Unusual Birds Captured at Powdermill Avian Research Center
Learn about the Terminology we use on these pages on our Education Page.
| American Bittern | The American Bittern is a regular spring and fall migrant at Powdermill. But this bird, captured in 2001, is only the third one ever banded here (the others were in May 1986 and October 1998). |
| Possible Bay-breasted Warbler X Blackpoll Warbler | In May 2001, we banded a possible hybrid: Bay-breasted Warbler X Blackpoll Warbler. |
| Clay-colored Sparrow | The Clay-colored Sparrow is another rare bird at Powdermill with only 3 individuals ever being banded. |
| Kirtland's Warbler | The rarest bird ever banded at Powdermill is this Kirtland’s Warbler captured in 1971 when there were estimated to be about 200 males in the global population of this species (~1,400 today). |
| Le Conte's Sparrow | A single Le Conte’s Sparrow was banded in 1991. |
| Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrow |
A Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow (Ammodramus nelsonii) was banded at Powdermill Biological Station on 30 September 2000. |
| Owl - Long-eared Owl | We have only banded a single long-eared owl at Powdermill and it was a bird that was brought in from a local farm. Other than being a bit dazed, the bird was fine and was banded and released. |
| Owls - Saw-whet and Recaptured Eastern Screech Owl | A hatchling year Saw-whet Owl poses for pictures and a two recaptured Eastern Screech Owls. |
| Painted Bunting | The only Painted Bunting caught at Powdermill is this SY male that was far off course when it was captured in 1996. |
| Prothonatory Warbler | Although we are included in the breeding range of the Prothonotary Warbler, only 7 have been banded at Powdermill. |
| Rufous Hummingbird | An unusual capture in the Eastern United States, we have several captures (and great photos) of Rufous Hummingbirds from 2004-2007. |
| Scarlet Tanager Variant | In 2003, we captured an unusual variant of a Scarlet Tanager. |
| Sutton's Warbler | Sutton's Warbler that was captured during spring 2008. This is a well documented hybrid between the Northern Parula and the Yellow-throated Warbler, and this individual is the only one that has been captured at Powdermill. |
| Swainson's Warbler | The Swainson’s Warbler is a breeder in the southeastern United States that occasionally shows up in Pennsylvania. In total, 6 individuals have been banded at Powdermill, with 2 of those occurring in 2010. |
| Yellow Warbler, unknown subspecies | A hatching year female Yellow Warbler (Dendroica petechia, subspecies?) banded on September 19, 2002. |