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A rare Yellow Grosbeak visiting a bird feeder near Berryville, Arkansas, is drawing in birders from all over the state and country. Homeowner Shianne Hunnicutt has hosted nearly 50 birders from nine states to see this bird, which is rarely seen outside of its home range in Mexico.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 2/24/25
Berryville, Arkansas: On Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, Shianne Hunnicutt posted pictures of an unusual bird on her feeder to the Arkansas Birds Facebook group with the simple question, “Anyone know what type of bird this is?” Little did she know that by the end of the day, thousands of birders all over the country would be sharing these photos, marveling at the rarity of this sighting, and clamoring for a chance to see it in person.
The bird Shianne photographed was quickly identified as a Yellow Grosbeak, a robin-sized bird with a bright yellow head and body, black and white wings, and a stout bill designed for feeding on fruiting trees in the foothills and highlands of its native range in west Mexico. This species occasionally wanders into the United States but almost always in the Southwestern states of Arizona and New Mexico. A sighting anywhere east of Texas is completely unexpected, with only one such record in Iowa in 1990, until now.
Shianne’s Yellow Grosbeak photos immediately made their way through state and national social media channels with many birders asking about access to see the bird. Fortunately, two local birders, Judy Griffith and Don Matt, lived just down the road from Shianne’s property and reached out to make a quick visit that afternoon to confirm the sighting and get more photos. The next day, more visitors from the Arkansas Bird Records Committee and the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society were invited to see the bird and help make a plan for how others could visit while respecting the privacy of the family. Visiting hours were arranged the following Sunday, and instructions were shared widely.
By the afternoon of Sunday, February 23rd, the bird was still visiting the feeder, and visiting hours were officially open. Nearly 40 birders showed up from all over the country: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, North Carolina, Florida, Indiana, Alabama, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and all over Arkansas. Visiting hours are set to continue Monday and Tuesday as long as the bird stays, and birders are still interested in visiting.
Visiting hours and the status of the bird are kept up-to-date here: https://bit.ly/yegrar
Taylor Long
Patty McLean
Shianne Hunnicutt (homeowner)