Arizona Field Ornithologist
©2008
HOME | REPORT SIGHTINGS | PHOTOS | BIRDING | JOURNAL | ABOUT US | CHECKLISTS | MIGRATION COUNT | EVENTS | LINKS


List of Arizona Birds Considered Rare

 

For recent changes to the Arizona state bird list, click here.

 

This is the list of Arizona rare birds classified as either “Review” or “AZFO Postable” species.  See the ABC Web Site for more details. 

 

Review species are the most rare species and are selected by the Arizona Bird Committee as those species requiring documentation.  All photos of these species are posted. 

 

AZFO Postable species are those species that are rare enough to warrant details when reporting state wide but are of regular enough occurrence that they are not an ABC review species and are indicated by a #. This is formerly the “Sketch Details” species list, which was selected by the editors of North American Birds as requiring brief notes or photos to be included in the seasonal reports in North American Birds. As of May 2020 the AZFO Photo Editors modified this list and will continue to make changes to reflect the current status of species, as the sketch details list is no longer maintained by North American Birds.  Whenever a species is removed from the below list (i.e. no longer posted statewide), all photos previously posted continue to be archived and a list of species added or removed from the “postable” list can be found below the main list with the date it was changed

 

Arranged in taxonomic order.  Grouped by family.

 

Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans

Fulvous Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor
Brant -
Branta bernicla
Cackling Goose -
Branta hutchinsii #
Trumpeter Swan -
Cygnus buccinator
Baikal Teal - Sibirionetta formosa

Garganey - Spatula querquedula

Eurasian Wigeon - Mareca penelope  #
"Eurasian" Green-winged Teal -
Anas crecca crecca
Tufted Duck -
Aythya fuligula
Harlequin Duck -
Histrionicus histrionicus
White-winged Scoter - Melanitta fusca  #
Black Scoter -
Melanitta nigra #
Long-tailed Duck -
Clangula hyemalis  #

 

Podicipedidae - Grebes

Least Grebe - Tachybaptus dominicus
Red-necked Grebe - Podiceps grisegena  #

 

Columbidae - Pigeons and Doves

Ruddy Ground Dove - Columbina talpacoti  # (Not posted 1 January 2013 - April 2020)

 
 Cuculidae - Cuckoos, Roadrunners, and Anis

Groove-billed Ani - Crotophaga sulcirostris

Black-billed Cuckoo - Coccyzus erythropthalmus

 

Caprimulgidae - Nighthawks and Nightjars

Buff-collared Nightjar - Antrostomus ridgwayi #
Eastern Whip-poor-will
 - Antrostomus vociferus

 

Apodidae - Swifts

Black Swift - Cypseloides niger
Chimney Swift - Chaetura pelagica

 

Trochilidae - Hummingbirds

Plain-capped Starthroat - Heliomaster constantii #

Ruby-throated Hummingbird - Archilochus colubris

Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin  #

Bumblebee Hummingbird - Selasphorus heloisa

White-eared Hummingbird - Basilinna leucotis  #

Berylline Hummingbird - Saucerottia beryllina #
Cinnamon Hummingbird -
Amazilia rutila

 

Rallidae - Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica

 

Gruidae - Cranes

Common Crane - Grus grus

 

Charadriidae - Plovers

American Golden-Plover - Pluvialis dominica #
Pacific Golden-Plover - Pluvialis fulva

Lesser Sand-Plover - Charadrius mongolus

 

Jacanidae - Jacanas

Northern Jacana - Jacana spinosa

 

Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Upland Sandpiper - Bartramia longicauda
Hudsonian Godwit - Limosa haemastica
Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres

Black Turnstone - Arenaria melanocephala
Red Knot - Calidris canutus

Ruff - Calidris pugnax
Sharp-tailed Sandpiper - Calidris acuminata
White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis
Buff-breasted Sandpiper - Calidris subruficollis
Wandering Tattler - Tringa incana

Red Phalarope - Phalaropus fulicarius  #
 

Stercorariidae - Jaegers

Pomarine Jaeger - Stercorarius pomarinus
Parasitic Jaeger - Stercorarius parasiticus
Long-tailed Jaeger - Stercorarius longicaudus

 

Laridae - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Black-legged Kittiwake - Rissa tridactyla

Ivory Gull - Pagophila eburnea

Little Gull - Hydrocoloeus minutus

Laughing Gull - Leucophaeus atricilla #
Heermann's Gull - Larus heermanni  #
Mew Gull - Larus canus
Western Gull - Larus occidentalis

Yellow-footed Gull - Larus livens
Iceland Gull (Thayer's)- Larus glaucoides thayeri

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
Glaucous-winged Gull - Larus glaucescens
Glaucous Gull - Larus hyperboreus

Least Tern - Sternula antillarum  #

Gull-billed Tern - Gelochelidon nilotica
Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea

Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus
Elegant Tern -
Thalasseus elegans
Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger

 

Phaethontidae - Tropicbirds

White-tailed Tropicbird - Phaethon lepturus
Red-billed Tropicbird -
Phaethon aethereus

 

Gaviidae - Loons

Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata  #
Yellow-billed Loon - Gavia adamsii

 

Diomedeidae - Albatrosses

Laysan Albatross - Phoebastria immutabilis

 

Hydrobatidae - Storm-Petrels

Leach's/Townsend's/Ainley's Storm-Petrel - Hydrobates leucorhoa/socorroensis/cheimomnestes
Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel - Hydrobates tethys

Black Storm-Petrel - Hydrobates melania
Least Storm-Petrel -
Hydrobates microsoma

 

Procellariidae - Shearwaters

Juan Fernandez Petrel - Pterodroma externa

Hawaiian Petrel - Pterodroma sandwichensis

Wedge-tailed Shearwater - Ardenna pacifica

Sooty Shearwater - Ardenna griseus

Black-vented Shearwater - Puffinus opisthomelas

 

Ciconiidae - Storks

Wood Stork - Mycteria americana

 

Fregatidae - Frigatebirds

Magnificent Frigatebird - Fregata magnificens

 

Sulidae - Boobies

Blue-footed Booby - Sula nebouxii
Brown Booby - Sula leucogaster

 

Anhingidae - Anhinga

Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga
 

Ardeidae - Bitterns, Herons, and Egrets

Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea  #
Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor  #
Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens #
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron - Nyctanassa violacea

 

Threskiornithidae - Ibises and Spoonbills

White Ibis - Eudocimus albus
Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
Roseate Spoonbill - Platalea ajaja #
 

Accipitridae - Kites, Eagles, and Hawks

Swallow-tailed Kite - Elanoides forficatus
White-tailed Hawk - Geranoaetus albicaudatus
Broad-winged Hawk - Buteo platypterus #
Short-tailed Hawk -
Buteo brachyurus #
Rough-legged Hawk - Buteo lagopus  #
 

Trogonidae - Trogons and Quetzals

Eared Quetzal - Euptilotis neoxenus

 

Alcedinidae - Kingfishers

Ringed Kingfisher - Megaceryle torquata

 

Picidae - Woodpeckers

Red-headed Woodpecker - Melanerpes erythrocephalus
"Yellow-shafted" Northern Flicker - Colaptes
auratus auratus #

 

Falconidae - Caracaras and Falcons

Aplomado Falcon - Falco femoralis

 

Psittacidae - Parrots

Thick-billed Parrot - Rhynchopsitta pachyrhyncha

 

Tityridae - Becards and Tityras

Gray-collared Becard - Pachyramphus major

Rose-throated Becard - Pachyramphus aglaiae

 

Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers

Tufted Flycatcher - Mitrephanes phaeocercus

Eastern Wood-Pewee - Contopus virens
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - Empidonax flaviventris
Acadian Flycatcher - Empidonax virescens
Least Flycatcher - Empidonax minimus

Nutting's Flycatcher - Myiarchus nuttingi
Great Crested Flycatcher - Myiarchus crinitus
Great Kiskadee - Pitangus sulphuratus

Couch's Kingbird - Tyrannus couchii

Eastern Kingbird - Tyrannus tyrannus  #
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - Tyrannus forficatus  #

 

Laniidae - Shrikes

Northern Shrike - Lanius excubitor  #

 

Vireonidae - Vireos

Black-capped Vireo - Vireo atricapilla

White-eyed Vireo - Vireo griseus #

"Eastern" Bell's Vireo - Vireo bellii medius/bellii
Yellow-throated Vireo - Vireo flavifrons #
Blue-headed Vireo - Vireo solitarius
Philadelphia Vireo - Vireo philadelphicus

Red-eyed Vireo - Vireo olivaceus #
Yellow-green Vireo - Vireo flavoviridis

 

Corvidae - Jays, Magpies, Crows, and Ravens

Blue Jay - Cyanocitta cristata

California Scrub-Jay – Aphelocoma californica
Black-billed Magpie – Pica hudsonia #

 

Hirundinidae - Swallows

Brown-chested Martin - Progne tapera

Cave Swallow - Petrochelidon fulva

 

Paridae - Chickadees and Titmice

Black-capped Chickadee - Poecile atricapillus

 

Troglodytidae - Wrens

Sedge Wren - Cistothorus platensis

Carolina Wren - Thryothorus ludovicianus

Sinaloa Wren - Thryothorus sinaloa

 

Muscicapidae - Old World Flycatchers

Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe

 

Turdidae - Thrushes

Brown-backed Solitaire - Myadestes occidentalis

 Veery - Catharus fuscescens
Gray-cheeked Thrush -
Catharus minimus
Wood Thrush -
Hylocichla mustelina

White-throated Thrush - Turdus assimilis
Aztec Thrush -
Ridgwayia pinicola

 

Mimidae - Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers

Blue Mockingbird - Melanotis caerulescens
Brown Thrasher - Toxostoma rufum  #

 

Bombycillidae - Waxwings

Bohemian Waxwing - Bombycilla garrulus

 

Motacillidae - Wagtails and Pipits

White Wagtail - Motacilla alba
Red-throated Pipit - Anthus cervinus

 

Fringillidae - Finches and Goldfinches

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - Leucosticte tephrocotis

Black Rosy-Finch - Leucosticte atrata

"California" Purple Finch - Haemorhous purpureus californicus #

"Eastern" Purple Finch - Haemorhous purpureus purpureus

Common Redpoll - Acanthis flammea

White-winged Crossbill - Loxia leucoptera

 

Calcariidae -Longspurs and Snow Buntings

Lapland Longspur - Calcarius lapponicus  #
Smith's Longspur - Calcarius pictus

Snow Bunting - Plectrophenax nivalis

 

Emberizidae - Old World Buntings

Little Bunting - Emberiza pusilla

 

Passerellidae - New World Sparrows

Field Sparrow - Spizella pusilla

American Tree Sparrow - Spizelloides arborea 

"Sooty" Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca unalaschcensis complex
"Thick-billed" Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca megarhyncha

"Red" Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca iliaca complex  #

"White-winged" Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis aikeni

Harris's Sparrow - Zonotrichia querula #
LeConte's Sparrow - Ammodramus leconteii

Nelson's Sparrow - Ammodramus nelsoni

Eastern Towhee - Pipilo erythrophthalmus

 

Icteridae - Blackbirds and New World Orioles

Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivorus

Black-vented Oriole - Icterus wagleri
Orchard Oriole - Icterus spurius #

"Eastern" Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus cucullatus/sennetti)
Streak-backed Oriole - Icterus pustulatus #
Baltimore Oriole - Icterus galbula  #

Rusty Blackbird - Euphagus carolinus
Common Grackle - Quiscalus quiscula

 

Parulidae - Wood Warblers

Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapilla #

Worm-eating Warbler - Helmitheros vermivorum #

Golden-winged Warbler - Vermivora chrysoptera

Blue-winged Warbler - Vermivora cyanoptera

Swainson's Warbler - Limnothlypis swainsonii

Crescent-chested Warbler - Oreothlypis superciliosa

Tennessee Warbler - Oreothlypis peregrina  #

Connecticut Warbler - Oporornis agilis
Mourning Warbler -
Geothlypis philadelphia

Kentucky Warbler - Geothlypis formosa  

Hooded Warbler - Setophaga citrina  #
Cape May Warbler -
Setophaga tigrina

Cerulean Warbler - Setophaga cerulea  

Tropical Parula - Setophaga pitiayumi

Magnolia Warbler - Setophaga magnolia  #

Bay-breasted Warbler - Setophaga castanea  

Blackburnian Warbler - Setophaga fusca

"Mangrove" Yellow Warbler - Setophaga petechia bryanti
Blackpoll Warbler -
Setophaga striata # 
Black-throated Blue Warbler -
Setophaga caerulescens  #

Palm Warbler - Setophaga palmarum #

Pine Warbler - Setophaga pinus

Yellow-throated Warbler - Setophaga dominica #

Prairie Warbler - Setophaga discolor  

Black-throated Green Warbler - Setophaga virens
Fan-tailed Warbler -
Basileuterus lachrymosus  

Canada Warbler - Cardellina canadensis

Slate-throated Redstart - Myioborus miniatus

 

Cardinalidae - Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings

Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea #
Flame-colored Tanager - Piranga bidentata

Yellow Grosbeak - Pheucticus chrysopeplus

 

The below list includes those species that were formely posted but are not currently posted. Dates indicate when these species were no longer posted. Photos of these species continue to be archived.

 

Anatidae - Ducks, Geese and Swans

Greater Scaup - Aythya marila  # (away from the Lower Colorado River) May 2020
Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata  # 01 January 2013
Barrow's Goldeneye - Bucephala islandica  # (away from the Lower Colorado River) May 2020

 

Podicipedidae - Grebes

Horned Grebe - Podiceps auritus  #  01 January 2013

 
Trochilidae - Hummingbirds

Lucifer Hummingbird - Calothorax lucifer  #  01 January 2013

 

Scolopacidae - Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies

Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus  # (outside of Yuma County) May 2020

Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla  # May 2020
Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus  # 01 January 2013

 

Laridae - Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Sabine's Gull - Xema sabini  # 01 January 2013
Herring Gull - Larus argentatus  # (away from the Lower Colorado River) May 2020

 

Gaviidae - Loons

Pacific Loon - Gavia pacifica  # 01 January 2013
 

Accipitridae - Kites, Eagles, and Hawks

Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus # 01 January 2013
"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis harlani  # 01 January 2013
 

Strigidae - Typical Owls

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl - Glaucidium brasilianum  # May 2020

 

Picidae - Woodpeckers

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus varius  # 01 January 2013
Red-breasted Sapsucker - Sphyrapicus ruber # 01 January 2013

 

Tyrannidae - Tyrant Flycatchers

Eastern Phoebe - Sayornis phoebe  # 01 January 2013

 

Troglodytidae - Wrens

Pacific Wren - Troglodytes pacificus # 01 January 2013

Winter Wren - Troglodytes hiemalis # 01 January 2015

 

Polioptilidae - Gnatcatchers

Black-capped Gnatcatcher - Polioptila nigriceps # 01 January 2013

 

Turdidae - Thrushes

Rufous-backed Robin - Turdus rufopalliatus  # 01 January 2013
Varied Thrush - Ixoreus naevius  # 01 January 2013

 

Mimidae - Catbirds, Mockingbirds, and Thrashers

Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis  # 01 January 2013

 

Calcariidae -Longspurs and Snow Buntings

McCown's Longspur - Rhynchophanes mccownii # May 2020

 

Passerellidae - New World Sparrows
     Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla # 01 January 2013

 

Parulidae - Wood Warblers

Louisiana Waterthrush - Parkesia motacilla # May 2020

Prothonotary Warbler - Protonotaria citrea # 01 January 2013

"Celata" Orange-crowned Warbler - Leiothlypis celata celata # May 2020
Chestnut-sided Warbler -
Setophaga pensylvanica  # 01 January 2013

Rufous-capped Warbler - Basileuterus rufifrons # May 2020

 

Cardinalidae - Cardinals, Grosbeaks, and Buntings

Painted Bunting - Passerina ciris  # May 2020

Dickcissel - Spiza americana  #  01 January 2013

 

 

 


Arizona Rarities

 

Crescent-chested Warbler
Madera Canyon
Photo by Hans Spiecker


Black-capped Gnatcatcher
California Gulch
Photo by Mark Stevenson


Rufous-capped Warbler
Cave Creek Canyon
Photo by Robert Shantz


Tufted Flycatcher
White Rock Canyon
Photo by Steven and Julie Servantez


Flame-colored Tanager
Madera Canyon
Photo by James Prudente


Slate-throated Redstart
Carr Canyon
Photo by Kurt Radamaker


Aztec Thrush
Madera Canyon
Photo by Al Tozier

Plain-capped Startthroat
Agua Caliente Park
Photo by Oliver Niehuis


Yellow Grosbeak
Huachuca Mountains
Photo by Robert A. Behrstock

 
Northern Jacana
Casa Grande
Photo by Brendon Grice
 
Gilbert Water Ranch
Photo by Michael Moore
 
Madera Canyon
Photo by Oliver Niehuis
 
 
Rufous-backed Robin
Catalina State Park
Photo by Clifford Cathers
 
Ruddy Ground-Dove
El Mirage
Photo by Pierre Deviche
 
Madera Canyon
Photo by Clair Postmus

 
Elegant Tern
Gilbert Water Ranch
Photo by Brendon Grice


Yellow-billed Loon
Tempe Town Lake
Photo by Michael Moore

 
Ruff
Gilbert Water Ranch
Photo by Rich Ditch


White-rumped Sandpiper
Willcox
Photo by Rob and Rita Colwell


Brant
Willcox
Photo by Peter Dedicoat


Lesser Black-backed Gull
River Road
Photo by Chris Benesh


Long-tailed Jaeger
Ashurst Lake
Photo by Jeff Estis

 

Status and distribution review has included over the years
Mark Stevenson
Kurt Radamaker
Michael C. Moore
Janet Witzeman
David Vander Pluym
Lauren Harter
Andrew Core
Gary Rosenberg



All photos are copyrighted© by photographer

Photos posted here are not automatically considered submitted records to the ABC. To submit a review species please go to Reports. Photos used here prior to evaluation by the ABC should be considered pending records rather than accepted records; in some cases, they may carry preliminary identifications that may change or the photos may not in the end provide definitive identification.

Suggestions for submitting
photos to AZFO

Image Preparation Guidelines


© Copyright 2008

Updated Tuesday, August 10, 2010

©2005
HOME | REPORT SIGHTINGS | PHOTOS | BIRDING | JOURNAL | ABOUT US | CHECKLISTS | AZ BIRD COMMITTEE | EVENTS | LINKS