Seventy-Four New Avian Taxa Documented in Alaska 1976-1991’

The Condor94~454-461 0 TheCooper Ornithological Society 1992

SEVENTY-FOUR NEW AVIAN TAXA DOCUMENTED IN ALASKA 1976-1991’

DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL Universityof Alaska Museum, 907 Yukon Drive, Fairbanks, AK 99775

Abstract. The occurrencein Alaskaof 74 avian taxa wasdocumented for the first time during 1976-1991, bringingthe number of speciesknown to have occurredin Alaska to 436. Theseadded taxa include 20 speciesand eightsubspecies documented for the firsttime in North America. Key words: Bird distribution:avian taxa; Alaska.

INTRODUCTION In this paper we have included only taxa doc- Continued interest in the biogeographyof Alaska umented by specimen, photograph, or tape-re- birds since Gabrielson and Lincoln’s (1959) Birds cording, which materials, except as indicated in of Alaska has rapidly increased our knowledge text, are on deposit at the University of Alaska of bird taxa that have occurred in this large and Museum (UAM). In all, we discuss74 taxa, in- geographicallyvaried region at the northwestern cluding the first documented North American extremity of the North American continent. In recordsof 20 speciesand eight subspeciesof Old their benchmark book, Gabrielson and Lincoln World birds. The Alaska list now includes 436 (1959) discussed 3 11 speciesthat had been re- species, based on the systematics of the most ported through June 1958. We updated the Alas- recent AOU Check-List (1983 and supplements). ka list through November 1977 (Kessel and Gib- In the following accounts,nomenclature in the son 1978), bringing the total to 381 species headingsdenotes whether the subject is a species (enumerated according to AOU 1957 and sup- or a subspecies.Terminology and conventions plements and Vaurie 1959, 1965). So many ad- used in describing geographic regions, abun- ditional species have been recorded since then dances, and authorities are those of Kessel and that we have prepared this addendum. Gibson (1978). All in-hand identifications are by Several factors contribute to the variety and Gibson unless stated otherwise. uniqueness of Alaska’s avifauna, including Alas- ANNOTATED LIST ka’s vast geographicextent both north-south and east-west, its varied physiography, its extensive Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Gmelin. American marine contiguity, and its proximity to the region White Pelican. A lone American White Pelican of the Bering Sea land bridge and the Old World observedby many on saltwater in Petersburgand (Kessel and Gibson 1978). Because of the re- vicinity from 2 May until the week of 13-l 7 July moteness of much of Alaska, its sheer enormity, 1981 (Osborne 1982) is Alaska’s only record of and its sparsehuman population, knowledge of a pelican. Photos were published in the local the avifauna is still far from comprehensive.Thus, newspaper(Petersburg Pilot 8[ 181:1,6 May 198 1) while a comparatively large number of species and in American Birds (35:852, 1981). This has been recorded in Alaska, the addition of new monotypic species breeds nearest Alaska in speciescontinues at a relatively rapid rate. The southern interior British Columbia (Campbell et following addendum not only includes a number al. 1990). of newly reported accidentals and casuals,but it Fregata magnificens Mathews. Magnificent also illustrates the regularity of occurrencesover Frigatebird. A juvenile Magnificent Frigatebird time of species that were formerly considered seen at close range as it flew about a ship in only accidental, and it showsthe currently chang- Belkofski Bay, Alaska Peninsula, on 15 August ing status of some species. 1985 (J. E. Low, photos)provided the first Alaska record of a fiigatebird identified to species.Iden- tification of the photos was confirmed by R. W. I Received12 November 199 1. Accepted2 1 January Schreiberand by P. Harrison. In the easternNorth 1992. Pacific, F. m. rothschildiMathews breeds no far-

[4541 NEW ALASKA TAXA 455 ther north than Baja California Sur (AOU 1957), where known as far north as the Queen Charlotte but it wanders much farther north (e.g., Langara Islands (Campbell et al. 1990). Island, British Columbia, August 1981, Camp- At a different extremity of the state and at bell et al. 1990). Unidentified frigatebirds have another season-in Southwestern Alaska and in been reported at intervals in the northern Gulf early summer-the carcass of a breeding-plu- ofAlaska (at sea,July 1957 and September 1969, maged Cattle Egret was salvaged at Agattu Is- Isleib and Kessel 1973; in Montague Strait, Prince land, Aleutians, on 19 June 1988 (B. Seppi and William Sound, 26-27 June 1984, C. Kimer; and E. V. Klett). The specimen (UAM 5553, female) in Chiniak Bay, Kodiak Island, 27 June 1984, J. was identified as Asiatic B. i. coromanda (Bod- and D. Brigham). daert) by the cinnamon-colored ornamental Zxobrychussinensis (Gmelin). Yellow Bittern. feathering over the entire head (including cheek, A Yellow Bittern observed by many at Attu Is- chin, and throat) and on foreneck, breast, and land, Aleutian Islands, 17-22 May 1989 is the back and by its large size (diagonal tarsus 9 1.4 only Alaska record of this eastern Palearctic her- mm). In a distribution wholly disjunct from that on (UAM 56 11, female). This monotypic species of nominate ibis, B. i. coromanda breeds in breeds as far north and east as northern Japan southern and southeastern Asia (Vaurie 1965, and the southern Kurile Islands (Vaurie 1965). Cramp and Simmons 1977), as far eastand north Casmerodius albus (Linnaeus). Great Egret. as central Japan (Brazil 1991). Alaska’s first record of a Great Egret was a bird Butorides striatus (Linnaeus). Green-backed near Juneau on 22 June 1980 (F. A. Glass and Heron. A Green-backed Heron stalking about a R. H. Armstrong, photos). Another was reported small pond near Juneau on 29 May 1983 (L. L. at Cordova on 14 May 1984 (J. L. Trapp). Sub- Hawkins, photos) provided Alaska’s first record. sequently, single birds were observed at Glacier Western Nearctic B. s. anthonyi (Meams) breeds Bay from 19 May through 3 July 1987 (B. B. as close to Alaska as southwestern British Co- Paige)and at Kodiak Island from 19 May through lumbia (Godfrey 1986). early July 1987 (R. A. Macintosh, J. B. Allen, Nycticorax nycticorax (Linnaeus). Black- and D. W. Menke, photos). The likely subspe- crowned Night-Heron. Like the Cattle Egret, the cies, New World C. a. egretta (Gmelin), breeds Black-crowned Night-Heron has reached Alaska no closer to Alaska than Washington; it is a very from two different populations. The only docu- rare visitant in southern British Columbia and mented records are an adult observed at Attu is accidental in the Queen Charlotte Islands Island, Aleutians, on 20 April 1986 (G. F. Wag- (Campbell et al. 1990). Both Palearctic races, ner, photos) and a flock of up to eight birds ob- widespread C. a. albus and eastern C. a. modes- served at Juneau 17 May-4 July 1987 (M. E. tus (Gray), occur as far east as Japan, the former Isleib and others, photos). Three other Bering as a visitant and the latter as a breeder (Vaurie Sea reports, all of adults, include one at Atka 1965). Island, Aleutians, on 28 April 1975 (fide A. W. Bubulcusibis (Linnaeus). Cattle Egret. The first White); one at St. Paul Island, Pribilof Islands, Alaska record of the Cattle Egret comprised four on 3 April 1979 (N. Stepetin); and one at Shemya birds in the Ketchikan area in November 1981 Island, Aleutians, on 25 April 198 1 (T. G. Tobish (Gibson and Hogg 1982). Two birds (UAM 4 165- and G. B. Rosenband). The Juneau record is the 4166) were found dead, one of which had been only Alaska report from east of the Bering Sea. banded in California as a nestling in June 198 1. The Palearctic subspecies,nominate nyctico- Since 198 1 Cattle Egretshave occurred in south- rax, breeds as far east as central Japan (Brazil eastern Alaska in three years: single birds in No- 199 1) and is presumably the form taken once in vember 1984 at Ketchikan (R. E. Wood and C. the Commander Islands (female, 27 May 1960, Smith), Sitka (C. H. Johnstone), and Peril Strait Marakov 1962). North American N. n. hoactli (L. J. Johnson); one in December 1986 at Sitka (Gmelin) is a rare local breeder and summer and (K. Hanson, photo); and one in December 1989 winter visitant in southern British Columbia at Ketchikan (R. E. Wood). The Ketchikan spec- (Godfrey 1986, Campbell et al. 1990). The latter imens are nominate ibis, the Cattle Egret that has subspecieswas recognized by the AOU (1957), colonized North America over the last 50 years but was submerged in nominate nycticorax by (AOU 1957, 1983); it is a scarce late-fall and Payne (1979). winter visitant on the British Columbia coast, Mergus mergansermerganser Linnaeus. Com- 456 DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL mon Merganser. The first Alaska record of the August 1984 (J. M. Wright and others, photos) widespread Palearctic subspecies of the Com- is the only subsequent documented sighting. mon Merganser included two adult males (UAM A primary remex and three rectrices collected 3438, 3546) taken at Shemya Island, Aleutians, in an abandoned building at Attu in May 1987 in May 1976 and reported by Byrd et al. (1978) (T. G. Tobish) and identified by R. C. Layboume and by Gibson (198 l), who described this form as those of a “young” Northern Hobby constitute as a rare, annual spring migrant in the western the only specimen evidence of this species’ oc- Aleutians. An adult male (F. H. Fay, photos) was currence in Alaska (UAM 5647). Nominate sub- found dead at Punuk Islands, St. Lawrence Is- buteois the form of the entire range of this wide- land, on 29 June 1979 (Kessel 1989). spread Palearctic bird, except for parts of China; Cuthartes aura (Linnaeus). Turkey Vulture. A it breeds as far east as the coast of the Sea of Turkey Vulture observed perched and in flight Okhotsk and Kamchatka (Vaurie 1965). near Delta Junction on 9-10 May 1979 (B. Kes- Rallus limicola Vieillot. Virginia Rail. The de- sel, photos)provided the first documented record teriorating carcassof a Virginia Rail salvaged at of a vulture in Alaska. There have been several Prince of Wales Island on 17 February 1986 (T. other reports subsequently of lone birds, each Pulliam and T. E. Kogut) is the only Alaska rec- seen briefly in flight, from Cordova and Dilling- ord of the species (UAM 5292). The North ham to the Tanana, Porcupine, and Yukon river American subspecies,nominate limicola, breeds valleys, May-September, and most or all of them as far west and north as southern British Colum- might well have been accurate identifications. bia and Alberta (AOU 1957). It winters in small The northwestern subspecies,C. a. teter Fried- numbers in southern British Columbia, and there mann, breeds as far north as central Alberta and is a December record as far north as Graham southern British Columbia (Godfrey 1986). Island, Queen Charlotte Islands (Campbell et al. Falco tinnunculusLinnaeus. Eurasian Kestrel. 1990). The first Alaska record of Eurasian Kestrel com- Charadrius alexandrinus Linnaeus. Snowy prised two birds at Shemya Island, Aleutians, in Plover. A Snowy Plover observed by many at September and October 1978, including a spec- the Nome River mouth, Seward Peninsula, on imen (UAM 3683) identified as F. t. interstinctus 23-24 May 199 1 provided the first Alaska record Horsfield, the easternmost race of this wide- (B. J. Rose, photos).The photossuggest the North spread Old World falcon (Gibson 198 1). Addi- American race, C. a. nivosus(Cassin) [including tional recordsinclude sightingsof a male at Attu C. a. tenuirostris (Lawrence)], which breeds on Island, Aleutians, on 4 and 7 May 198 1 (T. G. the Pacific coast from Washington to Baja Cal- Tobish and others); a female aboard an oil-drill- ifomiaSur(Haymaneta1. 1986,Pageetal. 1991). ing platform in the Navarin Basin, 175 km west- It has been recordedeight times in coastalBritish southwestof St. Matthew Island, 12-l 4 Septem- Columbia, where accidental as far north as the ber 1983 (T. S. Sterrett, photo); a female at Attu Queen Charlotte Islands (Campbell et al. 1990). on 17 October 1983 (P. W. Sykesand G. F. Wag- Eastern Palearctic C. u. de&b&us (Swinhoe) ner); a male at Attu on 3-4 June 1984 (T. G. breedsin eastern China and Japan (Vaurie 1965). Tobish and others); and a female aboard a ship Himantopus himantopus (Linnaeus). Black- in the vicinity of 57”ll’N 165”4O’W, Bering Sea, winged Stilt. The only Alaska record of a Black- 4-7 October 1991 (W. Hayes, photo). winged Stilt is one observed at Nizki Island, Falco subbuteo Linnaeus. Northern Hobby. Aleutians, 24 May-3 June 1983 (Zeillemaker et The first Alaska record of Northern Hobby was al. 1985, including photo). Nominate himanto- a sighting of one that came aboard ship 32 km pus is a rare annual migrant and a local breeder northeast of Attu Island, Aleutians, on 2 July in Japan (Brazil 1991). There is no other North 1982 (R. A. Rowlett). The following year, one American record of this widespread Old World was seen ashore at Attu on 20 May 1983 (T. G. relative of the Black-necked Stilt H. mexicanus. Tobish and N. S. Proctor and others); two were Recurvirostra americana Gmelin. American reported aboard fishing vessels 160 km south- Avocet. The sole Alaska record of the American west of Agattu Island, Aleutians, on 19 June 1983 Avocet is one observed at Valdez 12-18 May (fide R. A. Rowlett); and one was observedaboard 1981 (J. Perkins, S. and T. Richardson, M. L. a fishing vessel 150 km north of Attu on 25 June and R. P. Ward, photos). This monotypic species 1983 (R. A. Rowlett, photosAm. Birds 37:1018, breeds as far northwest as southeastern British 1983). One at St. George Island, Pribilofs, on 15 Columbia and central Alberta (Godfrey 1986). NEW ALASKA TAXA 451

Glareola maldivarum Forster. Oriental Prat- W.J.L. Sladen) and identified by R. C. Layboume incole. An Oriental Pratincole observedby many provided the first Alaska record. Thereafter but at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 19-20 May 1985 still before 1976, two immature Calidris collect- was the first New World record of a member of ed at Buldir Island, Aleutians, on 13 and 18 Au- the family Glareolidae (UAM 5237, male). The gust 1975 (UAM 3422-3423) and reported as C. only additional Alaska record is one observed rufiollis (Byrd et al. 1978) were identified in 198 1 by many at St. Lawrence Island the following as C. minuta (Byrd and Day 1986). Thus three spring, on 5 June 1986 (J. L. Dunn, photos). This Alaska specimensof this bird antedate one taken monotypic speciesbreeds in the central-eastern in Canada in 1979 and published as the first Palearctic in Transbaikalia, Outer Mongolia, North American specimen (Morrison 1980). Manchuria, Inner Mongolia, perhaps in China, There are three subsequentAlaska specimens and in the Philippines (Vaurie 1965). It breeds (UAM 3753, adult male, St. Lawrence Island, 8 locally in Japan, where it occurs widely as an June 1980, V. K. Slwooko; UAM 3762, adult irregular migrant in small numbers (Brazil 199 1). female, Barrow, 23 June 1980, G. E. Hall; and Tringa ochropusLinnaeus. Green Sandpiper. UAM 4132, immature male, St. George Island, The first Alaska sightings of Green Sandpipers Pribilofs, 24 August 198 1, B. E. Lawhead), and were lone birds at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 13 there have been numerous recent sight records: June 1978 and 22 May 1979 (King et al. 1980). an immature at St. Paul 20-2 1 August 198 1 (E. Subsequent records include single birds at St. B. Rhode, photos);one with C. rujicollisat Shem- Lawrence Island on 5-7 June 1982 (J. L. Dunn ya Island, Aleutians, 31 May-l June 1983 (D. and others); at Nizki Island, Aleutians, on 24 W. Sonnebom, photos); two or three immatures May 1983 (C. F. Zeillemaker and others); at at Attu Island, Aleutians, 5-10 September 1983 Shemya Island, Aleutians, 29 May-l June 1983 (T. G. Tobish and others,photo West. Birds 17[2]: (D. W. Sonneborn, photos); and at Attu 16-19 cover, 1986); one at St. Lawrence on 3 1 May August 1983 by many (G. F. Wagner, photo). A 1984 (J. L. Dunn and others); single immatures monotypic species,it breeds acrossthe northern at St. George on 10, 14, and 15 August 1986 (G. Palearcticto Amurland (Vaurie 1965). It is known V. Byrd and D. E. Dragoo) and at St. Paul on on Sakhalin, in the Kurile Islands, and as a tran- 11, 18, and 24-25 August 1986 (I. L. Jones and sient in Japan (Ornithological Society of Japan G. V. Byrd); one or two immatures at St. Mat- 1974) where uncommon (Brazil 199 1). thew Island on 16, 18, and 21 August 1986 (P. Numenius minutus Gould. Little Curlew. A D. Martin); one at Shemya on 22 May 1987 (D. Little Curlew observed by many at St. Lawrence W. Sonneborn, photos); one at St. Lawrence on Island on 7-8 June 1989 provided the first Alas- 10 June 1987 (S. Komito, photos); one at St. ka record of this monotypic Asiatic species(UAM Lawrence 31 May-2 June 1988 (N. B. Broad- 56 17, adult female). The only other New World books and G. H. Rosenberg, photos); one at St. recordsare single birds seenin California in 1984 Paul on 19 May 1989 (I. L. Jones and R. A. (Lehman and Dunn 1985) and in 1988 (fide J. Sundstrom); one immature with immature C. L. Dunn). This curlew’s breeding range lies in rujicollis at St. Paul 25-27 August 1989 (D. Bea- eastern Siberia (Verkhoyansk and Cherski rang- dle and others); an immature at Buldir on 28 es), as far east as Amurland and the Stanovoi August 1989 (G. V. Byrd and H. Douglas); and Range (Vaurie 1965, Labutin et al. 1982) but one with C. ruficollis at Attu 22-26 May 199 1 not northeasternmostAsia. It is a rare spring and (M. E. Isleib and M. Toochin and others). fall migrant in Japan (Brazil 199 1) and winters Although this specieshas not been regardedas in eastern Indonesia, from the Moluccas to New a bird of eastern Asia by most non-Russian au- Guinea, and in Australia (Vaurie 1965). thorities (Vaurie 1965, Cramp 1983, Hayman et Calidris minuta (Leisler). Little Stint. The Lit- al. 1986) it was collected on the Chukotsk Pen- tle Stint has a complicated if recent history in insula-the easternmost extremity of the Pale- Alaska. The specieswas first recognized here in arctic-as long ago as 1934 (Portenko 1972) and 1976, when one was observed and photographed in the 1970s it was found breeding there (Krech- at Point Barrow (Myers and Greenberg 1978) mar et al. 1978, Tomkovich and Sorokin 1983). but the first Alaska specimens,it has developed, In Japan it has been recognizedas an “accidental antedate that record. amongst Red-necked Stints” since 1980 (Brazil An immature male taken at St. Paul Island, 1991). Pribilofs, on 6 September 196 1 (USNM 476 187, Calidris maritima (Briinnich). Purple Sand- 458 DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL piper. A lone Arquatella sandpiper collected at land, Aleutians, on 6 June 1982 (R. A. Rowlett). Point Barrow on 29 September 1990 (R. S. Suy- The first documented record was an adult ob- dam) proved to be the first Alaska record of a served by many at St. Lawrence Island, 2-9 June Purple Sandpiper (UAM 5720, immature fe- 1988 (J. L. Dunn, B. J. Rose, and G. H. Rosen- male). Still in first-autumn plumage, the speci- berg, photos), and the most recent was an adult men was identified, in comparison with sim- observedjust off Buldir Island, Aleutians, on 19 ilar-age series of both C. maritima and Rock June 199 1 (G. V. Byrd, photos). This monotypic, Sandpiper C. ptilocnemis, by a combination of eastern Asiatic speciesbreeds as far north and size (wing chord 130 mm), coloration (absence east as northern Japan and the southern Kurile of beige wash on lower throat, no chestnut tones Islands (Vaurie 1965). above), and less prominent wing-stripe. The Law canus kamtschatschensis(Bonaparte). western limits in the Canadian arctic archipelago Mew Gull. The first Alaska record of the Siberian of maritimas’ high-arctic breeding range are un- subspecies of the Mew Gull was a specimen known, but birds have been seen in summer as (UAM 3444) collected at Shemya Island, Aleu- far west as Banks and Prince Patrick islands, tians, on 16 May 1976 (Byrd et al. 1978); this Franklin District, Northwest Territories (God- form was subsequentlydescribed as a rare spring frey, 1986). These westernmost islands in the migrant in the western Aleutians (Gibson 198 1). archipelago lie less than 1,100 km northeast and A second specimen was taken at Attu Island, 900 km east of Point Barrow. There is no North- Aleutians, on 15 May 1991 (UAM 5818, adult ern Alaska record of Rock Sandpiper. female). This bird breeds in Siberia as far east Gallinago stenura (Bonaparte). Pin-tailed as Anadyrland, Kamchatka, and the Kurile Is- Snipe. A Gallinago snipe observed by many at lands (Vaurie 1965) and there are May, June, Attu Island, Aleutians, on 25 May 1991 was and September specimensfrom the Commander clearly not (by plumage, voice, and behavior) a Islands (Hartert 1920). Common Snipe G. g. gallinago, the only snipe Laws fiscus Linnaeus. Lesser Black-backed that occursregularly in the western Aleutians. In Gull. An adult Lesser Black-backed Gull ob- hand, the bird’s seven pairs of 1.5 mm-wide out- served with other gulls at Juneau 16-l 9 Septem- er rectrices readily identified it as a Pin-tailed ber 1990 (M. E. Isleib and R. L. Scher) provided Snipe, the first from Alaska (UAM 5820, female). Alaska’s first certain record of this European spe- This widespread, monotypic, eastern Palearctic cies (UAM 5708, female). The specimen was speciesbreeds in much of Siberia, east to western identified as L. f: graellsii Brehm by R. C. Banks Anadyrland and the coast of the Sea of Okhotsk and M. R. Browning. This subspeciesbreeds in (Vaurie 1965). Becauseof field-identification dif- Iceland, Britain, Ireland, France, and north- ficulties in this genus, G. stenura “is best con- western Spain (Cramp 1983). The Juneau bird sidereda rare migrant. . .” in Japan (Brazil 199 1). seemsto be the only North American specimen It has been taken once in the Hawaiian Islands taken west of Louisiana (Post and Lewis, in press). (Clapp and Woodward 1968) but there is ap- Photos of an adult gull at Kodiak Island on 16 parently no record in the Commander Islands. August 199 1 (R. A. Macintosh) resemble the Ju- Larus heermanni Cassin. Heermann’s Gull. A neau specimen. juvenile Heermann’s Gull was observed with Although we regard the Juneau bird as the first Mew and California gulls at Ketchikan on 22 entirely acceptableAlaska record, the specieshas August 1991 (S. C. Heinl, photos), providing a history in the Alaska ornithological literature. Alaska’s first record of this monotypic species. A first-winter gull (Denver Museum of Natural It breeds on the Pacific coast of Mexico and oc- History 9786) taken at Icy Cape in northwestern curs annually as far north as southern British Alaska on 16 September 192 1 was identified as Columbia (AOU 1983), where it is an abundant L. f: taimyrensisButurlin (Bailey 1948). Because summer and fall visitant about southern Van- specieslimits are not clear in the group that in- couver Island (Campbell et al. 1990). cludes Larusfuscus and the Herring Gull L. ar- Larus crassirostrisVieillot. Black-tailed Gull. gentatus,however, whether to include taimyren- The first Alaska sighting of a Black-tailed Gull sis in L. fuscus or in L. argentatusis problematic was an adult at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 29 (e.g., see Dementiev and Gladkov 195 1, Vaurie May 1980 (D. D. Gibson and others). Another 1965, Cramp 1983). The enigmatic interrela- was seen about 240 km south of Amchitka Is- tionships of numerous Larus gulls constitute “one NEW ALASKA TAXA 459 of the most complicated problems in ornitho- Turtle-Dove. An Oriental Turtle-Dove observed logical systematicstoday” (AOU 1983:2 18). by many at St. Paul Island, Pribilofs, 23 June- Sterna caspia Pallas. Caspian Tern. A recent 18 July 1984 (W. E. Rodstrom, photos) provided invader from lower latitudes via the easternNorth the first documented Alaska record of this east- Pacific coast (see Gill and Mewaldt 1983), Cas- em Palearctic species.Another was observed in pian Tern was added to the Alaska list in summer the Bering Sea aboard a ship (“. . . usually within 198 1, when up to four birds were seen at Ketchi- 50 mi [80 km] of the Pribilofs . . .“) 20-26 July kan 2-4 June (F. A. Glass; R. E. Wood) and two 1986 (S. G. Speckman, photos), and one was were seen in Sitka on 7 July (A. L. Sowls and J. observedby many at Attu Island, Aleutians, from W. Nelson). Since then the specieshas occurred 20 May through 12 June 1989 (D. A. Guthrie annually in Southeasternand SouthcoastalAlas- and S. Komito, photos; photo Birding 23: 192, ka, arriving in May-June and departing in Au- 199 1). The eastern Siberian race, nominate ori- gust-September, in groups of up to 80 (Cordova, ental& breeds east to Sakhalin, Japan, and the September 1989, M. E. Isleib). Adults feeding Kuriles; its northern populations are migratory begging, flying juveniles (M. E. Isleib; P. G. (Vaurie 1965). Mickelson) point to probable breeding on the Zenaida asiatica (Linnaeus). White-winged western Copper River Delta. Dove. A White-winged Dove captured weak but Beyond Prince William Sound, Caspian Terns alive in Skagway in October 1981 (M. Bell) is are now casual summer visitants as far west as the only Alaska record (UAM 4207, male). The Anchorage (two, 15 July 1983, J. L. Trapp; two, specimen was identified as poorly differentiated 2 July 1985, D. W. Sonnebom, photos) and Z. a. mearnsi (Ridgway) by R. C. Banks. This Homer (two, 10 July 1982, R. L. Scher, photos; bird of the southwesternU.S.A. and western and two, 21 July 1987, E. Smith; one, 17 August southcentral Mexico breedsno farther north than 1987, D. A. Holway) and in easternCentral Alas- southern Nevada and southeastern California ka, where there have been two sightings on the (AOU 1957). It is accidental in coastal Oregon, upper Yukon River (one, near mouth of Charley Washington, and British Columbia (Roberson River, 16 July 1984, R. R. Moldenhauer and 1980). others, photos; two, 16 km upriver from Circle, Coccyzusamericanus (Linnaeus). Yellow-billed 16 July 1985, R. E. Ambrose). Cuckoo. A Yellow-billed Cuckoo killed by a cat Two summer adults taken from a flock of 33 and salvagednear Ketchikan on 18 August 199 1 Caspian Terns at Cordova on 6 August 1987 (M. (S. L. Norton) is the only Alaska record (UAM E. Isleib) provided the first Alaska specimens 5932, adult female). This monotypic species (UAM 5394-5395, both females). The second (Banks 1988) used to be an uncommon summer bird had been banded as a flightlessjuvenal near visitant as far north as southernmost British Co- Westport, Washington, on 2 June 1979. During lumbia, where there has been only one record the 1960s this speciesbecame a regular summer since 1927 (Campbell et al. 1990). visitant in southern coastal British Columbia, Strix varia Barton. Barred Owl. The Barred where it is now fairly common to locally very Owl was first recorded in Alaska in 1977, in the common and a local breeder (Campbell et al. Juneau area (Kesseland Gibson 1978). Since then 1990). recordshave proliferated in southeasternAlaska, Brachyramphus marmoratus perdix (Pallas). where it has come to be recorded annually in Marbled Murrelet. Remains of a Marbled small numbers and where it has bred from Skag- Murrelet found in the Alaska Range, south of way (M. Hopey and others) to Ketchikan (R. E. Healy, on 27 August 1983 (Sealy et al. 1991) Wood; J. L. Canterbury). Four salvagedbirds are constituted the first Alaska record of the Asiatic examples of nominate varia, the widespread race (UAM 5302). The range of B. m. perdix northern race (UAM 370 1, immature male, Ju- includes the Sea of Okhotsk and the east coast neau, 26 August 1978, R. H. Armstrong and M. of Kamchatka (Vaurie 1965), and there is one Bethers; UAM 5508, male Mitkof Island, week specimen from the Commander Islands (Hartert ending 9 January 1988, J. Eddy; UAM 5654, 1920). Other North American records-all sim- immature female, Juneau, 19 September 1989, ilarly enigmatic, inland occurrences-were also D. Elsensohn; and UAM 5839, female, Herbert discussedby Sealy et al. (199 1). River at Windfall Creek, 13 June 1990, via Alas- Streptopelia orientalis (Latham). Oriental ka Dept. Fish & Game). 460 DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL

This species has been known in British Co- the Wooded Islands, off Montague Island, Prince lumbia since 1943, when it was discoveredin the William Sound, on 9 June 1977 (Kessel 1986). northeastern part of the province, at Liard River. Nominate vuriusbreeds in southern Yukon Ter- Its range expansion there has been south and west ritory, northern British Columbia, and south- to the coast, and it is now regarded as rare to western Mackenzie District, Northwest Terri- uncommon throughout British Columbia and a tories (Godfrey 1986). widespread breeder (Campbell et al. 1990). Dendrocoposmajor (Linnaeus). Great Spotted Chordeiles acutipennis (Hermann). Lesser Woodpecker.The only Alaska record of the Great Nighthawk. A nighthawk was found dead, an Spotted Woodpecker is one collected at Attu Is- apparent window kill, at Sheshalik, Noatak Riv- land, Aleutians, on 27 April 1986 (Wagner 1989). er mouth, on 16 August 1985 and the remains The specimen (UAM 5337) is D. m. kamtscha- were salvaged(W. R. Uhl). The specimen (UAM ticus (Dybowski), the easternmost race of this 5666) was identified by R. W. Dickerman as a widespread Eurasian woodpecker(Vaurie 1965). Lesser Nighthawk C. a. texensis Lawrence. There are three specimens of this form from the Breeding no farther north than central interior Commander Islands (Hartert 1920). California, southern Nevada, and extreme south- Empidonax traillii (Audubon). Willow Fly- western Utah (AOU 1957), texensisis the north- catcher. A singing male Willow Flycatcher col- ernmost race of this widespread Neotropical lected near Hyder on 13 June 1986 (UAM 5322, nighthawk, and its occurrencenorth of the Arctic D. D. Gibson) and another jitz-bew‘ ’ singer ob- Circle is unique. served near Juneau on 4 July 1986 (M. W. Chaeturu pelagica (Linnaeus). Chimney Swift. Schwan) were the first Alaska recordsof this spe- A Chaetura swift found moribund in a building cies. A singing male at 670 m above Anchorage at St. George Island, Pribilofs, on 16 June 198 1 16-24 July 1988 (D. W. Sonnebom and others) (A. J. Merculief) proved to be a Chimney Swift provided the second Alaska specimen (UAM (UAM 4 125, male, wing flat 13 1.5 mm), the only 5528). Since 1988 there have been three addi- Alaska record. This monotypic bird breeds in tional reports of jitz-bew‘ ’ singers:one at Sergief eastern North America, north and west to south- Island, Stikine River mouth, on 21 June 1989 em Manitoba and central Saskatchewan, south (P. J. Walsh and J. L. Dunn); one at “Curlew and west to eastern New Mexico (AOU 1983). Lake,” northeast of St. Marys, lower Yukon Riv- In addition, it is a rare but regular summer vis- er, also on 21 June 1989 (B. J. McCaffery); and itant in coastal southern California, where it has one at Texas Creek near Hyder on 23 and 25 nested (Garrett and Dunn 198 1). June 1990 (S. 0. MacDonald). Both specimens Calypte costue(Bourcier). Costa’s Humming- are western E. t. brewsteri Oberholser, which bird. An adult male Costa’s Hummingbird ob- breeds as far north as southern British Columbia served by many at an Anchorage sugar-water (Godfrey 1966). feeder from about 23 July until 17 October 1989 Empidonax minimus (Baird and Baird). Least (R. L. Scher, photos) provides the only Alaska Flycatcher. The first Alaska report of a Least record of this species. This desert bird, which Flycatcher was a singing male near Juneau on 18 breedsfrom central California to Sonora and Baja June 1969 (R. J. Gordon). Thirteen years later, California Sur (AOU 1983) is known recently a male that held a song territory at Anchorage as a casual visitant far north ofthis range (Rober- 14-23 June 1982 (R. L. Scher and others) pro- son 1980, Campbell et al. 1990) culminating, to vided the first Alaska specimen (UAM 4225). date, in the Anchorage record. The next record was a singing bird identified at Sphyrupicusvarius (Linnaeus). Yellow-bellied Glennallen on 18 June 1983 (F. J. Broerman). Sapsucker.Almost all Alaska recordsof Yellow- In 1986, the species was first recorded in the bellied Sapsuckersare sightingsin the upper Tan- Interior (singing male, 4-5 June, K. L. Wilson ana River drainage, in the eastern interior, from and others; another, 22-26 June, B. A. Cooper the vicinity of Northway Junction, where they and others [UAM 53351, both Fairbanks), and it have nested (photos), to the Canada boundary at was found again in southern Central Alaska (two Scottie Creek (Kessel 1986). On the Yukon Riv- singing males, Kenney Lake, 21 June-5 July, R. er, at least one bird was seen at Eagle on 18 and L. Scher and others) and on the Southeastern 25 May 1985 (R. R. Moldenhauer). The only mainland (two singing males, Hyder, 1O-l 7 June, record elsewhere in Alaska is one observed on D. D. Gibson and S. R. Johnson [UAM 53261; NEW ALASKA TAXA 461 singing male, near Skagway, 15 June, P. D. Mar- local breeding. The specimens are C. b. hesperis tin). Ridgway, which has long been known to breed Recordssince 1986 include singingmales found as far north and west as adjacent north-central regularly at Hyder (one, 9 June 1987, M. E. Is- interior British Columbia (Brooks and Swarth leib; three, 31 May 1988, D. R. Herter; one, 18- 1925). 19 June 1989, R. L. Scher; one, 26 June 1990, Locustella lanceolata (Temminck). Lanceolat- M. W. Schwan; one, 14-18 June 1991, R. L. ed Warbler. At least 25 Lanceolated Warblers Scher and others) and singing males reported at were present at Attu Island, Aleutians, 4 June- Mosquito Lake near Haines (one, 24 May 1988, 15 July 1984, when one specimen (UAM 5005) R. C. Bradley and G. Bauer), at Delta Junction was collected (Tobish 1985). There is no other (one, 16 June 1989, J. D. Walters), and at Fair- Alaska record of this monotypic, eastern Pale- banks (one, 19-20 June 1987, B. A. Cooper and arctic species,which breeds as far north and east others; one, 1 l-l 2 June 199 1, D. D. Gibson and as Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands, and northern R. W. Dickerman). An Empidonax collected at Japan (Vaurie 1959). Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, on 23 Septem- Phylloscopus sibilatrix (Bechstein). Wood ber 1988 (M. E. Isleib) proved to be this species Warbler. A Phylloscopuswarbler (UAM 3695) (UAM 5550, immature female), the only fall rec- collected at Shemya Island, Aleutians, on 9 Oc- ord. This monotypic speciesbreeds as far north tober 1978 proved to be a Wood Warbler (Gib- and west as southwestern Yukon Territory and son 198 1). This monotypic speciesbreeds in Eu- northern British Columbia (Godfrey 1986). rope and westernmostAsia and winters in tropical Suyornisphoebe(Latham). Eastern Phoebe.An Africa (Vaurie 1959). A bird on Hegura Island, Eastern Phoebe holding a song territory about Japan, on 8 October 1984 (Brazil 1991) seems an abandoned building at Camden Bay, North to be the only record in easternAsia. The Shemya Slope, 29 June-6 July 1990 (P. D. Martin and bird provides the only New World record. M. D. Hanneman, photos; tape-recording on file Phylloscopusfuscatus(Blyth). Dusky Warbler. at Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell Univer- The first Alaska sighting of a Dusky Warbler was sity) provided the first Alaska record of this one at St. Lawrence Island on 6 June 1977 (King monotypic species.It breeds north and west as et al. 1978). One of two (UAM 3690) observed far as the middle Mackenzie River valley, in cen- at Shemya Island, Aleutians, 18-23 September tral-western Mackenzie District, Northwest Ter- 1978 provided the first Alaska specimen (Gibson ritories (Godfrey 1986). 1981). Subsequently, one was collected aboard Myiarchus crinitus (Linnaeus). Great Crested ship in the central Bering Sea (at 57’04’N Flycatcher. A Myiarchus flycatcher collected at 179”37’W) on 31 May 1983 (UAM 4864, male, Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, on 29 Septem- R. H. Day and D. J. Forsell); one was studied by ber 1990 (UAM 5710, M. E. Isleib) was con- many at St. Lawrence Island on 5-6 June 1983 firmed to be a Great Crested Flycatcher by R. C. (B. Maxwell, photos); one was observed at Attu Banks and M. R. Browning. The widespread Island, Aleutians, on 21 September 1983 (T. G. northern subspecies,M. c. boreusBangs, breeds Tobish and others); and one was observed at St. as far north and west as east-central Alberta. The Paul Island, Pribilofs, on 12-l 3 June 1987 (I. L. timing parallelsthat on the California coast,where Jonesand R. A. Sundstrom). Both specimensare this speciesis a very rare fall visitant (DeSante nominate jiiscatus, the widespread Siberian sub- and Ainley 1980, Roberson 1980). speciesof this Asiatic bird. It breedsas far north- Corvus brachyrhynchos Brehm. American east as the Anadyr Basin and the Sea of Okhotsk Crow. Crows in and near the town of Hyder, (Vaurie 1959). numbering perhaps 70 birds, were identified in Ficedula narcissina (Temminck). Narcissus June 1986 as American Crows (D. D. Gibson Flycatcher. A male Narcissus Flycatcher ob- and S. R. Johnson)-as distinct from North- servedby many at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 20- western Crow C. caurinus Baird. Two adult fe- 2 1 May 1989 provides the only Alaska record of males (UAM 5327-5328) were collected on 17 the species (UAM 5610, subadult male). The and 19 June 1986. Additional specimens were specimen is F. n. narcissina, the northern form collected on 9 June 1987 (M. E. Isleib): three of this eastern Palearctic flycatcher, which breeds adult males (UAM 5373,5379,5380) and a just- as far north and east as Sakhalin and northern fledged male (UAM 5398) which documented Japan (Vaurie 1959). 462 DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL

Muscicapa latirostris Raffles. Asian Brown 5301) proved to be Asiatic S. t. stejnegeri (Par- Flycatcher. An Asian Brown Flycatcher observed rot). A Stonechat collected at Middleton Island, by many at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 25 May Gulf of Alaska, on 28 September 1990 (M. E. 1985 is the only Alaska record of the species Isleib) is also that subspecies(UAM 5709, male). (UAM 5245, female). This monotypic, eastern The northeasternmost race, stejnegeribreeds as Palearctic bird breeds as far east as Sakhalin, far east as Sakhalin, northern Japan, and the Ku- Japan, and the Kurile Islands (Vaurie 1959). See rile Islands (Vaurie 1959). Phillips (199 1) for use of M. latirostris Raffles Catharusjiiscescens (Stephens). Veery. A sing- instead of M. dauurica Pallas for this taxon. ing Veery identified at Hyder on 22 June 1990 Erithacus cyane (Pallas). Siberian Blue Robin. (J. C. Haney) was the first Alaska report of this An active, nondescript chat observed by many species.One was heard singing near Hyder on at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 2 1 May 1985 proved 29 May 1991 (S. C. Heinl), and a singing bird to be a Siberian Blue Robin (UAM 5238, lst- was tape-recorded at that location on 14 June spring female), another first Alaska record. We 1991 (T. G. Tobish and others, tape on file at were unable to assemble an adequate series of Laboratory of Ornithology, Cornell University). this speciesfor certain subspecificidentification. Five singing Veeries were heard in the vicinity The eastern race, E. c. bochaiensis(Shulpin), of adjacent Stewart, British Columbia, on 17 June breeds in Amurland, Ussuriland, Sakhalin, and 1991 (R. L. Scher and others). The northwest- Japan (Vaurie 195 9). emmost race, C.f: salicicola(Ridgway), is known Tarsiger cyanurus (Pallas). Red-flanked Blue- to breed as far north as southern interior British tail. The first Alaska record of Red-flanked Blue- Columbia (Phillips 199 1). tail was a female-plumaged bird observedat Attu Mimus polyglottos (Linnaeus). Northern Island, Aleutians, on 5 June 1982 (T. G. Tobish Mockingbird. The first Alaska sighting of a and others, photos). A bird seen at St. Paul Is- mockingbird was one at Marble Island, off Prince land, Pribilofs, on 10 June 1987 (G. V. Byrd and of Wales Island, on 20 July 1952 (Brown 1953). others)provided the first Alaska specimen&JAM Thirty years later, the next was one observed at 5386, female). One at Attu on 22-23 May 1988 Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, 8-l 6 Septem- (UAM 5464, 1st-spring male) was the first of four ber 1982 (T. G. Tobish and others). One was similarly-plumaged birds seen there by many 22 observed at Juneau 30 June-13 July 1984 (M. May-6 June 1988. Subspeciesare based on dif- W. Schwan and others, photo); and a mocking- ferencesin adult males, so the two Alaska spec- bird observed at Fairbanks on 2 October 1986 imens cannot be assignedto race (Phillips 199 1). (J. L. Seaseand others), a bird that was moving Nominate cyanurus is the widespread northern through on a cold front advancing from the and eastern bird, which breeds from northwest- northwest, provided the first Alaska specimen em Russia and the western Urals to Amurland, (UAM 5354, adult female). Most recently, a Kamchatka, the Kurile Islands, and Japan (Vau- mockingbird was seenagain at Middleton on 29- rie 1959). The specieswas regardedby Johansen 30 September 199 1 (M. E. Isleib). The specimen (196 1) as a “regular straggler” in the Commander is nominate polyglottos [including western leu- Islands, where specimenshave been collected 2 1 copterus(Vigors)], the widespreadnorthern form May-4 June (Hartert 1920). of this bird, which breeds from southernmost Saxicola torquata (Linnaeus). Stonechat. A Canada and central U.S.A. south to central and male Stonechat identified at St. Lawrence Island southern Mexico (Phillips 1986). It is a “rare or on 6 June 1978 (A. H. Rider) was the first Alaska casual visitor” in southern British Columbia report of this widespread Palearctic species.An- (Godfrey 1986). other male was observed there by many on 5 Anthus trivialis (Linnaeus). Brown Tree-Pipit. June 1985 (W. S. Davidson, photo Am. Birds A pipit collected (UAM 3294) at Cape Prince of 39:340, 1985). Two years later, Osborne and Os- Wales on 23 June 1972 (Kessel 1989) was ulti- borne (1987) discussed the extraordinary cir- mately identified-after comparisonsat U.S. Na- cumstances of the discovery of the first Alaska tional Museum, American Museum of Natural specimen-an immature bird, which doubtless History, and the British Museum (Natural His- had died the previous autumn, found frozen in tory)-as a worn example of the nominate race one of many Bank Swallow Riparia riparia bur- of Brown Tree-Pipit by L. L. Short and J. Far- rows at Galena, on the Yukon River, on 19 April rand. This specimen provides the only North 1986 by a young schoolgirl; the specimen (UAM American record of this Palearctic species.Nom- NEW ALASKA TAXA 463 inate trivialis is the widespread subspecies, Vireo were sightingsof a singing bird at Eagle on breeding in Europe from northern Spain to 70”N 27 June 1982 (tape-recordingat Texas Bird Sound and in Asia from Asia Minor eastto Lake Baikal, Library, Sam Houston State University) and of as far as about 64”N in Siberia (Vaurie 1959). a bird at Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, on There have been four records in Japan, all since 14 September 1982 (Moldenhauer and Tobish 1965 (Brazil 1991). 1984). One observed at Middleton on 29 Sep- Bombycilla garrulus centralasiae Polyakov. tember 1987 (M. E. Isleib and R. L. Scher) pro- Bohemian Waxwing. A lone Bohemian Waxwing vided the first Alaska specimen(UAM 5428, adult observed by many at Attu Island, Aleutians, on male). This monotypic species breeds across 24-25 May 1989 provided the first Alaska spec- southern Canada as far as central-eastern British imen of the eastern Asiatic subspecies (UAM Columbia (Phillips 199 1) and, on the west coast, 56 12, adult female). The identification was con- is a very rare fall visitant in California (Roberson firmed by R. W. Dickerman. This form breeds 1980). east to the Sea of Okhotsk and Kamchatka and, Dendroica discolor(Vieillot). Prairie Warbler. in the east, winters erratically in the Kurile Is- A Prairie Warbler observed at Middleton Island, lands and in northern Japan (Vaurie 1959). It Gulf of Alaska, on 22 September 1988 (M. E. was regardedby Johansen (196 1) as a rare strag- Isleib) provided the first Alaska record (UAM gler in the Commander Islands, whence there are 5549, immature unsexed). Another was ob- specimenstaken 16 and 2 1 May (Hartert 1920). served near Ketchikan on 29 September 1990 (S. At least five Bohemian Waxwings seen by many C. Heinl). The specimen is nominate discolor, at Attu 16 May-4 June 1983 (T. 0. Smythe, the widespread race of this eastern North Amer- photo) were probably this form also. ican bird; it breeds no farther west in the U.S.A. Lanius cristatusLinnaeus. Brown Shrike. The than the eastern edge of the Great Plains (see first Alaska sighting of a Brown Shrike was one AOU 1957) and, in Canada, southern Ontario at St. Lawrence Island, 4-7 June 1977 (King et (Godfrey 1986). Timing of the Alaska records al. 1978). The first Alaska specimen (UAM 3696) parallels that in coastalCalifornia, where the spe- was taken at Shemya Island, Aleutians, on 10 cies is a very rare fall visitant (DeSante and Ain- October 1978 (Gibson 198 1). Since then there ley 1980, Roberson 1980). have been two additional sightings,an immature Dendroica palmarum (Gmelin). Palm War- at Anchorage on 28 September 1983 (T. G. To- bler. A Palm Warbler near Ninilchik, Kenai Pen- bish and L. J. Oakley) and a bird at Attu Island, insula, on 6 July 1967 (Taylor 1969) was the first Aleutians, on 4 June 1984 (M. E. Isleib and N. Alaska report. Almost all subsequentrecords have S. Proctor and others). The specimen was ten- been in fall: single birds identified at Kodiak Is- tatively identified by R. C. Banks as L. c. lucio- land on 11 October 1984 (R. A. Macintosh); at nensisLinnaeus. Breeding no farther north than “Dry Lake,” 24 km west of Dot Lake, Tanana Korea and southern Japan and separated from Valley, on 16 October 1987 (M. B&ten); at Ju- the species’ northeastern distribution limits by neau on 3 1 October 1987 (UAM 5449, immature three other subspecies(Vaurie 1959) lucionensis female, M. E. Isleib); on the Taku River on 18 is not, geographically, the most likely form to October 1989 (P. W. Sykes and G. F. Wagner); occur in Alaska. Nominate cristatus breeds as at Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, on 2 Oc- close to Alaska as Anadyrland and Kamchatka. tober 1990 (UAM 57 19, immature, M. E. Isleib); Vireo solitarius (Wilson). Solitary Vireo. A at MitkofIsland on 6 October 1990 (P. J. Walsh); singing Solitary Vireo near Hyder on 11 June at Ketchikan on 21 October 1990 (S. C. Heinl); 1986 (UAM 532 1, adult male) and another in two, Coleen River, Brooks Range, in October the same area 12-15 June 1986 constituted the 1990 (H. Korth); one again at “Dry Lake,” on first Alaska record (D. D. Gibson). Five years 11 September 1991 (UAM 5939, immature, T. later, another singing male was observed at Hy- H. Pogson); at Prudhoe Bay on 24 September der on 15 and 17 June 1991 (R. L. Scher and 199 1 (E. E. Burroughs);at Nunivak Island on 24, others). The specimen is V. s. cassinii Xantus, 27, and 29 September 1991 (B. J. McCaffery); the western form that breeds as far north as cen- and at Barrow on 16 October 199 1 (UAM 5946, tral British Columbia and central Idaho (Phillips immature found dead, G. E. Norton). One ob- 1991). served at Petersburg on 16 April 1990 (P. J. Vireo philadelphicus (Cassin). Philadelphia Walsh) is the only spring report. The four spec- Vireo. The first Alaska records of Philadelphia imens are nominate palmarum, which breeds as 464 DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL far northwest as southwestern Mackenzie Dis- men (UAM 5935). Its identity was confirmed by trict, Northwest Territories, and northeastern R. C. Banks. This monotypic speciesbreeds as British Columbia (AOU 1957). far northwest as southeasternSaskatchewan and Seiurusaurocapillus (Linnaeus). Ovenbird. An is a casual summer visitant in southern British Ovenbird observed at Prudhoe Bay on 10 Sep- Columbia (Godfrey 1986). tember 198 1 (R. L. Scher, photos) was the first Pipilo erythrophthalmus (Linnaeus). Rufous- Alaska record of the speciesin this century. An sided Towhee. A Rufous-sided Towhee identi- Ovenbird that held a song territory near Fair- fied at Juneau on 5 May 1968 (R. H. Armstrong) banks 3 1 May-l 2 June 1984 (Weeden and Wee- was the first Alaska report. A male that frequent- den 1985) provided the only other record to date. ed a Juneau feeding station from 6 October The northern subspecies,nominate aurocapillus, through the last week of December 1984 (H. H. breeds as far north and west as southern Mac- Heinkel and others, photo) provided the first kenzie District, Northwest Territories, and documented record. The spotted-backed male northeastern British Columbia (Godfrey 1986). was clearly an example of the western, “macu- This specieswas described by Dal1 and Ban- latus” subspecies-group,which has representa- nister (1869) as breeding, but not common, along tives breeding as close to Alaska as southern the Yukon River, where found at Fort Yukon, coastal (P. e. oregonus)and southern interior (P. and where one was collectedupriver from Nulato e. curtatus) British Columbia and in Alberta (P. on 30 May 1867. On deposit at the Chicago e. arcticus) (Godfrey 1986). Academy of Sciences,the specimen was lost in Spizella pallida (Swainson). Clay-colored the Chicago fire of 1871. Sparrow. The first Alaska record of a Clay-col- Oporornis Philadelphia (Wilson). Mourning ored Sparrow was one observed at SergiefIsland, Warbler. An Opororniswarbler observed at Mid- Stikine River mouth, on 21 September 1984 dleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, on 29 September (UAM 5 100, immature male, D. D. Gibson). A 1987 (R. L. Scherand M. E. Isleib) was identified male that held a songterritory along Marsh Creek, at UAM as this species(UAM 5429, female), an south of Camden Bay, North Slope, for about identification later corroborated by S. F. Bailey. two weeks in June 1985 (UAM 5257, 30 June This monotypic species breeds as far west as 1985, C. A. Babcock) provided the second rec- northeastern British Columbia (Godfrey 1986). ord. Most recently, one was observed at Haines The Alaska record parallels occurrencesin coast- on 18 September 199 1 (M. E. Isleib). This mono- al California, where this bird is a very rare fall typic speciesbreeds as close to Alaska as interior visitant (DeSante and Ainley 1980, Roberson and northeastern British Columbia and southern 1980). Mackenzie District, Northwest Territories (God- Guiraca caerulea (Linnaeus). Blue Grosbeak. frey 1986). An adult male Blue Grosbeak observed at Pe- Chondestesgrammacus (Say). Lark Sparrow. tersburg on 6-7 August 1989 (B. E. Bracken and A Lark Sparrow observed on the Alaska High- others) is the only Alaska record of the species way in the hills just west of Scottie Creek on 12 (UAM 5643). The specimen was identified by R. July 199 1 (T. J. Doyle, photos) was Alaska’s first C. Banks and M. R. Browning as G. c. interfusa record of the species. Western C. g. strigatus Dwight and Griscom. The northern edge of this Swainson breeds no closer to Alaska than southwestern form’s breeding range extends from em interior British Columbia and southeastern southeasternCalifornia east and north to central Alberta (Godfrey 1986). South Dakota (AOU 1957). Melospiza georgiana (Latham). Swamp Spar- Passerina cyanea (Linnaeus). Indigo Bunting. row. A singing male Swamp Sparrow at An- A bird identified as a subadult male Indigo Bun- chorage 17-19 June 198 1 was the first Alaska ting at an Anchorage seed-feederon 3 September sighting of the species(G. J. Tans and E. S. Hunn 1973 (N. W. Hall) was the first Alaska report of and others), and one observed near Ketchikan the species.An adult male killed by a boy in the on 3-4 November 1985 (M. E. Isleib, R. L. Scher, village of Wainwright in early August 1989 was and T. G. Tobish) provided the first specimen photographedin hand but was not preserved (E. (UAM 5262, immature female). Subsequently, Loring, photos). An adult female found dead, an one was observed at Middleton Island, Gulf of apparent window kill, in Anchorage on 20 Au- Alaska, on 27 September 1987 (UAM 5418, D. gust 1991 (G. J. Tans) is the only Alaska speci- D. Gibson); one was observed near Petersburg, NEW ALASKA TAXA 465

23 September-24 November 1989 (P. J. Walsh); 1991, M. E. Isleib (UAM 5825). It has been re- and single birds were observed near Ketchikan ported once in SouthcoastalAlaska (male, Hom- on 2 and 30 November-12 December 1990 (S. er, 10 February to 29 March 1985, West and C. Heinl). Ifwestem M. g. ericryptaOberholser- Bailey 1986) and twice in Central Alaska (male, breeding as far west as central-western and south- Denali Nat1 Park, 14 June 1987, P. D. Vickery; em Mackenzie District, Northwest Territories, immature, near Tok, 22 August 1989, R. S. Had- and eastern British Columbia (Godfrey 1986)- ley). An adult male collected at St. Lawrence should be recognized, the two Alaska specimens Island on 5 June 1984 (UAM 5559, formerly should be assignedto that form (N. K. Johnson). Univ. Washington Burke Museum 39023, R. L. Calcarius lapponicuscoloratus Ridgway. Lap- Rausch) provides an extraordinary, westernmost land Longspur. The occurrence and breeding of record of the species.The adult males are nom- the Commander Islands subspeciesof the Lap- inate purpureus, which breeds as far west as land Longspur (UAM 5239) at Attu Island, Aleu- southern Yukon Territory and northern British tians, was discussedby Gibson (1986); this form Columbia (Godfrey 1986). was observed there in 1983, 1984, and 1985. Carpodacuscassinii Baird. Cassin’s Finch. The Emberiza aureola Pallas. Yellow-breasted first Alaska record of Cassin’s Finch was an adult Bunting. A bird identified as a first-spring male male observed at a Homer seed-feederfrom 20 at St. Lawrence Island on 26-27 June 1978 (G. April through 14 May 1985 (West and Bailey L. Tolman) was the first Alaska report of a Yel- 1986, photos). An immature was heard and ob- low-breasted Bunting. An adult male observed served at Middleton Island, Gulf of Alaska, on by many at Attu Island, Aleutians, on 26 May 30 September 1991 (S. C. Heinl and R. A. 1988 provided Alaska’s first documented record Macintosh). This monotypic species breeds as (UAM 5465). Subsequently, a female was ob- close to Alaska as southern interior British Co- served at Buldir Island, Aleutians, on 20 and 25 lumbia (Godfrey 1986). June 1988 (J. L. Wells and G. V. Byrd), and an Carduelis tristis (Linnaeus). American Gold- adult male was seen at Buldir on 13 June 1990 finch. A flock of three birds identified as Amer- (I. L. Jones). The specimen is E. a. ornata Shul- ican Goldfinches at St. Lawrence Island on 10 pin. This eastern Asiatic form breeds widely in August 1964 (Sealy et al. 197 1) was the first Alas- eastern Siberia (Vaurie 1959) and Japan (Brazil ka report of the species.A flock of up to four 1991), and it has long been known as an occa- was reported at Juneau on 28-29 May 1986 (R. sional migrant or irregular stragglerin the Com- J. Gordon). An adult male observed at a Ketchi- mander Islands (Stejneger 1885, Johansen 196 1). kan seed-feederfor three days in mid-June 199 1 Carpodacuspurpureus (Gmelin). Purple Finch. (J. Silberling, photos) provided Alaska’s first Based on sightings on 11 April 1974 and 8 No- documented record. This polytypic species vember 1975, the Purple Finch was described as reachesits northern and western range limits in a casual migrant in SoutheasternAlaska by Kes- C. t. pallidus, which breedsas far as north-central se1and Gibson (1978). The first Alaska specimen Alberta and southern interior British Columbia, was a lone immature male taken at Middleton and in C. t. jewetti, a breeding resident on the Island, Gulf of Alaska, on 4 October 1982 (UAM coast from Vancouver Island to Oregon (AOU 4280, D. D. Gibson). Since then the specieshas 1957, Godfrey 1986). been reported irregularly from fall to spring in Passerdomesticus (Linnaeus). House Sparrow. Southeastern Alaska: two, Juneau, 22 February A lone female House Sparrow observed foraging 1984, M. E. Isleib, flock of up to 11, Ketchikan among domestic ducks in a downtown Peters- seed-feeder, most of March 1984, R. E. Wood burg yard on 23 October 1987 (P. J. Walsh and (UAM 5002-5004, two adult males and a fe- E. L. Young) provided the first Alaska record of male); an immature female trapped and banded, the species(UAM 5448). Nominate domesticus Juneau,4 October remained into December 1985, is the race that has flourished in North America R. B. Williams; flock of up to six, Ketchikan following its introduction in the period 1850- seed-feeder,late January to mid-April 1987, R. 1867. The speciesis found as far north and west E. Wood; female, Petersburg,13 December 1989- in Canada as northeastern and central British 5 April 1990, P. J. Walsh; a female or immature Columbia (Godfrey 1986-but it is not resident near Ketchikan, 10 November 1990, S. C. Heinl; in Yukon Territory, contra Godfrey 1986); a fe- and an adult male, Juneau seed-feeder,28 April male in the Queen Charlotte Islands in October 466 DANIEL D. GIBSON AND BRINA KESSEL

1981 is the only record for British Columbia’s DALL, W. H. AND H. M. BANNISTER.1869. List of northern offshoreislands (fide R. W. Campbell). the birds of Alaska, with biographical notes. Trans. Chicago Acad. Sci. 1, part 2:267-310. DEMENTIEV,G. P., ANDN. A. GLADKOV[EDS.]. 1951. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Birds of the Soviet Union. Vol. 3: Izdatel’stvo “Nauka.” Moscow. Translated 1969bv Israel Pro- For their cooperation and interest, we are grateful to gram fo; Scientific Translations, Jerusalem. the many people whose original information and ar- DESANTE,D. F., AND D. G. AINLEY. 1980. The avi- chived documentation we reference in this paper. We fauna of the South Farallon Islands. California. especiallythank G. Vernon Byrd, Jon L. Dunn, M. E. Stud. Avian Biol. 4. Isleib. Richard A. Macintosh. Robert L. Scher. and GABRIELSON,I. N., AND F. C. LINCOLN. 1959. The Theodore G. Tobish for the quality and quantity of birds of Alaska. StacknoleCo. and Wildl. 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