Rare Bird Alert: June 9, 2017

Notable ABA rarities continuing into this week include breeding attempts in Arizona and long-staying vagrants in Alaska. In the former, the Slate-throated Redstart (ABA Code 4), Flame-colored Tanager (4), and Tufted Flycatcher (5), as well as the rediscovery of that state’s first record of Common Crane (4) originally found a few weeks ago. In Alaska, a number of Asian strays have continued, most notably White-tailed Eagle (4), Far Eastern Curlew (4), Common Rosefinch (4), and impressive numbers of Hawfinch (4).

Indeed, Far Eastern Curlew (4) has been one of the signature birds of this spring in Alaska, with records coming from both the Aleutians and the Bering Sea Islands. Most amazing, however, was one photographed north of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, this past week, furnishing a territorial 1st record and only the 2nd record for Canada.