Establishing a new First State Record for New York, a Common Cuckoo has been observed by many lucky birders on Long Island (photo by Tammy McQuade).

During the past 2 weeks, 15 new records were established in states and provinces across North America. Old World species created 3 of the 4 First State or Provincial Records, including a Common Cuckoo in New York, a European Golden Plover in Virginia, and a Little Bunting in British Columbia that also established a First Canadian Record! There was also a First State Record Black Phoebe in northeast Minnesota, a Second State Record Oriental Greenfinch was documented in California, and a Second State Record Grace’s Warbler was photographed in Ontario – and there are more exciting records and rare sightings to share:

CANADIAN RECORD

First Canadian Record Little Bunting – Roberts Creek, British Columbia

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Common Cuckoo – Riverside, New York

First Provincial Record Little Bunting – Roberts Creek, British Columbia

First State Record European Golden Plover – Wallops Island, Virginia

First State Record Black Phoebe – Gooseberry Falls, Minnesota

Second Provincial Record Grace’s Warbler – Algonquin Park, Ontario

Second State Record Oriental Greenfinch – Farallon Islands, California

Third State Record Olive-backed Pipit – Fullerton, California

Third Provincial Record Spotted Redshank – Delta, British Columbia

Fourth State Record Costa’s Hummingbird – Lincoln, Nebraska

Sixth Provincial Record Siberian Pipit – Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

Seventh Provincial Record Rustic Bunting – Haida Gwaii, British Columbia

Seventh Provincial Record Gray Kingbird – Rimouski, Quebec

Fifth State Record Little Blue Heron – Bateman Island, Washington

Tenth Provincial Record Gray Kingbird – near Bradley, Ontario

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher – Miami, Florida

Rufous-backed Robin – Moreno Valley, California

Pink-footed Goose – near Lake View, New York

Broad-billed Hummingbird – Riverhead, New York

Varied Thrush – New York, New York

California Gull – St. Johns, Newfoundland

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Steller’s Sea Eagle – Newfoundland

Yellow-headed Caracara – Texas

Roadside Hawk – Texas

Mottled Owl – Texas

Gray Gull – Florida

American Flamingos – Texas, Florida

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: October 31, 2025 - American Birding Association (aba.org). Special Thanks to the ABA for permitting us to use the Rare Bird Alert as the basis to prepare this weekly or bi-weekly replay.

You can often find more information about individual rare bird sightings from the ABA state rare bird alert listserves that you can access at Birding News brought to you by American Birding Association - (aba.org) or at ABA Rare Bird Alert | Facebook.