High Codes (ABA Code 3+)

[Liam]

Hi all, 

Here's a thread to share your pics of ABA Code 3, 4, or 5 birds. You can see codes here: http://listing.aba.org/checklist/ABA_Checklist-8.0.2.pdf

Please only share your photos taken in the ABA area (includes Hawaii).

For those who aren't aware of the ABA's code system, each species is assigned a code based on how commonly it occurs in the ABA area. eBird has an article here: https://help.ebird.org/customer/portal/articles/1101706-aba-codes-and-ebird

Enjoy!

[Liam]

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl: Code 3

Cameron County, TX

Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Aplomado Falcon: Code 3

Old Port Isabel Road, TX

IMG_3940 by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Black-capped Gnatcatcher: Code 3

Madera Canyon, AZ

Black-capped Gnatcatcher by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

IMG_6473 by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Clay-colored Thrush: Code 3

Hidalgo, TX

IMG_2488 by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Five-striped Sparrow: Code 3

California Gulch, AZ

Five-striped Sparrow by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

Rufous-capped Warbler: Code 3

Florida Canyon, AZ

Rufous-capped Warbler by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

Rufous-capped Warbler by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

 

Edited July 7, 2018 by Liam

[Liam]

Northern Lapwing, Code 4

Statesboro, GA

Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus)! by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Tufted Flycatcher, Code 4

Ramsey Canyon, AZ

Tufted Flycatcher by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

Carr Canyon, AZ

Tufted Flycatcher by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Slate-throated Redstart: Code 4

Pinery Canyon, AZ

Slate-throated Redstart by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

IMG_8562 by Liam Wolff, on Flickr

 

Edited July 7, 2018 by Liam

[stitch58]

Tufted Duck: Code 3

Tufted Duck - Parvin State Park by Greg Miller, on Flickr

Barnacle Goose: Code 4

Barnacle Goose by Greg Miller, on Flickr

Pink-footed Goose: Code 4

Pink-footed Goose by Greg Miller, on Flickr

 

 

 

[redcoot]

I can kind of cheat with this one, but here is a small flock of Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse (aba code 3) and a pair of Eurasian Skylark.

 

Edited August 3, 2018 by redcoot

[stitch58]

Code 3: Fork-tailed Flycatcher

Fork-tailed Flycatcher by Greg Miller, on Flickr

Code 5: Whiskered Tern

Whiskered Tern by Greg Miller, on Flickr

Code 3: Curlew Sandpiper

For ID - Curlew Sandpiper by Greg Miller, on Flickr

Code 3: Common Greenshank

For ID - Common Greenshank by Greg Miller, on Flickr

Code 4: White-winged Tern

Old Shot - White-winged Tern by Greg Miller, on Flickr

[Jerry Friedman]

Not much of a picture, but you asked...

Code 5: Rufous-necked Wood-Rail

[redcoot]

Horrible photo, but here's my first Ruff (ABA Code 3):

[Saul Panzer]

Ivory Gull: Code 3

St. Louis County, MN

Ivory Gull by Fred Durkin, on Flickr

[Jim W]

I am in Florida on holiday and was planning a visit to Everglades National Park.  I stumbled on a rare bird alert (I rarely check these) for a La Sagra’s Flycatcher (ABA 3) that has consistently been seen over the last several weeks not far from the Royal Palm Visitor Center.  The location was only about 1 mile out of the way from my planned route so I decided to give it a shot.  The night before, I studied up on the La Sagra’s distinct “weet” call.  When I got to the location yesterday, I saw a couple of cars parked on the side of the road and saw three birders looking into the treeline next to the road.  As soon as I got out of my car, I distinctly heard the “weet” call.  It was so crystal clear and identical to the recordings I had studied that I thought “crap, one of the birders is playing a recording to draw it out” (I am not a fan of using recordings to attract birds).  Turns out the birders were not playing recordings and I was hearing the bird.  Eventually it came out to the trees near the road.  It was nice enough to perch on a branch directly above me and call out.  It then sat there for some pictures.  Ten minute stop and I had my first ABA 3...

 

 

[blackburnian]

La Sagra’s is code 4, no? 

[blackburnian]

https://www.aba.org/rare-bird-alert-february-14-2020/

I guess the ABA rare bird alert has it wrong, as the checklist has it as code 3. 

[chipperatl]

Drama-mama - Spotted Redshank

 

[blackburnian]

Here are some shots that I can readily access. 

Code 3:

Tufted Duck:

IMG_9266 by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

Little Gull:

little gull by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

Black-headed Gull:

IMG_4584 by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

Rose-throated Becard:

IMG_9753 by Ryan  Justice, on Flickr

Black-capped Gnatcatcher:

IMG_3428 by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

Five-striped Sparrow:

IMG_4554 by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

Shiny Cowbird:

IMG_6041 by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

 

Code 4:

Barnacle Goose:

IMG_7367 by Ryan Justice, on Flickr

Northern Lapwing:

Northern Lapwing by Ryan  Justice, on Flickr

[blackburnian]

Have only ever seen 4 other highly coded birds: Common Ringed Plover (3), Ruff (3), Masked Booby (3), and Little Egret (4).

Need to work on that.

[birdbrain22]

Did this quite a while ago...but I guess now is good for an update I have pics of many of these somewhere.

CODE 3: 11 species- Tufted Duck, A Flamingo, Ruff, C. Greenshank, Curlew Sandpiper, Ivory Gull, Red-tailed Tropicbird, Great Frigatebird, LaSagra's FC, Fork-tailed FC, and Oahu Elepaio

CODE 4: 10 species- Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Corn Crake, N. Lapwing, N. Jacana, Black-tailed Godwit, Little Egret, Thick-billed Vireo, Western Spindalis, and Bannaquit

CODE 5: 1 species- Whiskered Tern  

Edited February 23, 2020 by birdbrain22
forgot Curlew Sandpiper

[birdbrain22]

5 hours ago, blackburnian said:

Have only ever seen 4 other highly coded birds: Common Ringed Plover (3), Ruff (3), Masked Booby (3), and Little Egret (4).

Need to work on that.

just an FYI..... they seemed to have lowered both Black-headed and Little Gulls to code 2 level. I was unaware as well until i just went through the DEC 2019 list

[blackburnian]

11 minutes ago, birdbrain22 said:

just an FYI..... they seemed to have lowered both Black-headed and Little Gulls to code 2 level. I was unaware as well until i just went through the DEC 2019 list

That’s unfortunate. I understand Little Gull, but why Black-headed? They seem quite rare nationally. 

[Melierax]

I havent chased too many rare birds. My best was Ivory Gull (code 3):

I'm pretty sure that's my first and only code 3. 

[Seattle]

I GOT ONE!!  Code 4  Siberian Accentor in Washington State

 

[AlexHenry]

Back on New Years Day 2014... Sinaloa Wren at Fort Huachuca - pretty sure this is still the rarest I have seen

[AlexHenry]

Sometimes certain Code 2 birds can be tougher than higher code birds though - whether it is because their range is restricted, their habitat remote or difficult to navigate, their numbers overall small, their occurence unpredictable, their behavior secretive, or a combination of these. Something like a Yellow Rail, or even White-winged Crossbills, can be surprisingly hard to find.

Code 3+ birds usually show up on rare bird alerts with directions on how to see them and are often chasable, although there are always those "one-day wonders". But they are unusual enough that they are very exciting nonetheless.

[Bird-Boys]

2 rarities:

1. Emperor Goose!!

2. Red-necked Grebe

San Simeon, CA

[AlexHenry]

16 hours ago, Bird-Boys said:

2 rarities:

1. Emperor Goose!!

2. Red-necked Grebe

San Simeon, CA

Dang I didn't know there were any Emperor Geese in the state right now! They must have just shown up

Only a 4 hour drive - I could get there this evening if I really wanted, but is it worth it? 400 mile round trip drive vs lifer... hmm

[AlexHenry]

By the way, that's an amazing photo of those geese! Ultimately impulse control won over and I am not gonna go try to see them tonight