KOS Top 10 Birds of the Year: 29 September 2024 – 27 September 2025

The Top 10 Best Birds are an annual, for fun, compilation of the sightings for the previous twelve months. All sightings are tentative until acted upon by the Kansas Bird Records Committee (KBRC). If a sighting has been accepted, then the KBRC report number is indicated. A notation of “KBRC pending” indicates that a record has been received and is waiting for final action by the KBRC.

Acknowledgments: Thanks to Trish and Chad Remley, Chuck Otte, Mark Land, and Carol Morgan for sending in nominations, and to Max Thompson for helping in the selection process.

Honorable Mention (no particular order): Black Rail (QNWR, Stafford Co.), Curve-billed Thrasher (McPherson Co.), Purple Gallinule (Pracht Wetlands, Sedgwick Co.), Whooping Crane (Waconda CBC), Wood Stork (Marais Des Cygnes), and Short-billed Gull (Reno Co.).

TOP 10

10. Fulvous Whistling-Duck, (Dendrocygna bicolor), KBRC #2025-24 Quivira NWR, Stafford County, 6 July 2025 (first confirmed record since 2007), observed by Andrew Miller. (A second Fulvous Whistling-Duck was seen 31 July by Mark Nolen at Cheyenne Bottoms, KBRC pending.)

9. Limpkin, (Aramus guarauna),KBRC #2025-25, Neosho Wildlife Area, Neosho County, 9-27 July 2025 (23rd state record), observed by Andrew Burnett.

8. Pacific Wren, (Troglodytes pacificus), Riverside Golf Course, St. Francis, Cheyenne County, 3 December 2024, observed by Trish and Chad Remley.

7. Scott’s Oriole, (Icterus parisorum), private residence in Overland Park, Johnson County, November 2024 – May 2025, third year in a row present, observed by Steven Case. Two years ago, it was the #4 ranked species, and last year it was also #7.

6. Brambling, (Fringilla montifringilla), KBRC #2024-17, private residence in Lawrence, Douglas County, 29-31 October 2024 (3rd state record), many observers.

5. Ross´s Gull, (Rhodostethia rosea), KBRC #2025-03, Ford County playa, 31 January – 1 February 2025 (2nd state record), first observed by the McMillan’s and identified by Jeff Calhoun, subsequently found dead on the playa and preserved.

4. Slaty-backed Gull, (Larus schistisagus), KBRC #2025-04, Cheney State Park, Reno County, 3 February 2025 (1st state record), observed by Mark Nolen.

3. Sharp-tailed Sandpiper, (Calidris acuminata), KBRC #2024-23, Quivira NWR, Stafford County, 1 November 2024 (1st state record), observed by Valentina Roumi.

2. Lawrence´s Goldfinch, (Spinus lawrencei), KBRC #2025-13, Garden City, Finney County, 25 March - 2 April 2025 (1st state record), observed by Sarah Shane.

1. Tropical Parula, (Setophaga pitiayumi), KBRC #2025-21, Dillon Nature Center, Hutchinson, Reno County, 6 - 13 May 2025 (1st state record), first observed by Mark Nolen. The male was breeding with a female Northern Parula, but no details have been provided on the success of the nest.

Gene Young, 27 September 2025, KOS Fall Meeting Banquet, Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas