Rare Bird Alert

Notable continuing rarities in the ABA include the young Northern Jacana (ABA Code 4) and multiple Eared Quetzals (4) in Arizona, a Red-footed Booby (4) in California, and a long-staying Black-faced Grassquit (4) in Florida.

The Eared Quetzal irruption in to the ABA Area is one of the biggest bird stories of the year. Birders have recorded at least three and maybe as many as five individuals in Arizona, and now New Mexico is getting into the fun. At least one and possibly two Eared Quetzals were seen in Grant, New Mexico in the Gila National Forest, representing a 1st record for the state.

That wasn’t the only 1st for the weekend. From the Northwest Territories, a Nashville Warbler photographed in Hay River represents a 1st territorial record.

In British Columbia, a truly bizarre pairing of birds in the Strait of Georgia in the province’s 2nd Red-legged Kittiwake at Deep Bay and a likely Nazca Booby (4), the province’s 3rd, near Galiano Island. Also notable in BC was an Indigo Bunting in Saanich.

Oregon continues to produce interesting birds with the state’s 5th record of Worm-eating Warbler in Newport and its 12th Canada Warbler in Tillimook. 

In California, a White Wagtail (3) is a nice bird in Los Angeles. 

A second Northern Jacana (4) for the fall was found in Santa Cruz, Arizona–this one an adult bird to go along with the continuing immature bird.

Noteworthy for Nevada, was a sharp-looking Sabine’s Gull in Washoe. 

Colorado’s 5th record of Nelson’s Sparrow turned up in Arapahoe. 

In Minnesota, a Tropical/Couch’s Kingbird, likely the former, was seen in Lac Qui Parle. 

A Magnificent Frigatebird at Whitefish Point, Michigan, is the latest extralimital frigatebird to turn up in the continent’s interior this fall Nelson’s Sparrow Kent

In Newfoundland, a Corn Crake (4) was discovered at Cape Race, the 5th record for the province and the island, though two of those records come from the 1800s.

Maine keeps up its impressive run of western vagrants this week with a Say’s Phoebe in Cumberland. 

And in North Carolina, a Kirtland’s Warbler is showing well in Chatham. 

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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.