Photo: Franklin's Gull by Michael Klotz

Despite being the most landlocked state in the union, Nebraska is full of seabirds, especially during migration. Franklin’s Gulls are a Great Plains specialty. Breeding in ponds from South Dakota to the prairie provinces of Canada, large flocks move through the Omaha metro area in spring and fall. In spring, they wear the pink belly plumage that gives them the nickname, ‘Rosy Gull.’ The coloration probably comes from their diet — wintering on South America’s western coast, they spend months eating crustaceans that contain carotenoid pigments. It’s a treat to see a flock of these gulls sporting their rosy bellies around Omaha in April or May on their way north. In autumn, when they pass back through Nebraska and Iowa on their return trip, the carotenoid pigments in their feathers will have broken down over the course of the summer, leaving them with a faint pinkish cast at most. But the migratory flocks will also have something new: the young of the year making their first autumn journey south.  You can tell the young ones apart from full adults by their lighter-colored plumage: gray hoods on their heads instead of dark black, and light brownish upper wings rather than dark gray. In other words, birds’ feathers tell a story about their life stage and where they’ve been.

Forster’s Tern is another seabird that breeds in the prairie region, including in northeastern Nebraska. In nonbreeding plumage, they have a black eyepatch and a black bill. September is the tail end of its migration through our area — most of them pass through in August — but it’s still worth a look over the skies of larger lakes and reservoirs around town. While you’re at it, keep your eyes peeled for Caspian Terns (check for a big red bill and a grayish cap), Black Terns (dark gray back and wings), and if you’re rather lucky, Common Terns (note the contrasting white forehead and dark cap). You’re nearly guaranteed to see Ring-billed Gulls anywhere near water and many spots not near water, especially landfills or wherever free food is found. But as fall progresses, also look for the larger American Herring Gull with a little red spot near the tip of its bill, and listen for their distinctive call — a yelp that sounds like “keow!” and is often used in movie soundtracks to signify that we’re near the beach.

Fall is time for landbird migration, too — warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and more — but consider appreciating Omaha’s seabird species this fall in addition to all the migrating songbirds. Gulls, terns and shorebirds speak to landlocked Nebraska’s strong connections with coasts far, far away. For the latest forecasts of bird migration in our area, visit BirdCast.info to see what species might appear in our neighborhoods and when migratory movements will hit peak numbers. And be sure to keep the lights out at night so birds can navigate by the moon and stars.

Highlights of September-October Birds

Waterbirds

• Northern Shoveler

• Gadwall

• Northern Pintail

• Green-winged Teal

• Pied-billed Grebe

Shorebirds

• Wilson’s Snipe

• Solitary Sandpiper

• Lesser Yellowlegs

• Least Sandpiper

• Pectoral Sandpiper

Seabirds

• Franklin’s Gull

• American Herring Gull

• Black Tern

• Caspian Tern

• Forster’s Tern

Landbirds

• Broad-winged Hawk

• Swainson’s Hawk

• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

• Least Flycatcher

• Blue-headed Vireo

• Ruby-crowned Kinglet

• Swainson’s Thrush

• Lincoln’s Sparrow

• LeConte’s Sparrow

• Northern Waterthrush

• Nashville Warbler

• Wilson’s Warbler

• Blackburnian Warbler

• Palm Warbler