Tree Swallow. Karen Fung/Macaulay Library. eBird S34823979.
Did Team BirdCast say spring 2017 and it’s only February? Are we incorrect in saying this on two conflicting fronts, first because of the record winter warmth in many parts of the US that already seems like spring (or summer!) and second because of the date on the calendar? Well, we may be incorrect because of the date on the calendar, but birds have been on the move for many weeks now. And the warm temperatures in many areas of the country have no doubt played a large role in some of the magnitude of these movements. Here’s just a sample of what’s on the move in the last week, to whet your appetite for our upcoming weekly migration forecast and analysis features.
Watch for the official kickoff to the season later this week, with our first forecast post!
Quick Links to Regions
Upper Midwest and Northeast |
Gulf Coast and Southeast |
Great Plains |
West |
Upper Midwest and Northeast
Top Movers
Increasing
| Species | Increase from Last Week | % of Checklists Reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Common Grackle | 90% | 23 |
| Wood Duck | 228% | 4.3 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 70% | 36.9 |
| Killdeer | 81% | 14.1 |
| Green-winged Teal | 132% | 6.3 |
| Ring-necked Duck | 103% | 9.8 |
| Northern Shoveler | 95% | 6.2 |
| Lesser Scaup | 110% | 4.8 |
| Fox Sparrow | 179% | 2.9 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 175% | 1.7 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 59% | 23.9 |
| Tree Swallow | 255% | 0.9 |
| Fish Crow | 75% | 6 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 75% | 5 |
| Mallard | 45% | 35.8 |
| Bufflehead | 62% | 11.9 |
| American Woodcock | 76% | 2.8 |
| Tundra Swan | 99% | 3.3 |
| Pied-billed Grebe | 92% | 3.3 |
| Gadwall | 62% | 7.7 |
| Canvasback | 95% | 2.6 |
| Canada Goose | 32% | 48.9 |
| American Black Duck | 52% | 10.3 |
| Rusty Blackbird | 87% | 1.6 |
Swallow-tailed Kite. Noah Frade/Macaulay Library. eBird S34820385.
Gulf Coast and Southeast
Top Movers
Increasing
| Species | Increase from Last Week | % of Checklists Reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Tree Swallow | 87% | 9.2 |
| Northern Parula | 103% | 5.6 |
| Blue-winged Teal | 80% | 9.2 |
| Savannah Sparrow | 60% | 9.6 |
| Eastern Meadowlark | 64% | 7.4 |
| Purple Martin | 84% | 4.1 |
| Greater Yellowlegs | 85% | 6 |
| White-eyed Vireo | 71% | 9.8 |
| Killdeer | 47% | 16.7 |
| Barn Swallow | 468% | 1.5 |
| Fish Crow | 42% | 15.9 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 37% | 28 |
| Northern Harrier | 83% | 6.8 |
| American Kestrel | 54% | 12.8 |
| Swallow-tailed Kite | 6434% | 1 |
| Great Egret | 47% | 25.8 |
| Northern Shoveler | 68% | 8.6 |
| Turkey Vulture | 47% | 41.8 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs | 91% | 3.4 |
| Golden-crowned Kinglet | 66% | 5.1 |
| Roseate Spoonbill | 69% | 4.8 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 45% | 25.8 |
| Loggerhead Shrike | 57% | 7.7 |
Hermit Thrush. Rosemary Seidler/Macaulay Library. eBird S34193838.
Great Plains
Top Movers
Increasing
| Species | Increase from Last Week | % of Checklists Reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Northern Shoveler | 102% | 9.7 |
| Green-winged Teal | 105% | 8 |
| Lesser Scaup | 135% | 6.8 |
| Killdeer | 46% | 19.4 |
| Swamp Sparrow | 125% | 3.2 |
| Gadwall | 69% | 12.9 |
| Greater Scaup | 123% | 1.6 |
| Northern Pintail | 88% | 8.1 |
| Marsh Wren | 149% | 1.1 |
| Bufflehead | 46% | 8.8 |
| Ring-necked Duck | 68% | 8.5 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 44% | 19 |
| American Tree Sparrow | 53% | 11.9 |
| Hermit Thrush | 210% | 1.7 |
| Blue-winged Teal | 123% | 1 |
| Horned Lark | 76% | 9.2 |
| Barred Owl | 65% | 4 |
| Eastern Phoebe | 50% | 4.6 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 25% | 24.5 |
| Ruddy Duck | 58% | 3.6 |
| Brown-headed Cowbird | 39% | 2.9 |
| Harris's Sparrow | 27% | 12.1 |
| Greater White-fronted Goose | 79% | 5.8 |
| Tundra Swan | 167% | 0.6 |
Cliff Swallow. Jeff Bray/Macaulay Library. eBird S34799241.
West
Top Movers
Increasing
| Species | Increase from Last Week | % of Checklists Reporting |
|---|---|---|
| Green-winged Teal | 80% | 12 |
| Tree Swallow | 101% | 6.7 |
| Cinnamon Teal | 104% | 6.5 |
| Turkey Vulture | 66% | 13.5 |
| Killdeer | 66% | 11.1 |
| Violet-green Swallow | 107% | 2.4 |
| Northern Rough-winged Swallow | 86% | 4.3 |
| American White Pelican | 111% | 3.1 |
| Brown Pelican | 113% | 3.4 |
| Lincoln's Sparrow | 87% | 5.6 |
| Ring-billed Gull | 69% | 11.6 |
| Willet | 94% | 3.9 |
| American Wigeon | 56% | 16.4 |
| Greater Yellowlegs | 100% | 3.9 |
| Ruddy Duck | 63% | 12.5 |
| Western Gull | 69% | 8.8 |
| Gadwall | 66% | 11.6 |
| Northern Shoveler | 55% | 12.8 |
| Red-tailed Hawk | 51% | 29.7 |
| Western Grebe | 83% | 5.5 |
| Say's Phoebe | 62% | 10.5 |
| Cliff Swallow | 147% | 0.9 |
| Double-crested Cormorant | 49% | 16.4 |
| Pied-billed Grebe | 58% | 11.7 |
| Hermit Thrush | 78% | 4.7 |
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Farnsworth and Van Doren
