The last seven days on iNaturalist, checked against five years

Rare Birds in Wisconsin This Week

Q: What rare birds are in Wisconsin this week?

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

396 bird species in 168,911 confirmed iNaturalist sightings between 2021-10-09 and 2026-10-01. 39 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 Wisconsin?

Near Milwaukee 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 Wisconsin.

Q: Who confirms rare bird records in Wisconsin?

The WSO Records Committee. From its page: “The primary purpose of the WSO Records Committee is to evaluate records of birds found in the state of Wisconsin, including rare species, rare nesting records, or unusual seasonal occurrences.”

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

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.

Wisconsin logged 168,911 confirmed bird sightings across 396 species on iNaturalist in five years, and 39 of those species have 3 or fewer confirmed sightings. The live list near Milwaukee covers 25 miles around the city. The WSO Records Committee reviews rare bird records here.

Near Milwaukee

Rare birds near Milwaukee this week

Every bird posted within 25 miles of Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee from iNaturalist.

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

Wisconsin birds on the record

iNaturalist, research grade

168,911

Confirmed bird sightings

research grade iNaturalist records, five years

396

Bird species on record

seen and confirmed in Wisconsin

Species seen 3 times or fewer

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

25 mi

Live circle

around Milwaukee, or any ZIP you enter

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

Across Wisconsin

The whole state this week

Every bird reported anywhere in Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin from iNaturalist.

What turns up here

Who confirms a rare bird in Wisconsin

396 bird species have confirmed iNaturalist records in Wisconsin over five years, and 39 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.

WSO Records Committee

The committee reviews rare bird records in Wisconsin.

“The primary purpose of the WSO Records Committee is to evaluate records of birds found in the state of Wisconsin, including rare species, rare nesting records, or unusual seasonal occurrences.”

WSO 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

Wisconsin rare bird questions

What rare birds are in Wisconsin this week?

How many bird species are seen in Wisconsin?

What counts as rare in Wisconsin?

Who confirms rare bird records in Wisconsin?

How do I see rare birds near me in Wisconsin?

Are needs ID sightings included?

More for Wisconsin birders

Rare birds near any ZIPEnter a ZIP for this week’s unusual birds around it.Wisconsin fall migrationWhen the big flights pass over.Wisconsin hummingbird migrationWhen they arrive and when they leave.Wisconsin eagle watchingWhere bald eagles gather in winter.Wisconsin snowy owlsWhere the winter irruptions reach.Wisconsin sandhill crane migrationWhere the cranes stage and when.

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.