is somewhat regular in western Alaska, but records elsewhere on the continent are quite uncommon and records in the east even more so. This is only the second record of this species in eastern North America. That first, from New Jersey at the end of 2023, was represented by a bird that delighted birders for many weeks. The similarities in space and time, at least broadly speaking, do suggest the possibility that this individual is the same bird returning to roughly the same part of the continent, though perhaps the more likely scenario is that this is a species with extreme vagrancy potential that is frequently overlooked in eastern North America.
Along the same lines, comes the recent news of a Quebec 1st European Robin (5), seen just this week in Montreal. This is the maybe the fourth record of this species in the ABA Area, following birds in Pennsylvania in 2015, Florida in 2018, New Jersey in 2023. One wouldn’t necessarily expect this species to be a regular vagrant to North America, but the many dozen records from both the Azores and Iceland suggest the tantalizing possibility.
The fun isn’t just limited to the eastern half of the continent, birders in British Columbia enjoyed and exceptional provincial 1st Taiga Flycatcher (4) in Vancouver. Its’a also a 1st record for Canada. This is only the third record of this species on the North American mainland, following one from California in 2006, and another from Nome, Alaska, just last year. From the other direction, came BC’s 3rd Pine Warbler, at a feeder in Victoria.
December brought Georgia its 1st record of Groove-billed Ani, a bird seen for a short time in Richmond Co. This species has been painfully close to Georgia in the past, with records from both South Carolina and Alabama within 5 miles of the border.
And in New Jersey, a Short-billed Gull discovered on a CBC in Middlesex Co is a state 1st, though one that comes as a result of the recent Mew Gull split. All previous records of the species formerly known as “Mew Gull” were of the Old World subspecies, now known as Common Gull.
In Nova Scotia, a pioneering Tufted Titmouse at a feeder in New Glasgow represents the 2nd record for the province, and the first to be photographed. The previous record was only in 2023 and the species has been moving up the coast in recent years and is now reasonably common in southern New Brunswick.
Elsewhere in eastern Canada, a Brambling (3) was seen at a feeder in Shoal Harbour, Newfoundland.
Connecticut’s 3rd record of Townsend’s Warbler was seen by many in Madison.
Good birds in New York include a Short-billed Gull in New York Co and the state’s 2nd record of Cassin’s Sparrow at the end of Long Island in Suffolk Co. A Glaucous-winged Gull at Niagara Falls has been seen on both the New York and Ontario sides of the border, it is noteworthy for both.
Delaware’s 7th Cinnamon Teal, a nice male, was seen at Little Creek.
Florida’s 6th Little Gull turned up in Alachua Co.
in Indiana, a Pine Grosbeak in Huntington Co is quite far south for this boreal species and may suggest a larger movement into the northern United States. Also, a Ferruginous Hawk was seen in Gibson Co.
Michigan’s 2nd record of Cassin’s Finch was a very nice find in Cheboygan Co.
Nebraska’s 2nd Crested Caracara in Garden Co was seen not so far from the state’s 2nd Mexican Duck in Bluff Co.
In Kansas, a Great Kiskadee in Pratt Co at the end of last year is the state’s 3rd.
Colorado’s 4th Ross’s Gull was seen in Weld Co.
Good birds for Washington include the state’s 5th Winter Wren in Chelan Co, and the state’s 7th Whooper Swan (3) in Skagit Co.
And in Oregon, notable rarities include a Prairie Warbler in Coos Co, a Painted Bunting in Douglas Co, and a Hooded Warbler in Lane Co.
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.
