Birding Alaska

This winter’s Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches flock on the Homer Spit has numbered about 40-50 since they first arrived in November. If you look carefully through the flock you might pick out one bird that is a bit different from the rest. The race of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch that regularly winters on the Homer Spit is the Kenai Peninsula breeding littoralis, however, this winter there is also one finch of the interior Alaska breeding race tephrocotis in the flock. Last winter there were no reports of tephrocotis on the Spit. While during the winter of 2008-2009 there were at least 15 tephrocotis in the flock.

Four subspecies of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch Leucosticte tephrocotis occur in Alaska (Gibson and Kessel 1997). These four subspecies can be grouped into two easily identifiable forms or types–coastal “gray-cheeked” and interior “brown-cheeked” forms. Two of the four subspecies, littoralis and tephrocotis are regularly found in Homer in the winter, and we should be on the lookout for the Aleutian Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, griseonucha, which might rarely occur.

Interior form:

L. t. tephrocotis: In Alaska the interior form is comprised of just one subspecies, nominate tephrocotis. It is known as the “Interior” Gray-Crowned Rosy-Finch or “Cassin’s” Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. In Alaska it breeds in the Brooks Range, in the mountains between the Yukon and the Tanana Rivers, and in the White Mountains (Gabrielson and Lincoln 1959). It winters from southern British Columbia, central Alberta, southern Saskatchewan, and southwestern Manitoba south through the Rocky Mountains and Great Basin (AOU 1957). It is sometimes found wintering in small numbers in coastal Alaska, where small numbers are usually mixed in the larger flocks of littoralis Rosy-Finches.

Coastal form:

The Coastal form is comprised of three subspecies in Alaska, all of which have an entirely gray crown and cheek.

L. t. littoralis: Is variably called the “Coastal,” “Hepburn’s,” or “Gray-cheeked” Rosy-Finch. In Alaska it breeds in the mountains of Central, Southcoastal, and Southeast Alaska. Wintering flocks can be encountered at feeders and beaches throughout coastal Alaska from the Kenai Peninsula south through Southeast Alaska. The Homer spit usually hosts a winter flock of 100+ birds.

L. t. griseonucha: Is known as the “Aleutian” Rosy-Finch. It occurs from the Kodiak Archipelago and the outer end of the Alaskan Peninsula west through the Aleutian Islands. The Aleutian Rosy-Finch is primarily non-migratory, but winter movements to lower elevations occur as well as occasional wanderings further east, possibly the Kenai Peninsula where it should be looked for in winter (especially on the Homer Spit). Gibson and Kessel (1997) include ‘kadiaka’ in the subspecies griseonucha. ‘Kadiaka’ is resident on Kodiak Island and is intermediate in size between littoralis and griseonucha. Gabrielson and Lincoln (1959) considered it a separate race.

L. t. umbrina: Is known as the “Pribilofs” Rosy-Finch and is a year-round resident on the Pribilof Islands and St. Matthew Island. It is the largest and darkest of all of the subspecies.

Distinguishing the three subspecies from each other is less straight forward than telling an interior bird from a coastal bird. The main differences between the three coastal subspecies include: size, darkness of brown breast, amount of contrast between the breast and the throat, extent of black streaking on the back, and bill shape. Distinguishing littoralis from griseonucha where their winter ranges come together may not be possible in the field.

See the photos below for information on how to identify the races of Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch. Click on any photo to enlarge.

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. littoralis and tephrocotis (center), Homer Spit, Homer, 20 December 2010.

The bird in the center of the flock (looking straight at the camera) is an interior tephrocotis. It is identified primarily by its brown cheeks; the gray on the head is limited to a broad supercilia that reaches around to the back of the head. Also, the brown breast is slightly paler brown than that of the littoralis finches which surround it.

“Hepburn’s” Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. littoralis, Homer Spit, Homer, 20 December 2010.

On all three subspecies that comprise the coastal form the entire sides of the face, including the cheek, is gray. The breast on these littoralis Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches is dark brown which contrasts with the black throat. Since Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches nest in extremely cold and rugged environments we can’t assume from the snow that it’s winter. However, the yellow bills give the season away. Breeding plumaged birds of all subspecies have black bills.

“Interior” Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. tephrocotis, Homer Spit, Homer, 20 December 2010.

Note the brown cheeks, lighter brown breast than a littoralis, and stout bill.

Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. littoralis and tephrocotis, Homer Spit, Homer, 20 December 2010.

The flash of their silvery underwings as a flock takes flight is one of my favorite field marks of a Rosy-Finch.

“Aleutian” Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. griseonucha, Adak Island, 14 May 2010.

Aleutian breeding Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches are larger, darker breasted and longer billed than littoralis. The bills of all Rosy-Finches are black during the breeding season.

“Aleutian” Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. griseonucha, Adak Island, 17 May 2010.

The very dark brown breast of this griseonucha only slightly contrasts with its black throat. Compare the photos of littoralis above.

“Aleutian” Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch L. t. griseonucha, Unalaska, 10 October 2009.

If an Aleutian griseonucha were to find itself in a flock of littoralis and tephrocotis on the Homer Spit or elsewhere in Southcoastal Alaska it might be separated by its larger size, darker brown breast contrasting less with the black throat, and slightly longer more slender bill. This would be a subtle and difficult identification for sure, especially since the resident griseonucha on Kodiak appear to be intermediate in size and plumage between griseonucha farther west and littoralis. In this case an unequivocal identification to subspecies in the field may not be possible.

Sources:

• American Ornithologists’ Union. 1957. Check-list of North American Birds, 5th ed. Lord Baltimore Press, Baltimore, MD.
• Gabrielson, I. N., and Lincoln, F. C. 1959. The Birds of Alaska. Stackpole, Harrisburg, PA.
• Gibson, D. D., and Kessel, B. 1997. Inventory of the species and subspecies of Alaska birds. Western Birds 28:45-95.

The highlight of the Homer Christmas Bird Count (18 December 2010) was a yellow-faced Horned Lark of the Asian breeding race flava found by Lisa Matlock, Kathy Eagle, Dave Rosseneau and Vernon Byrd. It was with a group of three Alaskan breeding arcticola Horned Larks. I believe this is the first mid-winter record of Horned Lark for Homer (there are several records in recent years from the Kenai River flats and at least one from Seward). Also, this is the first record of a yellow-faced flava for the Kenai Peninsula. With help from Gary Lyon I relocated the flock on 19 December and got a few photos.

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris flava, Fishing Lagoon, Homer Spit, 19 December 2010.

The yellow supercilium, throat and sides of face identify this individual as the Asian breeding race flava.

Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris arcticola, Fishing Lagoon, Homer Spit, 19 December 2010.

A typical Alaskan breeding arcticola lacking any color to the face.

The Asian form flava is a rare fall migrant to western Alaska, including the islands of the Bering Sea. In Southcoastal Alaska, there are two specimen records for Middleton Island and a sight record from Middleton Island on 25-27 September 1991. In Southeast Alaska a flava was photographed at Juneau, 6 December 2007 and this year at Gustavus on 31 October 2010. Thanks to Steve Heinl and Gus van Vliet for information on other Southcoastal and Southeast Alaska records.

Click here for photos of a flava from the Bering Sea earlier this year.

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola, Homer Spit, 5 December 2010.

It’s turning into a very interesting fall and winter birding season in Homer! Martin Renner and I were birding the Homer Spit on Sunday when this Black-bellied Plover flew in and landed on the beach in front of us. This is the first winter record of Black-bellied Plover for Homer and one of only a few late November-December records for Southcoastal Alaska. The bird was still on the spit as of 7 December.

Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus, Homer Boat Harbor, 5 December 2010.

This is probably the same Northern Harrier that Lani Raymond reported from the spit on 27 November.  There are a few other mid-winter records for the Homer area. These two birds added to a very interesting weekend of birding in Homer. Hopefully some of these birds can be relocated for the Homer Christmas Bird Count on 18 December.

More information on these and other Homer birds can be found here.

Thede Tobish and I beat the bushes in Homer today for passerines and found three interesting birds. We started with a Pacific Wren (formerly known as Winter Wren), which although common on the south side of Kachemak Bay, is a very good find in Homer. Most reports from this side of the bay come from the fall and winter. A sparrow flock in town produced a White-throated Sparrow, making two years in a row for this rare winter visitor in Homer. The bird of the day was an unseasonal Hermit Thrush at Mossy Kilcher’s Seaside Farm. I believe this is the first winter record of Hermit Thrush for Homer. Elsewhere in Southcoastal Alaska there are two previous mid-winter records of Hermit Thrush from Seward (30 December 2000 and 31 December 2004-17 January 2005) and one from Cordova (16 December 2000-11 January 2001).

White-throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicolis, Homer, 4 December 2010.

Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus, Seaside Farm, Homer, 4 December 2010.

Rock Sandpiper Calidris ptilocnemis, probably tschuktschorum, Homer Boat Harbor, 13 November 2009. Click to enlarge.

The winter flock of Rock Sandpipers in Homer (usually 2,500-5,000 birds) is predominately made up of the darker plumaged race tschuktschorum, but may also be contain a few of the Aleutian race couesi (Dan Ruthrauff, USGS, pers. comm.) Banding studies are needed to confirm this. A small number, usually less than three percent, of the Homer flock is made up of nominate ptilocnemis, which breeds on the Pribilof Islands and St. Matthew and Hall Islands. Most ptilocnemis winter on the mudflats of Uppper Cook Inlet. Nominate birds are identified by their paler gray upperparts, more similar in tone to that of winter plumaged Sanderling, and their broader white wingstripe. See photos below. Click on any photo for a larger version.

A typical winter Rock Sandpiper flock in the Homer Boat Harbor, containing mostly dark tschuktschorum (with possibly couesi), small numbers of nominate ptilocnemis, and small numbers of Dunlin C. alpina. Looking closely (click to enlarge) you can see that this flock also harbored the late record Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus for the Kenai Peninsula, 13 November 2009.

Rock Sandpiper Calidris ptilocnemis, probably tschuktschorum, Homer Boat Harbor, 13 November 2009.

Rock Sandpiper Calidris ptilocnemis, probably tschuktschorum, Homer Boat Harbor, 13 November 2009.

Dunlin C. alpina and Rock Sandpiper C. ptilocnemis, Homer Boat Harbor, 13 November 2009.

Rock Sandpipers C. p. ptilocnemis (paler bird in center), Homer Boat Harbor, 12 March 2009.

Rock Sandpiper C. p. ptilocnemis (paler bird in center) surrounded by probable tschuktschorum, Homer Boat Harbor, 12 March 2009.

Click here for a photo comparing ptilocnemis, couesi, and tschuktschorum wings patterns. Many thanks to Dan Ruthrauff of the USGS for this very useful pdf.

Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum, Portlock Drive, Homer, 1 December 2010.

Prior to 2004 Cedar Waxwings were considered casual fall and winter visitors to Southcoastal Alaska, with only a few reports from Seward, Anchorage, Kodiak, Valdez, and Middleton Island. The first reports of Cedar Waxwings in Homer came from the fall and winter of 2004-2005. At about this time regular reports from Southcoastal Alaska began to build and Cedars have since occurred in small numbers nearly every fall/winter since fall 2004. (The  fall and winter of 2008-2009 was the only winter they went unrecorded in Homer or anywhere in Southcoastal).

Instead of spending time with the related and more abundant wintering Bohemian Waxwings, in Homer they are more often seen in the company of American Robins. Fruiting mountain ash and bird cherry trees are excellent places to look. This Cedar Waxwing was one of two with a group of about 35 American Robins and fed in my neighbor’s mountain ash tree off of Portlock Drive. This is the third report of Cedar Waxwings on the Kenai Peninsula for the fall/winter 2010. It was previously reported this fall from Homer (nine on 8 November 2010) and Seward (four on 23 October 2010; Todd Eskelin pers. comm.)

I found these birds on a walk around the neighborhood and was even able to get in my yard–a new species for the growing yard list.

I returned home this afternoon from birding only to find more birds in the yard than I found on the outing. The bird of the day was this Townsend’s Solitaire, a new addition to our yard list. It is probably one of the two that I saw yesterday as our property is situated squarely between both of yesterday’s sightings and, as the Solitaire flies, within a mile of both.

Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendii, Alpenglow Circle, Homer, 21 November 2o10.

Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendii, Waterman Road, Homer, 20 November 2010.

November in Homer means it’s time to check the fruit trees. The south facing slopes of Homer and East End Road are loaded with mountain ash, European bird cherry, and a number of varieties of apple and crab apple trees. Each winter this fruit attracts a large gathering of American Robins, Bohemian Waxwings, Pine Grosbeaks and smaller numbers of rarities like Cedar Waxwing (now annual in winter since the winter of 2004-2005), Townsend’s Solitaire, and Mountain Bluebird (one record, see here).

Despite being a rare breeder at treeline in the mountains of the Kenai Peninsula, the first Homer record of Townsend’s Solitaire wasn’t until 1992. All Homer records are from the late fall and winter (see below). Yesterday I found two Townsend’s Solitaires in two different birdy neighborhoods. One on Waterman Road and one on Fernwood Drive. Fernwood Drive hosted the Solitaire last year and the bird cherries on Waterman attracted the Solitaire from the winter before. Yesterday’s sightings mark four consecutive winters for the species in Homer.

Townsend’s Solitaire Records from Homer:

• One on 22-30 January 1992 (American Birds 46:301-303)
• One on 11-22 November 1994 (Field Notes 49:84-87)
• One on 18 January joined by four more on 5 February 2005 (North American Birds 59:308-310)
• One on 5 January 2008+ (North American Birds 62:288-291) A bird reported on the PEEPS bird alert from late November 2007 may pertain to the same individual.
• One on 20 December 2008 (North American Birds 63:309-312)
• One on 3 December 2009-3 January 2010 (see here)
• Two on 21 November 2010