The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Oklahoma This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Oklahoma this week?

The lists above, read live from iNaturalist: first the birds within 25 miles of Oklahoma City, 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 Oklahoma?

440 bird species in 70,960 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 74 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 Oklahoma?

Near Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Oklahoma?

The Oklahoma Bird Records Committee. From its page: “With eBird and the increase in numbers of incoming records evaluated under a similar format for supporting observations, the OBRC withdrew from formally evaluating most of the seasonal and regional rarities to what is now a review of more exceptional state records.”

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

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.

Oklahoma logged 70,960 confirmed bird sightings across 440 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 74 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Oklahoma City covers 25 miles around the city. The Oklahoma Bird Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Oklahoma City

Rare birds near Oklahoma City this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Oklahoma City 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 Oklahoma City from iNaturalist.

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

Oklahoma birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

70,960

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

440

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Oklahoma

Species seen 3 times or fewer

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

25 mi

Live circle

around Oklahoma City, or any ZIP you enter

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

Across Oklahoma

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Oklahoma

440 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Oklahoma over five years, and 74 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.

Oklahoma Bird Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Oklahoma.

“With eBird and the increase in numbers of incoming records evaluated under a similar format for supporting observations, the OBRC withdrew from formally evaluating most of the seasonal and regional rarities to what is now a review of more exceptional state records.”

Oklahoma 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

Oklahoma rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Oklahoma this week?

How many bird species are seen in Oklahoma?

What counts as rare in Oklahoma?

Who confirms rare bird records in Oklahoma?

How do I see rare birds near me in Oklahoma?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Oklahoma birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Oklahoma fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Oklahoma hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Oklahoma eagle watchingWhere bald eagles gather in winter.Oklahoma sandhill crane migrationWhere the cranes stage and when.Oklahoma winter birdsWhat comes to the feeder when it snows.

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.