The list of continuing rarities in the ABA Area far exceeds the list of new birds. Birders in Texas are still enjoying the Cattle Tyrant (ABA Code 5) on the upper coast and the Brown Jays (4), Mottled Owl (5), and Crimson-collared Grosbeak (4), in the lower valley. Canada’s 1st record of Eurasian Bullfinch (4) is still visiting a feeder in the Yukon. Similarly, the Red-flanked Bluetail (4) in northern Virginia is still present along with the Garganey (4) in Pennsylvania and the European Robin (5) in Quebec.
Though the new birds are few, they are still quite notable, as the first ABA Area 1st record of 2026 was seen late last week in Hawaii. Hawaii’s inclusion in the ABA Area a decade ago added a number of unique bird species to the ABA Checklist and the possibility of some exceptional seabirds from the Pacific. That potential was realized with the offshore discovery of a Phoenix Petrel south of the Big Island.
This species is widespread in the southwest Pacific, breeding on islands and atolls like Marquesas, Kiribati, and, off course, the Phoenix Islands. It has come quite close to Hawaii in the past, with sight records within 450 nautical miles of the archipelago, and breeding birds in Kiribati are only 2500 or so miles south, an entirely reasonably distance for a tubenose to cover.
Down to Mississippi, where an apparent Black-tailed Gull (4) in Biloxi, Harrison Co, is a state 1st record and only the third for this primarily East Asian species on the Gulf Coast. Like Lesser Black-backed Gull and Slaty-backed Gull before it, records of this species have been increasing in the last decade, especially on the Pacific Coast and the western Great Lakes.
And in British Columbia, a Sagebrush Sparrow in Coquitlam is a noteworthy find, with fewer than 10 previous records for the province.
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.
