A White-crowned Pigeon documented during a Christmas Bird Count in North Carolina established a First State Record.

A surprise sighting documented with photographs of a Gundlach’s Hawk created a First North American Record last week as well as a First State Record for Florida. This endangered species resembles a Cooper’s Hawk but is endemic to the island of Cuba. First State Records were also established by birders who photographed a White-crowned Pigeon in North Carolina and a Glaucous-winged Gull in Ohio. Washington birders were treated to a Second State Record Common Crane last week, along with a Third State Record Whooper Swan. Louisiana birders found a Second State Record Trumpeter Swan, while Oregon birders added a Second State Record Common Eider. A Third State Record Ivory Gull was documented in northern Michigan, and there are many more rare bird sightings to share below.

NORTH AMERICAN RECORD

First North American Record Gundlach’s Hawk – Cape Coral, Florida

STATE & PROVINCIAL RECORDS

First State Record Gundlach’s Hawk – Cape Coral, Florida

First State Record White-crowned Pigeon – Carolina Beach, North Carolina

First State Record Glaucous-winged Gull – Cleveland, Ohio

Second State Record Common Eider – near Bandon, Oregon

Second State Record Common Crane – Brady, Washington

Second State Record Trumpeter Swan – Winnsboro, Louisiana

Third State Record Whooper Swan – Sackville, Washington

Third State Record Ivory Gull – near Dollar Bay, Michigan

Third State Record Spotted Rail –Seguin, Texas

Sixth State Record Red-flanked Bluetail – Santa Cruz, California

REALLY RARE BIRDS

Brambling – Cape Disappointment, Washington

Say’s Phoebe – near Washington Boro, Pennsylvania

Mountain Bluebird – Newington, New Hampshire

CONTINUING RARE BIRDS

Pink-footed Goose – Kentucky

Pink-footed Goose – New Hampshire

Northern Lapwing – Massachusetts

Northern Lapwing – Maine

Streak-backed Oriole – California

Little Stint – California

Curlew Sandpiper – California

Social Flycatcher – Texas

For more information, refer to the American Birding Association’s Rare Bird Alert at Rare Bird Alert: January 6, 2023 - American Birding Association (aba.org) Special Thanks to the ABA, and Nate Swick, who does such a great job of compiling the ABA’s Rare Bird Alert, which we use to prepare this weekly replay.

You can often find more info about individual rare bird sightings from the state rare bird alert listserves that you can access at http://birding.aba.org/ or at https://www.facebook.com/groups/ABArare/