SPECIAL REPORT
OF THE NEW YORK STATE AVIAN RECORDS COMMITTEE: ADDITION OF 17 NEW SPECIES TO THE NEW YORK CHECKLIST

Timothy P. Healy

tphealy97@gmail.com

Published in The Kingbird, September 2024

The number of exciting new species documented in New York has recently outpaced the publication of annual reports by the New York State Avian Records Committee, but NYSARC has been hard at work behind the scenes! The following 17 additions to the Checklist of the Birds of New York State have been reviewed and accepted under NYSARC’s Accelerated Review Policy that prioritizes well- documented reports of species not previously recorded in the state. In the interest of transparency and communication with the community at large, this special report has been prepared to formally announce these new additions, which bring the state list total to 514 species. Full details of the sightings and criteria for acceptance are provided in the narratives below, organized by year of occurrence.

2024 Report Accepted

American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber)
2024-11-A/D, One, Georgica Pond, East Hampton, Suffolk, 1-13 Jun (Zach Schwartz-Weinstein, Tim Healy, John Gluth, Thomas Gillen, ph Z. Schwartz- Weinstein, T. Healy, J. Gluth), eBird 31 May-1 Jun, 5, 7, 10-29 Jun, 1, 3, 5, 8,
14 Jul

Flamingos are among the most universally recognizable birds in the world. These gangly, rosy-plumed waders are strongly associated in the public consciousness with tropical islands and idyllic lagoons, a far cry from the habitats that typically spring to mind when one thinks of New York State. It should come as little surprise, then, that the discovery of an American Flamingo on Long Island would make headlines in multiple national news outlets. The first observation of the wayward waterbird to become public knowledge was a sighting by East Hampton resident Cathy Blinken at Georgica Pond on 31 May, 2024. Preliminary photos confirmed that the plumage hue and bill pattern were consistent with the American species, rather than the closely related Greater (P. roseus) or Chilean Flamingos (P. chilensis), which are occasionally found in North America as escapes from captivity. It later came to light that the flamingo had been spotted at Shinnecock Inlet the previous evening, and the restless wanderer was also documented as far west as the marshes near Cedar Beach at the eastern end of Jones Beach Island, with sightings at that location on 5 and 7 June. The bird eventually returned to Georgica Pond, where it remained fairly reliable throughout the rest of June and the first half of July. Dozens, if not hundreds, of curious observers made the pilgrimage from all corners of New York State to search for this most unusual visitor during its extended vacation in the Hamptons.

The core range of American Flamingo is centered around the Caribbean Sea, and there is evidence to suggest that breeding populations may have once existed in southern Florida. Extralimital records of flamingos in North America have historically faced an uphill battle for acceptance as legitimate wild vagrants. Given the longstanding popularity of this species in zoos and menageries, most sightings of free-flying flamingos in the United States were typically dismissed as escapees from captive collections. In fact, New York State itself saw more than half a dozen documented sightings of American Flamingo over the course of the 20th Century, and although none were accepted at the time, many occurred in contexts that seem appropriate for true vagrancy to be the most plausible origin (Shai Mitra, pers. comm.). The birding world’s collective understanding of vagrancy potential in this species was restructured dramatically in the wake of Hurricane Idalia in late August 2023. The timing and path of this storm, which formed in the Caribbean and subsequently moved up the Gulf of Mexico over Cuba and Florida, led to the displacement of large numbers of American Flamingos across the eastern portion of the continent. In the latter months of 2023, sightings were reported from no less than 18 states, with some birds documented as far afield as Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Kansas (Davis and Ramirez- Garofalo 2024). Several of the individuals involved in this incursion were confirmed to have been banded at breeding colonies in the Yucatán Peninsula, a population that disperses to Cuba in the nonbreeding season, leaving them well- positioned to be displaced by the passage of Idalia.

Good numbers of American Flamingos apparently lingered in Florida and other southeastern states into 2024, and it seems likely that the New York record may represent one of the birds that overwintered, subsequently wandering up the coast with the warming weather. This particular flamingo has demonstrated a remarkable capacity for traveling long distances in short periods of time over the course of the intervening weeks since its initial discovery in New York. The same individual, recognizable due to consistent details of plumage patterns and feather wear, was documented to have made brief forays to Cape Cod, Massachusetts on 3 June and again on 17 July. The bird subsequently settled in Rhode Island on 18 July, where it was last reported on 12 August. Rumored single observer sightings in Connecticut on 4 June and Delaware on 1 July coincide with periods of absence when the New York bird was unaccounted for, and could conceivably pertain to the same individual. The well-documented journey of this peripatetic flamingo, in combination with the broader context of post-Idalia vagrancy records, led to the unanimous acceptance of this report by the Committee.

2023 Reports Accepted

Black-chinned Hummingbird, photo © John Gluth
(click photo to enlarge)

Black-chinned Hummingbird (Archilochus alexandri)
2023-36-A/D, One, Randall’s Island, New York, 17-22 Nov (David Jeffrey Ringer, Tim Healy, John Gluth, Scott Dunn, ph D.J. Ringer, T. Healy, J. Gluth, S. Dunn), eBird 17 Nov-2 Dec, 5-10, 12-17 Dec

Although the New York birding community at large first became aware of this record on the afternoon of 17 November, 2023, the initial sighting of this individual was documented by Randall’s Island Park Alliance staff horticulturist Barbara Davaros a few days prior on 15 November. Barbara managed to record a brief cell phone video as the hummingbird foraged among the Salvia plantings at the park’s Cottage Garden, and the footage was subsequently shared on the Randall’s Island Instagram page. The post was promptly noticed by local patch birders, and the late date of the observation combined with the frenetic tail- pumping behavior demonstrated in the video clip were sufficient to raise suspicion regarding the bird’s identity. Swift follow-up by hopeful birders confirmed the hummingbird’s continuing presence, and a detailed series of diagnostic photographs verified that this individual represented New York State’s first documented record of Black-chinned Hummingbird. The bird ended up lingering at the Cottage Garden for a full month, sustained by a substantial crop of late- blooming flowers and a heated sugar water feeder provided by park staff. Hundreds of observers successfully connected with the cooperative little visitor during its stay, with the last documented sightings on 17 December coinciding with the local New Jersey Lower Hudson Christmas Bird Count.

Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
2023-34-A/D, One, Riverhead Private Residence, Suffolk, 21 Oct 2023 - 8 Feb 2024 (John Gluth, Tim Healy, Marybeth Zilnicki, Patricia Lindsay, ph J. Gluth, T. Healy, M. Zilnicki, P. Lindsay), eBird 21, 23-29 Oct, 1, 3-5, 9-10, 18-21, 24, 26, 29-30 Nov, 5, 8, 19, 22, 30 Dec, 1, 4, 6, 8, 18 Jan, 1, 9-11, 25 Feb, 1, 3, 7 Mar

As vagrants, hummingbirds often present a unique set of challenges that can prove frustrating for birders. Field identification of many species can be quite difficult, especially given the frequently fleeting views that are typically associated with these tiny, hyperactive sprites. Furthermore, many extralimital hummingbirds are discovered on private property, visiting gardens or feeders that may not be accessible to the general public. With all of these convoluting factors taken into account, the occurrence of an out-of-range, backyard-favoring hummingbird that is available to be visited and well-documented by a plurality of outside observers over the course of a multi-month stay could be considered to be a most noteworthy rarity among rarities. Such was the case of New York’s first Allen’s Hummingbird, which successfully overwintered under the doting care of Marybeth Zilnicki at her Riverhead residence, visiting her flowers and feeders on a daily basis from 21 October, 2023 until 7 April, 2024 (Marybeth Zilnicki, pers. comm.). Although the layout of the surrounding neighborhood was prohibitive to hosting a crush of chasers all at once, the homeowner demonstrated boundless hospitality for her human guests as well, and the gradual leak of the news through the community grapevine permitted dozens of birders to successfully connect with the hummingbird during its tenure.

A denizen of chaparral scrub and open woodlands along the Pacific Coast of North America, Allen’s Hummingbird is remarkably similar in all plumages to the more widespread Rufous Hummingbird (S. rufus). The structure of the tail feathers is typically cited as the most reliable feature for distinguishing between these species, with Allen’s Hummingbird showing comparatively narrower outer rectrices (R3 through R5) in all age and sex classes. The tried-and-true method of assessing this characteristic is with in-hand measurements, but in the modern era of digital photography it is sometimes possible to make an accurate judgment with sufficiently detailed photos. The second rectrix from the middle (R2) also shows a distinctive notch in Rufous Hummingbird, which is lacking in Allen’s. Although this field mark is most obvious in adult males, it is usually discernible in immature and female birds. Other plumage characters, such as the overall extent of rufous coloration, likewise vary depending on age and sex.

Like their Rufous congeners, Allen’s Hummingbirds show a consistent pattern of vagrancy across eastern North America, with records documented in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and a number of other states east of the Mississippi. The full scope of their extralimital occurrences is clouded by the challenges associated with identification, with records of wayward Selasphorus hummingbirds best treated as Rufous/Allen’s by default. Indeed, there have been a number of prior records in New York State over the years that were flagged as potential Allen’s candidates, but up until now none had been documented thoroughly enough to confidently rule out Rufous. The Committee wishes to express its gratitude to hummingbird bander Sheri Williamson, who contributed her expertise to the review of the photos associated with this report. Williamson was kind enough to provide the Committee with unpublished reference materials from her upcoming field guide, which supported her assessment of this individual as a hatch-year female Allen’s Hummingbird (Sheri Williamson, pers. comm.). In light of this ringing endorsement, which was echoed by a number of other experts who were consulted during the review process, this carefully considered record was eventually accepted via a unanimous vote.

Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni)
2023-21-A, One, Sodus Point, Sodus Bay, Wayne/Monroe, 19 May (Jay McGowan, ph J. McGowan), eBird 19-20 May

An afternoon visit to the Lake Ontario shoreline at Sodus Point on 19 May, 2023, originally intended as a brief check for migrant shorebirds, took an unexpected turn when Jay McGowan spotted a subadult Heermann’s Gull resting on the breakwall amidst a flock of expected gull species. Jay promptly alerted the birding community, which permitted many other observers to successfully make chase later that evening and early the next morning. The gull did not stay long, however, disappearing shortly after dawn on 20 May only to resurface three hours later and 31 miles to the west at Ontario Beach and Charlotte Pier in Monroe County. By late morning the bird had vanished yet again, continuing on its westward trajectory. There were no further reports of this individual following the lucky few who connected with it in Monroe. The identity of this distinctive species was never in doubt, and the Committee accepted the record unanimously.

Heermann’s Gull is an iconic denizen of North America’s West Coast, with the bulk of the global population breeding at Isla Rasa in the Gulf of California. This species had been on the shortlist for potential additions to the state checklist for some time, but many birders would likely have wagered on one of the counties on the Atlantic Coast being the first to claim the prize (Gochfeld 2023). Indeed, sightings of Heermann’s Gulls up and down the Eastern Seaboard have become more regular in recent years, owing to a small handful of individuals that have established themselves on this side of the continent. One wandering bird in particular was single handedly responsible for first state records in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Georgia, and South Carolina over the course of 2021. It is nigh certain that this individual passed through New York on its way to and from New England, but it evidently managed to slip by undetected both times. Fortunately, this missed opportunity was rectified just two years later thanks to the 2023 observations on the Ontario lakefront. First records of this species were also documented for North Carolina, Maryland, and Quebec in 2022.

Glaucous-winged Gull, photo © Gary Chapin
(click photo to enlarge)

Glaucous-winged Gull (Larus glaucescens)
2023-14-A, One, Orchard Beach, Pelham Bay Park, Bronx 31 Mar (Gary Chapin, ph G. Chapin) eBird 31 Mar

On the evening of 31 March, 2023, Gary Chapin was surprised by the discovery of an unfamiliar second-cycle gull at the Orchard Beach parking lot in Pelham Bay Park. The bird’s appearance immediately struck him as unusual, and he managed to secure a series of photographs for later review and consultation with experts. Subsequent study of these images, in combination with details noted during in-flight views of the bird in the field, pointed towards Glaucous-winged Gull as the most likely identification for this individual. While the taxonomy and field identification of large Larus gulls is infamously vexed, this particular bird

appears consistent in terms of structure and plumage with a phenotypically “pure” Glaucous-winged Gull. A heavy, dark, bulbous-tipped bill and relatively stout build with limited primary projection set this individual apart from other, more common pale-winged species like Glaucous Gull (L. hyperboreus) and Iceland Gull (L. glaucoides), as do the faint touches of gray on the primaries. When the first round of second opinions came back in favor of the gull’s proposed identity, Gary quickly put out a public alert about the sighting, but the bird was not seen by any subsequent searchers.

The specter of hybridization is always a concern with this genus, as frequent gene introgression between species can produce a dizzying array of variable offspring. One potential confusion candidate, Herring Gull (L. argentatus) x Glaucous Gull (a combination often referred to as “Nelson’s Gull” by dedicated larophiles), can be ruled out in this instance by the lack of a Glaucous-like bicolored bill and the smaller overall size of the bird. Glaucous-winged Gull has itself been documented to hybridize with a number of other Larus species, and the Committee took pains to adequately address all of the possible “partial” Glaucous- wing combinations when reviewing this report. Hybrids of Herring Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull (“Cook Inlet Gull”) tend to show more streaking than smudging on the head, and the wingtips would be decidedly darker than the mantle. Glaucous Gull x Glaucous-winged Gull (“Seward Gull”) would likely present as appreciably larger than the associated Herring Gulls, with paler wingtips and more light coloration on the bill. The rarer combination of Slaty- backed Gull (L. schistisagus) x Glaucous-winged Gull (“Commander Gull”) typically shows darker coloration on both the wingtips and the mantle. The most abundant and well-known intergrade involving this species is Western Gull (L. occidentalis) x Glaucous-winged Gull (“Olympic Gull”), a hybrid swarm with an extensive range of occurrence centered on southern British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon (Howell & Dunn 2007). While backcrosses and individual variation result in a complex spectrum of phenotypes between the two parent species, even in this age class most hybrids typically show darker markings on the primaries when compared to the shade of the mantle, which also tends to be darker than that of a standard Glaucous-winged Gull. The Committee’s final decision was supported in part by the expertise of gull authorities like Amar Ayyash, Alvaro Jaramillo, and Steve Hampton, who publicly voiced their endorsement of this individual as a “slam dunk” Glaucous-winged Gull upon reviewing the available photographs. After a thorough discussion, this record was unanimously accepted by the Committee.

Reports of this Pacific Ocean species appear to be increasing in frequency, whether in terms of actual occurrence or overall detection rate, in the eastern portion of the continent, with first records for Ohio in 2023, Pennsylvania in 2022, and Ontario in 2020. Intriguingly, a potential second state record of this species arrived less than a year after the appearance of the first, with an apparent third- cycle individual documented along the Hudson River waterfront in Orange and Dutchess Counties from 20-25 January, subsequently observed in both Ulster County (26 January) and Tompkins County (4 and 5 February). There has been some conjecture within the community as to whether the 2024 sightings pertain to the same individual as the 2023 Bronx record, given the consistent age progression and the established propensity of vagrant gulls to return to the same general region in consecutive years, but this supposition is purely speculative. This latest occurrence has yet to be formally reviewed by NYSARC.

Short-tailed Shearwater (Ardenna tenuirostris)
2023-37-A/B, One, Derby Hill Hawkwatch, Oswego, 7 Nov (Matthew Brown, David Wheeler, ph M. Brown), eBird 7 Nov

Many of the most celebrated globetrotters in the avian world are found among the ranks of the seabirds. Tubenoses in particular are renowned for their impressive journeys far from the isolated islands and archipelagos where they nest, with some species traveling tens of thousands of miles over the course of the nonbreeding season. For birds that measure their time away from shore in months, a vagrancy record at an inland location is a marvel of the most singular sort. On 7 November, 2023, an already productive lakewatch along the shores of Lake Ontario secured its place in the annals of New York birding history when a shearwater rocketed past the northern lookout of Derby Hill. David Wheeler, Matthew Brown, and several other birders in attendance managed to capture a series of photos which illustrate the finer details of the bird’s field marks. Remarkably, the details of plumage and structure visible in the images proved to be consistent with Short- tailed Shearwater rather than any of the Atlantic species that might be considered more “expected” in the Great Lakes region.

Short-tailed Shearwater is a bird of the Pacific and Indian Oceans, nesting on islands off the coasts of Tasmania and southern Australia. In the nonbreeding season, they regularly wander as far north as the Bering Sea. Although this species is regular in season off the West Coast, it has only been documented in the East a handful of times, with accepted records from Massachusetts and Florida. The proposed identification of this individual was adamantly supported by Paul Lehman, Alvaro Jaramillo, and a number of other West Coast pelagic experts who were consulted for their input. Salient characteristics for distinguishing this species from Sooty Shearwater (A. grisea) include the smaller bill and more rounded head shape, the paler throat contrasting with a darker cap, and the more uniformly grayish underwings, lacking the contrast between prominent silvery panels on the coverts and darker flight feathers typically seen in Sooty. It seems plausible that the increased presence of open water in the Northwest Passage during the warmer months of the year could lead to increased frequency of vagrant seabirds crossing between the Atlantic and the Pacific, which could explain how this bird came to find itself on the Great Lakes. In any event, the available documentation for this report was deemed satisfactory by the Committee, who voted unanimously to accept the record.

2022 Reports Accepted

Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula)
2022-6-A/C, One, Ketcham’s Creek Freshwater Wetland, Amityville, Suffolk, 8 Apr (John Gluth, Tim Healy, Shai Mitra, ph J. Gluth, T. Healy, S. Mitra), eBird 5, 8, 10, 12, 14-15, 17-20, 23-24 Apr, 15 May, 18-24 Oct, 4, 8-13, 15 Nov

New York’s first Mottled Duck was initially sighted by Ernst Mutchnick during a routine survey of his neighborhood patch, Ketcham’s Creek in Amityville, on the afternoon of 5 April, 2022. Although the appearance of this adult drake was unfamiliar to him, Ernst rightly presumed that it appeared out of the ordinary for the expected local waterfowl species, and he thoroughly documented the duck with a series of photographs. After initial review pointed towards the possibility of a surprising vagrant, he reached out to Shai Mitra in an effort to corroborate the putative identification. The duck was nowhere to be found on the following two days, but it eventually reappeared on 8 April, and news of the discovery was swiftly spread throughout the community alert channels. This individual proved to be consistently inconsistent, showing regularly at the wetlands alongside its Mallard (A. platyrhynchos) mate but often vanishing into the vegetation for long periods of time or flying off to unknown secondary sites. After being seen somewhat sporadically for most of April, the bird made only a brief appearance in mid-May before disappearing for the summer. Unexpectedly, the Mottled Duck resurfaced at the same location in October and November. The saga continued well into 2023, when presumably the same male was observed associating with a different female Mallard at Avon Lake, less than half a mile northwest of the previous year’s haunt, from March through April.

Mottled Ducks occur in two disjunct populations across the Southeast United States, one in peninsular Florida and another along the western Gulf Coast. This species was introduced to South Carolina for sport hunting in the 1970s, subsequently expanding south through Georgia and connecting to the northern edge of the Floridian population (Weng 2006). Vagrants from both populations have been detected well north of their typical range, with confirmed records as far afield as the Dakotas in the interior and New England along the coast.

The taxonomy of the “Big Brown Ducks” in the genus Anas is a notoriously complex web of uncertain species limits, which confounds the field identification of vagrant individuals in particular. Most notably, in-depth analyses suggest that the Florida (fulvigula) and Gulf Coast (maculosa) subspecies of Mottled Duck are quite distinct genetically (Peters et al. 2016). This matter is further complicated by the introductions of maculosa birds in South Carolina, which has led to a degree of admixing between populations of Mottled Ducks alongside the extensive introgression of Mallard with Mottled Duck (Weng 2006). The individual involved with this record appears most consistent with the phenotype of the nominate fulvigula, showing extensive paler chevrons on the contour feathers of the body and buffy, unmarked plumage on much of the face and throat. The bright yellow bill and prominent black gape spot, in combination with the aforementioned features, help to distinguish this bird from American Black Duck (A. rubripes), Mallard, and Mexican Duck (A. diazi). Common indicators of hybridization with Mallard, such as bolder white borders on the speculum, increased white in the tail, and markedly curled central rectrices were absent in the New York specimen as well. As a result, the Committee unanimously voted to accept this record as a first for the state checklist. Curiously, the drake documented at Avon Lake in spring 2023 seemed to show a slight rectrix curve that was a bit more pronounced than the aspect of the 2022 bird, but otherwise appeared largely identical in terms of structure and plumage. Reports associated with this later observation are currently under review.

Limpkin (Aramus guarauna)
2022-19-A/B, One, Niagara River, Lewiston, Niagara, 16 Nov (Tim Healy, Shai Mitra, ph T. Healy, S. Mitra), eBird 15-18 Nov

News of this record first reached the birding community on 15 November, 2022 via Willie D’Anna, who received an email from acquaintance Connie Adams detailing a curious bird observed by fisherman Frank Campbell along the banks of the Niagara River in Lewiston a week prior. The subject of the attached photos was unmistakably a Limpkin, and prompt follow-up by Willie confirmed that the bird was still present in the hillside brush near the boat launch. Birders converged from all over New York State, partaking in the incongruous scene of this southern swamp-dweller strutting about within view of the Canadian border. The Limpkin was observed to capture and devour grove snails (Cepaea nemoralis) at a remarkable rate, but there was still some concern about how this wayward individual might fare with winter’s worst rapidly bearing down on the region. After some understandable hemming and hawing over the appropriate course of action, local rehabbers successfully captured the Limpkin ahead of an oncoming snowstorm on the evening of 18 November. The bird was found to be dramatically underweight, but it soon began feeding well in captivity and regaining its strength. Transportation was arranged to deliver the Limpkin to more agreeable climes in the southern states, culminating in a successful release on Thanksgiving morning in South Carolina (D’Anna 2023). This distinctive and well-documented bird was accepted unanimously by the Committee.

A decade ago, the suggestion of a Limpkin showing up in New York might have seemed borderline ludicrous. However, this species has undergone a dramatic range expansion in recent years, a phenomenon detailed in Willie’s article in the March 2023 Kingbird. As an exemplar of the dizzying pace of this population surge, Texas documented its first-ever record of Limpkin in 2021, voted to remove the species from the review list some 30 records later in 2022, and confirmed successful breeding at multiple sites within the state by 2023. The rapid proliferation of Limpkins in the American Birding Association (ABA) Area seems to be driven, at least in part, by the ever-increasing numbers of introduced giant apple snails (Pomacea maculata) across the Southeast. The invasive gastropods have not yet reached the Empire State themselves, but by early 2022 it had become clear that the spread of the birds had outpaced that of the snails that provisioned their advance. A recent survey of New York birders on the next 10 species to be added to the state checklist saw Limpkin handily claiming the top spot, a prediction that was borne out before the carefully crafted article even went to print (Gochfeld 2023). As if to drive the point home, New York’s second Limpkin showed up less than a year after the first, this time along the Chemung River in Elmira, Chemung County in late October 2023. Although no formal submissions have been reviewed in this case, the Committee has accepted the record on the basis of well-documented 2023 eBird records.

Bermuda Petrel (Pterodroma cahow)
2022-26-A/B, One, at sea over the outer Hudson Canyon (39°12'.543N, 072°00'.672W), Pelagic, 17 Oct (Tim Healy, Sean Sime, ph T. Healy, S. Sime) eBird 17 Oct

Pelagic birding is always something of a gamble. Every voyage is a roll of the dice, with diehard seabird aficionados testing their luck against mercurial sea conditions and volatile weather forecasts whenever scheduling allows. The New York pelagic community has undoubtedly suffered through its share of setbacks in recent years, largely centered around a forced hiatus brought on by the pandemic. The dissolution of See Life Paulagics in 2021 was a substantial obstacle to the speedy return of boat-based birding, but the seasoned guides associated with this perennially reliable organization worked tirelessly to establish new partnerships in the interest of providing regularly scheduled outings once again. By 2022, pelagic operations out of New York had resumed in earnest under the mantle of American Princess Cruises. A twice-rescheduled overnight tour on 17 October of that year solidified its place in the annals of birding history when a stunning Bermuda Petrel, initially spotted by Jason Denesevich, spent three entire minutes investigating the morning chum slick, prompting raucous celebration from the assembled birders aboard the vessel.

Commonly known by the onomatopoeic alternative name Cahow, the Bermuda Petrel is perhaps the rarest extant seabird in the Atlantic Ocean. Following the colonization of Bermuda, the pressures of land development, introduced rats and pigs, and active harvesting exacted a heavy toll on this burrow-nesting species. By 1620, it was believed that the archipelago had lost its last remaining endemic seabird. Whispers of the bird’s continued existence began to stir in the early 20th century, but it was not until 1951 that the formal rediscovery of a small number of survivors was announced to the world. Intensive conservation efforts, spearheaded by Bermudian biologist David Wingate and his successor Jeremy Madeiros, have aided the gradual recovery of the Cahow over the course of the intervening years. As of 2024, the breeding population is estimated at more than 185 pairs, a remarkable achievement for a species which had been presumed extinct for over 300 years (Madeiros 2024).

At-sea observations of Bermuda Petrel away from their nesting grounds are
sparse, but tracking studies have revealed that the birds make use of a vast expanse of the Atlantic stretching from the Canadian Maritimes to the Azores (Campioni et al. 2023). Most records come from the Gulf Stream waters off North Carolina, where dedicated pelagic coverage has turned up Cahow sightings on a nearly annual basis, with single records for South Carolina in 2009 and Virginia in 2013. This species has also been documented north to Nova Scotia in 2014, Massachusetts in 2019, and New Jersey in 2022. A 2014 observation at the continental shelf edge off Ireland is particularly noteworthy. The New York bird fits well with the established pattern of occurrence, and the identification was easily settled in comparison with other expected Pterodroma species like Black- capped Petrel (P. hasitata), Trindade Petrel (P. arminjoniana), and Fea’s Petrel (P. feae) based on the cowled appearance with no obvious white collar, the limited white on the uppertail coverts, and the bold black ulnar bars on otherwise pale underwings. This celebrated record was accepted unanimously by the Committee.

Scopoli’s Shearwater (Calonectris diomedea)

2022-182e, One, at sea off Montauk Point (40°51'45.2N 71°47'05.3W), Suffolk, 10 Aug (Jay Rand, ph J. Rand), eBird 10 Aug
2022-183e, One, at sea off Montauk Point (41°04'38.4N 71°50'50.2W), Suffolk, 29 Aug (Anthony Macchiarola, ph A. Macchiarola), eBird 29 Aug
2022-184e, One, at sea off Montauk Point (40°54'32.3N 71°54'04.8W), Suffolk, 31 Aug (Patrick Markee, Elias Markee-Ratner, ph E. Markee-Ratner), eBird 31 Aug
2012-232e, One, at sea off Montauk Point (40°40'50.3N 71°52'31.1W), Suffolk, 1 Aug 2012 (Jacob Drucker, Lila Fried, Anthony Collerton, ph A. Collerton), eBird 1 Aug 2012

This species is added to the State checklist as a result of a taxonomic split, from Cory’s Shearwater. In addition to five specimens of this taxon collected on Long Island 1902-1938 (Bull 1974), several recent observations have already been formally accepted, per the Committee’s policy of reviewing reports of distinctive subspecies as well as full species.

For more than a decade, pelagic aficionados in New York have been keeping a weather eye out for Scopoli’s Shearwaters during seawatches and offshore excursions, resulting in a multitude of eBird reports which are presently under NYSARC review. A handful of submissions from August 2022, coincidentally all documented in the waters off Montauk Point, have already been assessed and accepted. The earliest record currently recognized by the Committee comes from a whale watching vessel off Montauk on 1 August, 2012, but there are more than a dozen other reports of this newly christened species from the 2010s and 2020s that are currently on the agenda for review.

With regards to structure, plumage, and overall aspect under field observation conditions at sea, Scopoli’s Shearwater is broadly similar to Cory’s Shearwater (C. borealis), and the two have been split only recently by the American Ornithological Society and eBird’s Clements Checklist. Other authorities have recognized the split for several years, which helped to put the finer points of the identification challenge on the radar for North American birders. The breeding ranges of these two species are largely separate, with Scopoli’s nesting at a number of Mediterranean islands and most Cory’s colonies based at archipelagos of the northeastern Atlantic, though there is some documented overlap in the western Mediterranean. The constantly growing body of data from pelagic expeditions up and down the East Coast indicates that Scopoli’s Shearwater is scarce but regular wherever Cory’s Shearwaters can be found, and in some regions around the waters of the Gulf Stream they can be reasonably abundant.

These similar looking species are most reliably distinguished by the markings on the underside of the wings (Sutherland 2022). Scopoli’s Shearwater typically shows extensive white “fingers” on the primaries, resulting in more extensive white in the wingtips in comparison to the mostly dark “hands” of Cory’s Shearwater. Dark “thumbprint markings” on the greater primary undercoverts are another indicator: Scopoli’s typically shows only one such mark on the P10 covert, while most Cory’s show markings on the coverts of both P10 and P9. Structural differences are even more slight, with Scopoli’s averaging just a bit smaller than Cory’s, with thinner wings and a more slender bill. Given the subtlety and variability of these characters, it is generally recommended to make this identification based on clear photographs rather than impressions in the field. Fortunately, the majority of reports reviewed by the Committee thus far have been accompanied by strongly supportive media, but there is still much to be learned about the frequency of occurrence for this species in New York State waters.

Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus)
2022-5-A, One, Green-Wood Cemetery, Kings, 2 Apr (Seth Barr, ph S. Barr) eBird 2 Apr

This serendipitous sighting was nicely documented by a contingent of watchful observers who happened to find themselves in the right place at the right time on the morning of 2 April, 2022. Several groups of birders independently picked up on an unusual raptor circling over Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, noting its superficial resemblance to a Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) but astutely recognizing that something was amiss. The bird was in view for a relatively short period of time before a Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) pursued it to the west and out of sight, but multiple observers were able to successfully secure photographs before it disappeared. These images were promptly disseminated to the community via alert groups, and the subject was quickly recognized as an adult Zone-tailed Hawk. Hopeful New York City birders throughout the five boroughs immediately took to scanning the skies in the hopes of catching a glimpse of this unexpected vagrant, but the bird was not definitively seen again after this initial observation. The photos obtained during this brief encounter were more than sufficient to rule out potential confusion candidates like dark morph Buteo species or Buteogallus black hawks, nicely showcasing salient field marks such as a broad white tail band, grayish flight feathers with bold black trailing edges, and bright yellow bare parts. This record was unanimously accepted by the Committee.

Zone-tailed Hawk is a largely Neotropical species found throughout Central and South America, with the northern limits of its range reaching the Southwestern United States. Instances of vagrancy in the East are limited to a handful of observations that likely involve a fairly small number of distinct individuals, with several records demonstrably pertaining to the same specific bird. This is perhaps best exemplified by a string of sightings in autumn 2015, when a single Zone-tailed Hawk, readily recognizable due to an obviously worn rectrix, was documented moving down the coast from Rhode Island to New Jersey to Virginia. Notably, this trajectory presumably took the bird through New York airspace undetected at some point, rendering the absence of this species from the state checklist a conspicuous blank space that was fortuitously filled by the spring 2022 observation.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (Myiodynastes luteiventris)
2022-17-A/C, One, Wave Hill, Riverdale, Bronx, 9 Oct (John Haas, Gabriel Willow, Sean Sime, ph J. Haas, G. Willow, S. Sime) eBird 9 Oct

On the morning of 9 October, 2022, Gabriel Willow was actively guiding a monthly bird walk at the Wave Hill estate in the Bronx. As his group explored the northern boundary of the property, the sight of a large, streaky passerine with a distinctly reddish tail was quick to draw his attention, and upon taking a closer look he instantly recognized the bird as a Myiodynastes flycatcher. The alarm was sounded via appropriate alert channels, with promptly provided photos allowing for the specific identification of Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher to be confidently determined. The bird proved to be frustratingly elusive for subsequent searchers, moving extensively throughout the surrounding neighborhood and typically remaining hidden in the dense vegetation of private yards. Several lucky observers were successful in their efforts to observe the flycatcher over the course of the day, but many other hopeful birders failed to connect with their quarry. An extensive search of the area the following day, 10 October, proved fruitless.

The primary identification challenge in this case was the elimination of the congeneric Streaked Flycatcher (M. maculatus), a plausible vagrant from the Neotropics that has not yet been definitively documented within the ABA Area. Various images of this individual confirmed crucial differentiating field marks, such as the relatively smaller bill, prominent dark plumage on the malar and chin, and distinctive yellow wash on the lower belly. Briefly heard vocalizations, described by observers as a wheezy squeak, were also consistent with Sulphur- bellied over Streaked. Other broadly similar Neotropical species, like Piratic Flycatcher (Legatus leucophaius) and Variegated Flycatcher (Empidonomus varius), can be ruled out by details of structure and plumage. The Committee eventually accepted this remarkable record with a unanimous vote.

Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher occupies a broad range from southern Arizona to central Bolivia. Beyond its normal range, records have come mostly from coastal California and states bordering the Gulf of Mexico, between September and November. In the Northeast, Ontario and New Brunswick both have multiple documented records, and New Jersey and Nova Scotia each has one. Thus, in hindsight, this species was perhaps not wholly unexpected, but it was nevertheless a surprising discovery that will not soon be forgotten by those who were fortunate enough to experience it.

2021 Reports Accepted

Tundra Bean-Goose (Anser serrirostris)
2021-9-A/B, One, Saratoga Lake State Marine Park/Stillwater, Saratoga, 14, 16 Mar (Gregg Recer, Gary Chapin, ph G Recer, G. Chapin, Eric Tepper), eBird 12, 14, 16 Mar

The story of this record began on the afternoon of 12 March, 2021, when David DiSiena spotted an unusual goose in a flock of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) on the Hudson River just south of Mechanicville, Rensselaer County. The bird’s identity was not able to be confidently resolved from the initial images, but it was eventually rediscovered two days later by Cathy Graichen and Gregg Recer near the boat launch at Saratoga Lake, less than 10 miles to the north in Saratoga County. Photos were circulated within the local birding community for additional input, and consensus quickly coalesced around the specific identification of Tundra Bean-Goose. A number of rapid responders were able to successfully view the goose as it grazed on the lawns along the lakeshore over the course of the afternoon. The bird was observed on the morning of the 16th, after which it was not seen again. Examination of plumage characters and the distinctive color pattern on the bill suggested that this individual was the same bean-goose that spent the winter of 2020-2021 in the Philadelphia area, which was presumed to be the bird previously documented in Ontario during southbound migration with its adopted flock in November 2020.

Tundra Bean-Goose is a Palearctic breeding species and a rare vagrant to North America. Most documented sightings within the ABA Area hail from western Alaska, with a handful of additional records on both coasts in the Lower 48 and Canada, and nearly all individuals associated with “carrier flocks” of other geese (Howell et al. 2014). The true abundance of this species as a visitor to this continent is confounded somewhat by its marked similarity to Taiga Bean-Goose (A. fabalis), which is still considered conspecific by some authorities. A number of records of bean-geese are perhaps best left unidentified, but with sufficiently close views and clear photographs the two species can usually be distinguished by the coloration and relative size of the bill. The 2021 New York individual proved consistent with the classic Tundra phenotype, with a shorter, less dramatically sloping bill that showed less extensive orange patterning. As a result, the record was accepted by the Committee with a unanimous vote. The state’s second occurrence of Tundra Bean-Goose was documented at several sites in Seneca and Wayne Counties in March 2022, this time associating with a flock of Snow Geese (Anser caerulescens). This record has also already been reviewed and accepted by NYSARC.

Snowy Plover, photo © Shai Mita
(click photo to enlarge)

Snowy Plover (Anarhynchus nivosus)
2021-26-A/D, One, Sandy Pond Outlet, Sandy Island Beach State Park, Oswego, 13-16 Sep (Richard Guthrie, Sarah Forestiere, Shai Mitra, Dennis Anderson, ph R. Guthrie, S. Forestiere, S. Mitra), eBird 13-16 Sep

While surveying Piping Plovers (Charadrius melodus) and other shorebirds on the morning of 13 September, 2021, Sarah Forestiere and Kennedy Sullivan discovered an atypical plover at Sandy Pond Outlet on the shores of Lake Ontario. The identity of the bird was quickly confirmed and announced to the community at large, prompting a mass twitch for this first state record of Snowy Plover. Access at this site is notoriously tricky for visitors due to the geography of the spit and the logistics of private property boundaries, but a number of birders were able to successfully chase the plover by scoping from strategic vantage points or launching kayaks from a nearby marina and paddling out to the beach. The bird lingered cooperatively at the Outlet for at least four days before departing, serving as a delightfully cooperative prize for those who made the trek to seek it out.

Snowy Plover has a somewhat irregular distribution in North America, occupying a wide range of open habitats near water across its disjunct range. Populations on the coasts of the Pacific Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are nonmigratory, favoring barrier island dunes and sandy beachfront. Interior populations nest at riverine sandbars or the barren flats around saline or alkaline lakes, migrating to coastal regions for the nonbreeding season. In the Northeast, vagrants are more regularly documented around the Great Lakes than they are along the Atlantic Coast, consistent with the discovery at Sandy Pond Outlet. Many extralimital sightings appear to be spring overshoots, but an autumn 2004 observation from Connecticut set a precedent for the New York record. Although the pale, dry-sand-hued upperparts of Snowy Plover resemble the coloration of Piping Plover, the species is more closely related, and structurally similar, to the darker Wilson’s Plover (A. wilsonia). The Kentish Plover (A. alexandrinus) of Eurasia is a conceivable vagrant to the eastern portion of the continent, though it has only recently been added to the ABA checklist via a 2023 record from Alaska (ABA 2024). Snowy Plover can be distinguished from this species by its paler grayish legs, distinctly white lores, and drab crown with no obvious rufous tones. With the identification of this individual resolved beyond any reasonable doubt, a unanimous vote by the Committee led to the prompt acceptance of this record.

Ferruginous Hawk (Buteo regalis)
2021-3-A/C, One, Black Dirt Region, Orange, 16, 17 Jan (John Haas, Carena Pooth, Linda Scrima, ph J. Haas, L. Scrima) eBird 16-23, 25, 27-28, 30-31 Jan, 3-8, 10, 12-14, 17, 19-21, 24-26 Feb, 2, 4, 6-7, 10, 13 Mar

The most surprising discovery of the annual New York Waterfowl Count on 16 January, 2021 turned out to be a raptor. When Linda Scrima spotted an unfamiliar Buteo during her rainy morning survey efforts, she made a point to snap a series of photos for later review before continuing her circuit. Looking over her pictures later that evening, she came to suspect its identity as an immature Ferruginous Hawk, sharing the images with the Raptor ID page on Facebook and several other local birders to confirm her suspicions. The bird was relocated in the same general area the following day, and it continued to entertain visiting birders with an extended game of hide-and-seek over the course of the next two months. The nature of the hawk’s chosen winter territory, a network of expansive farm fields intersected by a limited number of mostly private roads, meant that seeing it required patience and no small amount of luck. Many observers were happy to settle for distant views as the bird scanned for prey from a treetop perch or a slightly elevated clod of dirt, while others were treated to chance close flyby encounters. The last confirmed observation on eBird was reported on 13 March.

A number of features that distinguish Ferruginous Hawk from more expected Buteo species, like Red-tailed Hawk (B. jamaicensis) and Rough-legged Hawk (B. lagopus), were readily apparent in the very first images that were shared online. The distinctly feathered tarsi and dark-masked, pale-headed appearance quickly ruled out the former contender, while the burly build and heavy bill with a long gape line eliminated the latter from consideration. Subsequent observations revealed other crucial details, such as the uniformly whitish undersides of the fairly tapered wings and the prominent pale base on the dorsal surface of the tail. The identification of this individual was soundly established from the moment its discovery became public knowledge, and the Committee later accepted the record with a unanimous vote.

Ferruginous Hawk inhabits open prairies across western North America, breeding as far north as the Canadian Great Plains and wintering south to Mexico. Sightings east of the Mississippi River are fairly rare, mostly clustering around the Great Lakes and the Midwest, typically during migration or in winter. A notable instance of vagrancy in this species involved an individual rehabbed in Ontario in May 2023, subsequently outfitted with a Motus transmitter and tracked on its continuing journey through Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with the latter two states adding first records thanks to birders who successfully located the wandering hawk (Lenoir 2023). To date, the 2021 New York bird represents the easternmost record yet documented.

Violet-green Swallow (Tachycineta thalassina)
2021-22-A, One, Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve, Saratoga, 22 Apr (John Hershey, ph J. Hershey) eBird 22 Apr

Somewhat surprisingly, this bird and the 2023 Glaucous-winged Gull represent the only records out of the dozen new state checklist additions covered in this report that were seen by single observers. Indeed, New York’s first documented occurrence of Violet-green Swallow was not even fully recognized as such in the field. On the morning of 22 April, 2021, John Hershey was out birding at Vischer Ferry Nature and Historic Preserve near the Mohawk River. When he paused to photograph a small flock of swallows roosting on a limb along a towpath connecting to the Old Erie Canal, his images fortuitously captured an unusual individual perched among the assembled Northern Rough-winged Swallows (Stelgidopteryx serripennis). Upon reviewing his pictures more closely a few hours later, John quickly noticed the odd bird out and recognized that it was something out of the ordinary. The photos were shopped around to other birders to confirm his presumed identification of Violet-green Swallow. Subsequent search efforts later that day and the next morning, by John and others, regrettably failed to relocate the bird.

The core range of Violet-green Swallow lies west of the Rocky Mountains, extending north to Alaska during the breeding season and regularly wintering as far south as Costa Rica. Records in the eastern portion of the continent are fairly rare, with patterns of occurrence showing a slight bias towards springtime over summer and fall. Observations from states and provinces bordering New York include one for Connecticut, two for Ontario, two for Pennsylvania, two for Massachusetts, and six for New Jersey. When seen well, this species is readily distinguished from the closely related Tree Swallow (T. bicolor) due to its rich green upperparts, the violet sheen on the rump, and the more extensive white around the eyes and the sides of the rump. Based on the diagnostic photos accompanying John’s report, the Committee voted to accept this record unanimously.

Gray-breasted Martin (Progne chalybea)
2021-10-A/D, One, Prospect Park, Kings, 1-3 Apr (John Gaglione, Tim Healy, Doug Gochfeld, Shai Mitra, ph J. Gaglione, T. Healy, D. Gochfeld) eBird 1-4 Apr

Undoubtedly one of the most remarkable New York records in recent history, it is safe to say that Gray-breasted Martin was not on anyone’s radar as a potential addition to the state checklist (Gochfeld 2023). Indeed, this species has scarcely been considered as a plausible vagrant to the United States, being notably absent from Howell’s Rare Birds of North America (save for passing mentions in the introduction and the header of the aerial landbirds section) and represented on the ABA checklist only by virtue of a pair of historical specimens from the late 19th century in Texas (Howell et al. 2014). This perceived unlikelihood of recurrence is due not to the probability of this species reaching the ABA Area, but rather a result of the challenges associated with the identification of tropical Progne martins under typical field conditions. Nevertheless, a report of an intriguing martin discovered by Doug Gochfeld at Prospect Lake on 1 April, 2021 soon captured the attention of the entire North American birding community, with Gray-breasted Martin quickly emerging as the proposed frontrunner for the identity of the bird.

The identification of this shocking rarity proved to be a fascinating case study for curious birders to sink their teeth into. The martin, an immature female, was staggeringly cooperative by swallow standards, lingering at Prospect Park for nearly four full days. The bird spent much of its time foraging low over the Lake, often fairly close to shore, which allowed for the acquisition of a wealth of media for in-depth analysis. The only expected Progne species in New York, Purple Martin (P. subis), was ruled out with relative ease due to the distinctly smaller size, unstreaked white underparts, shallow tail fork, and reduced contrast of patterning on the forehead and collar of the subject bird. Cuban Martin (P. cryptoleuca) and Caribbean Martin (P. dominicensis), themselves at best exceedingly rare potential vagrants to the United States, are similar in size and silhouette to Purple Martin, and thus quite unlike the daintier Prospect Park bird despite their broadly similar plumage patterns. The enigmatic Sinaloa Martin (P. sinaloae) of western Mexico reportedly averages slightly smaller than Cuban and Caribbean, but like those species shows a deeply forked tail and high contrast, sharply defined boundaries between the dark plumage of the throat, upper breast, and flanks and the white plumage of the belly. The small size, notched tail, and gradual gradient from dusky and pale plumage of the mystery martin were conspicuously at odds with each of the alternative candidate species, but wholly consistent with the nominate population of Gray-breasted Martin, which ranges from Central America through northern South America. Audio samples captured by Doug were also compared to a suite of recordings for every Progne species, likewise proving to best fit P. c. chalybea both by ear and by spectrogram. Though there are arguably no true “experts” on distinguishing between martins in the way that there are for gulls or hummingbirds, this identification was backed by several members of the International Purple Martin Working Group, who collectively share a great deal of field experience working with multiple species of this genus in the Neotropics.

It is incredibly fortunate, for birders and recordkeepers alike, that this astonishing vagrant was observed at a migratory stopover site where close and prolonged study was possible. Had it occurred instead as a passing flyover, there would have been little hope of satisfactorily resolving its identity, even if it had been flagged as a potentially unusual bird. One might be justified in wondering how many possible extralimital records of this species may have slipped through the cracks across the continent over the years, undetected amongst the hordes of more common Purple Martins. In this particular instance, at least, there is adequate evidence available to support the identification of this individual as a Gray-breasted Martin. After careful consideration, the Committee finally accepted this most extraordinary record with a unanimous vote.

The author acknowledges the generous assistance of Gary Chapin, Patricia Lindsay, Shai Mitra, Mike McBrien, and Willie D’Anna in preparing this special report. It is based on the painstaking work of the Committee over the past several years, including those just named, as well as Shawn Billerman, Shane Blodgett, Thomas W. Burke, Doug Gochfeld, Curt McDermott, Jay McGowan, and Derek
H. Rogers.

LITERATURE CITED

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Bull, J. 1974. Birds of New York State. Garden City, NY. Doubleday/Natural History Press. Campioni L., F. Ventura, J. P. Granadeiro, J. Madeiros, C. Gjerdrum, M. C. Silva. 2023. Combining bio-logging, stable isotopes and DNA metabarcoding to reveal the foraging ecology and diet of the endangered Bermuda petrel Pterodroma cahow. Mar
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D’Anna, W. 2023. A Limpkin (Aramus guarauna) on the Niagara River. The Kingbird 73:9-14.

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Howell, Steve N. G., and J. L. Dunn. 2007. Gulls of the Americas. Houghton Mifflin.

Howell, Steve N. G., I. Lewington, W. Russell. 2014. Rare Birds of North America. Princeton University Press.

Lenoir, A. S. 2023, May 30. Tracking a vagrant Ferruginous Hawk in Ontario. Birds Canada | Oiseaux Canada. https://www.birdscanada.org/fho23

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Peters, Jeffrey L., et al. 2016. Population genomic data delineate conservation units in Mottled Ducks (Anas Fulvigula). Biological Conservation, vol. 203, Nov. pp. 272–281. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.10.003.

Sutherland, K. 2022. Calonectris shearwaters: Separating Cory’s and Scopoli’s at sea. Birding 54.2:56-61.

Weng, G-J. 2006. Ecology and population genetics of Mottled Ducks within the South Atlantic Coastal Zone. Dissertation to the University of Georgia.