THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA
AND ADJACENT PLAINS STATES
Paul A. Johnsgard

Begin Page One

Family Tinamidae (Crested Tinamou) -- Eudromia elegans Unsuccessfully introduced into Nebraska. Birds of this species were released in Dundy County in 1970. There were no sightings after approximately five months following release (Nebraska Bird Review 39:39).
Family Gaviidae Pacific Loon -- Gavia pacifica Extremely rare. There are at least 14 Nebraska records for this species as of 1997. A specimen was collected before 1900 in Frontier County (Bruner, Wolcott and Swenk, 1904), one was observed in November of 1961 in Sarpy County (Nebraska Bird Review 40:40), one was seen in October, 1971 in Scotts Bluff County. Other records to 1985 are listed by Bray et al. (1986) and through 1996 by Brogie (1997). Many of the records are for the month of November. Common Loon -- Gavia immer MAP Uncommon spring and fall migrant throughout Nebraska. This species has been observed in at least 33 counties, being recorded ten or more times in Douglas, Lincoln and Lancaster counties, at least five times in Scotts Bluff and Keith counties. Most of the sightings have occurred in the eastern half of the state. Also migrates through other Plains States, becoming rarer southwestwardly, and breeds in Minnesota and North Dakota. Migration: Excepting two January records, 55 initial spring sightings range from March 18 to May 27, with a median of May 7. Fourteen final spring sightings are from April 12 to May 28, with a median of May 6. Twenty-five initial fall sightings are from July 20 to November 2, with a median of October 24. Seventeen final fall sightings are from October 25 to December 7 with a median of November 2. Of a total of 135 records, the largest number (37) are for April, followed by May (35), November (26), and October (15). Records exist for all months except February. Habitats: Larger rivers, lakes and reservoirs while on Migration. Comments: This is much the most common species of loon seen in the state, and the plumage patterns seen here vary greatly, but usually are of the winter or immature type. Calling occurs only rarely while the birds are in Nebraska, and nearly all birds seen are single individuals. Yellow-billed Loon -- Gavia adamsii Accidental. An adult of this species was seen and photographed on Branched Oak Lake, Lancaster County, between November 17 and 23, 1996 (Brogie, 1997). No other regional records exist for this species. Red-throated Loon. -- Gavia stellata An extremely rare spring and fall migrant. There have been at least 14 sightings of this species in the state. Most are for Douglas and Lancaster counties, but it has also been observed once each in Buffalo, Sarpy, Frontier, Keith and Washington counties. It has been reported in Kansas and Oklahoma, and once (1989) in South Dakota. Migration: Five spring records are from April 17 to May 7, with a mean of April 28, and eight fall records are from October 31 to December 2, with a mean of November 17. There is also one mid-June record. Habitats: Larger rivers, lakes and reservoirs while on Migration. Comments: This is the smallest of the loons, and the only one lacking the black-and-white back patterning when in breeding plumage. It is also the only loon that can take off from small ponds, as are common on its arctic nesting grounds.
Family Podicipedidae Pied-billed Grebe -- Podilymbus podiceps MAP A common spring and fall migrant and local summer resident throughout Nebraska. It breeds almost throughout the Plains States, excepting the drier areas of the southwestern states. Migration: A total of 116 initial spring sightings range from February 27 to June 10, with a median of April 5. Half of the sightings fall within the period March 24 - April 22. Eighty-four final fall sightings are from August 21 to December 6, with a median of November 6. Half of the sightings fall within the period October 10 - November 16. Habitats: Breeding occurs on small ponds, river impoundments and lakes, ranging from quite small to large, but always those having extensive stands of heavy emergent vegetation and adjacent areas of open water. Comments: This grebe is the commonest species in the state, and one that rarely strays far from reedy or weedy shorelines. It often dives vertically when alarmed, with at most its head remaining above water. Its bill is adapted for eating crustaceans and other invertebrates rather than fish, and it is never seen in flocks like the other Nebraska grebes. The inked area on the range map represents a mean density of 5-20 individuals per Breeding Bird survey route annually. Breeding Bird surveys between 1966 and 1993 indicate that the species has undergone a significant population decline during that period. Horned Grebe -- Podiceps auritus MAP An uncommon spring and fall migrant throughout Nebraska, and an accidental resident. It has reportedly bred in Cherry County, but the closest area of regular breeding is north-central South Dakota. It also breeds in North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Migration: Sixty-two initial spring sightings range from February to June 4, with a median of April 16. Twenty four final spring sightings are from April 14 to May 22, with a median of May 6. Seventeen initial fall sightings are from September 5 to November 11, with a median of October 8. Seventeen final fall sightings are from October 9 to November 27, with a median of November 11. Habitats: Rivers, lakes and reservoirs while on Migration. Breeding occurs on ponds and marshes ranging in size from less than an acre to several hundred acres, which may be seasonal or permanent. Submerged aquatic vegetation is typically abundant, but emergent growth may be rather sparse. Comments: Slightly larger than the eared grebe, this is much less common, and lacks that species' black neck. There are no modern nesting records for this attractive species. Red-necked Grebe -- Podiceps auritus MAP An extremely rare spring and fall migrant in Nebraska. There have been sightings of this species in at least six counties, with most of the reports for Douglas- Sarpy, and nearly all from counties bordering the Platte or Missouri rivers. It is considered rare in Kansas and Oklahoma, but a regular migrant in the Dakotas. It breeds in Minnesota and North Dakota. Migration: Seven spring records are from March 13 to May 17, with a mean of April 9, and eight fall records are from September 30 to December 21, with a mean of October 30. Habitats: Rivers, lakes and reservoirs while on Migration. Comments: The red-necked grebe is a large, robust species that seems to prefer rather large bodies of water, and has a sharp bill well adapted to fish-eating. Like the eared grebe, it also occurs widely in Europe. Eared Grebe -- Podiceps nigricollis MAP An uncommon spring and fall migrant throughout Nebraska, and a fairly common summer resident in western and northern counties, including most of the area north of the Platte River. It also breeds in the Dakotas, Minnesota and Iowa. Migration: A total of 105 initial spring sightings range from February 19 to June 5, with a median of April 22. Half of the sightings fall within the period of April 11 to May 5. Twenty three final fall sightings are from August 23 to November 15, with a median of October 16. Half of the sightings fall within the period October 8-30. Habitats: Rivers, lakes and reservoirs during Migration. Breeding occurs on ponds, marshes, and shallow river impoundments that are usually rich in submerged aquatic plants. Large, open ponds providing abundant feeding areas but also some sheltered locations with emergent aquatic plants for nesting sites seem to be favored. Comments: This beautiful little grebe is a colonial nester, and one of the summer attractions of Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge during mid-June is watching families of eared grebes with several chicks on the backs of nearly every adult. The bill of this species is rather flattened, and adapted for catching insects and other aquatic invertebrates. The inked area on the range map represents a mean density of 5-20 individuals per Breeding Bird survey route annually. Breeding Bird surveys between 1966 and 1993 indicate that the species has undergone a significant population increase during that period. Western Grebe -- Aechmophorus occidentalis MAP A common spring and fall migrant in the western part of Nebraska, rarer eastwardly, and a summer resident in western areas. Breeding occurs primarily on the larger Sandhills marshes, including Crescent Lake and Valentine refuges, which represent the southeastern limit of breeding of this species in the Plains States. Many apparent non-breeders and a few breeders occur during summer on Lake McConaughy. It also breeds in the Dakotas and southwestern Minnesota. Migration: Seventy-seven initial spring sightings range from March 10 to June 10, with a median of May 6. Half of the sightings fall within the period April 19 - May 18. Forty-three final fall sightings are from September 10 to December 7, with a median of October 3. Half of the sightings fall within the period October 1 - 24. Habitats: Rivers , lakes and reservoirs while on Migration. Breeding is on ponds and lakes that usually have large expanses of open water, and on some marshes that are at least 50 acres in area. Comments: The western grebe is perhaps the most spectacular of all the North American grebes, and during April as many as 14,000 of these splendid birds aggregate on Lake McConaughy. Breeding is common on several large marshes at Crescent Lake and Valentine refuges. The wonderful courtship displays, during which the birds often race over the water like miniature hydroplanes, are perhaps best seen during May. Many other displays are performed in a ballet-like manner as well. The inked area on the range map represents a mean density of 5-20 individuals per Breeding Bird survey route annually. Clark's Grebe -- Aechmophorus clarkii Occasional. The state's first record was of an adult in breeding plumage found dead at Lake Keystone, Keith County on June l, l986, and since then a moderate number of sightings have been reported in western Nebraska, including adults and young seen at the western end of Lake McConaughy in late July, l993 (Rosche, l994). Up to 16 birds have been reported there, and some have also been seen at Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge. Breeding in South Dakota was first documented in 1987. Comments: Probably this poorly distinguished species is more common in Nebraska than generally appreciated, since is very easily overlooked among flocks of western grebes.
Family Phaethontidae (White-tailed Tropicbird) -- Phaethon lepturus Hypothetical . A highly questionable sight record for this species exists for Lincoln County (Nebraska Bird Review 41:59, 79). There are no other regional records.
Family Fregatidae (Magnificent Frigate-bird) -- Fregata magnificens Hypothetical . There is a sight record for this species by Lawrence Bruner in Cuming County in the spring of 1884 (Swenk, 1934). Specimens have been collected in Kansas and Oklahoma.
Family Pelecanidae American White Pelican -- Pelecanus erythroryhnchos MAP A common migrant throughout Nebraska, especially in central and western counties. Non-breeders commonly occur through the summer on Harlan County Reservoir and Lake McConaughy, but there are no breeding records for the state. It breeds locally in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Migration: Eighty-four initial spring sightings range from February 21 to May 22 with a median of April 28. Half of the records fall within the period May 10-24. Thirty final spring sightings are from April 12 to June 1, with a median of April 28. Twenty-eight initial fall sightings range from August 5 to November 21, with a median of September 24. Twenty-eight final fall sightings are from September 16 to November 10 with a median of October 16. Habitats: Deeper marshes, lakes and reservoirs are used by migrating and non-breeding birds. Comments . The nearest breeding site for this species is at LaCreek National Wildlife Refuge near Martin, South Dakota, and probably many of the birds seen in Nebraska are migrants going to and from this site or others farther north, or are non-breeders spending their summers away from the crowded breeding colonies. Brown Pelican -- Pelecanus occidentalis Extremely rare. Vagrants of this species have been seen in Nebraska on various occasions. Swenk (1934) summarized five early records, and since then the species has been reported in Lincoln County in 1937, in Cherry and Keya Paha counties in 1955, and in Custer County in 1977. In l99l single birds were seen in Dodge and Dakota counties (Nebraska Bird Review 59:150), and one was seen at DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, Washington County, on May 6, l992 Migration: The few available records for this species range from April 10 to October 10. There are records for April, May, July and October. Habitats: Normally associated with coastal beaches and shorelines. Comments: Unlike the white pelicans of the world, the brown pelican dives from the air for its prey, and is almost entirely limited to coastal waters.
Family Phalacrocoracidae Double-crested Cormorant -- Phalacrocorax auritus MAP An uncommon spring and fall migrant throughout Nebraska, becoming more common westwardly. It is a summer resident in several locations in the western half of the state, east to Cherry County and the vicinity of North Platte. It also breeds locally in Minnesota and the Dakotas. Migration: Of 102 initial spring sightings, the range is March 14 to May 29, and the median is April 12. Half of the records fall between the period April 14-25. Thirty-nine final spring records range from April 17 to June 2, with a median of May 1. Thirty-one initial fall sightings are from August 7 to October 20, with a median of September 21. Thirty-one final fall sightings are from September 17 to December 14, with a median of October 23 Habitats: Migrating birds use deeper marshes, lakes, rivers and reservoirs. Breeding occurs on islands, trees, or cliffs near water, and within about 10 miles of an adequate fish supply. Comments: During the past few decades this cormorant has increased greatly in the U.S.A., benefiting from fish farms in the south and better protection on its nesting grounds. Nesting may occur in partly submerged bushes or trees, or on nesting platforms set out for Canada geese, as well as on sandy or gravely islands. The inked area on the range map represents a mean density of 5-20 individuals per Breeding Bird survey route annually. Breeding Bird surveys between 1966 and 1993 indicate that the species has undergone a significant population increase during that period. Neotropic Cormorant -- Phalacrocorax olivaceous Accidental A specimen was obtained 2 October, l982, at Sutherland Reservoir (Nebraska Bird Review 5l: l8). Also photographed at Hackberry Lake, Cherry County, September 4, l993 (Nebraska Bird Review 64:3l), seen at Valentine National Wildlife Refuge, Cherry County, July l9, l995 (Nebraska Bird Review 63:71) and at Chambers, Holt County, May 20-30, 1996 (Nebraska Bird Review 64:44; Brogie, 1997)). First reported for South Dakota in l985.
Family Anhingidae Anhinga -- Anhinga anhinga Accidental. Recorded in Buffalo County in September 1913, in Hamilton County during May 1955, in Greely County in April 1975, in the Platte River between Hamilton and Merrick counties in October 1976, and reported from Sarpy County in April 1978. Migration: The few available records for this species range from April 27 to October (no date). There are also records for May and September. Habitats: Normally associated with lagoons, lakes, rivers, and swamps with quiet or sluggishly flowing fresh water that is clear and supports fish. Comments: This is essentially a tropical fish-eating species that stalks its prey underwater, spearing it in a heron-like manner while wholly submerged. The nearest known nesting has occurred in southeastern Oklahoma.

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THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKAAND ADJACENT PLAINS STATESPaul A. Johnsgard

THE BIRDS OF NEBRASKA
AND ADJACENT PLAINS STATES
Paul A. Johnsgard