KOS Top 10 Birds of the Year October 2022 - October 2023

List compiled by Eugene Young

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.

Good birds not making the list: Worm-eating Warbler in northwest Kansas, Black-chinned Hummingbirds in western Kansas, and Northern Waterthrush in Western Kansas.

Honorable Mention:

(33) Common Terns (Reno County)

Black-legged Kittiwake (Coffey County)

Barrow’s Goldeneye

Steller’s Jay (Norton and Stafford Counties)

Canyon Towhee (Morton County, including possible breeding record)

Ash-throated Flycatcher (Douglas County, easterly and late in the year)

Sage Thrasher (Sedgwick County)

TOP 10

10. Black-throated Sparrows (Amphispiza bilineata): immature seen near a small playa in Gove County on 23 August 2023 by Christopher Frick (KBRC pending); Franklin and Dwight Miller at Point of Rocks in Morton County, 4 September 2023 (KBRC pending), and Sara and Tom Shane in Garden City, Finney County, 14 September 2023.

9. Short-billed Gull (Larus brachyrhynchus), KBRC #2022-29, first cycle, 3 December 2022, at John Redmond Reservoir, Coffey County by Mark Land, also seen by Matt Gearheart, Malcolm Gold, Sherry Leonardo, Eric Dyck, and Eileen Land. Documented with photographs. Fifteenth state record.

8. Limpkin (Aramus guarauna), KBRC #2022-32, adult, 24 October – 15 November 2022, at Heritage Lake, Heritage Park, Olathe, Johnson County by George Chiu. Documented with photographs. Tenth state record. There were additional Limpkin sightings (10+) in the state through early October 2023.

7. Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), KBRC #2022-25, immature male, 18 – 22 October 2022, in Garden City, Finney County, by Sara Shane. Documented with photographs. Thirteenth state record.

6. Painted Redstart, (Myioborus pictus), (KBRC pending) Dave Wiggins, Elkhart Shelterbelt, Morton County, 28 April 2023. Eighth state record.

5. Bronzed Cowbird (Molothrus aeneus), Phil Chaon, Arkalon Park, Seward County, 8 June 2023. Fourth state record.

4. Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum), KBRC #2022-33, immature male, 5 December 2022 – April 8, 2023, at a residence in Overland Park, Johnson County, by Steven Case, also seen by many other observers. Third state record.

3. American Flamingo (Phoenicopterus ruber), (KBRC pending) Chase County State Fishing Lake, Chase County, first observed by Joanie Flanagan and Ingrid Martin (German visiting friend), 27 October 2023 to 9 October 2023. Third state record.

2. Brambling (Fringilla montifringilla),(KBRC pending), Brenda Holm, Abilene backyard, Dickinson County,  18-23 March 2023. Second state record

1. Mexican Duck (Anas diazi), (if accepted by KBRC it would be the first state record), David Tønnessen, Syracuse River Access & Ponds, Hamilton County, 11 May 2023.