Other Birds

Piping Plover
The piping plover is a “threatened” species. Piping plovers are a sand-colored, sparrow-sized shorebird that nests on sandbars in the Platte River and on sandy or gravel beaches. The bird’s name is derived from its plaintive bell-like whistles which are often heard before the bird is visible. The adult has yellow-orange legs, a black band across the forehead from eye to eye, and a black ring around the neck during the breeding season.  It runs in short starts and stops—and blends in well with open, sandy beach habitats.
Least Tern
The least tern is an “endangered species". The interior least tern, one of three least tern subspecies, breeds and nests on sandbars and beach areas in and near the Platte River.  Once called the “sea swallow” for its delicate, graceful flight, the interior least tern is distinguishable by its glossy black crown, white forehead and undersurface, pale gray black wings, and black-tipped yellow-orange bill. The long, black outermost wing feathers and the short, deeply forked tail are conspicuous in flight.

Bobolink
This summer songbird breeds in open grassy fields. The male sings a bright bubbly song in flight which gave this species its name.
  Harris’ Sparrow
This species is a winter resident of central Nebraska and can typically be seen from November through April. 
Merriam’s Turkey
The return of the wild turkey to Nebraska (and other states that historically had turkeys) is one of the great stories of wildlife management. These large birds are now a common sight across central Nebraska.


This is just a small sample of the hundreds of bird species that live in or travel through Central Nebraska. For a more complete list, be sure to Download the Bird Checklist.

Having trouble locating any of these species? Bird habitat dioramas at the Hastings Museum display more than 200 resident and migratory birds seen in Nebraska and northern Kansas. For more information about museum hours and exhibitions please visit HastingsMuseum.org.