Rare Bird Alert

Because of COVID-19 related Stay-at-Home orders in many states and provinces, the purpose of this report is to keep homebound birders caught up rare bird sightings across the ABA Area during spring migration. We do not endorse the pursuit of rare birds beyond your local area. The ABA urges readers to respect state, provincial, and local restrictions on non-essential travel. The ABA’s Recording Standards and Ethics Committee has released guidelines on how birders should approach this unusual time and we urge birders, whether they are members of the ABA or not, to consider them when deciding whether to travel to see a rare bird. Stay safe and healthy, everyone.

Notable continuing birds in the ABA Area include the Plain-capped Starthroat (ABA Code 4) at a feeder in Arizona, the long-staying Black-faced Grassquit in south Florida and the summering Little Egret (4) in Maine.

We started in Texas last week and it’s back to south Texas we go this week with a one-day wonder Green-breasted Mango in Hidalgo. Texas has, by far, the most records of the widespread tropical hummingbird.

No 1st records to report this week, but as we get closer to fall the west coast begins to heat up and California is already doing well with a trio of excellent finds including a Common Crane (4) in Modoc, a Little Stint (4) in Solano,  and a Nazca Booby (4) seen near the Farallons in San Francisco. 

Oregon is also seeing some nice birds and highlights of the week include Bar-tailed Godwit in Lincoln and a Little Stint (4) of their own in Clatsop.

On to British Columbia where a White-winged Dove was a nice find in Tofino.

In Oklahoma, a sharp male Vermilion Flycatcher was seen in Garvin. 

Rhode Island gets its second Little Stint on the summer with a recently discovered bird in Washington. 

And on Prince Edward Island, a Black Vulture was soaring over Dingwells Mills.

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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.