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.

Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris, Unalaska, Eastern Aleutian Islands, 22 September 2010.

Black-tailed Gull Larus crassirostris, Unalaska, Eastern Aleutian Islands, 20 September 2010.

This Black-tailed Gull was first found on 4 September by Eugene Hunn, Mike Smith and Chris Feeney on the rocky shoreline across the road from the Dutch Harbor Post Office.  This is the first record of the species for Unalaska and for the eastern Aleutians. It is one of almost 30 records for the state. A big thank you to Suzi Golodoff and Stephan Lorenz for taking me right to the bird when I arrived in town on the 20th!

I’m back in the Bering Sea, this time on the NOAA Ship Miller Freeman. I’ll be on board until the ship docks in Seattle in mid October. Check back for updates from the sea.

Yellow-rumped Warblers Dendroica coronata, Strawberry Hill, Dutch Harbor, 17 August 2010.

I had about an hour today to head back to Strawberry Hill, Dutch Harbor, before I had to return to the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson in time to leave on a cruise in the southern Bering Sea. Yesterday’s Fox Sparrows were still present and were trumped today by two Yellow-rumped Warblers! The first warbler was with the Fox Sparrows on the top of the hill. The second was in the tall spruce trees that border the small lake just south of the hill.

Gibson and Byrd (2007) list Yellow-rumped Warbler as “casual in fall in eastern, central and western Aleutians.” The first records for Unalaska/Dutch Harbor were one at Strawberry Hill on 22 September 2009, followed by one on the hill on 10 October 2009 and two at the Sitka Spruce Children’s Park (near Strawberry Hill) on 11 October 2009.

A lone Bank Swallow flew by me on my walk back to the ship.

• Gibson, D. D., and Byrd, G. V. 2007. Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Nuttall Ornithological Club and the American Ornithologists’ Union. Series in Ornithology 1.

Fox Sparrow Passerella illiaca unalaschensis, Strawberry Hill, Dutch Harbor, 16 August 2010.

My favorite thing to do in Dutch Harbor/Unalaska is to bird the planted sitka spruce trees around the town. The best group of trees is the robust stand that grows in a protected gulley on the top of Strawberry Hill. Many, many good birds have been found in this migrant trap over the years including a number of island firsts and a few firsts for the Aleutians! Nearly every trip through the stand has a surprise. This time it was a trio of adult Fox Sparrows–the first I’ve seen on the island. Although this race of Fox Sparrow (unalaschensis) was first collected at Unalaska Island, it is “extralimital at the type locality.” (Gibson and Kessel 1997). The western limits of its range are the alder thickets of Unimak Island, the first island in the Aleutians. Gibson and Byrd (2007) remark that the species is “casual or intermittant in spring and summer in eastern Aleutians beyond Unimak Pass” where it’s preferred habitat doesn’t exist.  Breeding east of Unimak was first suspected in 2003 when a “full-tailed juvenile” was found at Unalaska, but wasn’t confirmed until very recently by local birder Suzi Golodoff and visiting bird guru, Rich MacIntosh.

Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus kiskensis, Stawberry Hill, Dutch Harbor, 16 August 2010.

Also present on Strawberry Hill was a regular resident and breeder on the island–the Pacific Wren, or Winter Wren T. troglodytes as it’s now known by the American Ornitholgists’ Union. It was split from the Winter Wren (which occurs in eastern North America, on the basis of vocalizations and mitochondrial DNA differences. Click here for details of this and other revisions to the AOU Check-list.

Other birds of note yesterday were three Bank Swallows still flying over town. This is just a few days shy of the late date for the Aleutian Islands.

• Gibson, D. D., and Byrd, G. V. 2007. Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Nuttall Ornithological Club and the American Ornithologists’ Union. Series in Ornithology 1.
• Gibson, D. D., and Kessel, B. 1997. Inventory of the species and subspecies of Alaska birds. Western Birds 28:45-95.

I was in Unalaska (the name of the island and the city where the port of Dutch Harbor is located) for a few days early this week and had some time to get out birding with local birder Suzie Golodoff for a few hours each day.  The birding is always good on the island, but this trip had a few very welcome surprises!

The first two Emperor Geese Chen canagica of the fall return to Unalaska on 21 September 2009.

Emperors winter in the Unalaska/Dutch Harbor waterfront by the hundreds.  We found these two birds on the Dutch Harbor spit; they are the first reported for the season.

Brambling Fringilla montifringilla in the spruce trees on Strawberry Hill, Unalaska, 21-22 September 2009.

Strawberry Hill was the hotspot this week.  This Brambling, one of a flock of six, was our first surprise find in the introduced stand of Sitka spruce on the hill.  These trees act as magnets for any lost forest loving passerines that find their way to the island and have hosted many past rarities.

Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi, on Strawberry Hill, Unalaska, 22 September 2009.

This Townsend’s Warbler was probably the best bird the trees had to offer.  It’s only the third report of the species from the Aleutians.  The first was an immature male on Shemya on 3 October 1977 (Gibson and Byrd 2007). The second was a find that Suzie made last year: 2 birds in Unalaska on 20 October 2008.

Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata, on Strawberry Hill, Unalaska, 22 September 2009.

Still reeling from the Townsend’s Warbler, we found this Yellow-rumped Warbler about 50 feet farther down the road in the same stand of trees only a few minutes later!   It is the first record of Yellow-rumped Warbler for Unalaska.

The one that got away: while we were trying to pin down the Townsend’s Warbler for photos after the brief initial look a Red-throated Pipit flew over the hill, giving it’s distinctive “speee” flight call.  Unfortunately we were unable to relocated the pipit, another first for Unalaska.

Merlin Falco columbarius, Strawberry Hill, Unalaska, 22 September 2009.

This Merlin was on the hill both days and on both days we saw it carrying prey.  I wonder what rare birds this Merlin has eaten lately.

Thanks Suzie for two great days of birding!

• Gibson, D. D., and Byrd, G. V. 2007. Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Nuttall Ornithological Club and the American Ornithologists’ Union. Series in Ornithology 1.

Looking inland from Summer Bay Lake, Unalaska Island, 23 April 2009.

I’m back in Dutch Harbor for the second time this year; I flew in yesterday, 23 April, to board the NOAA Ship Oscar Dyson.  I’ll be traveling along as a seabird observer on their moorings cruise in the Bering Sea.  I had yesterday afternoon to bird Dutch Harbor and this time I had the great pleasure of spending several hours birding with resident expert Suzie Golodoff.  Suzie has lived and birded on the island for 33 years and is wealth of information on birds, plants, and all things Dutch.  The afternoon was fantastic!

Since I was last here the great numbers of wintering sea ducks have thinned out.  Most species were still represented, but in much smaller numbers.  We only saw 1 Emperor Goose instead of the hundreds that were here in February.   Suzie says this is a transition time on the island–the wintering birds have left or are leaving and migrants haven’t yet really started to appear.  We did find a few migrants that brought some excitement to the day.

Northern Pintail Anas acuta, Unalaska, 23 April 2009.

This Northern Pintail was feeding in a marsh near Unalaska Lake.  Suzie was delighted when we found it; it was the first of the year and is a species that she doesn’t see every year.  I really enjoy seeing “common” birds in places where they’re uncommon.  It always makes me take a second look.  There is certainly a lot to look at on a drake Northern Pintail!  Three Wilson’s Snipe at the head of Summer Bay Lake were also a first for the spring on the island.  Two flushed from the marsh as we approached and showed their solidly dark under-wings.  A third bird was calling from across the marsh.

Tufted Ducks Aythya fuligula on a pond near Unalaska Lake, Unalaska, 23 April 2009.

Tufted Ducks are regular in winter on the island and this year up to 5 could be seen around town throughout the winter.  The bird on the right is a first year male transitioning from a female-type plumage into his adult male garb.  A male Lesser Scaup on Unalaska Lake was an unexpected find.  Unfortunately it was too distant for good photos.  The Canvasback that I reported in late February was still on the island as of 22 April, but we missed it.  Two other rarities that Suzie found on the island this week were Golden-crowned Sparrow, Pine Siskin (2).

Three Pelagic Cormorants Phalacrocorax pelagicus and 2 Red-faced Cormorants  P. urile (left and right-most birds), Dutch Harbor, 23 April 2009.

It’s nice to see Red-faced Cormorants at any time of year, but with their freshly brightened faces and white flanks they are a real treat.  In this photo it is also possible to discern the yellowish bill of the Red-faced which is thicker than the all dark bill of the Pelagic Cormorant.  The larger body size and head of the Red-faced is sort of evident from this photo, but is much more obvious on a flying bird.

Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon, Unalaska, 23 April 2009.

Suzie says there are probably 10-12 kingfishers that spend the year in the area.

Any thoughts on what species of fish this kingfisher is ambitiously trying to consume?  A salmon smolt or Dolly Varden?  Pink, Silver and Red Salmon and Dolly Varden all use this stream.

All-in-all it was a great afternoon of birding.  Thanks Suzie!

On February 24th and 25th I had the opportunity to bird Dutch Harbor, in the Eastern Aleutian Islands, with Robb Kaler.  It was my first trip to Dutch Harbor in the winter.

Emperor Geese Chen canagica, Harlequin Ducks Histrionicus histrionicus and a single female Steller’s Eider Polysticta stelleri (back left) 24 February 2009.

The wintering waterfowl were impressive and included about 500 Emperor Geese and 40+ Steller’s Eiders along the waterfront in Captain’s Bay and near the grocery store, airport and small boat harbor.

An Emperor Goose feeds on blue mussels Mytilus trossulus at low tide, 24 February 2009.

The Emperors here are easy to find and approach.  They spent a lot of time feeding on mussels and barnacles at low tide right along the road system.

Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia sanaka, 24 February 2009.

Only a few passerines are hardy enough to be year-round residents in the Aleutians.  The sanaka race of Song Sparrow is resident from the central Aleutians to the Alaska Peninsula.  The two races of Song Sparrows from the Aleutians, maxima and sanaka, are large when compared to other races.  Sanaka is lighter colored than the very dark maxima (Gibson and Kessel 1997.) Note the long slender bill.

“Oregon” Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis oreganus, 24 February 2009.

A highlight of the day was a pair of “Oregon” Dark-eyed Juncos that we found in a brushy gully atop a hill behind Amelia’s Restaurant.  Gibson and Byrd (2007) write that “in Eastern Aleutians Dark-eyed Juncos were casual in winter.”  They note several records of both slate-colored and Oregon races from Unalaska/Dutch Harbor.  These two juncos pished in for a photo, but only reluctantly.  Perhaps because moments before finding them a Sharp-shinned Hawk cruised through the area!  We got good looks at the bird in flight which appeared to be a female based on size, but unfortunately the bird never perched and we were unable to get photos.  Sharp-shinned Hawk is only “accidental in the Eastern Aleutians” (Gibson and Byrd 2007).  They cite only 3 reports of Sharp-shinned Hawk from the region.

Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos, 24 February 2009.

While I failed to get a photo of the Sharp-shinned Hawk, another raptor caught our attention on the hill.  This Golden Eagle was soaring overhead with a few dozen Bald Eagles.  It is considered a rare resident and probable breeder in the area (Gibson and Byrd 2007).

Mixed waterfowl flock behind the Grand Aleutian Hotel, 24 February 2009.

Our last stop of the day was at the small lagoon behind the Grand Aleutian hotel.  Here the flock of 130 Greater Scaup held a few surprises!

Canvasback Aythya valisineria, Tufted Duck A. fuligula and Greater Scaup A. marila, 24 February 2009.

This photo provides what is possibly the first documented record of Canvasback for the Eastern Aleutians.  Gibson and Byrd (2007) remark that in the Eastern Aleutians there is only “anecdotal evidence of occurrence.”  The species, however, regularly winters in very small numbers in the Central Aleutians, especially at Adak.  In addition to the obvious tuft on the female Tufted Duck, note the bird’s small size (compared with Greater Scaup) and dark back.  A male Tufted Duck was also present in the flock.

Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis (lower right) with Greater Scaup, 24 February 2009.

This female Lesser Scaup was another interesting find in the flock.  It is separated from the similar Greater Scaup on the right by its smaller overall size, its angular–not rounded–head shape, and its smaller bill.  Side-by-side comparison makes for a straight forward ID, but lone birds can be more confusing.  Gibson and Byrd (2007) state that the Lesser Scaup is “casual or intermittent in winter” in the Eastern Aleutians.

Slaty-backed Gull Larus schistagus with Glaucous-winged Gulls L. glaucescens, Dutch Harbor 25 February 2009.

Our last find in Dutch was this adult Slaty-backed Gull in Captain’s Bay on February 25th.

Gibson, D. D., and Byrd, G. V. 2007. Birds of the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Nuttall Ornithological Club and the American Ornithologists’ Union. Series in Ornithology 1.

Gibson, D. D., and Kessel, B. 1997. Inventory of the species and subspecies of Alaska birds. Western Birds 28:45-95.