May 9, 2025
Continuing rarities in the ABA Area include Yellow-headed Caracara (ABA Code 5) in Florida, and Cattle Tyrant (5), Brown Jay (4), and Mottled Owl (4), still persisting in Texas. The Brown Jays have reportedly been seen on a nest for the first time in several decades in the ABA Area.
This time of year is typically marked by the northward movement of migrating birds, those that winter in the neotropics and breed across North America take center stage, but we also see northward vagrancy of Caribbean species to Florida. The highlight of that phenomenon for the year so far is the ABA and Florida’s 5th record of Red-legged Thrush (5) in Indian River Co. This individual, like all Red-legged Thrushes that have been documented in Florida, represents the nominate Bahamanian subspecies, common only about 50 miles east from the Florida Atlantic coast.
This week also saw a Bahama Mockingbird (3) in Key West, following similar urges no doubt, and a Ruff (3) in Palm Beach Co.
Kansas has been on a very hot streak so far in 2025, and this week’s 1st state record of Tropical Parula, found building a nest with a Northern Parula in Reno Co, is the state’s fourth 1st record in this calendar year!
And Colorado birders have a lot to be excited about, with the state’s 3rd record of Yellow Grosbeak (4) at a feeder in Arapahoe Co. This is the second extralimital Yellow Grosbeak in the ABA Area this year following a long-staying bird in northern Arkansas. Not to be overlooked, a Lawrence’s Goldfinch in Huerfano Co is Colorado’s 2nd, as surprising as it is that there are more Yellow Grosbeak records than Lawrence’s Goldfinch records in the state.
To Wyoming, where a Black-legged Kittiwake in Washakie Co is the state’s 4th record, and a Common Crane (3) in Sheridan Co is only the 2nd for the state.
Pelagic birders in California waters have had very good luck with Short-tailed Albatross (3) in the last two weeks, with birds seen off od both Mendocino Co and San Mateo Co.
Good for Illinois, a Fork-tailed Flycatcher (3) was seen by many in Madison Co and a Tricolored Heron was in Lake Co.
Nova Scotia had a Ruff (3) this week in Cole Harbour.
In Quebec, a Willow Ptarmigan near Montreal is a first regional record.
And in North Carolina, a Snowy Plover was a nice find in Dare Co, and a Black-headed Grosbeak was visiting a feeder in Stanly Co.
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.
