epic

Common Grackle over migration watchpoint Kamperhoek on 8 April 2013 – one of 58 species recorded once in the Netherlands.

Epic rarities

Macqueen's Bustard (1850), Belted Kingfisher (1899), Northern Shrike (1909), Chestnut Bunting (1937), White-faced Storm Petrel (1974), Dalmatian Pelican (1976), Cabot's Tern (1978), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1982), Indigo Bunting (1983), Harlequin Duck (1983), Spectacled Warbler (1984), Sykes's Warbler (1986), Northern Mockingbird (1988) and Bridled Tern (1989) are all on the Dutch list with only a pre-1990 record. More recent extreme rarities include Canvasback, Dark-sided Flycatcher and Siberian Pipit, all since 2023.

A full list of over 200 rare bird species, ranked by the number of records, the last year they were recorded in and whether they were seen by many birders, can be found here (xlsx, last updated 17/1/2025).

If accepted, the recently recorded Red-necked Stint will drop significantly in the ranking, while Spectacled Eider, Pacific Loon and Pechora Pipit will be new on the list.