Alabama is understood for its wealthy fowl range, because of its mixture of coastal marshes, river techniques, pine forests, and open fields. Whereas most fowl species recorded within the state are anticipated seasonal guests or residents, a handful are true outliers—birds that haven’t any enterprise being in Alabama, at the very least in response to discipline guides. These are the “unintentional” birds: uncommon, wayward vacationers which have strayed far exterior their regular vary.
Whether or not pushed by storms, misplaced throughout migration, or exploring uncharted territory, these unintentional sightings are greater than curiosities—they’re home windows into the hidden dynamics of avian navigation and conduct. Listed here are ten of essentially the most placing unintentional birds ever noticed in Alabama, full with their scientific names, identified habitats, and doable causes for his or her presence within the state.
Contents
- Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
- Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
- Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
- Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
- Pink-footed Booby (Sula sula)
- White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
- Inexperienced Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus)
- Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
- Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
- Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)
- Conclusion
Black-tailed Godwit (Limosa limosa)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
The Black-tailed Godwit is a big Eurasian shorebird that breeds throughout Iceland and northern Europe, with wintering grounds in Africa and components of Asia. It’s an everyday migrant, however its pure paths hardly ever carry it anyplace close to North America—not to mention Alabama.
The place and When It Was Noticed
In April 2019, a Black-tailed Godwit was photographed at Dauphin Island, a barrier island on Alabama’s Gulf Coast. This marked a extremely uncommon sighting, making a sensation amongst birders within the southeastern United States.
Pure Habitat and Habits
In its native vary, this species frequents coastal wetlands, flooded grasslands, and estuaries. The Alabama sighting confirmed the fowl foraging in shallow salt flats, which intently mimic its most popular European habitats.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
Probably the most believable concept is navigational error throughout transcontinental migration, probably aided by sturdy storm techniques or jet stream patterns that pushed the fowl off target from western Europe or Iceland.
Fork-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus savana)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
With its dramatically lengthy tail and contrasting black-and-white plumage, the Fork-tailed Flycatcher is unmistakable—and nearly by no means present in the USA. Native to Central and South America, its presence north of Mexico is exceedingly uncommon.
The place and When It Was Noticed
One was noticed in Baldwin County in November 2005, the place it remained for a number of days, delighting native birders and photographers.
Pure Habitat and Habits
This elegant flycatcher is often present in open savannas, pastures, and shrublands. It’s a extremely aerial fowl, typically seen sallying out from perches to catch flying bugs.
How It May Have Arrived
Most vagrants of this species within the U.S. are believed to be displaced by tropical storms or commerce winds. The fowl noticed in Alabama probably overshot its migration route or was carried north by Caribbean climate techniques.
Ruff (Calidris pugnax)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
The Ruff is one other Eurasian migrant that breeds in moist meadows throughout Scandinavia and Russia. Whereas it’s identified to indicate up in North America infrequently, Alabama is properly exterior its typical vagrancy vary.
The place and When It Was Noticed
In Could 2012, birders at Dauphin Island recognized a Ruff feeding amongst native shorebirds in the course of the spring migration interval.
Pure Habitat and Habits
Ruffs are gregarious in migration and infrequently affiliate with different wading birds. They forage in shallow waters, utilizing their payments to probe for bugs, mollusks, and crustaceans.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
Lengthy-distance wind patterns or transatlantic drift might have carried this particular person from Europe. Juvenile birds are particularly susceptible to navigation errors throughout their first migration.
Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
This unassuming flycatcher is a typical sight within the western United States, significantly in deserts and sagebrush flats. Its presence east of the Mississippi River could be very uncommon.
The place and When It Was Noticed
In January 2017, a Say’s Phoebe was reported in Limestone County, Alabama, foraging close to an outdated barn in open farmland.
Pure Habitat and Habits
Say’s Phoebe usually prefers dry, open areas, typically perching on low constructions and making quick forays to catch bugs.
How It May Have Arrived
Uncommon dispersal patterns—particularly amongst younger, post-breeding birds—might lead some western birds to enterprise eastward. Climate situations may have helped it drift removed from its regular territory.
Pink-footed Booby (Sula sula)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
A tropical seabird, the Pink-footed Booby is often seen solely within the Caribbean, Pacific islands, or open oceans. Inland sightings are nearly extraordinary.
The place and When It Was Noticed
In the summertime of 2009, one was shockingly found close to Guntersville Lake—removed from any ocean. It was emaciated, probably exhausted after an extended journey.
Pure Habitat and Habits
These seabirds nest on remoted islands and are professional divers, catching fish and squid from ocean waters.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
The most definitely clarification is that it was carried inland by a tropical storm or hurricane. As soon as displaced removed from the ocean, seabirds just like the Pink-footed Booby hardly ever survive lengthy.
White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
Native to Eurasia and components of Alaska, the White Wagtail is barely hardly ever noticed within the contiguous United States—and nearly by no means within the Deep South.
The place and When It Was Noticed
In December 2011, a person was noticed on the Birmingham Wastewater Remedy Plant, foraging close to the water’s edge.
Pure Habitat and Habits
The White Wagtail prefers open habitats close to water, the place it will possibly seek for bugs. It’s identified for its distinctive tail-wagging conduct.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
This fowl was probably a transatlantic vagrant, maybe from Iceland or Greenland. Younger wagtails specifically might observe atypical migration paths on account of wind drift or orientation errors.
Inexperienced Violet-ear (Colibri thalassinus)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
A stunning inexperienced hummingbird native to Mexico and Central America, the Inexperienced Violet-ear could be very hardly ever noticed within the southeastern U.S.
The place and When It Was Noticed
In July 2007, one visited a yard feeder in Cell County. It stayed for a number of days, permitting for clear photographs and identification.
Pure Habitat and Habits
It inhabits cloud forests and highland clearings. Like many hummingbirds, it’s territorial and drawn to flowering vegetation and sugar-water feeders.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
Some hummingbirds wander far throughout post-breeding dispersal. Robust southerly winds or curiosity might have led this particular person far past its identified vary.
Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
The Northern Wheatear breeds in Arctic Europe and North America, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It has one of the crucial extraordinary migration routes of any songbird.
The place and When It Was Noticed
One was seen close to Cell County within the fall of 2013, hopping alongside rocks and catching bugs.
Pure Habitat and Habits
Wheatears want open, barren areas with scattered rocks. They typically run or hop moderately than fly when feeding.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
Throughout migration, some birds fly from Greenland throughout Canada. Uncommon people might overshoot or veer southward into the southeastern U.S., particularly if disoriented.
Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
Primarily a Pacific Coast species, Allen’s Hummingbird hardly ever strays removed from California or Oregon. Wintering east of the Rockies is extremely unusual.
The place and When It Was Noticed
A banded particular person was recognized in Montgomery in winter 2016, feeding at a yard station.
Pure Habitat and Habits
Allen’s prefers coastal scrub and redwood forests. In Alabama, it visited backyard vegetation and nectar feeders.
How It May Have Arrived
Juvenile dispersal after breeding might have led this fowl astray. Delicate winters and well-stocked feeders may help temporary survival exterior its native vary.
Groove-billed Ani (Crotophaga sulcirostris)
Why It’s Thought-about Unintended in Alabama
This curious cuckoo-like fowl is present in Mexico and components of Central America. It has a patchy presence in southern Texas however is never seen elsewhere within the U.S.
The place and When It Was Noticed
Within the fall of 2003, a small group was recorded in Baldwin County. They stayed for a number of days, feeding in overgrown fields.
Pure Habitat and Habits
Anis want open scrublands, agricultural fields, and brushy clearings. They feed on bugs and small reptiles, typically foraging in teams.
How It May Have Reached Alabama
Publish-breeding dispersal mixed with favorable wind currents might have introduced these birds into Alabama from Mexico or southern Texas.
Conclusion
Unintended birds are extra than simply uncommon sightings—they’re keys to understanding fowl migration, navigation, and even environmental change. Alabama’s distinctive geography locations it on the confluence of a number of migratory routes, making it a hotspot for each anticipated vacationers and astonishing wanderers.
Every unintentional customer tells a narrative of resilience, survival, and the immense distances birds can journey. For birders and scientists alike, these uncommon appearances are reminders of how dynamic and unpredictable the pure world will be—how a fowl from Iceland, South America, or the Pacific would possibly at some point land in an Alabama marsh.
