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Seasonal Report Archive for The Loon | |
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The 2022-Spring Season 1 March through 31 May 2022 Paul E. Budde, Alyssa L. DeRubeis, Ezra M. Hosch, Doug W. Kieser, and Brian T. Smith |
Two records of Black-bellied Whistling-Ducks, the state’s second Rock Ptarmigan, a King Rail, and two Bullock’s Orioles highlighted this spring season in which 329 species were recorded. In addition to these Accidentals, 16 Casual species were discovered, many represented by several records: Black-necked Stilt (12), Red Knot (4), Ruff, Western Sandpiper, Black-legged Kittiwake, Glossy Ibis (2), Barn Owl (5), Lewis’s Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Mountain Bluebird (2), Eurasian Tree Sparrow (10), Kentucky Warbler (3), Yellow-throated Warbler (5), Black-headed Grosbeak (1), Lazuli Bunting (4), and Painted Bunting. In all, 40 records were firsts for their counties.
May brought Minnesota’s first spring records of Black-bellied Whistling-Duck since 2016 when a flock of five birds was discovered in Hennepin and a single bird in Faribault. The four Cinnamon Teal found this season were all in western counties. Two Harlequin Ducks were seen along Lake Superior, one at the beginning of the season and the other at its end. Long-tailed Ducks were in ten counties, including first records for Jackson and Nobles.
Watonwan County’s first Clark’s Grebe was found in mid-May. The state’s first Eurasian Collared-Dove was discovered in 1998. This season, Lake of the Woods County had its first record, leaving only Carlton as the one county lacking a record. The only White-winged Dove this season was a bird in Duluth. A King Rail photographed in Steele County was the third since 1992.
This spring, shorebirds made a good showing. Black-necked Stilts continued to increase in the state, as they were represented by 14 records that included 19 individuals and produced five first county records. Whimbrels produced first records for Lincoln and Morrison counties. Red Knots were not only along Lake Superior in St. Louis and Cook, but also in Marshall County. A Ruff in beautiful Alternate plumage was in Pine County in early May. In late April, a Western Sandpiper was photographed in Dakota County.
A Parasitic Jaeger was seen in Duluth in late May. In late March the state’s first spring Black-legged Kittiwake since 1991 was also in Duluth. Spring is always the best season for finding Lesser Black-backed Gulls in Minnesota, but this season’s reports of about 28 individuals from 20 counties was quite amazing. A total of 215 Red-throated Loons tallied off Park Point was impressive, while a lone bird provided a first county record for Beltrami.
Glossy Ibis were found in Norman and Freeborn counties and produced first records for each. The Freeborn record actually consisted of three ibis: in addition to the Glossy was a White-faced and an apparent hybrid! March 17th was a good day for eagle migration in Duluth as the counters at the W.S.H.C. tallied a record number of Balds and a near-record number of Goldens on that day. In the category of mind-blowing, the Bethany Hawkwatch counted 405 Swainson’s Hawks on 2 April. These birds may have been fleeing a late winter storm in the Dakotas. To put this total in perspective, the prior high count for this species was 70, a fall tally at Hawk Ridge. The previous high spring count was only seven!
Barn Owls are being reported more frequently lately, especially in the Southeast. In part, this is due to a remote monitoring program begun in 2020 that captures audio of owls vocalizing at multiple sites in this area. This season saw records of audio-taped birds in Wabasha and Houston counties and a bird in Winona was photographed by a trail cam.
Minnesota’s eighth Lewis’s Woodpecker was found in Dodge as it perched on a telephone pole along a highway. Prairie Falcons were reported in Cass and Blue Earth counties. Ten Say’s Phoebes distributed across nine counties was the most ever for any season; for five counties, these were first records. A White-eyed Vireo was found along the Root River Trail in Lanesboro. As a measure of their continuing range expansion, Common Ravens were reported from 49 counties, the most in any season.
Mountain Bluebirds were reported in Blue Earth and Red Lake counties; both were females and neither lingered past the day they were discovered. Fifteen Townsend’s Solitaires found in 13 counties was the most ever for a spring season. The other rare but Regular winter thrush, Varied Thrush, was only found in Anoka and Yellow Medicine counties where birds lingered from winter locations. Eurasian Tree Sparrows continued to increase in the state. Seventeen individuals in seven counties — including first records for Mower and Rice — were record-high totals. Redpolls were present in good numbers. Common Redpolls were found in the most counties ever for a spring season, while Hoary county counts were second-highest. White-winged Crossbill numbers were also exceptional.
A single Chestnut-collared Longspur was reported from Felton Prairie, but only on one day in late April. A Spotted Towhee that overwintered in Goodhue County lingered until late April, while another made a one-day appearance at a Willmar backyard in early May. Yellow-breasted Chats were found in Lyon and Fillmore counties. Several Orchard Orioles were record-early northbound migrants, and by the end of the season they had set a record for the number of reports from the northern half of the state. Bullock’s Orioles in Stearns and Itasca were the seventh and eighth records for Minnesota; all but one of these has been in the last ten years. Kentucky Warblers were seen in Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties in mid-May. Yellow-throated Warblers continue to push northward; they were found in five counties, including first records for Steele and Cass.
The Cardinalidae family was well-represented this season. Nineteen Summer Tanagers was an excellent total; they were found in all regions but the West-central. Six Western Tanagers was a solid number for this species. Black-headed Grosbeak is most frequently found in spring; this season, the first one since 2015 was photographed in Anoka County. Four male Lazuli Buntings were found in May, including a first county record for Hubbard. For the sixth consecutive spring, a Painted Bunting was seen; it provided a first record for Winona County.
Weather: Temperatures, on average, were just slightly below-normal in March, but were 5.5°F below-normal in April. In May, they averaged slightly above-normal. The coldest temperature was ?29° at both Tower and Kabetogama on 12 March, while the warmest day of the season was 13 May when the thermometer hit 97° in St. James. Precipitation totals for every month this season were above-average. Three major storms crossed the state in March. The first, on 5–6 March, brought a wintry mix of freezing rain and sleet to much of the state. Another event on 21–23 March produced steady rain in southern and eastern Minnesota. The final event on 29–30 March brought four to ten inches of snow to areas east of Moorhead and slush to regions farther south. April brought some snow and more rain, especially to the Northwest and North-central, as major storm systems crossed the state almost weekly. It was the seventh wettest April on record since 1895. Precipitation levels in May were quite variable. Collegeville received over five inches above normal, while Albert Lea was over two inches below normal. Almost every part of the state experienced tornadoes, large hail, or strong straight-line winds at some point during the month.
Documented reports still under review: Rock Ptarmigan 4/19 Wabasha (provenance); Red Knot 5/24 Cook; White-eyed Vireo 5/8 Fillmore; Black-headed Grosbeak 5/7 Rice.
Insufficiently documented records of Regular species: Nelson’s Sparrow 5/10 Ramsey (unusual location, no details); Long-billed Dowitcher 5/21 Dakota (silent, Basic-plumaged birds).
Acknowledgements: Special thanks to Dave Cahlander for building and maintaining the seasonal reports submission and production web pages (http://moumn.org/moureports/season.php) through which most of this data is collected and organized. We are also grateful for the additional data provided for the creation of this report by eBird (http://www.ebird.org, accessed June 2022). Medians of recent arrivals and departures are based on published and unpublished seasonal report data from the 25-year period 1996 through 2020. Weather data is from the Minnesota DNR’s HydroClim Minnesota newsletter (https://www.dnr.state.mn.us/hydroclim/index.html). Finally and most importantly, our appreciation goes out to all those who contribute their sightings data to the MOU. We are especially grateful to those who respond to our requests for details and who submit observations online.
Washington, DC; Golden Valley, MN; Mahtomedi, MN; Minneapolis, MN; Sleepy Eye, MN.
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Species |
N | S |
Information |
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| Whistling-Ducks, Geese, Swans, Ducks | |||||
| BLACK-BELLIED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna autumnalis) | 2 | Two south reports of this Accidental species: 5/2 Hennepin (5, Hyland Lake P.R.) RCo, ph. CMB, ph.†ClB, m.ob., 5/14–15 Faribault (1, Old Mill Park, Minnesota Lake) ph. †BAy, †WAF, ph. †KEm, m.ob. | |||
| Snow Goose (Anser caerulescens) | 15 | 48 | Early south migrants (median 3/6) 3/4 Jackson (2) PEJ, DFN, 3/5 Murray (3) GWe. Early north (median 3/19) 3/11 St. Louis (6, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 3/13 Pine (2) ebd, 3/16 Traverse DLP. High counts 3/16 Freeborn (20,000, Geneva) PEJ, DFN, 4/2 Big Stone (17,000, West Toqua Lake) LiH, 4/9 Grant (15,000, North Ottawa Impoundment) KRE, m.ob. Late north 5/13 Grant (5) DAB, 5/28 Pennington TWe, EHi, 5/30 Kanabec SPS (median 5/31). | ||
| Ross's Goose (Anser rossii) | 10 | 33 | Early south (median 3/8) 3/5 Murray (5, Fulda First Lake) GWe, 3/12 Murray (2, Lake Wilson) VKl, 3/13 Blue Earth ChH. Early north (median 3/25) 3/1–26 Grant (max. 3) ebd, WPl, 3/16 Traverse DLP. High counts 3/16 Freeborn (1,000, estimated, near Geneva) PEJ, DFN, 3/16 Jackson (495, actual count from several flocks) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/1 Freeborn (6, Geneva Lake) ebd, 5/19–20 Stearns DRL, MtS, m.ob. (median 5/15). Late north 5/17–20 (Pine City) DBz, ANy, BWF, KrM, ebd (median 5/22). | ||
| Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) | 13 | 50 | Early south (median 2/28) 3/1 Nobles (28, Okabena Lake) RAE, ANy, 3/4 Jackson (1,364) PEJ, DFN, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Freeborn, Lac qui Parle, Lyon, Rice. Early north (median 3/20) 3/16 Traverse DLP, 3/19–20 Clay (max. 450) PBB, Grant (max. 1,500) CNc, ebd, Otter Tail (500) AaL, CLu, ebd, 3/20 Polk (500) SAu. High count 3/16 Jackson (42,340, counts made by 100s, from multiple locations) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/27 Nobles KRE, m.ob., 5/29 Lyon NMe, 5/30 Watonwan CRM, ebd (median 5/31). Late north 5/22–28 Grant ebd, 5/27 Kittson LHl, JWH, ebd, 5/28 Traverse SC (median 5/18). | ||
| Snow Goose X Greater White-fronted Goose (Anser caerulescens X A. albifrons) | 2 | Two south reports: 3/16 Dakota (Emery Ave.) MwT, 4/2 Freeborn (Geneva Lake) IsH, EzH. | |||
| Cackling Goose (Branta hutchinsii) | 16 | 42 | See winter report for early south migrants. Early north (median 3/26) 3/16 Traverse DLP, 3/16–19 Grant (max. 4) CNn, 3/18 Clay GMd, RSw, Otter Tail AAz, AaL, CLu. Descriptions provided in varying detail from 23 counties. High counts 3/15 Lac qui Parle (1,000, Big Stone N.W.R., estimated) ebd, 3/16 Jackson (220, multiple locations) PEJ, DFN. Late south 5/7 Murray ebd, 5/7–8 Lyon (2) BDo, MwT, GWe, ebd, 5/8 Hennepin ChP, 5/17 Wright (2) ebd (median 5/17). Late north 5/7 Aitkin ebd, 5/13 Polk, HHu, 5/17 Otter Tail ebd (median 5/20). | ||
| Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. | ||
| Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) | 1 | 7 | All reports of probable wild birds: One north 5/24 St. Louis DFN. All south 3/13 – 5/18 Dakota (1, several locations) MwT, m.ob., 3/13–17 Goodhue (1, several locations) ph. PEJ, GJM, 3/21 – 5/30 Hennepin (1, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) ebd, m.ob., 4/12 Wabasha (2, Goose Lake) RBW, 4/21 Chisago (1, Carlos Avery South Dam) MFl, ETw, 5/27 Freeborn (1, Alden) DaS. | ||
| Trumpeter Swan (Cygnus buccinator) | 34 | 53 | Reported, for the second consecutive year, from all 87 counties. There were several high counts of 200+ birds reported in March but none explicitly identified why the swans were this species and not Tundras. | ||
| Tundra Swan (Cygnus columbianus) | 29 | 46 | Early south away from overwintering individuals (median 3/6) 3/2 Hennepin (12) ebd, 3/3–5 Olmsted (5) JPr, LAV, 3/5 Hennepin ebd, Ramsey (2) CHi, Steele (4) AAz. Early north (median 3/17) 3/15 Becker (4, near Detroit Lakes) ebd, 3/17 Clay ebd, 3/18 St. Louis ebd. High count 4/9 Grant (2,000, estimated, near Herman) TiW. Late south 5/12 Yellow Medicine ebd, 5/15 Isanti (4) TJJ, 5/16 Carver WCM (median 5/7). Late north 5/22 Otter Tail (2) ebd, 5/27 St. Louis (6) ebd, 5/30 Cass (2) ebd (median 5/28). | ||
| Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/19) 3/16 Douglas (3) BEc, 3/19 Beltrami (2) ebd, Norman ebd, 3/19–20 Otter Tail (2) ebd. High count 4/1 Yellow Medicine (230, Miedd Lake) GWe. | ||
| Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. Early south (median 3/11) 3/15 Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.) ebd, 3/16 Dakota, Hennepin, Jackson, Olmsted, Ramsey, Rice. Early north (median 3/29) 3/29 Traverse DLP, 3/30 – 4/1 Polk (max. 4) HHu. High count 5/3 Steele (600, estimated, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) ClB. | ||
| Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) | 4 | All reports: 4/2 Big Stone (drake, West Toqua Lake) †LiH, 4/2–8 Yellow Medicine (drake, Curtis Lake) ph. KEm, JWH, ph. LBa, m.ob., 4/24 Pipestone (drake, Edgerton W.T.P.) ph. LVD, 5/27 Nobles (drake, Quine Ave. wetland) DFe, KRE, m.ob. | |||
| Blue-winged Teal X Cinnamon Teal (Spatula discors X S. cyanoptera) | 2 | Two south reports: 5/8 Lyon (Cottonwood W.T.P.) ph. †KEm, JWH, 5/10 Murray (no details) ANy. | |||
| Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) | 33 | 53 | Reported in every county but Lake of the Woods. As many as eight birds overwintered in Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P). Early south (median 3/3) 3/5 Lyon GWe, Murray (2) GWe, 3/6 Winona (2) ebd, 3/9 Houston (3) SHo. Early north (median 3/24) 3/22 Becker (3) NaH, TKa, 3/29 Traverse DLP, 3/31 Grant (2) SKe. | ||
| Gadwall (Mareca strepera) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county but Beltrami. See winter report for overwintering birds and early south migrants (median 2/24) in late February. Early north (median 3/16) 3/19–21 Traverse (max. 5) DLP, ebd, 3/24 Morrison (2) SEm. High counts 4/9 Houston (1,200, estimated by 100s, La Crescent) IsH, EzH, 4/1 Yellow Medicine (835, estimated, Curtis Lake) GWe. | ||
| American Wigeon (Mareca americana) | 32 | 52 | Reported statewide. One bird overwintered in Scott (Blue Lake W.T.P.). Early south (median 3/1) 3/4 Jackson PEJ, DFN, Yellow Medicine GWe, 3/6 Cottonwood KEm, Olmsted JPr, AAz. Early north (median 3/26) 3/21 Marshall/Polk (4, Agassiz Valley) HHu, 3/22 Becker (2) NaH, TKa, 3/23 Morrison DLP. High count 4/9 Houston (1,615, near La Crescent, counted individually) EzH, IsH. | ||
| Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. High counts 3/15 Jackson (5,000, Round Lake) ASu, 4/1 Yellow Medicine (4,175, Miedd Lake) GWe. | ||
| American Black Duck (Anas rubripes) | 10 | 25 | High count 4/10 St. Louis (26, Glensheen Historic Congdon Estate) PHS. Late south 5/17 Hennepin DSh, 5/21 Sibley ebd. | ||
| Mallard X American Black Duck (Anas platyrhynchos X A. rubripes) | 3 | 5 | Apparent hybrids described 3/9–12 Goodhue PEJ, 4/11 Lake JWL. Additional reports north from Cook, St. Louis, and south from Hennepin, Ramsey, Rice, Scott. | ||
| Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) | 28 | 52 | See winter report for overwintering birds and earliest south migrants (median 2/27). Additional south reports 3/3 Anoka (Coon Rapids Dam) ebd, 3/5 Goodhue, Lyon, Murray, Olmsted, Rice. Early north (median 3/15) 3/19–20 Clay (max. 45, Cromwell Twp.) PBB, 3/20 Grant (200) ebd, Red Lake (14) HHu, 3/20 Polk (100, East Grand Forks Cemetery) SAu. High counts 3/31 Grant (750, North Ottawa Impoundment) SKe, 4/1 Yellow Medicine (625, Curtis Lake) GWe. | ||
| Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) | 33 | 53 | Reported in every county except Lake of the Woods. See winter report for overwintering birds and possible early migrants. Early south (median 3/5) 3/4 Jackson PEJ, DFN, Nobles (2) ebd, Murray (5) VKl. Early north (median 3/25) 3/22 Becker (5) HeH, ShG, 3/29 Traverse DLP, 4/2 (30, Diekman’s W.P.A. and Metz W.M.A.) LiH, 4/2 Grant (20, North Ottawa Impoundment) LiH, ebd. High counts 4/1 Yellow Medicine (975, Curtis Lake) GWe, 4/21 Steele (900, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) PEJ. | ||
| Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) | 27 | 52 | Early south (median 2/28) 3/4 Jackson PEJ, DFN, 3/5 Goodhue KDS, Hennepin MwT, ebd, Murray (2) GWe, Scott (6, Blue Lake W.T.P.) ABL, m.ob. Early north (median 3/27) 3/19 Traverse DLP, 3/20 Grant ebd, 3/24 Morrison DLP, 3/24 St. Louis (3) JLK. High count 4/9 Wabasha (6,000, Weaver Bottoms, counted by 100s) IsH, EzH. | ||
| Redhead (Aythya americana) | 33 | 53 | Reported in 86 counties. Overwintered in Goodhue and Scott. Early south (median 2/23) 3/2 Dakota (9, Rebecca Lake) CJE, JKu, m.ob., 3/3 Wabasha (15) PEJ, 3/4 Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Murray, Nobles. Early north (median 3/21) 3/16 Morrison BWF, 3/19 Traverse DLP, 3/20 Grant (10) ebd. High counts 4/25 St. Louis (400, Mud Lake) BEA, 4/17 Carver (233, Wahibo Marsh) WCM. | ||
| Canvasback X Redhead (Aythya valisineria X A. americana) | 2 | Two reports with descriptions: 4/26 St. Louis (Park Point) ebd, 5/9 Pine (Pine City W.T.P.) KrM. | |||
| Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) | 34 | 52 | Reported in every county but Martin. Overwintered in Scott with early south spring migrants reported (median 2/24) in late February, then 3/1 Wabasha PEJ, 3/4 Cottonwood, Jackson, Lyon, Murray, Rice, Yellow Medicine. Early north (median 3/16) 3/19–21 Traverse DLP, ebd, 3/19–20 Grant (max. 25, North Ottawa Impoundment) BLz, ebd, 3/21 Marshall (10, Agassiz Valley) HHu, Polk (2, Agassiz Valley) HHu. High count 4/10 Wabasha (4,700, Weaver Bottoms) IsH, EzH. | ||
| Greater Scaup (Aythya marila) | 32 | 48 | Early south away from overwintering areas (median 3/3) 3/2 Dakota DFN, 3/5 Washington PNi, DnS, 3/8 Wabasha PEJ. Early north (median 3/27) 3/20 – 4/2 Grant (max. 10, North Ottawa Impoundment) ebd, WPl, JTa, 4/2 Traverse (2) LiH. High count 4/24 St. Louis (800, Park Point) StK, SNe. | ||
| Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) | 33 | 53 | Reported from 86 counties. Overwintered in Goodhue, Scott, Wright. Early south (median 2/24) 3/1 Wabasha (24) PEJ, 3/2 Dakota DFN, 3/4 Cottonwood PEJ, DFN, Jackson PEJ, DFN, Lyon (10) GWe, Nobles (4) ebd. Early north (median 3/13) 3/19 Traverse DLP, 3/22 Becker (5) NaH, TKa, 3/26 Grant (35) ebd, WPL. High counts 4/2 Freeborn (3,850, Geneva Lake, counted by 10s) EzH, IsH, 4/9 Wabasha (3,500, Weaver Bottoms) EzH, IsH. | ||
| Ring-necked Duck X Lesser Scaup (Aythya collaris X A. affinis) | 1 | One report: 4/26 Freeborn (drake, Geneva Lake) †PEJ. | |||
| Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) | 2 | Two north reports: 3/18 St. Louis (female, Brighton Beach) JLK, 5/30 Cook (female/juvenile, East Bay) ebd. | |||
| Surf Scoter (Melanitta perspicillata) | 1 | 2 | All reports 4/26, 5/7 St. Louis (Park Point) ebd, JLK, 5/10 Rice (2) TFB, 5/14, 5/26 Yellow Medicine (male, Miller Lake) KRE, DLP, m.ob. | ||
| White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi) | 3 | All reports 4/24 – 5/26 St. Louis (max. 16 on 5/10, Park Point) StK, HTo, ALw, ClN, m.ob., 5/15 Lake (4, Silver Bay) ABm, JlB, 5/19–22 Cook (max. 8, Taconite Harbor) JGW, m.ob. | |||
| Black Scoter (Melanitta americana) | 1 | 1 | All reports: 4/1 Lyon (female, Lake Yankton) RJS, 5/7 St. Louis (2, Park Point) ebd, 5/25 St. Louis (2, Lake Vermilion) ebd. | ||
| Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) | 3 | 7 | All south reports: 3/1–5 Goodhue (an overwintering female at Colville Park) PEJ, SDz, 3/16 Jackson (female, Little Spirit Lake) ph. †PEJ, DFN, 3/23–24 Anoka (Coon Rapids Dam) MAJ, GWe, DEl, ebd, 3/24 Hennepin (Mississippi Gateway R.P.) DEl, 3/26 – 4/2 (female, Lake Yankton) JBu, VKl, DWK, ebd, m.ob., 3/28 Nobles (female, Ocheda Lake) DBz, ANy, RAE, KEM, 4/12 Yellow Medicine (female, Curtis Lake) ebd. All north reports were along Lake Superior: 3/7 – 5/31 in Cook with high count 5/24 (48, Grand Marais) KeL; 3/7 – 5/27 Lake with high count 3/16 (67, season’s high count, Two Harbors) AVa, ebd; 4/2 – 5/30 St. Louis with high count 4/2 (40, Lester River mouth) SLL, JWL. | ||
| Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. See winter report for overwintering birds south. Early south (median 3/5) 3/1 Wabasha PEJ, 3/5 Goodhue (2) KDS, Murray GWe. Early north (median 3/23) 3/14 Lake (6) AVa, 3/26 Grant (12) ebd, 3/30 Beltrami (8) ebd. High counts 3/24 Anoka (200, Coon Rapids Dam) ebd, 4/9 Wabasha (200, Weaver Bottoms) IsH, EzH. Late south 5/26 Jackson CRM, m.ob., Lyon (Cottonwood W.T.P.) NMe, 5/31 Yellow Medicine (Miller-Richter W.M.A.) EHi (median 5/31). | ||
| Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) | 34 | 51 | Reported statewide. High count 4/21 St. Louis (800, Park Point) SNe, StK. Late south 5/15 Carver JSt, 5/15–29 Hennepin (Mississippi River) ebd (median 5/13). | ||
| Bufflehead X Common Goldeneye (Bucephala albeola X B. clangula) | 1 | One report 3/25 Dakota (immature male, Lake Byllesby) †PEJ. | |||
| Barrow's Goldeneye (Bucephala islandica) | No spring reports since 2018. | ||||
| Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from all 87 counties. See winter report for overwintering and early south migrants. Early north (median 3/9) 3/4 St. Louis JLK, 3/12–16 Douglas BWF. High count 4/2 Goodhue (400, Lake Byllesby) IsH, EzH. | ||
| Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) | 33 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 3/13 Dakota (1,000, Spring Lake P.R., estimated) PNi, 3/13 Dakota (950, Schaar’s Bluff, Mississippi River, counted by 5s) EzH, IsH. Late south 5/21 Dakota ebd, Goodhue PEJ, 5/27 Nobles RZi (median 5/24). | ||
| Red-breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) | 32 | 50 | See winter report for overwintering birds. Early south (median 3/5) 3/2–5 Sherburne (2, Babcock Park) PLJ, HHD, 3/3–5 Ramsey (5, Lower Landing Park) LiH, ebd. Early north (median 3/31) reports from counties away from Lake Superior 4/2–9 Traverse (2, Traverse C.P.) LiH, HCT, 4/9 Cass (20) LnH, JhH, Otter Tail ebd, 4/10 Morrison (5, Little Falls) ebd. High counts 4/21 Ramsey (160, Vadnais Lake) MaS, 4/21 Hennepin (140, Lake Harriet) GHo. | ||
| Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) | 24 | 50 | Overwintered in Scott. Early south (median 3/6) 3/4 Lac qui Parle DLP, 3/5–8 Goodhue (2) KDS, 3/8 Nobles ebd. Early north (median 3/30) 4/8 Traverse (2) ebd, 4/9 Otter Tail ebd, 4/16 Grant DWK. High counts 4/21 Freeborn (1,700, counted by 100s from several lakes) PEJ, 5/3 Freeborn (400, Myre-Big Island S.P.) ebd. | ||
| Partridge, Pheasants, Grouse, Turkeys | |||||
| Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) | 32 | 52 | Reported from every county except Martin (south) and Koochiching and Lake of the Woods (north). High counts 3/17 Olmsted (90, Rochester) LAV, 3/11 St. Louis (70, Sax-Zim Bog) FJN. | ||
| Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) | 29 | 14 | Found throughout normal range, essentially northeast of a line from Norman to Stearns to Fillmore. According to MN DNR, spring drumming counts were up in 2022. This result was unexpected during the declining phase of the Ruffed Grouse ten-year cycle. | ||
| Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) | 5 | High count 3/2 Lake of the Woods (13, Gustafson Camp S.N.A.) MHK. Also reported from Cook, Itasca, Lake, St. Louis. | |||
| ROCK PTARMIGAN (Lagopus muta) | 1 | Second state record 4/19 Wabasha (male in winter plumage found in the city of Wabasha) ph. †fide KRE; the records committee is still debating the provenance of this bird. | |||
| Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus) | 16 | 2 | All south reports: 3/16 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) ebd, 3/24 Lac qui Parle (2, Agassiz Twp.) NSq, ebd, 3/19, 4/16 Yellow Medicine (max. 16, Mound Spring Prairie) BRB, ebd. Higher number of north reports than usual from Aitkin, Becker, Clay, Itasca, Kittson, Koochiching, Lake of the Woods, Norman, Pennington, Pine, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, St. Louis, Wilkin and high count 3/5 Marshall (35, near Warren) HHu. | ||
| Greater Prairie-Chicken (Tympanuchus cupido) | 9 | All reports were from counties in the Northwest and West-central regions: Becker, Clay, Grant, Mahnomen, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau, Wilkin, with high count 3/13 Norman (43, near Twin Valley) HeH. | |||
| Gray Partridge (Perdix perdix) | 7 | 17 | For the second consecutive year there have been higher number of reports than usual. Most reports are from the southern third or Northwest region of the state. High count 3/13 Norman (14, Prairie Smoke Dunes) ShG, HeH. | ||
| Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) | 23 | 53 | Generally reported south of a line from Marshall to Cass to Carlton, plus 4/13 – 5/16 St. Louis (Meadowlands Twp.) IaG. High count 3/7 Yellow Medicine (19, Miedd Lake) WCM, with reports of 18 from 3/5 Washington RNe, 3/15 Benton DOr, 4/22 Big Stone ebd, 4/26 Rock SLP. | ||
| Grebes | |||||
| Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) | 34 | 52 | Reported statewide. Early south (median 3/7) 3/6 Steele DAB, 3/16 Freeborn AEB, Washington BDo, 3/18 Goodhue (3) PEJ, SDz, JtM, Hennepin (2) ebd, Mower SHo. Early north (median 3/23) 3/26 Cass ebd, 3/26 Grant WPl, 4/1 Morrison ebd. High count 4/23 Hennepin (90) CMB. | ||
| Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) | 29 | 47 | Early south (median 3/21) 3/23 Hennepin (3) KOC, 3/24–25 Anoka MAJ, HHD, DFe, 3/25 Scott ebd. Early north (median 4/6) 4/9 Otter Tail ebd, 4/15–17 Grant ToR, ebd, 4/20 Douglas JPE, (82 at three locations) ToR. High count 5/1 St. Louis (851, Park Point) ClN, ebd. Late south 5/14 Stearns PLJ, ebd, 5/21 Scott (2) ebd, Wabasha KeM (median 5/24). Late north 5/27 Cook DFN, 5/29 St. Louis ALw (median 6/6). | ||
| Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) | 30 | 35 | Early south (median 4/3) 3/3 Goodhue (Red Wing) ph. †PEJ, 4/9 Le Sueur DBz, 4/11 Hennepin KOC, MwT, Ramsey (3) EzH, LiH, ebd. Early north (median 4/7) 4/20 in Beltrami, Douglas )four locations), Morrison, Otter Tail, Polk (three locations), St. Louis. High count 5/2 St. Louis (700, Park Point) JDx, ClN, ebd. | ||
| Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) | 23 | 28 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/16 Hennepin (2) ebd, 4/17 Rice LiH, 4/19 Olmsted LAV, Ramsey BBr, Steele ebd. Early north (median 4/19) 4/15–17 Grant (2, North Ottawa Impoundment) ToR, DWK, ebd, 4/21 Clay TCL, Marshall HHu, Polk HHu, Todd ebd. High count 5/27 Marshall (48, near Middle River) HHu. | ||
| Western Grebe (Aechmophorus occidentalis) | 13 | 22 | Early south (median 4/11) 4/26 Faribault PEJ, 4/30 Big Stone DLP, 5/1 Sibley LiH. Early north (median 4/20) 4/21 Todd ebd, 4/25 Grant ebd, Polk ANy, DBz. High count 5/19 Douglas (115, Lake Osakis) BDo. | ||
| CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii) | 1 | One south report 5/16 Watonwan (320th Street wetland near Madelia, in the company of 3 Western Grebes) †ChH, AnK, ph. †LBa, m.ob. | |||
| Pigeons, Doves | |||||
| Rock Pigeon (Columba livia) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High count 3/22 Ramsey (600, Pig’s Eye R.P.) KSi. | ||
| Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) | 22 | 52 | Found in most counties west or south of line segments from Roseau to Todd to Chisago; also reported 4/12 – 5/8 St. Louis JWL, m.ob., 5/14 Lake of the Woods (2, Baudette Twp.) ebd, 5/18 Crow Wing (C.R. 1) SHo. High count 3/19 Rock (30, Hills) PRH. | ||
| White-winged Dove (Zenaida asiatica) | 1 | One north report 5/17 St. Louis (Peabody St., Duluth) ph. †PHS, JWL, m.ob. | |||
| Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High count 3/1 Houston (64, perched on powerlines along S.R. 16) SHo. | ||
| Cuckoos | |||||
| Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | 2 | 23 | Early south (median 5/13) 5/9 Hennepin JhM, ebd, Scott LiH, m.ob., 5/11 Washington GWe, 5/12 Fillmore (2) ebd. All north 5/29 Clay (Buffalo River S.P.) ebd, Pine (near Pine City) ebd. Highest count only two. | ||
| Black-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus erythropthalmus) | 15 | 23 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/9 Olmsted ebd, Rice TFB, 5/11 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) RTu, (Arden Park) ebd. Early north (median 5/16) 5/13 Cass ebd, Pine TJo, KvJ, 5/15 Aitkin LBa, 5/16 Otter Tail MwT. High count 5/27 Washington (4, William O’Brien S.P.) ebd. | ||
| Nightjars | |||||
| Common Nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) | 29 | 48 | The highest number of spring reports statewide in the last 11 years. Early south (median 5/3) 5/1 Sibley LiH, 5/7 Freeborn PEJ, 5/9 in Anoka (5), Carver (4), Dakota, Hennepin (6), Meeker, Ramsey, Scott, Stearns, Washington (3). Early north (median 5/12) 5/12 Mille Lacs (3) MJB, Pine KvJ, ebd, 5/13 also in Becker, Cass, Crow Wing. High counts 5/14 Washington (118, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A., actual count) LiH, 5/18 Washington (100, estimated, Hugo) ebd. | ||
| Eastern Whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vociferus) | 18 | 16 | Early south (median 4/29) 4/23 Stearns MtS, PCC, HHD, DRL, ebd, 4/26 Steele PSu, 4/29 Rice TFB. Early north (median 5/6) 5/4 Aitkin PEJ, 5/5 Clay LSl, 5/6 St. Louis JEl. High counts 5/28 Marshall (8, East Park W.M.A.) EHi, 5/29 Roseau (8, Beltrami Island S.F.) EHi. | ||
| Swifts | |||||
| Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) | 32 | 51 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/21 Fillmore ebd, Hennepin (2, Clifton French R.P.) WFe, (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) DSh, 4/23 also in Carver, Dakota, Ramsey, Rice, Washington. | ||
| Hummingbirds | |||||
| Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) | 34 | 51 | Record early south (median 5/1) 4/10 Anoka (2 at a nectar feeder) AXH, followed by 4/28 Fillmore ebd, 4/29 Anoka MAJ. Early north (median 5/4) 5/4 Douglas JPE, 5/9 Becker NaH, Carlton ebd, Cass ebd, Clay PBB, Crow Wing ebd, Otter Tail TFu, Pine KrM. High counts 5/16 Goodhue (23, home feeders near Red Wing) PEJ, 5/22 Hubbard (20, home feeders near Big Bass Lake) JKr. | ||
| Rails, Gallinules, Coots | |||||
| KING RAIL (Rallus elegans) | 1 | The third record since 1992 was found 5/22 Steele ph. RhK. | |||
| Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) | 25 | 42 | Up to 3 overwintered south (median 4/14) in Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) with 1 reported at the same location from 3/1–15 CMB, ABL, m.ob. Early south migrants 4/10 Hennepin (Bass Ponds) ebd, 4/21 Hennepin (Old Cedar Ave. Bridge), Olmsted, Rice, Sibley. Early north (median 5/1) 4/24 Kanabec BAb, 5/1 Clay CMk, 5/3 Aitkin ebd, Cook ebd, Douglas JPE. High count 5/28 St. Louis (6, Darwin Myers W.M.A., exact count) ClN. | ||
| Sora (Porzana carolina) | 32 | 51 | Early south (median 4/11) 4/2 Olmsted ebd, 4/8 Ramsey LiH, 4/10 Dakota MwT, Mower LiH. Early north (median 4/23) 4/29 Crow Wing (Baxter Ponds Trail) ABi, 4/30 Crow Wing (2, Rotary Riverside Park) DWK, HCT, 5/1 Clay (3) CMk, Douglas JPE. High count 5/22 Becker (21, Hellikson Prairie W.P.A.) ebd. | ||
| Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) | 7 | All south 5/2–9 Meeker (2, Hurley Lake) PKF, SLH, BNn, ebd, 5/5–31 Wabasha (max. 2, Whitewater S.P.) DnS, EHi, MNb, 5/5 Waseca (1, Moohan W.M.A.) DFe, CRM, m.ob., 5/10–14 Lyon (max. 2, Black Rush W.M.A.) RJS, BDo, LiH, 5/13 Sibley RBW, 5/21–23 Hennepin (1, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) JMn, m.ob., 5/23 Freeborn (2, Arrowhead Point Park) JWH. | |||
| American Coot (Fulica americana) | 33 | 52 | Overwintered in Scott. Early south (median 3/1) 3/4–6 Cottonwood PEJ, DFN, KEm, Jackson PEJ, DFN, 3/5 Hennepin ebd. Early north (median 3/21) 3/29 – 4/2 Traverse (max. 25) DLP, LiH, 3/31 – 4/2 Grant (max. 50, North Ottawa Impoundment) SKe, LiH, JTa, ebd. High counts 4/9 Houston (4,200, La Crescent) IsH, EzH, 4/22 Winona (4,000, Prairie Island Road) ebd. | ||
| Yellow Rail (Coturnicops noveboracensis) | 8 | 2 | The highest number of spring reports statewide in the last 11 years. Two south reports: 5/21–28 Stearns (max. 2, Lake Wobegon Trail) MtS, HHD, DOr, MJB, AaL, CLu, m.ob., 5/26–31 Anoka (max. 2, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) LBi, m.ob. All north 5/16–30 Aitkin (McGregor Marsh) CLR, KWR, m.ob., 5/16 Carlton (near Kettle River) CLR, KWR, 5/16 Hubbard (near Laporte) AxB, ebd, 5/23–29 Morrison (max. 5, Swanville Marsh) SEm, HHD, FGo, RAE, MJB, m.ob., 5/23–30 Roseau (several locations) AFo, LHl, JWK, EHi, 5/27–30 Kittson (340th St.) LHl, JWH, JGW, EHi, 5/29 Lake of the Woods EHi. High count 5/21 Aitkin (57, McGregor Marsh) KWR. | ||
| Cranes | |||||
| Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) | 34 | 46 | Early south (median 3/6) 3/3 Nicollet (1) BTS, Washington (6) JHe, 3/4 also in Dakota (18), Hennepin (5), Houston (2), Ramsey (2), Scott (2). Early north (median 3/16) 3/13 Pine ebd, 3/15 Douglas (2) BEc, 3/15 Todd (2) TLu. High count 3/21 Washington (789, Afton S.P., total of 18 separate flocks) BDo. | ||
| Stilts, Avocets | |||||
| Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) | 2 | 8 | All south 4/17–21 Lac qui Parle (C.R. 7 and C.R. 30) ph. RoF, ph. †EHi, ebd, 4/23 Cottonwood (4, 410th St.) ph. †KEm, JWH, 5/7–8 Nicollet (2, Nicollet W.T.P.) ChH, ph. †KEm, ChH, m.ob., 5/7–8 Pipestone (Edgerton W.T.P.) †HVD, †LVD, ph. †KEm, m.ob., 5/8 Steele (3, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) †SHo, ebd, 5/12 Wabasha (Weaver) ph. †PEJ, 5/23 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R., West Pool) ph. †MlB, 5/24 Pipestone (Pipestone W.T.P.) ph. ANy, ph. DBz, 5/25 Big Stone (2, C.R. 12 and U.S. 75) ph. †DLP, 5/27 Nobles (Quine Ave.) ph. RZi, KRE, †BTS, m.ob. Two north Douglas 5/2–3 (Osakis W.T.P.) ph. †BLz, m.ob., 5/6 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) ph. PPe. | ||
| American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana) | 10 | 30 | Early south (median 4/14) 3/29 – 4/1 Brown (Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) ph. BTS, MiO, 4/1 Blue Earth JCF, KEm, m.ob., 4/8 Lincoln (12) RJS. Early north (median 4/28) 5/4 Aitkin (3) CLR, ebd, 5/5 Marshall (2) HHu, Polk HHu, 5/5 Grant (2) ebd. High counts 4/25 Pipestone (29, Pipestone W.T.P.) RAE, VKl, 4/24 Lincoln (22, near Hendricks) BKa, GrN. | ||
| Plovers | |||||
| Black-bellied Plover (Pluvialis squatarola) | 13 | 22 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/24 Steele BLa, 4/26 Faribault PEJ, 4/29 Goodhue PEJ. Early north (median 5/15) 5/5 St. Louis StK, 5/13 Aitkin (2) KWR, CLR, LBa, Grant DAB, Hubbard ebd. One north first-county record 5/18–19 Todd (max. 5, near Sauk Center) RLF, RAE. High count 5/26 Marshall (98, near Middle River, counted individually) IsH, EzH. Late south 5/26 Carver (2) TWe, WCM, ebd, 5/28 Sherburne PLJ (median 6/6). Late north 5/29–30 Roseau (max. 10) EHi, BCS, 5/29–31 St. Louis ALw, JLK, JWL, ebd (median 6/6). | ||
| American Golden-Plover (Pluvialis dominica) | 10 | 23 | Early south (median 4/5) 4/13–24 Steele (1, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) DAB, m.ob., 4/23 Carver ChP, ebd, 4/28 Goodhue EHi. Early north (median 4/29) 4/24 Clay TKa, ASM, 5/9 Traverse (5) ebd, 5/12 Aitkin CLR, KWR, LBa. High counts 5/9 Steele (75) DFN, 4/30 Faribault (65) WAF. Late south 5/27 Carver (Tacoma Ave Area Fields) TWe, 5/30 Rice RBW (median 6/7). Late north 5/28 Roseau (C.R. 12) EzH, 5/29 Roseau (S.R. 310) EHi, 5/30 Roseau (C.R. 3) BCS (median 6/2). | ||
| PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER (Pluvialis fulva) | 1 | See documented reports still under review in the introduction. | |||
| Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county but Clearwater. Early south (median 2/28) 3/2–5 Olmsted LAV, AAz, MiD, 3/5 Goodhue ebd, Houston (3) ebd, Steele, ABL, Winona (2) ebd. Early north (median 3/15) 3/16 Cass ebd, Morrison (2) TKa, Grant CNn. High count 3/27 Brown (176, Sleepy Eye W.T.P., counted individually) BTS. | ||
| Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus) | 17 | 37 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/18–21 Dakota (max. 3) PEJ, ebd, 4/21 Big Stone EHi, ebd, Rice TFB. Early north (median 5/7) 4/23 Crow Wing (4) LnH, JhH, 5/5 St. Louis StK, 5/9 Pine (6) KrM. High counts 5/19 Carver (47) LiH, 5/15 Dakota (44, Lake Byllesby) GHo. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) | 1 | 1 | All reports were of singles: 4/24 – 5/20 St. Louis (banded bird at Park Point) SNe, StK, ebd, m.ob., 5/8–9 Lyon (near Balaton) GWe, ph. KEm, JWH, RJS. | ||
| Sandpipers | |||||
| Upland Sandpiper (Bartramia longicauda) | 10 | 15 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/30 Nobles BTS, 5/3 Pipestone (2) ebd, 5/5 Lyon LiH, m.ob. Early north (median 5/3) 5/6 Clay (2, Kurtz Twp.) ebd, 5/11 Wilkin ebd, 5/14 Clay (Bluestem Prairie S.N.A.) ebd. High count 5/30 Wilkin (4, Rothsay W.M.A.) EHi. | ||
| Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus) | 5 | 1 | Only south report: 5/24 Lincoln (18) DBz, ANy. Reported north in St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) from 5/9 (6) HTo, m.ob., through 5/31 FJN, m.ob., but also see summer report. Also found north 5/19 Morrison (13, C.R. 256) MJB, m.ob., 5/22 Lake (3, Two Harbors) JWL, 5/26 Grant (North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, Pennington (35, season’s high count, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) JWH, m.ob. | ||
| Hudsonian Godwit (Limosa haemastica) | 15 | 32 | Early south (median 4/18) 4/15–17 Dakota (max. 3) MwT, m.ob., 4/16 Goodhue (3) MaS, 4/17 Carver TWe. Early north (median 5/12) 4/23 Becker (2) TKa, 4/29 Clay TKa, 5/10 Lake of the Woods (2) ebd. High counts 5/22 Lyon (27, Stanley Twp.) GWe, 5/15 Kandiyohi (18, Whitefield W.M.A.) ebd. Late south 5/30 Big Stone DLP, Scott BHe, Sibley TWe (median 6/1), but also see summer report for additional late south migrants. Late north 5/29 Polk (2) HHu, Roseau EHi, Wilkin SC, 5/30 Crow Wing (2) GWe (median 5/31). | ||
| Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa) | 19 | 19 | Early south (median 4/13) 4/15–17 Dakota (max. 3) MwT, m.ob., 4/16–17 Goodhue MaS, m.ob., 4/17 Lyon GWe, Stearns DRL. Early north (median 4/13) 4/20 Clay (2) TCL, 4/21 Grant (3) CNn, Polk HHu. High counts 5/16 Faribault (32) PEJ, 5/27 Roseau (19, Greenbush W.T.P.) EzH. | ||
| Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) | 15 | 23 | Early south (median 5/11) 5/13 Faribault WAF, Pipestone (2) RJS, Steele EHi. Early north (median 5/14) 5/7 Grant CNn, 5/8–10 St. Louis (max. 6, Park Point R.A.) ebd, 5/11 Douglas RAE, m.ob. High counts 5/28 St. Louis (44, Park Point R.A.) FJN, JLK, PHS, 5/21 Crow Wing (20, Gull Lake) JhH, 5/26 Marshall (20, East Valley Twp.) JWH, JGW. Late south 5/28 Sherburne PLJ, 5/30 Sibley TWe (median 6/1). Late north 5/31 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) FJN, m.ob. (median 6/3), but also see summer report for additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| Red Knot (Calidris canutus) | 3 | All north 5/23 Roseau (Jadis Twp.) ph. †AFo, 5/23–30 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) HTo, †PHS, ph. †LiH, ph. †LBa, m.ob., 5/24 Cook (Grand Marais, pending acceptance by the records committee) ph. KeL, 5/25–28 Marshall (2, East Valley Twp.) ebd, †EzH, ph. †TWe, m.ob. | |||
| RUFF (Calidris pugnax) | 1 | An adult male in alternate plumage was discovered 5/2–3 Pine (Falcon Ave., Rock Creek) KrM, †EzH, ph. †LBa, ph. †TBu, m.ob. | |||
| Stilt Sandpiper (Calidris himantopus) | 7 | 27 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/6 Lyon GWe, Redwood (2) GWe, 5/7 Steele PEJ. Early north (median 5/14) 5/13 Grant (2) DAB, Mille Lacs (2) MJB, 5/16 Traverse DBz, ANy. High count 5/22 Lyon (45, 320th Ave., Cottonwood) GWe. Late south 5/30 Big Stone DLP, Scott BHe, 5/30–31 Sibley (max. 4) TWe, m.ob. (median 6/4). Late north 5/24 St. Louis (2) JLK, 5/25–29 Marshall (max. 21) ebd, 5/29 Wilkin SC (median 6/1). | ||
| Sanderling (Calidris alba) | 15 | 33 | Early south (median 5/4) 5/1–2 Olmsted (2) SHo, m.ob., Sibley LiH, 5/6 Hennepin ebd, Pipestone LVD, ebd. Early north (median 5/8) 5/8–13 St. Louis (max. 26) StK, m.ob., 5/10 Douglas RAE, ToR, 5/13 Aitkin KWR, CLR, Grant (3) DAB. High count 5/28 St. Louis (386, Park Point R.A.) JLK, FJN, PHS. Late south 5/29 Pipestone (2) KRE, m.ob., 5/30–31 Sibley (max. 10) CLu, m.ob., 5/31 Scott (3) ebd (median 6/6). Late north 5/29 Polk (5) HHu, Roseau (3) EHi, Wilkin SC, 5/29–31 St. Louis m.ob. (median 6/9), but also see summer report. | ||
| Dunlin (Calidris alpina) | 20 | 46 | Early south (median 4/15) 4/15–16 Dakota (180th St. Marsh) MwT, DnS, ebd, 4/15–16 Steele (max. 4) ebd. Early north (median 5/3) 4/24 Clay (2) TKa, ebd, 5/9 Pine (8) KrM, St. Louis HTo, m.ob. High counts 5/22 Yellow Medicine (275, Normania Twp.) GWe, 5/22 Lyon (220, Lucas Twp.) GWe. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Baird's Sandpiper (Calidris bairdii) | 6 | 30 | Early south (median 4/3) 4/9 Houston EHi, ebd, 4/10 Mower LiH, 4/12 Dakota DFN. Early north (median 4/23) 5/7 Aitkin (3) KWR, CLR, 5/8 St. Louis (6) ALw, m.ob., 5/9 Traverse (5) ebd. High count 5/9 Carver (30, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) ebd. Late south 5/29 Carver TWe, 5/30–31 Scott (max. 5) BHe, ebd, Sibley (5) TWe, m.ob. (median 6/7). Late north 5/28 Marshall (4) EHi, TWe, 5/28–29 Wilkin (max. 2) TWe, SC, 5/28–30 St. Louis (max. 9) MLH, JLK, ALw (median 6/4). | ||
| Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) | 26 | 50 | Early south (median 4/10) 3/28–30 (max. 4) Brown ANy, DBz, BTS, 4/7 Stevens (3) KBg, 4/8 Big Stone (3) CRM, m.ob. Early north (median 5/3) 4/23 Grant (20) ebd, 4/25 Morrison (10) MJB, 5/6 Norman (4) JCJ, SAu, St. Louis (2) JuG. High counts 5/22 Lyon (160, 320th Ave., Cottonwood) GWe, 5/14 Goodhue (150, Lake Byllesby) JCa. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| White-rumped Sandpiper (Calidris fuscicollis) | 9 | 36 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/26 Big Stone DLP, 5/7 Pipestone (6) KEm, JWH, Stearns (2) PCC, m.ob. Early north (median 5/13) 5/13 Aitkin (3) KWR, CLR, LBa, 5/15 Polk HHu, 5/16 St. Louis ebd, Traverse ANy. High count 5/22 Lyon (670, 320th Ave., Cottonwood) GWe. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Calidris subruficollis) | No reports. | ||||
| Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) | 19 | 47 | Early south (median 3/29) 3/20–26 Dakota (max. 3, Spring Lake P.R.) LiH, MwT, 3/26–28 (max. 4, Lake Byllesby R.P.) JMn, m.ob., 3/28 Brown ANy, DBz, WCM. Early north (median 4/14) 4/23 Grant (5) BAr, 4/27 Clay (2) LSl, 5/1 Pine KrM. High counts 5/22 Lyon (1,330, 320th Ave., Cottonwood) GWe, 5/22 Yellow Medicine (110, Lyon Yellow Medicine Rd., Cottonwood) GWe. See summer report for late migrants statewide. | ||
| Semipalmated Sandpiper (Calidris pusilla) | 20 | 45 | Early south (median 4/11) 4/15–17 Dakota (180th St. Marsh) MwT, m.ob., 4/16 Steele ebd, 4/18 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) ebd, Pipestone ebd. Early north (median 5/4) 5/5 Clay (2) TkL, 5/7–8 Grant (2) CNn, 5/8 Wadena PJB. High count 5/28 Rice (180, Millersburg Wetland) MZa. See summer report for late migrants north and south. | ||
| WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri) | 2 | A single bird in alternate plumage was discovered 4/27 Dakota (180th St. Marsh) ph. †MiF. | |||
| Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus) | 19 | 33 | Early south (median 4/29) 5/2 Winona ToM, 5/3 Redwood RJS, 5/5 Stevens (max. 6) DLP, Yellow Medicine (2) GWe. Early north (median 5/11) 5/6 Grant (5) PPe, 5/12 Aitkin (groups of 4 and 6) KWR, CLR, LBa, Pine (3, Falcon Ave.) ebd, (2, Midriver Rd.) ebd. High counts 5/20 Lake (33, 7 at Castle Danger, 26 at Beaver Bay) ANy, 5/14 Watonwan (31, 320th St.) AnK. Late south 5/25 Sherburne (2) PLJ, 5/28 Renville ebd, 5/30 Scott BHe (median 5/31). Late north 5/28 Grant ebd, Polk (max. 6) EHi, HHu, 5/29 Clay ebd (median 5/28). Note: Reports of Short-billed Dowitchers prior to 1 May without details are not published in these Seasonal Reports. (See The Loon 89:160–161.) | ||
| Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) | 9 | 27 | Early south (median 4/17) 3/24–28 Brown (2, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS, m.ob., 4/16, 4/21 Lyon GWe, m.ob., 4/21 Big Stone EHi, m.ob., Dakota (max. 3) ERT, m.ob. Early north (median 5/5) 5/6 Grant (8) PPe, 5/13 Aitkin (2) KWR, CLR, LBa, Mille Lacs MJB, Morrison SEm. High counts 4/30 Nobles (42) BTS, 5/6 Redwood (18, Westline Twp.) GWe. Late south 5/16 Dakota (3) ebd, Lyon RJS, Meeker PKF, 5/18–19 Carver JQn, m.ob. (median 5/19). Late north 5/14 Becker (4) NaH, Clay (6) ebd, 5/16 Aitkin SHo, 5/21 Mahnomen RAE (median 5/18). | ||
| American Woodcock (Scolopax minor) | 30 | 42 | Early south (median 3/12) 3/15 Wabasha LHl, 3/17 Ramsey LiH, 3/18 Dakota (2) MKe. Early north (median 3/26) 3/22 Grant (2) CNn, 3/24 Pine KrM, St. Louis JuG. High count 4/2 Washington (26, Afton S.P.) EzH, IsH. | ||
| Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) | 33 | 51 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/14 Anoka ebd, 3/16 Ramsey MWS, 3/18 Hennepin ebd. Early north (median 3/31) 4/10 Otter Tail TFu, 4/12 Douglas JPE, 4/15 Crow Wing PSP, DMz. High counts 4/16 Winona (40, Bollers Lake) ToM, 4/18 Dakota (30, Lake Byllesby R.P.) CBt, ebd, 4/19 Redwood (30, Cedar Mountain S.N.A.) WCM. | ||
| Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 4/19) 4/16 Dakota (3) JKu, Lyon GWe, Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 4/28) 4/26–29 St. Louis (max. 2) JLK, 4/28 Norman (2) CRM, m.ob., 4/30 Douglas AnA, m.ob., Todd VKl. High count 5/9 Stearns (30, Albany W.T.P.) MtS. | ||
| Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) | 24 | 43 | Early south (median 4/19) 4/16 Dakota MwT, Hennepin ebd, Washington ebd. Early north (median 4/29) 4/23 Morrison MEm, SEm, 4/24 Becker HeH, ShG, St. Louis StK, m.ob. High counts 5/10 Houston (17, Eitzen W.T.P.) EHi, m.ob., 5/3 Winona (15, Bollers Lake) ebd. Late south 5/27 Hennepin ebd, 5/28 Brown ebd, 5/31 Scott ebd (median 6/1). Late north 5/28 Aitkin (two locations) PSP, ebd, Clearwater SKu, Crow Wing JCu (median 6/3), but also see summer report for additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) | 32 | 53 | Early south (median 3/28) 3/21 Meeker RBW, 4/1 Winona EHi, Yellow Medicine GWe. Early north (median 4/4) 4/9 Wilkin BAb, 4/12 Todd (5) BEc, 4/17 Kanabec (2) KrM. High count 4/24 Goodhue (300, Lake Byllesby) AFo. Late south 5/30 Rock CRM, m.ob., Sibley (2) AaL, m.ob. (median 6/8). Late north 5/30 Kanabec (4) SPS (median 6/7). Also see summer report for many additional late migrants statewide. | ||
| Willet (Tringa semipalmata) | 13 | 29 | Early south (median 4/22) 4/21 Big Stone (470th Rd., Correll) EHi, ebd, 4/23 Big Stone (Otrey Twp.) ToR, Lincoln (17) RJS. Early north (median 4/29) 4/21 St. Louis JLK, m.ob., 4/23–30 Grant (max. 3) ebd, 4/30 Carlton BEA, Kanabec SPS. High count 5/1 St. Louis (31, Park Point R.A.) StK, ebd. Late south 5/22 Dakota (9) ebd, 5/25 Brown BAb, Pipestone RAE (median 5/29). Late north 5/26–28 Marshall (max. 3) EzH, m.ob., 5/26–27 St. Louis JLK, m.ob., 5/28 Traverse SC (median 6/1). Also see summer report for latest migrants north and south. | ||
| Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) | 31 | 51 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/18 Yellow Medicine GWe, 3/21 Winona SHk, 3/22 Lac qui Parle DLP. Early north (median 4/3) 4/11 Douglas JPE, Grant (2) ANy, DBz, 4/12 Todd (3) BEc. High count 5/2 Aitkin (277, Eagle St.) KWR, CLR, LBa. Late south 5/27 Big Stone DLP, 5/28–29 Dakota (max. 3) ebd, Pipestone KRE, m.ob. (median 6/6). Late north 5/28 Aitkin (max. 2) PSP, ebd, Polk EHi, St. Louis ClN, ebd, 5/29 Roseau (2) EHi, 5/30 Cass ebd (median 6/2). Also see summer report for additional late south migrants. | ||
| Wilson's Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor) | 22 | 43 | Early south (median 4/21) 4/20 Pipestone (5) VKl, ebd, 4/20–21 Ramsey (max. 3) LiH, m.ob., 4/21 Faribault (2) PEJ, Nicollet (2) WCM, Rice TFB, Steele BxP. Early north (median 4/27) 4/23 Grant (2) ebd, 4/24 Becker TKa, ASM, 4/25 Polk ANy, DBz. High count 4/26 Pipestone (330, Pipestone W.T.P.) RJS. | ||
| Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus) | 14 | 23 | Early south (median 5/11) 4/28 Rock WCM, 5/8 Pipestone KEm, JWH, Yellow Medicine (2) KEm, JWH. Early north (median 5/17) 5/10 Pine LEv, ebd, 5/12 Clay CMk, 5/16 Mahnomen (3) HCT, Wilkin DBz, ANy. High count 5/22 Brown (31, Sleepy Eye W.T.P.) BTS. Late south 5/30 Big Stone DLP, Rice (max. 2) KSz, m.ob., Rock ebd, Stearns (3) PLJ, 5/31 Lyon ebd, Sibley (2) EHi (median 6/3). Late north 5/29 Kittson (28) EHi, Roseau (6, Roseau W.T.P.) EHi, (4, Warroad W.T.P.) EHi, Wilkin SC (median 6/2). See summer report for additional late migrants north and south. | ||
| Jaegers | |||||
| Parasitic Jaeger (Stercorarius parasiticus) | 1 | One report 5/26 St. Louis MLH. | |||
| Stercorarius jaeger (Stercorarius sp.) | 1 | One report 5/27 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) EHi. | |||
| Gulls, Terns | |||||
| BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE (Rissa tridactyla) | 1 | The first spring record of this species in over three decades was found 3/29–30 St. Louis (Canal Park) JiM, ph. ALw. | |||
| Bonaparte's Gull (Chroicocephalus philadelphia) | 27 | 45 | Early south (median 4/1) 4/2–3 Lyon JWH, m.ob., 4/2 Ramsey ebd, 4/5 Pipestone (6) ANy. Early north (median 4/12) 4/2 Traverse LiH, 4/9 Otter Tail ebd, 4/11 Douglas ANy. High count 5/15 St. Louis (3,600, Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS. Late south 5/26 Pope MJM, 5/30 Carver (3, Tacoma Ave.) ChP, ebd, 5/31 Carver (Wahibo Marsh) ebd (median 6/1). Late north 5/29 Cass SC, 5/29–31 St. Louis (max. 74, Park Point R.A.) ebd, ALw, FJN (median 6/12), but also see summer report. | ||
| LITTLE GULL (Hydrocoloeus minutus) | No reports. | ||||
| Franklin's Gull (Leucophaeus pipixcan) | 21 | 41 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/29 Ramsey ebd, 4/1 Brown SHo, 4/2 Big Stone LiH, Lyon (Island Lake) GWe, (2, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) GWe, Pipestone DWK. Early north (median 4/9) 4/9 Otter Tail ebd, 4/10 Traverse ANy, 4/13 Douglas JPE. High counts 5/12 Polk (2,000, Gentilly Twp.) DvP, 5/25 Marshall (2,000, Agassiz N.W.R., Lansing Parker Pool) ebd. | ||
| Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 2/27) 3/4–5 Goodhue (max. 12) PEJ, m.ob., Washington (max. 6) RBW, m.ob., 3/5 Dakota (max. 2) JHe, m.ob., Ramsey (2) LiH, Rice TFB. Early north migrants (median 3/9) found in St. Louis beginning 3/11 St. Louis (2) ebd; first report away from the North Shore 3/15 Crow Wing ebd. High counts 5/22–26 St. Louis (25,000, Interstate Island W.M.A.) PHS. | ||
| Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) | 26 | 47 | Early south (median 2/27) 3/4 Ramsey (3) ebd, 3/14 Goodhue RBW. High count 4/4 Lake (800, Knife River Marina) JLK. | ||
| Iceland Gull (Larus glaucoides) | 3 | 7 | Early south 3/19 Hennepin ebd, 3/21–24 Dakota (max. 2, first-cycle L.g. kumlieni and L.g. thayeri of unspecified age) MwT, BDo, 3/24 Wabasha (thayeri) PEJ. High count 4/4 Hennepin (3, Gray’s Bay Causeway Park, report included no details) ebd. Late south 4/17 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) MwT, 4/21 Dakota (first-cycle, thayeri, Dakota Woods Dog Park) MwT, Lyon (first-cycle, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) RJS. Overwintered north in Cook and St. Louis, with reports continuing until 3/7 Cook (first-cycle, Grand Marais) EHi and 5/15 St. Louis (2, Park Point R.A.) ebd, respectively. One additional north report 4/24 Kanabec (first-cycle, thayeri) ph. SPS. | ||
| Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) | 6 | 14 | Incredible season for this species, with reports from 20 counties. Early south (median 3/27) 3/17–20 Goodhue (2, second-cycle and adult, Sturgeon Lake) KDS, ph. PEJ, m.ob., 3/20 Dakota (third-cycle, Spring Lake P.R.) EzH, IsH, m.ob., Washington (third-cycle, Lower Grey Cloud Island) EzH, IsH, m.ob. All north 4/2 Traverse (Murphy W.P.A.) LiH, 4/24 Kanabec (second-cycle) ph. SPS, 4/27 Clay (Hawley Twp.) TCL, 5/1 Mille Lacs (adult, Princeton Twp.) ANy, HHD, DBz, 5/7 St. Louis (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) ClN, ebd, 5/18 Lake (first-cycle, Two Harbors) JWL. High counts 4/2 Lyon (3, two adults and an immature, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) DWK, 4/4 Rice (3, two adults and a second-cycle, Bridgewater Twp.) MZa, m.ob. Late south 4/16 Ramsey (St. Paul Downtown Airport and Red Rock Rd.) LiH, 4/20 Benton (max. 2, adult and second-cycle, Little Rock Lake) MJB, m.ob., 4/28–29 Scott (adult, Spring Lake) BAb, m.ob. (median 4/22). Additional first county records: 4/4 Le Sueur (adult, Lake Dora) RBW, m.ob., 4/3 Steele (adult, Rice Lake) DBz, m.ob. | ||
| Glaucous Gull (Larus hyperboreus) | 2 | 3 | All south 3/25–26 Ramsey (Red Rock Rd.) GWe, DAh, 3/27 Freeborn (Frank Hall Park) LiH, 4/9 Dakota (first-cycle, Blackhawk Park) MwT. Several high counts of two individuals in St. Louis. Late north 5/3–13 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) StK, FJN, m.ob. (median 5/1). | ||
| Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) | 1 | Only reported from St. Louis County: 3/4 (mouth of Miller Creek) RJS, 4/10 (first-cycle, Park Point R.A.) StK, 4/20 (Park Point R.A.) SeM. | |||
| Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) | 23 | 34 | Early south (median 4/23) 4/20 Olmsted (13) MiD, JmP, m.ob., 4/22 Ramsey (2) GWe, Rice TFB. Early north (median 4/30) 4/25 Clay CMk, 4/27 Douglas (2) BEc, 4/28 Cass ebd. High count 5/21 Wright (119, Pelican Lake) RCl. See summer report for late south migrants. | ||
| Black Tern (Chlidonias niger) | 27 | 48 | Early south (median 4/30) 5/1 Dodge KEm, JWH, Lac qui Parle (10) DMz, 5/2 Faribault WAF. Early north (median 5/9) 5/7 Douglas (2) ETw, MFl, Marshall (2) ebd, 5/9 Kanabec (2) KrM. High counts 5/16 Lac qui Parle (1,530, new state high count, Big Stone N.W.R.) WCM, 5/14 Lyon (200, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) VKl, 5/18 Todd (200, Browerville W.T.P.) SDi, 5/24 Becker (200, Hamden Slough N.W.R.) ebd. | ||
| Common Tern (Sterna hirundo) | 17 | 21 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/23–24 Lincoln (max. 6) RJS, m.ob., 4/29 Freeborn (2) DFN, 5/1 Meeker PKF. Early north (median 5/4) 5/1–5 St. Louis (max. 25) StK, m.ob., 5/4 Crow Wing PEJ, 5/5 Polk (2) HHu. High count 5/23 St. Louis (560, Park Point R.A.) HTo, FJN. Late south 5/23 Freeborn (3) JWH, 5/25 Rice TFB, 5/30 Swift EHi (median 6/1). | ||
| Forster's Tern (Sterna forsteri) | 24 | 47 | Early south (median 4/10) 4/9–11 Goodhue (2) ebd, PEJ, 4/11 Cottonwood (2) KEm, 4/16 Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 4/18) 4/19 Grant WPl, Otter Tail JTa, 4/23 Clay ebd, Douglas JPE. High counts 5/8 Wright (120, Pelican Lake) DPG, 5/12 Pope (83, Lake Minnewaska) DAB. | ||
| Loons | |||||
| Red-throated Loon (Gavia stellata) | 4 | 2 | All south 4/11 Goodhue (Sturgeon Lake) SDz, 5/3 Benton (Little Rock Lake) HHD, m.ob. Early north (median 5/3) 4/24 St. Louis (2, Park Point R.A.) SNe, StK, 5/2 Beltrami (Lake Bemidji) ANy, ph. DBz, Koochiching (3, Rainer City Beach) ANy, DBz, St. Louis (6, Park Point R.A.) ClN, m.ob. High count 5/5 St. Louis (215, Park Point R.A.) ALw, StK. Late north 5/25 Cook (2) DFN, 5/26–28 St. Louis (max. 11, Park Point R.A.) FJN, m.ob., but also see summer report (median 6/12). | ||
| Pacific Loon (Gavia pacifica) | 1 | All reports: 5/8 St. Louis (flying north over St. Louis River) JLK, 5/23 St. Louis (2, Park Point R.A.) ClN. | |||
| Common Loon (Gavia immer) | 34 | 47 | Early south (median 3/23) 3/23 Hennepin (2) DFe, DEl, LBi, ebd, 3/26 Lyon BKa, 3/27 Freeborn (4, three locations) LiH. Early north (median 3/30) 4/8 Pine (Voyageur Park) MJB, 4/9 Morrison TLu, ebd, Otter Tail ebd, Pine (River Wood Trail) TJo. High counts 5/6 Beltrami (670, Lower Red Lake) DvH, 4/29 Beltrami (627, Lake Bemidji) DvH, 4/24 Kanabec (545; 420 counted on Knife Lake, 125 on other lakes) SPS. | ||
| Cormorants | |||||
| Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/14) 3/5 Rice TFB, 3/16 Dakota (multiple locations) BDo, ebd, Olmsted (15) LAV, JmP, JPr. Early north (median 3/27) 3/29 – 4/1 Otter Tail (max. 26) WPl, ebd, 4/1 Crow Wing DMz, 4/2 Grant (11) LiH, Traverse (8, multiple locations) LiH. High count 4/27 Douglas (800, Red Rock Lake) BEc. | ||
| Pelicans | |||||
| American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Over-wintering individual seen 3/1 Dakota/Washington; first south migrants (median 3/16) 3/16 Dakota/Washington (max. 8, Spring Lake) BDo, m.ob. Early north (median 4/4) 3/29 – 4/9 Traverse (max. 3) DLP, m.ob., 4/9 Koochiching (4) JBu, Otter Tail ebd, St. Louis ebd, ALw. High counts 4/10 Wabasha (1,200, Weaver Bottoms) EzH, IsH, 5/26 Pope (900, Lake Johanna) MJM. | ||
| Bitterns, Herons, Egrets, Night-Herons | |||||
| Least Bittern (Botaurus exilis) | 2 | 12 | Early south (median 5/9) 5/6 Ramsey LiH, 5/8 Stearns AaL, ebd, 5/10 Houston TWe, m.ob. All north 5/11 Crow Wing (Rotary Riverside Park) ebd, 5/25 Norman (2, Agassiz-Olson W.M.A.) JWH, LHl, ebd. Highest tallies only two. | ||
| American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) | 30 | 33 | Early south (median 4/13) 4/16 Lyon GWe, 4/21 Anoka BKn, 4/23 Hennepin RTu. Early north (median 4/18) 4/24 St. Louis JLK, 5/3 Beltrami ebd, Cass ebd. High count 5/18 Isanti (6) ANy. | ||
| LITTLE BLUE HERON (Egretta caerulea) | No reports. | ||||
| Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) | 2 | 10 | All south 4/23 Hennepin (2, Crow-Hassan P.R.) ebd, 4/26 Faribault PEJ, 5/7 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R.) EzH, IsH, 5/8 Hennepin (Powderhorn Park) ebd, 5/12 Stevens (C.R. 9 and 260th St.) DLP, 5/13 Pope (2, Lake Johanna) AaL, 5/14 Kandiyohi (Whitefield W.M.A.) JWd, 5/17 Big Stone (Ortonville Twp.) DLP, 5/19 Carver (2, Tacoma Ave.) BDo, m.ob., 5/21 Faribault (Catholic Bridge Rd.) WAF, BAy, 5/22 Jackson (Spirit Lake) SJD, m.ob. All north 4/23 Becker (Hamden Slough N.W.R.) BKa, ebd, 5/14–17 Traverse (max. 3, Folsom Twp.) PEJ, m.ob. | ||
| Yellow-crowned Night Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) | 2 | All south 4/28 – 5/16 Hennepin (Hyland Lake P.R.) RCo, m.ob., 5/10 Mower (Hormel N.C.) RNS, ebd. | |||
| Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) | 5 | 14 | Early south (median 4/2) 4/13–15 Hennepin DWK, m.ob., Olmsted (2) ebd, 4/15 Dakota EHi. Early north (median 4/18) 4/12 – 5/2 Otter Tail WPl, m.ob., 5/6 Douglas JPE. High count 5/4 Hennepin (13, Veterans Memorial Park) JaE, m.ob. | ||
| Green Heron (Butorides virescens) | 24 | 50 | Early south (median 4/19) 3/30 Meeker PKF, 4/19 Scott BxP. Early north (median 5/2) 4/30 – 5/1 Clay PBB, 4/30 Douglas JsS, 5/6 Crow Wing ebd, Otter Tail ebd. High count 5/26 Hennepin (7, Veterans Memorial Park) ebd. | ||
| Great Egret (Ardea alba) | 20 | 48 | Early south (median 3/20) 4/1–2 Hennepin JRg, ebd, 4/2 Washington (St. Croix River) RNe, (Hugo) ebd. Early north (median 4/2) 4/2 Traverse LiH, 4/9 Otter Tail (2) JsS, 4/12 Douglas (25) BEc. High counts 5/26 Grant (500, Pelican Lake) MJM, 5/26 Pope (200, Lake Johanna) MJM. | ||
| Western Cattle-Egret (Ardea ibis) | 5 | 17 | Early south (median 4/18) 4/23 Stearns (Holding Twp.) ebd, 4/24 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R.) IVa, Stearns (Zion Twp.) ebd, Steele (4, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) DAB, m.ob. All north 4/23–24 Morrison (Elmdale Twp.) PCC, 5/1 Mille Lacs (Princeton Twp.) ANy, m.ob., 5/14–17 Traverse (max. 8, season high count, Folsom Twp.) DAB, m.ob., 5/26–28 Grant (max. 7, North Ottawa Impoundment) WPl, m.ob., 5/27 Otter Tail (Grotto Lake) ebd. Late south 5/22 Washington (Lakeside Park, Bayport) ebd, 5/27 Nobles (Chautauqua Park) KRE, m.ob., 5/31 Benton (Foley W.T.P.) JKu. | ||
| Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 3/6) 3/5 Hennepin, Rice TFB, 3/8 Winona PEJ. Early north (median 3/20) 3/20 Crow Wing (Island Dr.) ebd, Morrison TLu, 3/22 Crow Wing (Clearwater Rd.) ebd. High count 4/9 Hennepin (200, Marshall Terrace Park) ebd. | ||
| Ibises | |||||
| GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) | 1 | 1 | Two new county records: 4/28–29 Norman (Ada W.T.P.) †KRE, †LBa, ph. †RZi, m.ob., 5/7 Freeborn (Geneva Lake) ph. †PEJ. | ||
| White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) | 8 | 24 | Another incredible season for this species, with reports from 32 counties producing a new record. Early south (median 4/23) 4/17 Yellow Medicine (Timm Lake) GWe, 4/21 Lac qui Parle (Walter Twp.) EHi, ebd, 4/22 Lac qui Parle (7, 311th Ave., Dawson) WCM, 4/23 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R.) MJB, m.ob., Lac qui Parle (17, Big Stone N.W.R.) DLP, Lincoln (12, Hendricks Twp.) RJS, Ramsey (Roseville) ELC, m.ob. Early north (median 4/29) 4/23–27 Grant (max. 3, North Ottawa Impoundment) ebd, m.ob., 4/24 Morrison (Pierz W.T.P.) †MJB, 4/28 Grant (Roseville Twp.) CNn, Polk DAh. High counts 4/25 Lyon (47, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) RJS, 4/24 Lac qui Parle (22, Walter Twp.) ebd, BKa. Late south 5/30 Nobles (max. 9, Bigelow Twp.) BTS, ebd, Rock (2, Luverne) CRM, m.ob., but also see summer report. Late north 5/10 Douglas (max. 4, Osakis W.T.P.) MJB, m.ob., 5/14–16 Traverse (max. 12, Lake Traverse) DAB, DLP. Additional new county records: 5/8 Crow Wing (Long Lake Twp.) ph. KGh, m.ob., 5/3 Hubbard (N. Willow Rd., Laporte) ph. DBz, ANy. | ||
| Glossy Ibis X White-faced Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus X P. chihi) | 1 | 1 | Just the third documented record in the state of this apparent hybrid was found 5/7 Freeborn (Geneva Lake) ph. †PEJ. | ||
| Plegadis ibis (Plegadis sp.) | 3 | 5 | All south 4/22 Lac qui Parle (15, Hantho Twp.) ebd, (4, 311th Ave., Dawson) WCM, 4/24 Lac qui Parle (15, Walter Twp.) KeL, 5/5 Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R) WCM, Lyon (Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) LiH, 5/6 Lyon (Island Lake) GWe, 5/9 Hennepin (7, Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) ebd, 5/13 Lyon (3, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) BDo, LiH, 5/20 Big Stone (10, Odessa Twp.) ebd, 5/24 Nicollet (Swan Lake) SLP. All north 4/23 Grant (10, North Ottawa Impoundment) ebd, 5/2 Douglas/Todd (Lake Osakis) HHD. | ||
| New World Vultures | |||||
| Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/7) 3/4 Goodhue JJS, 3/8 Goodhue (Colvill Park) ebd, 3/12 Winona ebd. Early north (median 3/23) 3/20 Pine ebd, 3/29 Carlton ebd, St. Louis SeM, m.ob. High counts 5/2 St. Louis (177, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 4/17 St. Louis (162, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Osprey | |||||
| Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) | 30 | 49 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/21 Blue Earth BHW, 3/24 Hennepin ebd, 3/29 Dakota SSp, MwT, Washington (2) ebd. Early north (median 4/2) 4/4–6 Pine ANy, ebd, 4/9 Crow Wing JnP, Otter Tail ebd, PBB. High counts 5/4 St. Louis (30, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 5/4 St. Louis (19, W.S.H.C.) FJN. | ||
| Kites, Accipiters, Hawks, Eagles | |||||
| Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) | 3 | 17 | South reports in March and April from 17 counties, last reports 4/7 Fillmore ebd, 4/27 Dakota KDS, 5/2 Olmsted ShG, HeH (median 4/20). Frequent north reports throughout March and April with peak northbound movement in mid March and last reports 5/2 St. Louis (Indian Point) ClN, JDx, ebd, 5/3 St. Louis (2, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 5/6 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) SeM (median 5/9). High counts 3/17 St. Louis (41, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 3/14 St. Louis (16, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) | 34 | 52 | Reported from every county but Martin. Early north (median 3/10) 3/12 Grant BWF, 3/15 Grant (Delaware Twp.) CNn, 3/17 St. Louis ebd. High counts 4/11 Becker (11, Voyageur Lanes Marsh) ebd, 4/19 St. Louis (9, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus) | 31 | 50 | Reported south and north from the beginning of the season. High counts 4/24 St. Louis (220, Park Point R.A.) StK, HTo, ALw, 4/28 St. Louis (132, W.S.H.C.) SeM. Late south 5/29 Chisago ebd, Hennepin ebd, 5/31 Winona ToM (median 5/30), but also see summer report. | ||
| Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) | 31 | 51 | Early north (median 3/9) 3/8 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) SeM, 3/19 Otter Tail ebd, 3/24 St. Louis (2, W.S.H.C.) FJN. High count 5/3 St. Louis (5, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| American Goshawk (Accipiter atricapillus) | 14 | 3 | All south 3/3 Goodhue (Red Wing) ph. PEJ, 3/15 Blue Earth BHW, 4/13 Ramsey (University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus) EHi, 4/16 Ramsey (Shoreview) CMu, 4/19 Blue Earth BHW. North reports from Clay, Kittson, Grant, Douglas, Lake of the Woods, Hubbard, Cass, Itasca, Crow Wing, Pine, Carlton, St. Louis, Lake, Cook. | ||
| Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. High counts 3/17 St. Louis (1,216, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 3/19 St. Louis (420, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) | 15 | 32 | Early north (median 3/14) 3/17 Morrison MJB, 3/19 Becker ShG, HeH, 3/20 Pine TJo. High counts 3/20 Anoka (4, Andover) ebd, 3/27 Stearns (4, Lynden Twp.) ebd, 5/12 Dakota (4, Whitetail Woods R.P.) BDo. | ||
| Broad-winged Hawk (Buteo platypterus) | 33 | 50 | Early south (median 4/7) 4/8 Hennepin (Richardson N.C.) ebd, (Fort Snelling S.P.) ebd, 4/9 Faribault ebd, Ramsey (2) ebd. Early north (median 4/13) 4/19 St. Louis (3, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 4/19 (3, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 4/21 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) SeM, 4/21 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) JLK. High counts 5/4 St. Louis (2,618, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 5/5 St. Louis (1,609, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) | 10 | 36 | Early south (median 4/6) 4/2 Mower ebd, 4/7 Lyon RJS, 4/9 Dakota MwT, Nobles ebd. Early north (median 4/16) 4/20 Polk ebd, 4/21 St. Louis SeM, 4/23 Becker ebd, BKa, Clay ebd. High counts 4/24 Blue Earth (405, a new state high count far exceeding the previous record of 70 (The Loon 48:186) BHW, 4/28 Rock (4, Schoneman Park) WCM. | ||
| Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) | 33 | 53 | Found in every county except Cook. High counts 4/17 St. Louis (492, W.S.H.C., including six dark morph) SeM, ebd, 4/9 St. Louis (428, W.S.H.C., including two dark morphs) SeM. Documented reports of B.j. harlani until early April from Carver, Hennepin, McLeod and Washington, with one additional undocumented report. “Krider’s” race reported from five counties, but only one report was supported by documentation: 4/23 Lac qui Parle (Quilitz W.M.A.) ph. ebd. | ||
| Rough-legged Hawk (Buteo lagopus) | 32 | 51 | High counts 5/3 St. Louis (27, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 5/2 St. Louis (18, W.S.H.C.) SeM. Late south 5/12 Washington ebd, 5/14 Redwood ebd, 5/24 Anoka MFl, ETw (median 5/10). Late north 5/24 St. Louis (W.S.H.C.) SeM, (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/31 Cook PAl, ebd (median 5/27). | ||
| Barn Owls | |||||
| AMERICAN BARN OWL (Tyto furcata) | 3 | Documented from several Southeast locations: 3/13 – 5/28 Wabasha (Wabasha) a.t. †KAB, 4/1–10 Houston La Crescent Township) a.t. †KAB, 4/1 Houston (Money Creek Twp.) a.t. †EHi, 5/10 Houston (Money Creek Twp.) a.t. †KAB, 5/6 Winona ph. fide †KAB. | |||
| Screech-Owls, Owls | |||||
| Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) | 18 | No north reports. South reports widespread. High count 5/18 Hennepin (4, East Mississippi River Flats) ebd. Two individuals noted as gray morphs, two as red morphs. | |||
| Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) | 26 | 46 | Reported throughout the season and state. Adults on nests or with newly fledged young in 3 north and 13 south counties. | ||
| Snowy Owl (Bubo scandiacus) | 8 | 8 | High count 3/22 Polk (3, C.R. 65) HHu. Late south 4/2 Yellow Medicine TWe, m.ob., 4/4 Lac qui Parle ebd, 4/8 Redwood ASu, DvN (median 4/2). Late north 4/9 Grant ebd, 4/11 Cass ebd, 4/21 St. Louis SeM (median 4/19). | ||
| Northern Hawk Owl (Surnia ulula) | 4 | Reported north in St. Louis from Sax-Zim Bog through 3/20 m.ob. Additional north reports 3/1–9 Roseau ebd, 3/14 Koochiching ebd, 3/22 Beltrami DvH. (This is considered a Sensitive Species in eBird and their records are not public. This summary includes eBird records although they are not in the M.O.U. database.) | |||
| Barred Owl (Strix varia) | 26 | 37 | Found in almost every county east of a line from Faribault to Kittson. High count 4/2 Hennepin (5) CMB. Unusual reports 3/5 Big Stone (Ortonville) ebd, 5/17 Mahnomen (Pembina Twp.) DvP, 5/27 Nobles (near Wilmont) VRL. | ||
| Great Gray Owl (Strix nebulosa) | 8 | Found in Roseau, Lake of the Woods, Koochiching, Itasca, Aitkin, St. Louis, Lake, Cook. (This is considered a Sensitive Species in eBird and their records are not public. This summary includes eBird records although they are not in the M.O.U. database.) | |||
| Long-eared Owl (Asio otus) | 5 | 13 | High count 3/13 Nicollet (4, Swan Lake W.M.A.) BAb. Widespread south reports through late March, then only 3/28 Wabasha (2) LHl, 4/9 Nicollet DWK, 5/28 Benton HHD. All north 3/24 – 4/1 Clay (Riverfront Park) ebd, m.ob., 3/26 Lake EHi, 3/28 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) JDx, ClN, KDN, 5/15 Carlton (Wrenshall Twp.) ebd, 5/18 Aitkin (Tamarack) ebd. | ||
| Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus) | 7 | 17 | Found south in 17 counties; last reports 4/24 Steele ebd, LMo, 4/28 Lyon RJS, 5/3 Cottonwood ebd. Found north in Aitkin, Grant, Norman, Otter Tail, Polk, St. Louis, Traverse. High count 3/1–27 Steele (4, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) GHo, m.ob. | ||
| Boreal Owl (Aegolius funereus) | 4 | All north 3/13–14 St. Louis (Chester Creek) KDN, JDx, ClN, 3/15 Koochiching (International Falls) KKs, 3/26 Lake EHi, 4/12 Cook (Superior N.F.) ebd. | |||
| Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus) | 12 | 7 | Regularly reported south early in the season, with last reports 3/27 Ramsey (Selby Ave., St. Paul) BLz, 3/29 Ramsey (Crosby Farm R.P.) ebd, 4/17 Hennepin MAK. North reports from Clay, Pennington, Roseau, Beltrami, Hubbard, Morrison, Koochiching, Aitkin, Carlton, St. Louis, Lake, Cook. | ||
| Kingfishers | |||||
| Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) | 34 | 53 | Early north (median 3/24) 4/2 Crow Wing PSP, 4/4 Clay ebd, DnM, Otter Tail WPl, Pine (max. 2) ANy, SBE. High counts 4/24, 4/29 St. Louis (8, Western Waterfront Trail) ebd, JLK. | ||
| Woodpeckers | |||||
| LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis) | 1 | Minnesota’s eighth state record was also the fifth in the last ten years: 5/4 Dodge (Canisteo Twp.) †LHl. | |||
| Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) | 30 | 52 | Early south reports (median 4/12) likely pertain to overwintering individuals 3/5–10 Rice (max. 3) TWe, m.ob., 3/8 Dakota ebd, 3/10 Carver ebd. Early north (median 4/19) 4/11–21 Polk DaL, m.ob., 4/17 Crow Wing (2) ebd, 5/4 Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/29 Pipestone (12) RAE, 5/2 Anoka (10, Fish Lake Nature Trails) ebd, 5/24 Rice (10, Nerstrand Big Woods S.P.) AvB, ebd. | ||
| Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) | 33 | 53 | Found in every county except Koochiching. High count 3/20 Ramsey (15, Crosby Farm R.P.) ebd, JZj, MWS. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus varius) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/2–11 Hennepin (three locations) ebd, ABL, IVa, 3/13 Meeker PKF, 3/15 Goodhue BRL, Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 4/2) 4/7 Pine KrM, 4/8 Cook JaJ, Grant NaH, JCJ, St. Louis JDx. High counts 5/7 Goodhue (19, Hok-Si-La Park) SWe, RDa, ebd, 5/6 Itasca (12, Harris Twp.) ebd. | ||
| American Three-toed Woodpecker (Picoides dorsalis) | 2 | All reports: 3/1 – 5/26 St. Louis (max. 2, Johnson Rd.) ebd, m.ob., 3/3 Lake of the Woods (Gustafson Camp S.N.A.) MHK, 3/14 – 5/23 St. Louis (max. 3, Owens Twp.) ClN, m.ob., 3/15 – 5/19 St. Louis (max. 2, Heino Rd.) ALw, m.ob., 3/28 St. Louis (Plum Creek Rd.) JuG, 5/16 St. Louis (Float Plane Access Rd., Hibbing) JmS. | |||
| Black-backed Woodpecker (Picoides arcticus) | 5 | Reported from Roseau, Koochiching, St. Louis, Lake, Cook. High count 3/4 St. Louis (4, Voyageurs National Park) ebd. | |||
| Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) | 33 | 53 | Observed statewide. High counts 3/20 Ramsey (20, Crosby Farm R.P.) MWS, JZj, ebd, 3/24 Olmsted (18, Izaak Walton Wetlands) PWP, ebd. | ||
| Hairy Woodpecker (Dryobates villosus) | 34 | 52 | Found statewide. High count 4/16 Olmsted (11, Chester Woods) ebd. | ||
| Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) | 34 | 53 | Early north (median 3/26) 3/2 Pennington ebd, 3/3–7 Becker (2, overwintered) HeH, 3/8 Douglas TJn. High count 5/3 St. Louis (194, Park Point R.A.) FJN, m.ob. | ||
| Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) | 34 | 48 | Reported statewide, but fewest reports from the Southwest region. High count 3/2 St. Louis (7, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK. | ||
| Caracaras, Falcons | |||||
| American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. Early north (median 3/8) 3/7 Mille Lacs KrM, 3/10 Mille Lacs NaH, LMc, CRM, RMS, DFe, 3/12 Douglas BWF, Todd AaL. High counts 4/27 Norman (19) RAE, 4/24 Isanti (15) MHe. | ||
| Merlin (Falco columbarius) | 33 | 38 | Early north (median 3/11) 3/4 Clay ebd, 3/5 Wadena PJB, 3/8 Polk SAu. High count 4/24 St. Louis (6, W.S.H.C.) SeM. Late south migrants 5/9 Brown BTS, DSi, Sibley ANy, Scott LiH, 5/14 Mower SWm, 5/28 Scott BHe (median 5/18). | ||
| Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) | 23 | 41 | Overwintered south, and Duluth in the north. Early south migrants (median 3/14) 3/8 Blue Earth BHW, 3/18 Steele DAB, 3/19 Brown MiO, Goodhue MwT. Early north migrants (median 3/22) 3/18 Itasca ebd, Lake JWL SLL, 3/24 Clay TCL. High count 5/28 Sherburne (5, adult and 4 young in nest box at Great River Energy) PLJ. | ||
| Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) | 1 | 1 | One north report, a new spring record 5/15 Cass (Federal Dam) DAY. One south report, 4/8 Blue Earth (Mankato) †BHW. | ||
| Flycatchers | |||||
| Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) | 31 | 52 | Early south (median 4/30) 4/28 Hennepin ebd, 4/30 Houston AaL, CLu, Winona ebd. Early north (median 5/7) 5/10 Becker TKa, Otter Tail WPl, 5/11 Becker NaH, Clay TkL, Crow Wing ebd, Pine LEv, St. Louis ClN. High counts 5/24 Carver (17, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/13 Washington (15, William O’Brien S.P.) IsH, EzH. | ||
| Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis) | 15 | 19 | Reported from 34 counties, a new high. Early south (median 5/7) 5/4 Goodhue EBy, 5/6 Lyon GWe, 5/7 Lyon (two locations) BDo, GWe, MwT. Early north (median 5/12) 5/9 Grant PPe, 5/10 Mille Lacs ebd, Polk HHu. High count 5/14 Sherburne (3, Sherburne Ave., Becker) PLJ. Notable records 5/4 Goodhue (Barn Bluff) ph. EBy, 5/10 Mille Lacs (Kunkel W.M.A.) ebd. | ||
| Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/26) 4/29 Washington (Forest Lake) ebd, 4/30 Hennepin (two locations) TWe, BLz, JCa, ArM, Wabasha LHl, Washington (Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) DSh. Early north (median 5/8) 5/7 Mille Lacs ebd, St. Louis JuG, Todd ebd, 5/8 Crow Wing ebd. High counts 5/22 Becker (50, Hamden Slough N.W.R.) PSP, 5/28 St. Louis (38, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/12 Carver (32, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) WCM. | ||
| Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) | 20 | 39 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/8 Ramsey LiH, 5/9 Hennepin JCa, IVa, Mower SWm, Olmsted JmP, JlF, BLa, Scott ebd, Sherburne PLJ. Early north (median 5/13) 5/13–15 Cass DoH, JCu, 5/14 Pine KrM, TJo, 5/15 Clay CMk, Itasca ebd, Otter Tail WPl. High counts 5/14 Hennepin (5, T. S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) ebd, 5/29 St. Louis (5, Park Point R.A.) FJN, ALw, StK. See summer report for late south migrants (median 6/12). | ||
| Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) | 33 | 51 | Early south (median 5/6) 5/6 Fillmore CBt, Hennepin ebd, 5/7 Winona ebd, 5/8 also in Goodhue, Houston, Nicollet, Pipestone, Ramsey, Wabasha, Washington. Early north (median 5/12) 5/4 Mille Lacs HHD, 5/11 Clay PBB, 5/13 Grant PPe. High counts 5/28 St. Louis (20, Park Point) JDx, KDN, ClN, 5/24 Carver (18, Carver P.R.) JCy. | ||
| Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (Empidonax flaviventris) | 23 | 40 | Reported with identification details from 20 south and 8 north counties. Early south (median 5/14) 5/9 Carver ebd, Scott LiH, 5/10 Washington BDo. Early north (median 5/20) 5/13 St. Louis JLK, 5/14 Douglas ebd, 5/16 Otter Tail ebd. Record-high count 5/29 St. Louis (30, Park Point R.A.) FJN. Late south 5/30 Ramsey ebd, 5/31 Hennepin DWK, Washington PNi, but see summer report (median 6/5). Note: During spring and fall migration, undocumented records of silent Empidonax flycatchers are not included in this report. Observers are encouraged to include identification details in their reports. | ||
| Acadian Flycatcher (Empidonax virescens) | 11 | Reported with details from 9 south counties. First arrivals well before the 5/16 south median, 5/10 Houston DFN, 5/12 Anoka ebd, 5/13 Rice TFB. Highest tallies only two. | |||
| Alder Flycatcher (Empidonax alnorum) | 27 | 43 | Reported with identification notes from 27 south and 10 north counties. Early south (median 5/16) 5/11 Rock VKl, 5/12 Ramsey LiH, 5/13 Dakota BBr, Hennepin TWe, Isanti ELC, Olmsted LAV, Rice TFB, Watonwan AnK. Early north (median 5/21) 5/13 St. Louis JLK, 5/14 Pine KrM, 5/19 Douglas ebd. High count 5/21 Ramsey (26, Reservoir Woods, new record-high count) RMD. | ||
| Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) | 9 | 42 | Reported with identification notes from 23 South counties. Early south (median 5/11) 5/10 Ramsey ebd, 5/11 Hennepin (Hagemeister Pond) ACr, 5/12 Dakota DFN, Hennepin (Lake Hiawatha Park) BAF. High counts 5/29 Waseca (5, Blowers Park) PSu, 5/18 Dakota (4, Whitetail Woods R.P.) MwT, 5/27 Hennepin (4, Old Cedar Ave. Bridge) BAF. | ||
| Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) | 34 | 53 | Reported with identification notes from 23 south and 11 north counties. Early south (median 5/1) 4/28 Hennepin (Arden Park, Edina) ebd, 5/5 Hennepin (Lake Hiawatha Park) BAF, Ramsey ebd, 5/7 Hennepin CMB. Early north (median 5/10) 5/12 St. Louis PHS, 5/13 St. Louis JuG, PHS, 5/14 Pine KrM. High counts 5/13 Washington (19, William O’Brien S.P.) EzH, IsH, 5/12 Hennepin (17, Wood Lake N.C.) JCa. | ||
| Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) | 33 | 52 | Early south (median 3/22) 3/15 Scott BHe, 3/20 Mower SWm, 3/21 Houston ANy, DBz. Early north (median 3/30) 4/9 Clay ebd, Otter Tail JsS, Traverse KRE, m.ob. High counts 5/1 Hennepin (14, Nine Mile Creek) ebd, 4/17 Olmsted (10, Willow Creek Reservoir) JmP. | ||
| Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya) | 2 | 7 | An excellent spring for this species. Reports from a record-high nine counties, including five first-county records. None of the reported birds continued beyond the day they were discovered. Early south (median 5/2) 4/21 Big Stone (2, Odessa gravel pits) EHi, 5/1 Blue Earth (Perch Lake) ph. †ChH, 5/1 Dakota (Laigle Ave.) ph. TaP, ebd, 5/1 Wright (Monticello) ToL, 5/3 Hennepin (Hyland Lake P.R.) ph. DCK, ph. LMS, Lac qui Parle (Big Stone N.W.R., Auto Tour Road) DLP, 5/7 Washington (155th St.) RSd, †EzH, m.ob. All north (median 5/8) 5/22 Clay ph. BPR, 5/25 Norman (Faith W.M.A.) a.t. †JGW, JWH, LHl. | ||
| Vireos | |||||
| White-eyed Vireo (Vireo griseus) | 1 | One report 5/8 Fillmore (Root River Trail, Lanesboro, pending acceptance by the records committee) JLh. Also see summer report. | |||
| Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) | 11 | Early south (median 5/15) 5/12 Wabasha PEJ, Washington (Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) DFN, 5/14 Olmsted MiD, JPr, KHg, LAV, SHk, Scott ebd. Additional reports from Redwood, Le Sueur, Rice, Hennepin, Dakota, Mower, Fillmore. High count 5/22 Washington (3, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) GUn, CUn. | |||
| Yellow-throated Vireo (Vireo flavifrons) | 30 | 50 | Early south (median 5/2) 5/5 Washington PAl, 5/5–6 Hennepin SSc, JBh, KMS, 5/6 Goodhue SDz. Early north (median 5/9) 5/7–8 Pine (St. Croix S.P.) ebd, 5/10 Cass ebd, Mille Lacs (two locations) DMz, ebd, Otter Tail ebd, Pine (two locations) SBE, LEv. High counts 5/17 Sherburne (12, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd, 5/17 Becker (10, Tamarac N.W.R.) ebd. | ||
| Blue-headed Vireo (Vireo solitarius) | 28 | 49 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/23 Ramsey RMD, 4/25 Hennepin (Elm Creek P.R.) ebd, 4/26 Hennepin (Lake Hiawatha Park) ebd. Early north (median 5/2) 5/5 Douglas ebd, 5/7 Becker LSl, 5/8 Itasca SC, Pine ebd, St. Louis MaS, JEl. High counts 5/8 Carver (11, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/10 Hennepin (10, Hyland Lake P.R.) ebd. Late south 5/30 Ramsey JKu, 5/31 Hennepin BHw (median 6/1). | ||
| Philadelphia Vireo (Vireo philadelphicus) | 27 | 42 | Early south (median 5/7) 5/8 Olmsted MiD, Scott BAb, Sherburne ebd, Waseca PSu. Early north (median 5/14) 5/12 Polk ebd, 5/13 Becker ebd, Cass ebd. High counts 5/21 Ramsey (10, Maplewood N.C.) ebd, 5/29 St. Louis (10, Park Point R.A.) JLK. Late south 5/31 Benton JKu, Ramsey ebd, Rice GHo, but see summer report (median 6/1). | ||
| Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus) | 31 | 52 | Early south (median 5/1) 5/3 Hennepin (two locations) ebd, 5/4 Olmsted ebd, 5/5 Hennepin (third and fourth location) ebd, 5/6 Winona ebd. Early north (median 5/8) 5/9 Carlton ebd, 5/10 St. Louis ebd, 5/11 Grant CNn. High counts 5/13 Hennepin (20, Minneapolis) ebd, 5/23 Hennepin (20, Veterans Memorial Park) ebd. | ||
| Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) | 34 | 52 | Reported from every county except Martin. Early south (median 5/5) 5/7–8 Goodhue ebd, 5/8 Fillmore EHi, Hennepin CoM, Mower SWm, Nicollet RHh, Olmsted LAV, Ramsey LiH, Early north (median 5/10) 5/8–10 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ebd, m.ob., 5/10 Pine (two locations) SBE, KrM, St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd. High counts 5/29 St. Louis (100, Park Point R.A.) FJN, 5/20 Carver (57, Carver P.R.) JCy. | ||
| Shrikes | |||||
| Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) | 7 | 12 | Early south (median 3/26) 3/21–23 Dakota (180th St. and Emery Ave.) KDS, MwT, 4/6 Dakota (Inver Grove Heights) CRe, 4/10 Olmsted ASu. Early north (median 4/18) 4/27 Clay (north of Glyndon) ebd, Polk HHu, 4/29 Becker MaS, Clay (Gruhl State W.M.A.) PBB, Mahnomen KRE, CRM, m.ob. Additional notable records 4/27 – 5/1 Ramsey (Holman Field) ArM, ph. DnS, ph. TGi, m.ob., 5/16 Carlton (Wright) ph. CLR, KWR. | ||
| Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) | 21 | 30 | High count 3/24 St. Louis (5, Sax-Zim Bog) AVa. Late south 4/12 Hennepin ebd, 4/16 Lac qui Parle DOr, Big Stone DOr, 4/20 Lac qui Parle ph. JZj (median 4/10). Late north 4/21 Clay ebd, Lake SLL, JWL, 4/22 Polk HHu, 4/23 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 4/24 St. Louis (Embarrass) ClN, JDx (median 4/20). | ||
| Jays, Nutcrackers, Magpies, Crows | |||||
| Canada Jay (Perisoreus canadensis) | 11 | Reported from traditional range northeast of Becker and Hubbard. High counts 3/14 St. Louis (8, Sax-Zim Bog) FJN, 5/24 St. Louis (8, Hedbom State F.R.) ebd. | |||
| Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) | 34 | 53 | Observed statewide. Record high spring migration count of over 4,000 birds reported by m.ob. 5/10 St. Louis at Park Point R.A. Of these, the highest reported total was 4,202 by ClN and JDx. | ||
| Black-billed Magpie (Pica hudsonia) | 22 | Reported throughout traditional range; 22 counties represents a new spring season high. New spring records: 4/4, 4/23 Carlton (Automba Twp.) ANy, RAE, 3/19 Todd (Long Prairie) JuG. High counts 4/22 Polk (10, Brislet Twp.) HHu, 3/20 Lake of the Woods (8, Wabanica Twp.) ebd. | |||
| American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 3/6 Olmsted (350, Rochester) AAz, 3/16 St. Louis (280, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Common Raven (Corvus corax) | 33 | 16 | Reported from every county north of a line from Wilkin to Goodhue. New spring records: 3/12 Grant (2, Pine Ridge Park) BWF, 3/19 Pope (north of Sedan) MJB. Other rare reports from Carver (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake), Dakota (Miesville Ravine), and Scott (three locations) as this species continues to expand its range. High counts 3/17 St. Louis (35, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 3/16 St. Louis (30, W.S.H.C.) SeM. | ||
| Chickadees, Titmice | |||||
| Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 3/17 St. Louis (93, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 3/11 St. Louis (70, Sax-Zim Bog) FJN, 3/20 St. Louis (62, H.R.N.R.) ebd. | ||
| Boreal Chickadee (Poecile hudsonicus) | 3 | Only reported from Cook, Lake, St. Louis. High counts 3/12 Lake (12, Whyte Rd. / Stony River F.R) SNe, 5/23 St. Louis (7) ClN, KDN, JDx. | |||
| Tufted Titmouse (Baeolophus bicolor) | 1 | 16 | Only north report 5/9 Otter Tail (2, Lake Clitherall) BAr. Reported from most counties south and east of Anoka and Hennepin, plus 3/28 Le Sueur (Montgomery) DOr, 5/9 Brown (Flandrau S.P.) DSi. High counts 4/25 Goodhue (6, Frontenac S.P.) JtM, 5/8 Goodhue (6, Frontenac Episcopal Cemetery) ebd. | ||
| Larks | |||||
| Horned Lark (Eremophila alpestris) | 27 | 52 | Absent from many Northeast and North-central counties. High counts 3/26 Stearns (250) MtS, 3/16 Ramsey (100, University of Minnesota St. Paul campus) ebd, 3/31 Grant (100) SKe, 4/2 Traverse (100, Metz W.M.A.) LiH. | ||
| Martins, Swallows | |||||
| Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia) | 31 | 49 | Early south (median 4/16) 4/11 Olmsted ebd, 4/12 Hennepin ebd, 4/13 Stearns MJB. Early north (median 4/29) 4/24 Kanabec SPS, 5/6 Norman JCJ, SAu, JCJ, Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/11 Hennepin (75, Rice Lake) ebd, 5/19 Ramsey (50) AXH, 5/21 Hennepin (50, Richard T. Anderson Conservation Area) VRL, 5/21 Stearns (50, Albany W.T.P.) MtS, MJB, AaL. | ||
| Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 3/19) 3/8 Winona RBW, 3/20 Steele ebd, 3/21 Hennepin ebd, Houston SHo, ToM. Early north (median 4/3) 4/9 Otter Tail JsS, 4/11 Becker ebd, Douglas BEc, Grant ANy. High counts 5/2 Hennepin (1,000, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) VRL, 4/24 Watonwan (700, Fedje Lake) KEm. | ||
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) | 29 | 50 | Early south (median 4/11) 4/10 Ramsey (Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant) ebd, 4/12 Carver LSw, 4/13 Ramsey (Langton Lake Park) ebd. Early north (median 4/21) 4/24 Kanabec BAb, SPS, Morrison FGo, 4/25 St. Louis JLK, 4/27 Douglas ToR. High counts 5/8 Stearns (80, Lake Maria) CLu, AaL, 5/13 Wabasha (70, Mississippi River Lock and Dam 4) MNb. | ||
| Purple Martin (Progne subis) | 27 | 51 | Early south (median 4/5) 4/6 Ramsey (Crosby Farms) ebd, 4/10 Mower LiH, 4/11 Goodhue PEJ, Ramsey (Macalester-Groveland, St. Paul) ebd. Early north (median 4/12) 4/10 Pine KrM, 4/11 Cass ebd, 4/19 Todd RBW. High counts 5/28, 5/29, 5/31 Wright (110) ToL. | ||
| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) | 34 | 53 | Early south (median 4/7) 4/3 Hennepin (Colman Lake) JBh, 4/8 Dakota TmG, 4/9 Hennepin (Westwood Hills N.C.) ebd. Early north (median 4/17) 4/22 Crow Wing ebd, Morrison ebd, 4/23 also in Becker, Clay, Grant, Mille Lacs, Otter Tail, Pine, Traverse. High counts 5/20 Becker (300, Tamarac N.W.R.) ebd, 5/16 Ramsey (250, Red Rock Rd.) BBr. | ||
| Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/17) 4/7 Goodhue KDS, 4/16 Hennepin KSz, Ramsey LiH, 4/21 Lac qui Parle EHi. Early north (median 4/24), 3/22 Becker (near Callaway) ph. NaH, TKa. This bedraggled individual was record early north by nearly three weeks, and more than a month ahead of the 4/24 median and the next arrivals, 4/27 Cass ebd, 4/29 Douglas BEc. High counts 5/14 Fillmore (300, Root River at Camp Creek) BPR, 5/16 Dakota (250, Lake Byllesby R.P.) ebd, 5/30 Pennington (250, Thief River Falls W.T.P.) EHi. | ||
| Kinglets | |||||
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) | 34 | 52 | Early south (median 3/27) 3/21 Fillmore ANy, Redwood BTS, MiO, 3/23 Anoka RSk. Early north (median 4/3) 3/28 Douglas BEc, 4/5 Grant (Delaware Twp.) CNn, 4/8 Grant (Pine Ridge Park) BAb. High counts 4/30 Carver (50, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/1 Dakota (50, Eagan) AnB. Late south 5/24 Carver NWi, Dakota ebd, Hennepin DgM, 5/27 Nobles ebd, 5/28 Stearns ebd (median 5/27). | ||
| Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) | 31 | 52 | Early south (median 3/22) 3/5 Hennepin BPR, 3/11 Dakota (Farmington) CRe, 3/12 Dakota (Lake Byllesby) MwT. Early north (median 3/27) 3/27 Norman ebd, 3/28 Douglas BEc, 4/2 Mille Lacs HHD. High counts 4/10 Rice (110, Carleton College Cowling Arboretum, Upper Arb) AvB, MZa, 4/13 Carver (44, Carver P.R.) ebd. Late south 5/11 Washington BDo, ELi, 5/21 Sherburne ebd (median 5/12). | ||
| Waxwings | |||||
| Bohemian Waxwing (Bombycilla garrulus) | 16 | 3 | All south reports 3/11 Benton (12, Alberta Twp.) CRM, m.ob., 3/13 Chisago (Rush City) DPi, 4/8 Stearns (St. Cloud) HHD (median 3/6). High counts 3/29 St. Louis (400, W.S.H.C.) SeM, 3/6 Carlton (220) ebd. Widely reported north, with last reports all from St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) 5/14 JfD, FJN, SeM, 5/15 SeM, ALw, StK, 5/24 FJN, HTo, SeM (median 4/20). | ||
| Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) | 31 | 52 | Present north and south as the period commenced. High count 5/29 St. Louis (475, Park Point R.A.) FJN, StK. | ||
| Nuthatches | |||||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis) | 30 | 42 | Found in every region. High count 5/13 St. Louis (19, Park Point R.A.) PHS. | ||
| White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 4/9 Sherburne (20, Munsinger Gardens) ebd, 4/15 Hennepin (18, Baker P.R.) ebd. | ||
| Creepers | |||||
| Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) | 34 | 52 | High counts 4/5 Hennepin (12, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) ArM, 4/21 Rice (12, Nerstrand Big Woods S.P.) ebd, 4/24 Carlton (12) ebd. Late south 5/24 Ramsey MWS, 5/28 Scott ebd, 5/30 Ramsey ebd (median 5/16). | ||
| Gnatcatchers | |||||
| Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (Polioptila caerulea) | 15 | 47 | Early south (median 4/20) 4/23 Nobles KEm, JWH, Olmsted KBg, 4/24 Dakota ebd, Houston ToM, Watonwan KEm, JWH. Early north (median 5/4) 5/6 Pine (Pine City Twp.) KrM, 5/7 Pine (St. Croix S.P.) ebd, 5/11 Grant PPe. New spring records 5/17 Cook (Lutsen) ph. JBs, 5/26 Marshall (Agassiz N.W.R., Headquarters area) †JGW, LHl, JWH. High count 5/8 Washington (17, William O’Brien S.P.) IsH, EzH. | ||
| Wrens | |||||
| Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) | 7 | Unusual record 3/13–27 Anoka (Innsbruck N.C.) CF, DWK, ELC, m.ob. Also reported from Blue Earth, Hennepin, Houston, Ramsey, Washington, Winona. High counts of 2 birds reported 3/13, 3/19 Winona ebd, 5/10 Houston (Hillside Road) BLz, EHi, TWe. | |||
| Northern House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/17) 4/15 Dakota AnB, MwT, 4/16 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) ebd, 4/17 Hennepin (Plymouth) ebd. Early north (median 4/30) 4/24 Otter Tail ebd, 4/24–26 St. Louis (Western Waterfront Trail) ebd, JLK, 4/28 Carlton JLK. High counts 5/11 Houston (20, Mound Prairie Twp.) ebd, 5/14 Carver (20, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/17 Houston (20, Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) ebd. | ||
| Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) | 23 | 37 | Early south (median 3/25) 3/4, 3/6 Yellow Medicine GWe, 3/13 Houston ToM, 3/19 Rock PRH. Early north (median 4/6) 4/8 Cass ebd, 4/10 St. Louis JLK, 4/11 Otter Tail ANy, DBz. High counts 4/24 Dakota (10) DFN, 5/13 St. Louis (7, Superior N.F. northwest of Ely) BHo. Late south 5/16 Hennepin CUn, 5/17 Stearns DOr (median 5/16). | ||
| Sedge Wren (Cistothorus stellaris) | 30 | 44 | Early south (median 4/27) 4/23 Carver JCy, Wright ToL, MJB, 4/25 Rice TFB, 4/26 Anoka GWe, Washington IsH, EzH. Early north (median 5/1) 4/30 Cass (C.R. 46) JCu, 5/2 Otter Tail TFu, 5/3 Cass (Laura Lake Creek) ebd, 5/4 Aitkin PEJ, Cass (C.R. 135) JCu. High counts 5/16 Aitkin (27, McGregor Marsh) KWR, CLR, 5/25 Mahnomen (25) JGW, 5/29 Roseau (25, Lost River S.F.) EHi. | ||
| Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) | 27 | 50 | Early south (median 4/22) 4/23 Scott GWe, 4/24 Anoka GWe, Dakota BLz, Goodhue JHe, Ramsey DnS, MWS. Early north (median 5/5) 4/29 St. Louis MWS, 5/1–3 Clay (Moorhead) CMk, DnM, 5/6 Aitkin ebd. High counts 5/24 Nicollet (20, Swan Lake) SLP, 5/27 Anoka (18, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) DnS. | ||
| Thrashers, Mockingbirds | |||||
| Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/25) 4/21 Fillmore ebd, Olmsted PTr, 4/23 Hennepin SRG, JCa, Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 5/2) 4/23 Todd ebd, 4/28 Clay ebd, 5/2 Pine KrM. High counts 5/13 Fillmore (40, Magelssen Bluff Park) EHi, 5/17 Houston (40, Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) ebd, 5/12 Sherburne (30, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd, 5/14 Carver (30, Rapids Lake Minnesota Valley N.W.R.) JCy, | ||
| Brown Thrasher (Toxostoma rufum) | 32 | 53 | Early south (median 4/8) 4/6–12 Ramsey (St. Paul) ebd, 4/9 Hennepin, ebd, Scott ebd. Early north (median 4/20) 4/23 Mille Lacs HHD, 4/24 St. Louis (Park Point) StK, HTo, ALw, SeM, (2, Western Waterfront Trail) ebd. High counts 5/6, 5/14, 5/21 Sherburne (8, Sherburne N.W.R.) ETw, MFl, RCl, ebd, 5/26 Washington (8, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) PAl. | ||
| Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos) | 7 | 2 | All south (median 4/23) 5/9 Steele PSu, 5/28 Olmsted (Chester Woods) ebd. All north (median 5/5) 5/6, 5/15 Aitkin (Rice Lake N.W.R.) ph. LBa, ebd, 5/10 St. Louis (Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/12 Polk (Agassiz Valley) HHu, 5/14 Cass ph. DoH, 5/15 Lake (Gooseberry Falls S.P.) TPW, 5/26 St. Louis (Babbitt Golf Course) BDo, LiH, 5/29 Roseau EHi, 5/31 Cook (Grandview Park) ebd. All reports were of single individuals. | ||
| Starlings | |||||
| European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts High counts 3/23 Dakota (800, SET-Empire) MwT, 3/6 St. Louis (700, mouth of Miller Creek) ebd. | ||
| Thrushes | |||||
| Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) | 32 | 51 | Overwintered south. Early north (median 3/16) 3/19 Douglas JsS, 3/21 Mille Lacs HHD, Morrison ebd, 3/22 Becker HeH, ShG, Otter Tail ebd. High count 4/4 Becker (22) ShG, HeH. | ||
| MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides) | 1 | 1 | One south report 4/17 Blue Earth (female, fourth county record, east of Madison Lake) †JWH, ph. †BTS, ph. BAb. One north 5/1 Red Lake (female, second county record) †RAE. | ||
| Townsend's Solitaire (Myadestes townsendi) | 4 | 9 | Approximately 15 individuals (5 north, 10 south) reported. Notable records: 3/1–4 Beltrami ebd, DPJ, DvH, 3/12–13 Goodhue (Miesville Ravine) TWe, MwT, ANy, EzH, IsH, 3/13–14 Scott (Spring Lake R.P.) ebd, TWe, BHe, 4/1 Dodge (Mantorville Cemetery) DFe, CRM, m.ob., 4/21 Big Stone (Big Stone N.W.R.) EHi. High count 3/13 Hennepin (3, Lake Rebecca P.R.) TWe, ANy. Late north 3/8 St. Louis (Lester/Amity Park) ebd, 4/8 Otter Tail (Arvig Park) BCS, 4/30 Lake (Two Harbors) MWS, ebd. Late south 4/20 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R.) ebd, 4/21 Big Stone EHi, 4/21–26 Hennepin (Lake Rebecca P.R.) ebd, KOC (median 3/28). | ||
| Veery (Catharus fuscescens) | 32 | 40 | Early south (median 5/2) 4/29 Ramsey LiH, 4/30 Carver JCy, Hennepin CMB, (Veterans Memorial Park) JaE, WPe, SBM, (T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) YK, CWB, Nicollet RHh, Rice TFB. Early north (median 5/7) 5/4 Pine SBE, 5/5 Polk SAu, 5/7 Aitkin EHi, TWe. High count 5/29 Anoka (22, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) DnS, PNi. | ||
| Gray-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus) | 27 | 46 | Early south (median 5/3) 4/29 Rice TFB, 4/30 Hennepin TAT, 5/1 Steele DAB. Early north (median 5/7) 5/8 Clay DPW, Polk JCJ, SAu, 5/9 Cass ebd, Crow Wing SHo, Otter Tail TFu. High counts 5/15 Anoka (8, Lake George R.P.) RCl, 5/21 Wright (6, Pelican Lake) RCl. Late south 5/27 Hennepin (Solomon Park) JaE, (Wood Lake N.C.) ebd, Nobles JCJ, 5/29 Hennepin (T.S. Roberts Bird Sanctuary) ebd (median 5/27). Late north 5/26 Clay ebd, 5/29 Roseau EHi, St. Louis JHn (median 5/28). | ||
| Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus) | 33 | 53 | Early south (median 4/28) 4/17–19 Brown BTS, Renville BTS, MiO, 4/23 Hennepin MKp, Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 5/2) 4/28 Clay (River Oaks Park) TkL, 5/3 Clay (four locations) DnM, LSl, DPW, TCL, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/13 St. Louis (41, Park Point R.A.) FJN, 5/22 Stearns (27, Quarry Park S.N.A.) NSg. Late south 5/30 Scott ArM, Washington MaS, 5/31 Ramsey ebd, but see summer report (median 6/2). | ||
| Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) | 31 | 45 | Overwintered Hennepin. Early south (median 3/28) 3/20 Hennepin KOC, 3/21 Houston ToM, Ramsey EHi, Redwood BTS, MiO. Early north (median 4/4) 4/8 St. Louis JLK, 4/10 Grant m.ob., 4/11 also in Crow Wing, Douglas, Otter Tail, Polk. High counts 4/26 St. Louis (24, Bagley Nature Area) HTo, 4/24 St. Louis (17, Enger Park) JLK. Late south 5/21 Anoka ebd, 5/24 Stearns NSg (median 5/22). | ||
| Wood Thrush (Hylocichla mustelina) | 26 | 40 | Early south (median 5/1) 4/26 Dakota (Eagan) ADS, 4/30 Nicollet RHh, 5/1 Dakota DWK, Hennepin ArM, Isanti MHe, Meeker PKF, Ramsey JZj. Early north (median 5/9) 5/4 Morrison ANy, DBz, 5/8 Itasca ebd, Pine KrM. High counts 5/23 St. Louis (10, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 5/18 Morrison (7, Charles A. Lindbergh S.P.) DLP, 5/19 Stearns (7, Quarry Park S.N.A.) ebd. | ||
| American Robin (Turdus migratorius) | 34 | 53 | Reported statewide. High counts 4/14 St. Louis (1,660) EBr, 4/14 St. Louis (621, W.S.H.C.) SeM | ||
| Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius) | 2 | Two birds continuing from the winter season 3/6 Yellow Medicine (2, Miedd Lake) GWe represented a new spring county record. Another pair was present 4/29 – 5/3 Anoka ph. JlP, †JGW at an East Bethel feeder. | |||
| Old World Sparrows | |||||
| House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) | 33 | 53 | Reported from every county except Lake. High counts 3/13 Hennepin (180, Lake of the Isles) MKp, 3/20 Hennepin (150) MKp, 4/7 Ramsey (150, Red Rock Road) EHi. | ||
| Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) | 1 | 6 | All south 3/4–5 Meeker (Dassel, continuing) ph. †PKF, TWe, 3/21 Fillmore (5, Holt Twp.) †DBz, ph. ANy, 3/30–31 Mower (Austin) ph. †RNS, 4/14–16 Olmsted (Rochester) †RRi, 4/19 – 5/13 Rice (2, Sakatah Lake Narrows) WPS, †BAb, ph. †LHl, ph. †KEm, ph. †AXH, ph. LiH, 4/25–28 Fillmore (3, Rushford) ph. †ToM, JWH, 5/9 Freeborn (Bath Twp.) ph. †LPy, 5/12 Rice (Faribault) ph. TGa. All north 4/15–23 St. Louis (Tower) ph. SGW, 5/11–15 St. Louis (2, Park Point) SWo, ph. †PHS, m.ob. | ||
| Pipits | |||||
| American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) | 17 | 28 | Early south (median 3/29) 3/19 Yellow Medicine GWe, 3/24 Brown BTS, Goodhue RBW. Early north (median 4/23) 4/25 Red Lake ABL, 4/28 Becker RZi, DAh, Norman LGl, Polk DAh. High counts 5/8 Carver (70, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) MwT, 5/14 St. Louis (68, Sax-Zim Bog) ClN. Late south 5/20 Ramsey LiH, 5/21 Wright ToL, 5/24 Meeker PKF (median 5/21). Late north 5/24 St. Louis JLK, 5/28 Marshall EHi, HHu (median 5/24). | ||
| Finches | |||||
| Evening Grosbeak (Coccothraustes vespertinus) | 4 | Despite above-average reports in the fall and winter, worst spring showing since at least 2000. North counties down 51% from the ten-year average; detected only in Cook, Itasca, Lake, and St. Louis. High counts all from St. Louis: 3/4 (30, Sax-Zim Bog) ebd, 4/24 (27, Tower) JDx, ClN. | |||
| Pine Grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator) | 15 | After an average fall and slightly above-average winter, this season was an excellent spring for this species. Northern county distribution up 83% from the ten-year average, though no reports south of Crow Wing. High counts 3/2 Lake (24, Silver Bay) KeL, 3/2 Carlton (20, Wrenshall) ebd, 3/2 St. Louis (20, Sax-Zim Bog) FJN. Late north 3/19 Clay (Moorhead) ebd, Cook ebd, 3/21 Cook AvB, JBh, 4/1 Pennington ebd (median 3/31). | |||
| House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) | 33 | 53 | Found in every county except Koochiching. High counts 3/16 Dakota (43, Vermillion River) CRe, 3/12 Olmsted (30, Oakwood Cemetery, Rochester) TWe, 5/1 Hennepin (30, Nine Mile Creek) ebd. | ||
| Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) | 33 | 47 | Reported across the state in decreasing numbers from the northeast to the southwest. Found in the most south counties in at least 25 years. High counts 4/16 Morrison (70, Little Falls) KEm, 5/8 St. Louis (65, Meadowlands Twp.) IaG, 5/12 Lake (60, Wolf Ridge) ebd. | ||
| Redpoll (Common) (Acanthis f. flammea) | 32 | 46 | Consistent with the impressive fall and winter turnouts, detected across all regions. Increases of 50% and 128% from the north and south average number of reporting counties, respectively. High counts 4/14 St. Louis (1,000, Peabody St., Duluth) LME, 4/16 St. Louis (870, Brighton Beach) StK, 4/19 St. Louis (623, W.S.H.C.) SeM. Late south 5/23 Carver NWi, 5/27 Anoka JkS (median 4/9). Late north 5/19 St. Louis FJN, SeM, 5/23 Becker ShG, HeH, St. Louis ebd. | ||
| Redpoll (Hoary) (Acanthis f. exilipes) | 17 | 17 | Following an astounding winter season, this was the second best spring on record. Reported from all regions; scarcest in South-central, Southeast, and West-central. Reports south of the Minnesota River: 3/2 Blue Earth (C.R. 32) †BTS, 3/7, 3/14 Rice (Faribault) †ebd, 3/8 Yellow Medicine (100th Ave., Vesta) †RJS, 3/11–16 Dakota (Eagan) †ADS, 3/14–17 Olmsted (Oakwood Cemetery, Rochester) †AAz, †JmP, JPr, m.ob., 3/16 Pipestone (C.R. 12, Ruthton) †VKl, 3/19 Lyon (Southwest Minnesota State University) GWe, Late south 3/29 Sherburne HHD, 4/1 Anoka †RSk, 4/6 Stearns †NSg (median 3/18). Late north 5/1 Lake †JlB, 5/2 St. Louis (Lakewood Twp.) FJN, 5/12 Cass (Ten Mile Lake) DoH, ebd, (median 4/9). | ||
| Red Crossbill (Loxia curvirostra) | 8 | 5 | Despite below-average reports in the fall and winter, detected this spring in comparable number of counties to the ten-year average. Found in all northern regions. All south reports: 3/24 Chisago (10, season high count, Wild River S.P.) ebd, 3/30 Anoka (9, Andover) ETw, 4/2 Lyon (Southwest Minnesota State University) GWe, 4/11 Rice (Wells Lake) GHo, 4/24 Ramsey (St. Paul) ebd. | ||
| White-winged Crossbill (Loxia leucoptera) | 16 | 31 | Consistent with echo year reports from fall and winter, this season produced the best spring on record, with more than double (north) and 1.6 times (south) the previous record-high spring set in 2009. Detected in all regions, although relatively few reports from North-central. New spring record north 3/13 Norman (Ada) ShG, HeH. All new spring records south: 3/2 Scott (Prior Lake) ebd, 3/5–27 Goodhue (Lock and Dam #3) KDS, MAJ, RBW, m.ob., 3/6 Winona (Minnesota City) ToM, 3/7 Mower (Cartney W.M.A.) LHl, 3/18 Cottonwood (Lawcon Park) ebd, 3/19 Pope (near Sedan) MJB, 3/23 Wright (Saint Michael) ebd. High counts 4/4 Benton (40) HHD, 4/24 St. Louis (35, C.R. 948, Cook) JDx, ClN, KDN, 5/1 Rice (29, Carleton College Campus) MZa. Late south 5/10 Ramsey RMD, 5/12 – 5/19 Stearns (Holdingford High School campus) MJB, 5/10 – 5/23 Rice (Carleton College campus) AvB, MZa, ebd (median 3/31). Late north 5/21 St. Louis JHn, KDN, ClN, 5/22 Pine ebd, 5/24 Itasca ebd (median 4/11), but see summer report. | ||
| Pine Siskin (Spinus pinus) | 32 | 40 | Found in every region, though few reports from Southwest. High counts 5/20 (75, Silver Bay) ABm, 4/5 St. Louis (70, Two Harbors) ebd, 5/16 St. Louis (50, Meadowlands Twp.) IaG. Reported throughout the season south and well into the summer. | ||
| American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. High counts 5/16 St. Louis (155, Minnesota Point) HTo, KJB, 5/14 Otter Tail (102, Frazee) ebd, 5/20 Mahnomen (95, Waubun) NaH. | ||
| Longspurs and Snow Buntings | |||||
| Lapland Longspur (Calcarius lapponicus) | 16 | 44 | Found in every region, though fewest reports from North-central. Numerous south reports in February were probably northbound migrants. Early north (median 3/8) 3/9 Traverse DLP, 3/12 Grant BWF, 3/13 Clay ebd. High counts 3/27 Pipestone (2,000) DBz, ANy, 4/2 Lyon (1,700, 220th St., Russell) GWe, 3/8 Cottonwood (500, 320th St. and 360th Ave.) KEm, 4/21 Lincoln (500, C.R. 101 near Lake Shakotoan) EHi. Late south 5/9 Carver ebd, 5/9–10 Dakota ebd, 5/12 Chisago ANy (median 5/8). Late north 5/15 Polk HHu, St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ALw, StK, 5/16 Becker ebd, 5/17 St. Louis (Duluth, Grassy Point) ebd (median 5/20). | ||
| CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR (Calcarius ornatus) | 1 | Sole report of one bird from traditional stronghold in state: 4/23 Clay (Felton Prairie) JKh. This was the first spring sighting since 2019 of this songbird. | |||
| Smith's Longspur (Calcarius pictus) | 4 | Typical number of reports. All reports: 4/21–23 Lincoln (up to 5 birds, near Lake Shakotoan) EHi, ebd, 5/3 Cottonwood (Red Rock Prairie) ph. ALD, 5/5–7 Yellow Medicine (max. 5, Echo W.T.P.) ph. GWe, WCM, m.ob., 5/8 Carver (35, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) †DBz, †WCM, ANy. | |||
| Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) | 23 | 16 | Found in all regions. High counts 3/5 Rice (300, Kane Ave. and 200th St.) TWe, 3/5 Polk (150, 340th Ave. NW, Warren) HHu, 3/13 Hennepin (80, Strehler Rd., Corcoran) BPR. Late south 3/25 Stearns ebd, 4/9 Big Stone KRE, m.ob., 4/16 Rock ABL (median 4/11). Late north 5/1 Cook LWd, 5/2 St. Louis (Duluth) ClN, KDN, JDx, 5/5 St. Louis (Chisolm) ebd (median 5/3). | ||
| Towhees, Sparrows | |||||
| Grasshopper Sparrow (Ammodramus savannarum) | 12 | 38 | Few reports from North-central and none from Northeast. Early south (median 4/22) 4/23–24 Washington BDo, ebd, 4/24 Hennepin IVa, 4/25 Lyon RJS. Early north (median 5/3) 5/1 Mille Lacs JWZ, Pine ebd, 5/7 Otter Tail BAr. High counts 5/14 Clay (14, Bluestem Prairie) ebd, 5/31 Carver (13, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/5 Washington (12, Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) DnS, 5/8 Sherburne (12, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd. | ||
| Lark Sparrow (Chondestes grammacus) | 14 | 41 | Few reports from the Northeast, and no reports from North-central. Early south (median 4/18) 4/15 Blue Earth ebd, 4/19 Olmsted ebd, 4/21 Rice ebd, Washington GWe. Early north (median 5/2) 4/23 St. Louis ALw, ebd, 4/28 Polk DAh, 4/29 Norman TCL. High counts 5/25 Norman (6, total from two locations) JWH, 4/29 Norman (5, Ada) TCL, 5/4 Clay (5, Buffalo River Science Center) TCL, 5/8 Dakota (5, 140th St. Marsh) ebd. Notable spring record 5/22 Dodge (C.R. 38) SHo. | ||
| Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina) | 34 | 53 | Found in each county. Early south (median 3/23) 3/21 Hennepin (Long Meadow Lake) ebd, Houston ebd, 3/22 Hennepin (Minnetonka) KBu, TBu, (Goose Lake) ebd, Ramsey ebd. Early north (median 4/8) 4/2 Traverse LiH, 4/7 Grant CNn, 4/9 Otter Tail ebd, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/13 St. Louis (98, Park Point R.A.) JLK, 5/3 Rock (75, River Road Campground) ebd, 5/12 Clay (60, River Oaks Park) CMk, ebd, 5/17 St. Louis (60, Duluth) LME. | ||
| Clay-colored Sparrow (Spizella pallida) | 33 | 52 | Found in every county except Clearwater and Martin. Early south (median 4/20) 4/20 Rice ebd, 4/21 Lac qui Parle KeL, SWe, Pipestone VKl, Washington ebd. Early north (median 4/27) 4/24 Clay (Cromwell Twp.) PBB, (Felton Prairie) ASM, ebd, 4/25 Becker ShG, HeH, LSl, Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/12 Kittson (50, Norway Dunes) ebd, 5/12 Clay (40, River Oaks Park) CMk, ebd, 5/12 Grant (40, 140th St. in Herman) PPe, 5/20 Kittson (40, Twin Lakes State W.M.A.) ebd. | ||
| Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla) | 12 | 50 | All reports south of a line from Clay to Pine counties, except 5/3 Lake (Two Harbors) JWL, SLL, 5/17–18 St. Louis (Duluth) LME, m.ob. Early south (median 4/1) 3/21 Fillmore JWH, 3/24 Dakota ebd, 3/27 Rice ebd. Early north (median 4/16) 4/11 Grant (Delaware Twp.) CNn, 4/16 Grant (Pine Ridge Park) DWK, 4/21 Otter Tail TFu. High counts 4/23 Winona (25, Whitewater W.M.A.) ebd, 5/21 Hennepin (20, Crow-Hassan P.R.) MKp, ebd, 4/30 Carver (19, Carver P.R.) JCy. | ||
| Fox Sparrow (Passerella iliaca) | 30 | 51 | Found in all but six counties. Multiple overwintering reports south. Early north (median 3/29) 3/21 Mille Lacs HHD, Polk SAu, 3/22 Crow Wing ebd, 3/23 Becker NaH. High counts 4/24 St. Louis (72, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 4/16 Lyon (56, Camden S.P.) GWe, 4/25 Beltrami (53, Lost Lake) AxB. Late south 5/9 Ramsey ebd, 5/20 Sherburne ebd, 5/21 Hennepin (North Mississippi R.P.) †ebd (median 5/5). Late north 5/14 Cass ebd, Hubbard ebd, St. Louis (two locations) ebd, 5/19 Douglas JRd (median 5/16). | ||
| American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) | 34 | 51 | Found in every county except Martin and Waseca. High counts 4/24 St. Louis (140, Park Point R.A.) SeM, 4/27 St. Louis (117, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK. Late south 5/10 Dakota (Whitetail Woods R.P.) AnB, 5/11 Dakota (Ritter Farm Park) TaP, ebd, 5/12 Ramsey AGu (median 5/8). Late north 5/14 St. Louis (Big Rice Lake) ebd, (Hermantown) ebd, (Duluth) ebd (median 5/12). | ||
| Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis) | 34 | 53 | Found in all counties. High counts 4/17 Marshall (429, Warren) HHu, 4/15 St. Louis (400, Meadowlands Twp.) IaG, 4/24 St. Louis (400, Park Point R.A.) SeM. Late south 5/18 Lyon VKl, Olmsted ebd, 5/22 Carver JCy, 5/20–27 Ramsey ebd. Oregon subspecies detections appear to be increasing, with 24 southern and 9 northern reporting counties, respectively. No count of this subspecies greater than two. Last departure 4/29 Meeker PKF. | ||
| White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) | 29 | 49 | See winter report for multiple overwintering birds south. Early north (median 4/26) 4/2 Traverse (overwintered? Calvary Cemetery, Browns Valley) LiH, 4/15 St. Louis LSh, 4/19 Grant CNn. High counts 5/8 St. Louis (26, Park Point R.A.) FJN, 5/22 Aitkin (21, Rice Lake N.W.R.) ebd. Late south 5/22 Hennepin ebd, Washington TFe, 5/23 Fillmore SDz, Lyon RJS (median 5/22), but see summer report. Late north 5/27 Cook ebd, Lake JlB, 5/29 St. Louis (Church Rd.) ebd, 5/30 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) StK, JWL, LBa, SeM, ALw, JHn (median 5/27). Gambel’s subspecies reports south: 5/9 Carver CRM, m.ob., 5/1–2 Fillmore (two locations) ToM, 5/8 Lyon (3) GWe, 5/14 Hennpin CRM, m.ob. All north reports of Gambel’s: 5/8 Lake JWL, 5/12–13 St. Louis (max. 5, Southworth Marsh and Park Point R.A.) PHS, 5/17 St. Louis (Peabody St., Duluth) JWL, FJN, PHS. | ||
| Harris's Sparrow (Zonotrichia querula) | 28 | 50 | See winter report for overwintering birds south. Early north (median 4/28) 5/4 Grant (Herman) PPe, 5/5 Clay ebd, Grant (Delaware Twp.) CNn, Otter Tail ebd. High counts 5/8 Lyon (25, Garvin Park) GWe, 5/13 Kittson (20, C.R. 1, Hallock) ebd. Late south 5/23 Hennepin RTu, Jackson KEm, 5/27 Hennepin ebd (median 5/24). Late north 5/24 Becker WPl, Polk SAu, 5/28 Clay ebd, 5/29 Otter Tail ebd (median 5/24). | ||
| White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) | 33 | 52 | Found everywhere but Marshall and Martin. Overwintered extensively both north and south. High counts 5/8 St. Louis (385, Park Point R.A., counted by fives) FJN, 5/8 St. Louis (300, Park Point R.A.) ebd, 4/24 Anoka (140, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 4/30 Carver (105, Carver P.R.) JCy. See summer report for lingering southern birds. | ||
| Vesper Sparrow (Pooecetes gramineus) | 27 | 49 | Found in all regions and in an average number of counties; scarcest in Northeast. Early south (median 3/28) 4/1 Dakota CRe, 4/3 Lyon GWe, 4/4 Rice EmR. Early north (median 4/12) 4/15 Clay (Cromwell Twp.) PBB, 4/16 Clay (Jeral State W.M.A.) LSl, 4/20 Becker ebd. High counts 5/14 Otter Tail (17, Eagle Lake Twp.) JsS, 4/22 Lyon (16, Lone Tree Lake) KeL, SWe, 4/30 Norman (15, 150th Ave. in Ada) EHi, AnA. | ||
| LeConte's Sparrow (Ammospiza leconteii) | 14 | 14 | Early south (median 4/20) 5/2 Hennepin ALD, 5/5 Lyon GWe, 5/7 Steele (new spring record, Armstrong Wetland Restoration) LiH. Early north (median 4/30) 5/14 Clay (Bluestem Prairie S.N.A.) ebd, St. Louis ClN, m.ob., 5/15 Becker ebd. High counts 5/27 Aitkin (7, McGregor Marsh) EHi, 5/26 Roseau (5, 200th Ave., Greenbush) EzH, IsH, 5/29 Lake of the Woods (5, Beltrami Island S.F.) EHi. Notable reports 5/10 Cottonwood (Heron Lake) DBz, ANy, 5/14 Washington (Afton S.P.) KvA, 5/15–19 Washington (Grey Cloud Dunes S.N.A.) BDo, JDS. See summer report for late migrants and possibly summering birds south. | ||
| Nelson's Sparrow (Ammospiza nelsoni) | 8 | 4 | Best northern spring showing on record; more than three times the ten-year average number of northern counties. Also most widespread southern distribution in the last decade. All south: 5/9 Lyon RJS, 5/10 Murray DBz, ANy, 5/12 Hennepin JoJ, m.ob., 5/14 Mower (Lansing Marsh; new spring record) †KEm, JWH, †LHl, m.ob. All north: 5/16 Aitkin CLR, KWR, 5/25 Kittson BCS, Marshall ebd, Norman (Ada W.T.P.) JWH, LHl, JGW, 5/27–29 Morrison (Swanville Marsh) KEm, JWH, JGW, ebd, 5/29 Clay ebd, Lake of the Woods EHi, Roseau EHi. | ||
| Henslow's Sparrow (Centronyx henslowii) | 23 | Found in all southern regions and as far north as Stevens. Early south (median 4/28) 4/23 Carver (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 4/24 Carver (Waconia) ebd, 4/26 Dakota ebd, 4/27 Goodhue ebd. High counts 5/31 Carver (6, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/11 Murray (4, Lake Shetek S.P.) ANy, DBz. | |||
| Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) | 33 | 51 | Found in all but three counties. Early south (median 3/30) 3/31 Dakota ebd, 4/2 Yellow Medicine EHi, 4/8 Ramsey LiH. Early north (median 4/14) 4/19 Becker (175th St. Swamp) ebd, Grant PPe, 4/20 Becker (Pelican River Park) ebd. High counts 4/27 Grant (25, North Ottawa Impoundment) PPe, 5/28 Marshall (25, 320th Ave. in East Valley Twp.) EHi, 5/9 Carver (20, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) EHi. | ||
| Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. Extensive overwintering south. Excluding known overwintering birds, early north (median 3/26) 3/21 Mille Lacs HHD, 3/21–24 Grant CNn, 3/25 Todd ebd. High count 4/21 St. Louis (67, Western Waterfront Trail) JLK. | ||
| Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) | 26 | 50 | Early south (median 4/11) 3/24 Dakota †ebd, 4/1 Pipestone VKl, 4/5 Hennepin KSo. Early north (median 4/21) 4/17 Morrison TLu, 4/23 Otter Tail JsS, then 4/24 from Clay, Grant, Polk, St. Louis. High counts 5/8 Ramsey (22, Sucker Lake) DnS, 5/13 Washington (20, William O’Brien S.P.) EzH, IsH, 5/8 Clay (12, Bridgeview Park) ebd. Late south 5/26 Fillmore ToM, Sherburne ebd, 5/31 Steele PSu (median 5/26). | ||
| Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) | 33 | 50 | Spotted in all but four counties. Excluding overwintering birds, early south (median 3/20) 3/20 Dakota LiH, 3/21 Ramsey (three locations) LiH, APi, ebd. Early north (median 4/14) 4/10 Becker (Detroit Lakes) ebd, (Tamarac N.W.R.) ebd, St. Louis ebd. High counts 4/30 Scott (75, Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) BLz, 4/24 Anoka (42, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 4/23 Hennepin (30, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) RTu, 4/24 Washington (30, Belwin Conservancy) ebd. | ||
| Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) | 2 | Overwintering bird in Goodhue (Zumbrota) continued through 4/22 MGe, m.ob. Only other bird 5/8 Kandiyohi (female, Willmar) JHa, ph. JWd, JoS. | |||
| Eastern Towhee (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) | 16 | 39 | Found statewide, with fewest reports from Central, Northwest and West-central. Early south (median 4/11) 3/28 Ramsey LiH, 4/1 Mower LHl, 4/5 Dakota CRe. Early north (median 5/2) 4/23 Pine (Chengwatana Twp.) ebd, 4/28 Pine (Rock Creek) LEv, 5/3 Lake JWL, SLL. High counts 5/30 Washington (23, William O’Brien S.P., counted individually) MaS, 5/14 Winona (20, Plowline Trail-Bronk Unit) ebd, 5/17 Goodhue (20, Cannon Valley Trail, Welch Station Access) ebd. | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | |||||
| Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) | 2 | Two reports: 5/9 Lyon (Marshall) ph. MOs, 5/12, 5/22–27 Fillmore (Magelssen Bluff Park and Richard J. Dorer Memorial Hardwood S.F., presumably the same bird) ph. †ToM, BDo, LiH. | |||
| Blackbirds, Orioles | |||||
| Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) | 31 | 51 | Detected in all but five counties. Early south (median 3/26) 3/20 Carver WCM, 3/26 Big Stone ebd, 3/27 Freeborn LiH, Hennepin JST. Early north (median 4/9) 4/7 Traverse (Browns Valley) CRM, m.ob., 4/9 Otter Tail ebd, Traverse (four locations) KRE, m.ob., 4/10 Marshall HHu. High counts 5/7 Lac qui Parle (300, Big Stone N.W.R.) EzH, IsH, 5/13 Lyon (250, Black Rush Lake W.P.A.) LiH, BDo. | ||
| Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) | 30 | 49 | Distributed across the state; fewest reports from North-central. Early south (median 5/3) 5/1 Carver BAb, Steele TWe, 5/3 Dakota GTh. Early north (median 5/6) 5/6 Pine KrM, then 5/7 in Aitkin, Kanabec, Otter Tail, Becker. High counts 5/13 Clay (60, Magnusson W.M.A.) ebd, 5/26 Polk (60, Glacial Ridge N.W.R.) LHl, 5/19 Cass (40, Chippewa N.F.) ebd, 5/22 Clay (40, Bluestem Prairie S.N.A.) LSl. | ||
| Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna) | 19 | 42 | Reported from every region, though only from Clay in the Northwest, and from every county in eastern half of state except Koochiching, Itasca, Cass. Early south (median 3/15) 3/15 Olmsted MiD, LAV, Washington GWe, Winona DBz. Early north (median 3/27) 3/22 Otter Tail (Orwell W.M.A.) ebd, 3/28 Grant ebd, 3/31 Otter Tail (Tumoli Twp.) JsS. High counts 4/26 Hennepin (16, Crow-Hassan P.R.) ebd, 5/9 Carver (13, Dahlgren Twp.) SOa, 5/12 Sherburne (10, Sherburne N.W.R.) ebd. | ||
| Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta) | 24 | 39 | Found across the state; most reports from western half. Early south (median 3/13) 3/13 Pipestone VKl, 3/14 McLeod BDc, 3/15 Nobles ASu. Early north (median 3/18) 3/16 Clay PBB, 3/19 Polk (Belgium Prairie) HHu, 3/20 Polk (Sullivan Twp.) SAu, JCJ, Marshall HHu. High counts 4/18 Pennington (20, C.R. 8) HHu, 3/16 Murray (18, Rupp W.M.A.) VKl, 3/26 Jackson (17) TAT. Notable record 5/4 Chisago (singing, south of Rush City) ELC. | ||
| Orchard Oriole (Icterus spurius) | 29 | 52 | Phenomenal spring for this oriole, as it was reported in a record high number of north counties (prior record only 19) and all but one south. Early south were all record-early (median 5/5): 4/23 Olmsted (Pine Island) ph. MrM, ebd, 4/23 Wabasha (Whitewater W.M.A.) ph. MtK, 4/24 Hennepin (Minnetonka) ph. BLW. Early north (median 5/12) 5/6 Clay (Humboldt Twp.) ebd, 5/8 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) ebd, 5/10 Clay PBB. High counts 5/25 Houston (13, La Crescent) KRz, 5/21 Clay (12, Cromwell Twp.) PBB, 5/22, 5/24 Polk (10, East Grand Forks) TJJ, 5/30 Washington (10, Lake Elmo R.P.) BDo. Additional rare reports: 5/21 Cook (Grand Marais) ph. ANy, DBz, BWF, 5/23 Lake of the Woods (Red Lake W.M.A.) StK, ebd, 5/24 Lake of the Woods (C.R. 8 and 42nd Ave. NW) ebd, 5/13 St. Louis (Twig) ArL, 5/28 St. Louis (Buchanan Historical Marker) †JhM, (max. 3, Park Point R.A.) †PHS, JLK, ClN. | ||
| BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (Icterus bullockii) | 1 | 1 | Seventh and eighth state records: 5/9–10 Stearns (Waite Park, adult male) MBi, †PCC, ph. †DRL, 5/22 Itasca (Bigfork, first-year male) ph. JsM. | ||
| Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. Early south (median 4/28) 4/23 Washington ebd, Winona ebd, 4/24 Olmsted KHo. Early north (median 5/4) 5/1 Douglas JPE, 5/6 Pine TJo, St. Louis JuG. High counts 5/14 Ramsey (34, St. Paul) ebd, 5/11 Ramsey (30, Sucker Lake) ebd, 5/12 Hennepin (26, Wood Lake N.C.) JCa. | ||
| Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) | 34 | 53 | Detected in all counties. Overwintered throughout the south. Probable early north migrants (median 3/10) 3/1 Mille Lacs HHD, 3/10 Mille Lacs (Princeton) CRM, m.ob., 3/12 Clay PBB, 3/15 Douglas BEc. High counts 4/7 Traverse (10,000, Browns Valley) DPi, 3/19 Yellow Medicine (3,800, Spellman Lake) GWe, 4/1 Yellow Medicine (2,850, Miedd Lake) GWe. | ||
| Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. One early south migrant in Houston in late February, then seen (median 3/11) 3/5 Murray GWe, 3/9 Houston SHo, 3/11 Washington CNC. Early north (median 4/2) 3/30 Clay ebd, 4/2 Traverse (two locations) LiH. High counts 4/27 Douglas (200, C.R. 8 in Garfield) BEc, 4/23 Dakota (150, Schaar’s Bluff) AnB, 4/24 Ramsey (150, Red Rock Rd.) BAb. | ||
| Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) | 26 | 52 | Found in all but nine counties. Excluding overwintering birds, early south (median 3/5) 3/2 Dakota CRe, 3/4 Lyon GWe, 3/6 Freeborn AEB. Early north (median 3/23) 3/19 Otter Tail AaL, CLu, 3/21 Grant ebd, Mille Lacs HHD. High counts 4/16 Rice (250, St. Olaf College Natural Lands) EmR, 4/2 Lyon (200, 230th Ave., Balaton) GWe, 4/28 Norman (200, S.R. 32, Gary) MaS. Late south 5/5 Hennepin IVa, Stearns ebd, 5/6 Sherburne ebd (median 5/5). Late north 5/13 Cass CMi, 5/13 St. Louis (max. 2, Park Point) FJN, SeM, BMu, PHS, 5/16 St. Louis (Park Point) SeM (median 5/13). | ||
| Brewer's Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus) | 29 | 48 | Found statewide. Early south (median 3/19) 3/16 Ramsey LiH, 3/19 Rock PRH, 3/21 Ramsey APi, Redwood BTS, MiO. Early north (median 4/3) 4/2 Traverse LiH, 4/3 Grant CNn, 4/5 Becker HeH, ShG. High counts both from Norman: 4/30 (200, Syre State W.M.A.) EHi, MwT, ebd, 4/29 (150, Gary) TCL. | ||
| Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) | 34 | 53 | Reported in each county. Extensive overwintering south makes identifying new migrants tricky. Excluding known wintering locations north, early north (median 3/10) 3/16–20 Pine (Pine City) NSn, ebd, KrM, 3/20 Clay PBB, Otter Tail. High counts 3/29 Goodhue (2,000, Hay Creek) MJM, 4/2 Rice (2,000, Cannon/Wells Lake) MZa, AvB, 4/1 Yellow Medicine (1,400, Miedd Lake) GWe. | ||
| Great-tailed Grackle (Quiscalus mexicanus) | 5 | All reports: 3/16 Jackson (Spirit Lake) †DFN, †PEJ, 3/19 – 4/25 Lyon (Black Rush W.P.A.) GWe, m.ob., 4/2 Pope (Lakeshore Park) †LiH, 4/30 – 5/29 Faribault (Pilot Grove Lake) BAy, m.ob., 5/2 Jackson (S.R. 86 and 730th St.) ph. KEm, 5/10 Cottonwood (Lake Augusta) ph. KEm, 5/11 Jackson ANy, DBz, 5/26–30 Jackson (Skunk Lake W.M.A.) KRE, m.ob. | |||
| Warblers | |||||
| Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla) | 32 | 50 | Found in all but five counties. Early south (median 4/27) 4/24 Hennepin (two locations) ebd, DEl, 4/27 Steele PSu. Early north (median 5/3) 4/29 Grant CNn, 5/5 Cass (Deep Portage Learning Center) ebd, 5/6 Cass (Longville W.T.P.) ABi, Morrison ebd, Otter Tail ebd, Pine ebd. High counts 5/22 Chisago (24, Wild River S.P.) TPp, 5/13 Cook (23, Kings Rd. in Grand Marais) DTr, JEd, 5/17, 5/20 Becker (20, Tamarac N.W.R.) ebd, ToR, 5/19 Hubbard (20, Itasca S.P.) ebd. | ||
| Louisiana Waterthrush (Parkesia motacilla) | 2 | 10 | Record early south (median 4/17) 4/4–17 Winona (Coolridge Creek A.M.A.) ph. ToM, DBz, then 4/17 Olmsted MiD, 4/19 Washington DFN. Two north reports: 5/10 Pine ebd, 5/13 St. Louis (Park Point) †PHS. High counts 5/10 Houston (8, Beaver Creek Valley S.P.) PEJ, DFN, 5/1, 5/29 Winona (4, Coolridge Creek A.M.A.) ToM. | ||
| Northern Waterthrush (Parkesia noveboracensis) | 32 | 46 | Found statewide. Early south (median 4/23) 4/23 in 11 locations across six counties, m.ob. Early north (median 5/1) 4/23 Clay (M.B. Johnson Park; record early north) †ebd, 4/24 Norman ANy, DBz, 4/29 Clay ebd. High counts 5/12 Anoka (28, Carlos Avery W.M.A., individually counted) MFl, ETw, 5/15 Anoka (28, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 5/10 Ramsey (16, Tony Schmidt Park) LiH, 5/12 Hennepin (16, Wood Lake N.C., counted individually) JCa. Late south 5/28 Brown AaL, CLu, Chisago ebd, Hennepin (two locations) JCa, ebd, 5/30 Anoka ebd (median 5/31). | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera) | 24 | 40 | Found statewide. Early south (median 5/4) 5/1 Dakota (Rosemount) †MwT, 5/3 Dakota (Eagan) ebd, Hennepin ebd. Early north (median 5/9) 5/8 Lake JWL, SLL, 5/9 Beltrami DPJ, 5/10 Mille Lacs (two locations) DMz, ebd, St. Louis JLK. High counts 5/14 Pine (15, St. Croix S.F.) TJo, ebd, 5/27 Pine (15, North Star Farm) MiD, 5/15 Aitkin (13, Balsam Twp.) KWR, CLR. See summer report for late south migrants and summering birds. | ||
| Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora cyanoptera) | 2 | 24 | Found east and south of Morrison. Early south (median 5/2) 4/23 Ramsey (Arden Hills) ph. LiH, 5/4 Goodhue ebd, 5/7 Chisago ebd, Ramsey (Maplewood N.C.) ebd, Rice TFB, Winona BAb. All north 5/18–24 Pine (1–3, Snake River Landing) SBE, m.ob., 5/28 Morrison SC. All-time high spring count 5/27 Washington (22, William O’Brien S.P., exact count) ebd, with fewer but still impressive numbers in the days prior: 5/13 (15), 5/14 (13) both EzH, IsH. Other high counts 5/15 Carver (12, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/18, 5/29 Olmsted (10, Chester Woods) BLa, 5/14 Winona (10, Plowline Trail-Bronk Unit) ebd. | ||
| Golden-winged Warbler X Blue-winged Warbler (Vermivora chrysoptera X V. cyanoptera) | 9 | Probably the best season ever for this hybrid. Eleven individuals, eight of which were “Brewster’s” type. All reports: 5/10 Ramsey (Indian Mounds Park) †ebd, 5/12–15 Dakota (Rolling Green Pond) †ebd, 5/12 Hennepin (“Lawrence’s”) AOp, †ebd, 5/13 Brown †SLH, 5/14–15 Olmsted (second consecutive year of a “Lawrence’s” at Chester Woods), †BLa, m.ob., 5/14 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) ebd, GUn, 5/14 Stearns NSg, m.ob., 5/15–19 Dakota (Ritter Farm Park) ChP, RDE, ebd, 5/15 Scott (“Lawrence’s”) †BHe, 5/17 Washington PNi, 5/20 Carver JCy. | |||
| Black-and-white Warbler (Mniotilta varia) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. Early south (median 4/21) 4/23 Anoka DPG, Goodhue PEJ, Hennepin TAT, m.ob., Olmsted JHD. Early north (median 4/30) 4/26 Polk DBz, ANy, 4/29 Becker (Detroit Lakes and Sucker Creek Preserve) ebd. High counts 5/11 Hennepin (31, total for Pamela Park, Veterans Memorial Park, and Wood Lake N.C.) TAT, 5/9 Mower (25, Red Rock Twp.) SWm, 5/12 Sherburne (20, Houlton Conservation Area) JOs, 5/13 Hennepin (20, Veterans Memorial Park) ebd. | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) | 19 | Found along the entire Wisconsin border as far north as Chisago, extending westward to Brown. Early south (median 5/4) 4/23 Ramsey (Arden Hills) †LiH, 4/24 Hennepin (Fort Snelling S.P.) ph. ArM, 5/1 Ramsey ebd. High counts 5/12 Houston (5, Reno Bottoms) BRe, 5/14, 5/31 Carver (4, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/15 Houston (4, Wagon Wheel Trail) ebd. Notable reports 5/9–27 Olmsted (three locations) LAV, MPe, ebd, 5/17 Wright ToL. | |||
| Tennessee Warbler (Leiothlypis peregrina) | 33 | 53 | Detected everywhere but Koochiching. Early south (median 4/29) 4/24 Carver ebd, Hennepin (two locations) ebd, Early north (median 5/7) 5/8 Otter Tail JsS, 5/9 Cass ebd, Clay ebd, Crow Wing SHo, Otter Tail (two locations) TFu, ebd. Several high counts were impressive: 5/13 Hennepin (150, estimate, Wood Lake N.C.) LAi, 5/14 Carver (100, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) JCy, 5/15 Anoka (100, Stacy) ebd. See summer report for numerous late reports south. | ||
| Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata) | 32 | 51 | Found in all but four counties. Early south (median 4/19) 4/20 Goodhue SDz, 4/21 Hennepin DSh, Ramsey LiH, Sherburne ebd, Washington GWe. Early north (median 4/23) 4/23 Clay ebd, Grant CNn, Morrison ebd. High counts 4/24 Anoka (22, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R., individually tallied) GWe, 5/10 Hennepin (20, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) ebd, 5/12 Dakota (15, Dodge N.C.) ebd. Late south 5/26 Cottonwood HCT, Hennepin RuS, 5/27 Hennepin ebd, 5/28 Freeborn ebd (median 5/25). Late north 5/26 Cass ebd, Hubbard FGo, 5/28–31 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) JLK, FJN, PHS, m.ob. (median 5/28). | ||
| Nashville Warbler (Leiothlypis ruficapilla) | 33 | 52 | Detected in each county except Martin and Pennington. Early south (median 4/25) 4/23 Hennepin (Crow-Hassan P.R.) ASu, DEl, 4/24 Goodhue SHo, Hennepin (Fort Snelling S.P.) ebd. Early north (median 5/2) 5/6 Cass ebd, DoH, Otter Tail JsS, Todd ebd. High counts 5/13 Hennepin (75, Wood Lake N.C.) LAi, 5/13 Washington (60, William O’Brien S.P., counted by 10s) EzH, IsH, 5/13 Ramsey (58, Reservoir Woods) RMD. See summer report for numerous late migrants and potential breeders south. | ||
| Connecticut Warbler (Oporornis agilis) | 11 | 21 | Second best spring ever for this species. Noted in every region, although more abundant in eastern regions. Early south (median 5/10) 5/11 Hennepin (four locations) BHw, ebd, Nicollet RHh, Winona ebd. Early north (median 5/17) all in St. Louis: 5/13 (Western Waterfront Trail) JLK, 5/15 (W.S.H.C.) SeM, ebd, 5/18 (Sax-Zim Bog) JHn, KMa, m.ob. High counts 5/20 Carver (3, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/21 Washington (3, William O’Brien S.P.) EzH, IsH. Unusual sightings south 5/23 Chippewa (Chippewa C.P., new spring record) DLP, 5/17 Murray RBW, and north 5/20 Mahnomen (S.R. 113, Waubun) NaH, ebd. Late south 5/28 Anoka ebd, Stearns PCC, 5/29 Hennepin ClB, 5/30 Lyon NMe (median 5/30). | ||
| Mourning Warbler (Geothlypis philadelphia) | 26 | 49 | Found statewide, increasing in frequency to the east. Early south (median 5/8) 5/7–8 Goodhue (Frontenac) ebd, JtM, SDz, 5/8 Carver JCy, ebd, Ramsey ebd, Washington DnS. Early north (median 5/14) 5/9–13 St. Louis (three locations) SeM, JLK, PHS, FJN, 5/13 Crow Wing ebd, Pine LEv, ebd. High counts 5/28 Roseau (15, C.R. 4) EzH, IsH, 5/23 Ramsey (11, Reservoir Woods) RMD, 5/18 Carver (9, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/27 Roseau (9, Lost River S.F.) IsH. See summer for late migrants and breeders south. | ||
| KENTUCKY WARBLER (Geothlypis formosa) | 3 | Best spring since 2016. Three reports: 5/8 Dakota (Ivy Hills Park) †AWz, ABl, 5/9 Scott (Hidden Valley Park) ph. †BAb, †LBa, ph. HHr, m.ob., 5/14–16 Washington (Afton S.P.) ph. †KvA, a.t. †EzH, m.ob. | |||
| Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) | 34 | 53 | Found in every county. Early south (median 4/30) 4/23 Dakota (180th St. Marsh) †ERT, 4/24 Dakota DFN, 4/26 Murray DHr. Early north (median 5/6) 5/7 Grant CNn, Todd ebd, 5/8 Lake (three locations) JWL, SLL, St. Louis JLK. High counts 5/12 Anoka (56, Carlos Avery W.M.A.) MFl, ETw, 5/20 Carver (50, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/29 St. Louis (45, Park Point R.A.) BLz. | ||
| Hooded Warbler (Setophaga citrina) | 1 | 11 | Observed south and east of Hennepin, plus 5/18 McLeod (Buffalo Creek Park) DWK, †JQn and 5/30 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †JSk, ph. LBa, m.ob. Early south (median 5/8) 5/7–8 Goodhue (Frontenac) †JtM, †SDz, ebd, 5/8 Dakota ADS, Hennepin ebd, Wabasha (Riverview Cemetery) DWK. Additional reports from Anoka, Hennepin (a total of five locations), Houston, Olmsted, Scott, Steele, | ||
| American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) | 34 | 53 | Found in all counties. Early south (median 5/2) 4/30 Steele DAB, 5/1 Carver ANy, DBz, Ramsey BAr. Early north (median 5/7) 5/7 Aitkin (three locations) EHi, TWe, ebd, Becker LSl, Cass ebd, Polk ebd. High counts 5/29 St. Louis (250, Park Point R.A., estimate; tied for highest spring count) FJN, 5/15 Anoka (120, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R., estimate) GWe, 5/16 Carver (109, Carver P.R., exact count) JCy. | ||
| Cape May Warbler (Setophaga tigrina) | 28 | 34 | Found in all regions, decreasing in frequency to the southwest. Number of northern reporting counties was the highest ever, up by 31% from the ten-year average. Early south (median 5/5) 5/1 Dakota ebd, Hennepin ebd, ph. GWe, 5/2 Ramsey †ebd. Early north (median 5/8) 5/5 Morrison SEm, 5/7 Crow Wing (two locations) LGl, ToR, PPe. High counts 5/27 St. Louis (25, Peabody St., Duluth) LME, 5/21 Cook (18) ANy. Late south 5/24 Olmsted HeH, ShG, 5/25 Rice (2) ebd, 5/29 Pipestone CRM, m.ob. (median 5/25), but see summer report. | ||
| Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea) | 13 | Reported mostly from the Minnesota, Mississippi, and St. Croix river valleys, from Houston to Nicollet, Stearns and Washington. On par with the ten-year average number of reporting counties. Early south (median 5/5) 5/7–8 Nicollet ebd, RHh, 5/8 Hennepin ebd, Houston ToM. All-time high spring count 5/21 Wright (10, Stanley Eddy Memorial Park, individually counted) ToL, plus 5/14–17 Nicollet (4, Seven Mile Creek C.P.) APi, AnB, MwT, ClB. | |||
| Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) | 22 | 44 | Found statewide, though with fewest reports from the Northwest and Southwest. Early south (median 4/30) 4/24 Hennepin †IVa, 5/1 Hennepin ebd, Rice MZa. Early north (median 5/6) 5/4 St. Louis BHo, 5/7 Morrison MJB, ebd, Pine TJo. Tied for highest spring count 5/16, 5/17 St. Louis (20, Hartley N.C.) JfD, plus notable tallies 5/13 St. Louis (16, Park Point R.A.) FJN, 5/15 Carver (11, Carver P.R.) JCy. Late south 5/27 Ramsey ebd, 5/28 Goodhue GRe, 5/29 Hennepin DSh (median 5/29), but see summer report. | ||
| Magnolia Warbler (Setophaga magnolia) | 32 | 53 | Found in every county except Red Lake and Todd. Early south (median 5/5) 5/7 Goodhue (two locations) JtM, ebd, then 5/8 in numerous locations spanning 23 counties, m.ob. Early north (median 5/7) 5/7 Cass ebd, then 5/9 in seven locations covering five counties, m.ob. High counts 5/21–22 St. Louis (30, Bergstrom Rd. in Twig) ArL, 5/12 Hennepin (28, Minnehaha Creek, exact count) JCa, 5/15 Carver (27, Carver P.R., exact count) JCy. Late south 5/30 Murray RZi (median 6/2), but see summer report. | ||
| Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) | 26 | 35 | Substantially better spring than 2021, with increases of 23% (south) and 48% (north) from the ten-year average number of reporting counties. Early south (median 5/6) 5/7 Olmsted KNK, 5/8 Hennepin GUn, CUn, ebd, Houston ToM, Renville ebd, Scott ebd. Early north (median 5/12) 5/12 Crow Wing ebd, 5/13 Itasca ebd, Otter Tail ebd, Pine TJo, ebd, St. Louis BEA. High counts 5/13 Goodhue (7, Hok-Si-La Park) SDz, JtM, 5/16 Hennepin (6, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) JKu, 5/13 Goodhue (5, Frontenac) SDz. Late south 5/24 Dakota (two locations) ThH, Meeker ebd, Rock ANy, Stearns MtS, 5/26 Lyon NMe, 5/24–26 Olmsted JPr, JDy (median 5/27). | ||
| Blackburnian Warbler (Setophaga fusca) | 28 | 47 | Spread across all regions. Early south (median 5/3) 4/30 Olmsted †LAV, 5/5 Sherburne MFl, ETw, 5/7 Goodhue ebd, JtM, Hennepin ebd. Early north (median 5/7) 5/8–9 St. Louis FJN, SeM, 5/9 Cass ebd, Grant PPe, Pine SBE. High counts 5/16 Carver (15, Carver P.R., exact count) JCy, 5/21 St. Louis (12, Bergstrom Rd. in Twig) ArL, 5/29 St. Louis (12, Park Point R.A.) StK. Late south 5/30 Dakota AFo, Washington MaS (median 6/2), but see summer report for late spring migrants and a probable breeder. | ||
| Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia) | 34 | 53 | Found in all counties. Early south (median 4/25) 4/23 Hennepin (two locations) WPe, ebd, Houston ebd, Ramsey (two locations) ebd, JCa, LiH, MaJ. Early north (median 5/4) 4/23 Todd ebd, 5/6 Clay ebd, Itasca ebd. High counts 5/14 Carver (135, Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake, underestimate) JCy, 5/15 Anoka (85, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R., underestimate) GWe. | ||
| Chestnut-sided Warbler (Setophaga pensylvanica) | 32 | 50 | Found in all but five counties. Early south (median 5/3) 5/2 McLeod BHa, 5/5 Ramsey (Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary) ebd, 5/6 Ramsey (Long Lake R.P.) ebd. Early north (median 5/8) 5/7 Aitkin EHi, TWe, 5/8 Lake JWL, SLL, St. Louis SeM. High counts 5/29 St. Louis (75, Park Point R.A., estimate) FJN, 5/21 St. Louis (32, Bergstrom Rd. in Twig) ArL, 5/25 Becker (29, Tamarac N.W.R.) ebd. | ||
| Blackpoll Warbler (Setophaga striata) | 33 | 52 | Found in every county except Dodge and Lake of the Woods. Early south (median 5/4) are all different locations in Hennepin: 4/28 RBW, KOC, 4/30 TAT, 5/3 IVa. Early north (median 5/8) 5/8 Todd ebd, then 5/9 in Cass, Clay, Otter Tail (two locations), Polk, St. Louis. Highest spring count 5/15 Goodhue (75, Hok-Si-La Park, estimate) KvA, 5/15 Anoka (45, Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) GWe, 5/22 Becker (30, Tamarac Lake Hiking and Skiing Loop, estimate) DMz. See summer report for late north birds and a long-lingering individual south. | ||
| Black-throated Blue Warbler (Setophaga caerulescens) | 3 | 8 | All south: 5/4 Redwood (Alexander Ramsey C.P., first spring record) †SLH, 5/9–23 Hennepin (eight locations) MaS, SSc, m.ob., 5/10, 5/14, 5/22 Ramsey (three locations) ebd, RSA, LiH, m.ob., 5/13, 5/17 Dakota (two locations) ebd, MwT, 5/13 Fillmore (Magelssen Bluff Park) EHi, 5/14 Anoka (Rice Creek Chain of Lakes P.R.) LiH, GWe, m.ob., Scott (Prior Lake) ebd, 5/20 Murray (Lake Shetek S.P.) †RBW. Early north (median 5/15) all in St. Louis (different locations): 5/11 JLK, 5/14 ebd, JfD. High counts 5/18 Cook (5, Oberg Mountain) JZj, 5/29 St. Louis (4, Park Point R.A.) FJN. | ||
| Palm Warbler (Setophaga palmarum) | 34 | 51 | Found in each county except Jackson and Martin. Early south (median 4/18) 4/10 Dakota ebd, 4/16 Ramsey LiH, 4/19 Olmsted ebd. Early north (median 4/23) 4/23 Clay ebd, 4/23 Otter Tail (Dead Lake W.M.A.) ebd, 4/24 Otter Tail (Prairie Wetlands Learning Center) BAr, St. Louis SeM, Todd BWF. High counts 5/8 Olmsted (75, Chester Woods) JPr, 5/10 Sherburne (75 Houlton Conservation Area) JOs, 5/9 Winona (50, Prairie Island Park) ebd, 5/10 Washington (50, Lake Elmo Ponds) ebd. Late south 5/24 Anoka GWe, Cottonwood ebd, Hennepin (two locations) ebd, m.ob., Stearns MtS, 5/26 Goodhue ebd, EAa, 5/27 Hennepin JWl (median 5/24). | ||
| Pine Warbler (Setophaga pinus) | 26 | 28 | Observed north of a line from Clay to Mower, plus Lyon, Chippewa and Nicollet. Early south (median 4/17) 4/3 Olmsted †JfM, 4/20 Mower SWm, then 4/23 in eight locations within four counties. Early north (median 4/22) 4/16 Crow Wing (8, Bay Lake) ebd, 4/20 Morrison TLu, 4/23 Todd ebd. Other high counts 5/14 Hubbard (7, Mary Lake) ebd, 5/4 Pine (6, Snake River Campground) SBE, 5/20 Becker (6, Tamarac N.W.R.) BAr, 5/23 St. Louis (6, McCarthy Beach S.P.) JmS. | ||
| Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) | 34 | 53 | Reported from every county. Omitting known wintering locations, early south 3/23 Dakota (Dodge N.C.) ebd, 3/28 Hennepin MkC, 4/1 Dakota (180 St. Marsh) BLz, Wabasha EHi, Yellow Medicine GWe. Early north (median 4/1) 4/5 Clay ebd, 4/9 Crow Wing LnH, Otter Tail (Rush Lake) ebd, (Blacks Grove Park) HeH, ShG. High counts 5/1 Hennepin (225, Nine Mile Creek) GWe, 4/30 Anoka (205, Lake George R.P.) RCl, 4/22 Sherburne (130, Houlton Conservation Area) JOs. See summer report for late and/or breeding birds south (median 5/31). | ||
| Yellow-throated Warbler (Setophaga dominica) | 1 | 4 | All south records: 4/24 Steele (Rice Lake S.P.) †DvG, GyM, 5/8–31+ Houston (3, fifth consecutive spring at Hillside Rd. in Reno) ToM, ph. †TWe, †LiH, m.ob., 5/9, 5/17 Goodhue (Frontenac S.P.) †SDz, †JtM, 5/12 Ramsey (Vadnais Lake) †LiH. Sole report north 5/10–11 Cass (south shore of Agate Lake) ph. †JsP. | ||
| Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens) | 20 | 43 | Reported from every region, though few reports from Northwest and West-central. Early south (median 4/30) 4/26 Sherburne HHD, 4/30 Big Stone DGn, AmS, Steele DAB, Washington (two locations) ebd. Early north (median 5/4) 5/7 Polk ebd, 5/7–8 St. Louis (two locations) ebd. High counts 5/18 Cook (9, Oberg Mountain) JZj, 5/19 St. Louis (9, Moose Mountain S.N.A.) ebd, 5/21 Lake (9, Tettegouche S.P.) ebd, 5/21 St. Louis (9, Bergstrom Rd. in Twig) ArL. Late south 5/26 Nobles ebd, Olmsted LAV, Washington (two locations) GBu, JDS, 5/27 Ramsey ebd (median 5/29), but also see summer report. | ||
| Canada Warbler (Cardellina canadensis) | 27 | 43 | Found in every region. County totals up 34% (south) and 35% (north) from the ten-year average, which is encouraging given this warbler’s declining population. Early south (median 5/8) 5/7 Goodhue ebd, 5/8 Lyon GWe, Nicollet RHh. Early north (median 5/14) 5/11 Crow Wing ebd, 5/12 Lake JlB, St. Louis ebd. High counts 5/29 St. Louis (21, Park Point R.A., exact count) FJN, StK, 5/21 Ramsey (20, Reservoir Woods) RMD, 5/18 Carver (13, Carver P.R., exact count) JCy. Late south 5/29 Goodhue ebd, Ramsey (two locations) LiH, but see summer report (median 6/1). | ||
| Wilson's Warbler (Cardellina pusilla) | 30 | 48 | Found in all but 9 counties. Northern county representation increased by 27% from the ten-year average. Early south (median 5/4) 5/1 Hennepin GWe, 5/3 Anoka ebd, then 5/8 in many locations within 15 counties, m.ob. Early north (median 5/9) 5/9 Lake ebd, 5/10 Cass ebd, Crow Wing ebd, Pine LEv. High counts 5/29 St. Louis (24, Park Point R.A., exact count) StK, FJN, 5/13 Hennepin (16, Veterans Memorial Park) SBM, 5/22 Chisago (16, Braham Island) GaJ. Late south 5/31 Murray ebd, Ramsey ebd (median 5/30), but also see summer report for more late migrants statewide. | ||
| Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks | |||||
| Summer Tanager (Piranga rubra) | 5 | 9 | Found in all regions except West-central. North reports were almost double the ten-year average number of reporting counties; distribution in the south was only slightly above average. Nineteen birds total: 47% first-year male, 32% adult male, and 21% female. All south reports: 5/8–9 Hennepin (Plymouth) †KOC, 5/9 Carver (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Rapids Lake) CRM, m.ob., 5/10 Hennepin (Lake Nokomis) †BAF, 5/10 Kandiyohi (Willmar) ebd, 5/12 Ramsey (Lake Vadnais) †LiH, 5/12–13 Carver (Carver P.R.) JWZ, m.ob., 5/13, 5/21 Hennepin (Minnesota Valley N.W.R., Bass Ponds) MAK, †CRM, m.ob., 5/14 Mower (Wolf Creek Wetland and Wildlife Area) SWm, 5/15 Carver (Laketown Twp.) WCM, Lyon (Southwest Minnesota State University) RJS, 5/17 Dakota (Miesville) WLy, 5/18–19 Scott (Murphy Hanrehan P.R.) BHe, BAb, 5/21–22 Olmsted (Glendale Hills Park) ebd, 5/22 Dakota (Ritter Farm Park) †SLP. All north 4/24 Itasca (C.R. 17 in Deer Lake) ebd, 5/9 Aitkin (S.R. 65 and 630th St.) ebd, 5/13 St. Louis (Park Point R.A.) †SeM, 5/15 Roseau (near C.R. 115 bridge in Pinecreek) †BCS, 5/18–22 St. Louis (Peabody St., Duluth) †LME, m.ob., 5/19 Mahnomen (C.R. 127 in Beaulieu) WCM. | ||
| Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea) | 32 | 48 | Found in all but seven counties. Early south (median 5/4) 5/1 Hennepin GWe, 5/2 Scott ebd, 5/3 Olmsted JDy. Early north (median 5/10) 5/8 Kanabec ebd, 5/8–10 Crow Wing ebd, 5/10 Becker (two locations) BEs, NaH, Hubbard ebd, Mille Lacs ebd, St. Louis LME. High counts of 10 birds each: 5/14 Nicollet (Seven Mile Creek C.P.) APi, 5/15 Carver (Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/15 Scott (Murphy-Hanrehan P.R.) LiH, 5/21 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) ebd, 5/22 Becker (Tamarac Lake) DMz. | ||
| Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana) | 4 | 2 | Eight birds total, all of which were males. All south: 5/9–12 Hennepin (immature, Veterans Memorial Park) BiJ, ph. †DWK, m.ob., 5/14 Wright (adult, Lake Sylvia Peninsula) †WKu, 5/15 Hennepin (adult, Lake Camelot) CDg, 5/17 Hennepin (Wood Lake N.C.) †CJa. All north: 4/28 – 5/4 Otter Tail (adult, Fergus Falls) ph. LyG, ph. EHi, MwT, m.ob., 5/15–16 Cook (Grand Marais) ph. LWd, JGW, 5/23 Roseau (west of Badger) ph. JMJ, 5/31+ Lake (Silver Bay) ABm, JlB. | ||
| Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) | 28 | 53 | Unreported only from five Northwest counties and Traverse. Notable records 5/13–14 Koochiching (2, Tilson Bay and International Falls) ebd, 4/30 Lake of the Woods (Baudette) ebd. High counts 3/27 Hennepin (26, Colman Lake Trail) ebd, 3/12 Wabasha (24, 670th St. in Lake City) MNb, 3/13 Hennepin (23, Lake of the Isles) MKp, 4/10 Hennepin (23, Clifton French R.P.) BPR, 5/1 Hennepin (23, Nine Mile Creek) ebd, 5/6 Olmsted (23, Essex Park) ebd. | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) | 34 | 53 | Noted in all counties. Early south (median 4/28) 4/23 Hennepin VRL, 4/25–26 Dakota KDS, 4/26 Ramsey ebd, Wabasha ebd. Early north (median 5/2) 5/1 Pine NSn, 5/4 Carlton ebd, Cass ebd. High counts 5/15 Wabasha (32, 670th St. in Lake City) MNb, 5/11 St. Louis (25, Meadowlands Twp.) IaG, 5/8 Olmsted (24, 65th St. NE, Rochester) ebd. | ||
| BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Pheucticus melanocephalus) | 1 | First spring this species has been reported since 2015: 5/9 Anoka (Coon Rapids, adult male) ph. †RLR. | |||
| Blue Grosbeak (Passerina caerulea) | 4 | All reports: 5/6–30 Hennepin (sixth consecutive year of a nesting pair at Flying Cloud Fields) TWe, ebd, m.ob., 5/18–30 Rock (up to six birds between several locations) ebd, WCM, ebd, m.ob., 5/26–27 Nobles (Round Lake) CRM, m.ob., 5/29 Pipestone (Pipestone N.M.) KRE, m.ob. Highest count was 5/28 Rock (3) RAE. | |||
| LAZULI BUNTING (Passerina amoena) | 2 | 2 | First reports since 2019 and fourth highest spring total. All south 5/9 Hennepin (Rogers) †JDM, 5/13 Lyon (Cottonwood) ph. MPp. All north 5/14–15 Otter Tail (Underwood) ph. HAB, 5/20–22 Hubbard (Kabekona Lake) ph. †DvH. All sightings were of males. | ||
| Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea) | 32 | 51 | Detected in all but four counties. Early south (median 5/1) 4/23 Winona (Norton Twp.) ebd, 4/30 Kandiyohi JWd, SGa, 5/2 Cottonwood BTS, Goodhue PEJ. Early north (median 5/9) 5/10–12 Morrison SEm, 5/12 Becker NaH, Crow Wing ebd, Grant ebd. High counts 5/8, 5/9 Fillmore (17, Rushford) ToM, 5/24 Carver (15, Carver P.R.) JCy, 5/14 Wabasha (13, 670th St. in Lake City) MNb. | ||
| PAINTED BUNTING (Passerina ciris) | 1 | Sixth spring in a row where this species has been recorded. Adult male reported 4/24–25 Winona (Elba Twp.) ph. †DoN, ph. †LHl. | |||
| Dickcissel (Spiza americana) | 6 | 34 | Similar distribution to that of the 2012, 2018, and 2021 irruptions. Found in every region except North-central. Early south (median 5/9) 5/12 Dakota DFN, Mower SWm, Washington ebd. Early north (median 5/30) 5/13 Cook (Grand Marais) ph. LWd, St. Louis (Eklund Ave. in Duluth) †JLa, 5/29 Wilkin SC. | ||