Date: 4/22/26 12:02 pm From: Stephen Broker via CTBirds <ctbirds...> Subject: [CT Birds] Breeding Codes and Safe Dates for our Connecticut Birds - Part Two
The 2026 spring migration now is underway, and it is appropriate to begin thinking about evidence of breeding birds. The breeding codes should be applied in the context of published safe dates. As of this writing (April 22), a number of our bird species do fall within their safe dates, including Rock Pigeon and Mourning Dove, Common Raven and American Crow, Pileated and Red-bellied woodpeckers, Wild Turkey, Canada Goose and Mute Swan, Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed hawks, chickadees, titmice, cardinals, and a few others. The codes for possible, probable, and confirmed breeding can properly be applied now for these species. The majority of bird species, including vireos, catbirds, thrashers, veery, warblers, and grosbeaks, have not yet entered their safe dates, and they are best considered now as arriving migrants - not yet ready for breeding codes.
The important exception to the Safe Dates rule is confirmation of breeding outside the published safe date, by any of the appropriate codes, which include nest building, occupied nest, nest with eggs, nest with young, recently fledged young, and feeding young. Two examples of birds for which there is confirmed breeding before their safe dates are Peregrine Falcon and Common Raven. My long-term studies of cliff nesting peregrines show that they can begin laying eggs as early as the last week in March, and invariably by the first ten days of April, even though their safe dates are from May 15 to August 1. My long-term studies of ravens include confirmation of egg-laying as early as February 23, even though their safe dates start up much later in March. When there is no evidence confirming breeding, these and other species observed before the start of safe dates should not be listed as possible or probable breeders.
Steve Broker
Cheshire
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