The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Arkansas This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Arkansas this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Little Rock, then the whole state. Each species is checked against five years of confirmed sightings, and the most unusual come first.

Q: How many bird species are seen in Arkansas?

333 bird species in 64,991 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 51 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the state, so a new one of them is news.

Q: What counts as rare in Arkansas?

Near Little Rock or your own ZIP, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings within 25 miles in five years, or one that is seen there but almost never in these weeks of the year. On the statewide list, a species with 3 or fewer confirmed sightings anywhere in Arkansas.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Arkansas?

The Arkansas Bird Records Committee. From its page: “The Arkansas Bird Records Committee (BRC), comprised of five members chaired by the Curator, is responsible for reviewing and vetting reports of birds in Arkansas that are out of range, out of season, difficult to identify, or otherwise significant for the state.”

Q: How do I see rare birds near me in Arkansas?

Enter your ZIP on the rare bird alert for a list around your own spot, and check it each week in spring and fall migration, when most strays turn up. Each bird links to its iNaturalist species page with photographs and a range map.

Q: Are needs ID sightings included?

Yes, for this week only, because confirmation takes days and a rare bird may be gone by then. The five year record the week is checked against counts research grade sightings only.

Arkansas logged 64,991 confirmed bird sightings across 333 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 51 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Little Rock covers 25 miles around the city. The Arkansas Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Little Rock

Rare birds near Little Rock this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Little Rock in the last seven days, with the ones that are rare there, out of season or uncommon first and the reason for each.

Reading this week's bird sightings within 25 miles of Little Rock from iNaturalist.

Somewhere else in Arkansas? Enter your ZIP for the circle around it.

Arkansas birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

64,991

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

333

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Arkansas

Species seen 3 times or fewer

15 percent of the state list, the birds that make news

25 mi

Live circle

around Little Rock, or any ZIP you enter

Counted from iNaturalist’s research grade bird records in Arkansas from October 9, 2021 to October 1, 2026, read October 9, 2026.

Across Arkansas

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Arkansas in the last seven days, checked against the state’s own five year record: Rare here means 3 or fewer confirmed sightings in the whole state.

Reading this week's bird sightings across Arkansas from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Arkansas

333 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Arkansas over five years, and 51 of them were confirmed 3 times or fewer. A sighting of one of those is the kind a state records committee reviews before it joins the official list.

Arkansas Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Arkansas.

“The Arkansas Bird Records Committee (BRC), comprised of five members chaired by the Curator, is responsible for reviewing and vetting reports of birds in Arkansas that are out of range, out of season, difficult to identify, or otherwise significant for the state.”

Arkansas Bird Records Committee, read October 9, 2026.

Nine birders and photographers on a wooden boardwalk over a marsh, with long lenses, a spotting scope and binoculars all pointed to the left, under spring trees — Birders and photographers setting up on an overlook. Word of an unusual bird travels this way: one person posts a photograph, and the people nearby go and look. “Birdwatchers stop to set up equipment at overlook”, Steve Hillebrand, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain

Arkansas rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Arkansas this week?

How many bird species are seen in Arkansas?

What counts as rare in Arkansas?

Who confirms rare bird records in Arkansas?

How do I see rare birds near me in Arkansas?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Arkansas birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Arkansas fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Arkansas hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Arkansas eagle watchingWhere bald eagles gather in winter.Arkansas winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.Arkansas duck migrationWhen the ducks come through.

Rare birds in other states

Sightings and records from iNaturalist, read live for this week. The lists are built from counts per species, and each bird links to its species page. For your own spot, enter a ZIP on the rare bird alert.