Iowa Bird Photos

SpeciesPhotoDate SightedLocationNotes
Black-bellied Whistling-DuckBlack-bellied Whistling-Duck1 May 2009Carroll County 
Fulvous Whistling-DuckFulvous Whistling-Duck17 July 1994Goose Lake, Clinton CountyFirst state record
Mottled DuckMale Mottled Duck7 July 2006Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFirst state record
Mottled DucksMottled Ducks4 August 2009Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountySecond state record
Mottled DuckMottled Duck14 May 2014Dunbar Slough, Greene CountyFifth state record
Harlequin DuckHarlequin Duck3 January 2015Des Moines, Polk County 
Long-tailed DuckMale Long-tailed Duck17 January 2010Pool 19, Lee County 
Snowy PloverAdult Snowy Plover3 May 1996Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFifth state record
Snowy PloverSnowy Plover3 July 2020Red Rock Reservoir, Marion CountyOne of three present and trying to breed
Bar-tailed GodwitBar-tailed Godwit6 August 2017Runnells Wildlife Area, Marion CountyFirst state record
Bar-tailed GodwitBar-tailed Godwit6 August 2017Runnells Wildlife Area, Marion CountyFirst state record
Western SandpiperJuvenile Western Sandpiper14 August 2009Red Rock Reservoir, Marion CountyA rare migrant in the state
Western SandpiperAdult Western Sandpiper29 April 2011Riverton Wildlife Area, Fremont CountyFirst photographic evidence for a spring migrant in Iowa
Red PhalaropeAn adult Red Phalarope2 October 1988Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFirst state record
Red PhalaropeA juvenile Red Phalarope18 September 2007Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County 
Red PhalaropeRed Phalarope7 June 2020Eagle Lake, Hancock CountyFirst summer record for Iowa
Pomarine JaegerJuvenile Pomarine Jaeger30 September 1988Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFirst state record
Pomarine JaegerJuvenile Pomarine Jaeger11 November 1996Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountySecond state record
Parasitic JaegerParasitic Jaeger28 August 2018Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyEarliest fall record
Ivory GullJuvenile Ivory Gull28 December 1990Red Rock Reservoir, Marion CountySecond state record
Little GullLittle Gull14 October 2017Runnells Wildlife Area, Polk County 
Laughing GullSecond year Laughing Gull25 July 2006Below Red Rock Reservoir dam, Marion CountyCasual visitor
Laughing GullAdult Laughing Gull6 September 2010Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County 
Black-tailed GullAdult Black-tailed Gull18 November 2007Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFirst state record
Short-billed GullJuvenile Mew Gull18 November 2007Red Rock Reservoir, Marion County 
California GullCalifornia Gull18 January 2021Fort Madison, Lee CountyFirst Iowa winter record
Iceland GullJuvenile Iceland Gull3 February 2007Below Lock and Dam 19, Keokuk, Lee County 
Arctic TernAdult Arctic Tern18 August 1999Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFirst state record
Royal TernAdult Royal Tern20 August 2005Rathbun Reservoir, Appanoose CountyFirst state record
Yellow-billed LoonJuvenile Yellow-billed Loon28 November 2007Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyThird state record
Wood StorkJuvenile Wood Stock4 October 2007Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountySecond state record
Magnificent FrigatebirdFemale Magnificent Frigatebird2 September 2007Spirit Lake, Dickinson CountySixth state record
Neotropic CormorantSubadult Neotropic Cormorant3 May 2008West of Riverton, Fremont CountyFourth state record
Neotropic Cormorant
 (with Double-crested Cormorant)		Subadult Neotropic Cormorant (with Double-crested Cormorant)5 July 2009Elm L., Wright CountyFifth state record
Brown BoobyBrown Booby3 September 2015Red Rock Reservoir, Marion CountyFirst state record
Brown PelicanSubadult Brown Pelican22 October 2005Below Red Rock Reservoir dam, Marlon County 
Brown PelicanSubadult Brown Pelican18 December 2007Fort Madison, Lee CountyOnly winter record for Iowa
Glossy IbisAdult Glossy Ibis29 June 2008East of Chelsea, Tama County 
Roseate SpoonbillRoseate Spoonbill30 July 2014M. U. Payne Wildlife Area, Fremont CountyFourth state record
White-tailed KiteWhite-tailed Kite19 May 2019Madison CountyThird state record
Swallow-tailed KiteSwallow-tailed Kite

 

25 August 2012Otter Creek Marsh, Tama County 
Northern Hawk OwlA Northern Hawk Owl26 February 2005Worth CountySecond state record
GyrfalconA juvenile gray morph Gyrfalcon22 December 2000Eastern Boone County 
Fork-tailed FlycatcherAn adult male Fork-tailed Flycatcher26 April 2009Near Dysart, Tama CountySecond state record
Fish CrowFish Crow20 May 2014Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFourth state record, but the first to be documented with a photograph and recordings.
Rock WrenRock Wren26 October 2019Saylorville Reservoir, Polk County 
Curve-billed ThrasherCurve-billed Thrasher

 

5 February 2012Lucas County 
Sage ThrasaherSage Thrasher4 May 2020Saylorville Reservoir, Polk CountyFourth state record
White-winged CrossbillsA pair of White-winged Crossbills15 February 2009Hampton, Franklin County 
Smith's LongspurA male Smith's Longspur11 April 2007Near Jewell, Hamilton County 
Bullock's OrioleMale Bullock's Oriole8 September 2008South of Nevada, Story County 
Swainson's WarblerSwainson's Warbler20 May 2021Ames, Story CountyFirst state record
Prairie WarblerA migrant Prairie Warbler6 September 2008Brushy Creek Recreation Area, Webster CountyA very rare record of a migrant.
Painted BuntingA female Painted Bunting12 May 2011Dunbar Slough, Greene County