New York isn’t just pigeons and sparrows. If you look closely, you might spot some truly rare visitors or secretive locals. These ten birds are uncommon in the state, but that just makes spotting one even more exciting.

• Painted Bunting. Most often spotted during spring migration. These rare jewels are hard to miss if you are lucky enough to see one.
• Swallow-tailed Kite. Usually found in the Southeast, but rare sightings occur in New York during migration. They glide effortlessly over forests and marshes.
• Ross’s Gull. Native to the Arctic, this small, pale pink gull has occasionally been recorded along New York’s lakes and coasts.
• Barnacle Goose. Native to Europe, this rare goose sometimes shows up among flocks of Canada Geese. Sightings usually occur in winter near lakes or open fields.
• Western Tanager. These colorful songbirds are typically western birds. They have occasionally been spotted in New York during migration, tending to stay high in trees.
• Black-backed Woodpecker. This secretive bird prefers burned forests and boreal woods. In New York, it is rarely seen and typically found in remote Adirondack regions.
• Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. A rare but exciting visitor. Native to the south-central U.S., it occasionally shows up in fields or along roadsides.
• White-winged Dove. Mostly found in the Southwest. They sometimes appear in southern parts of New York, most often spotted in warmer months.
• Prothonotary Warbler. This bright yellow warbler with blue-gray wings prefers wooded swamps and flooded forests. A few make it to New York in spring and summer.
• Boreal Owl. A small, elusive owl that lives deep in coniferous forests. Most often spotted in the Adirondacks. It is nocturnal and rarely seen.

Which rare bird do you hope to see next? Keep your eyes open and your binoculars ready. You never know what might flutter by.