Documented far from its Asian range, a Greater Sand Plover found at Biscay Bay near St. John's, Newfoundland established a First Canadian Record as well as a Third North American Record and a First Provincial Record (photo by Bruce Mactavish). A pair of Military Macaws was documented at Big Bend National Park, creating a First North American Record and first Texas State Record (photo by Kim Morse). Read more in an accompanying special article in this issue.

As April was winding down, birders witnessed some especially exciting birds from beyond our borders, including 3 North American Records, a Canadian Record, and a number of State & Provincial Records. The sighting of 2 Military Macaws at Big Bend National Park was documented as a First North American Record and first Texas State Record! A First Canadian Record Greater Sand Plover turned out to be a Third North American Record and a First Provincial Record for Labrador and Newfoundland. Also, a Eurasian Oystercatcher was documented in Newfoundland, which created a Seventh North American Record and a Sixth Provincial Record, and there is more!

NORTH AMERICAN RECORDS

First North American Record Military Macaws (2) – Big Bend National Park, Texas

Third North American Record Greater Sand Plover – St. Johns, Newfoundland

Seventh North American Record Eurasian Oystercatcher – St. Johns, Newfoundland

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Military Macaws (2) – Big Bend National Park, Texas

First Provincial Record Greater Sand Plover – St. Johns, Newfoundland

Second State Record Cassin’s Kingbird – near Uniontown, Alabama

Sixth Provincial Record Eurasian Oystercatcher – St. Johns, Newfoundland

REALLY RARE BIRDS

European Golden Plovers – St. Johns, Newfoundland

Bahama Mockingbird – Key West, Florida

Ruff – Hagerman Wildlife Refuge, Texas

Great Gray Owl – near Brookings, South Dakota

Black-billed Magpie – Memphremagog, Quebec

Fish Crow – Monteregie, Quebec

Fulvous Whistling Duck – Otway, North Carolina

Fulvous Whistling Duck – Savanah Refuge, South Carolina

Western Grebe – Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

Chuck-Wills-Widow – Detroit Beach, Michigan

Smith’s Longspur – near Three Oaks, Michigan

Gray Kingbird – near Wilmington, North Carolina

Rock Wren – Point Pelee, Ontario

Blue Grosbeak – Georgina, Ontario

Mountain Bluebird – Ottawa, Ontario

Mountain Bluebirds (3) – Chicago area, Illinois

CONTINUING REALLY RARE BIRDS

Amur Stonechat – Texas

Yellow Grosbeak – Arkansas

Mottled Owl – Texas

American Flamingos – Florida, Texas

Gray Gull – Alabama

Yellow-headed Caracara – Texas

Berylline Hummingbird – Arizona

Cattle Tyrant – Texas

Brown Jays – Texas

Flame-colored Tanager – Texas

For more information, you can refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: April 25, 2025 - American Birding Association (aba.org) Special Thanks to the ABA for permitting us to use the ABA’s Rare Bird Alert as the basis to prepare this 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