IBRC 168-B-10

Idaho Bird Records Committee
Rarities Report Form

Species:  McCown’s Longspur

Reporter: (include address, phone, e-mail):
1. Cheryl Huizinga, 15140 Christopher Street, Caldwell, ID  83607; 208-880-5687; bchuizinga@cableone.net

2.   Denise Hughes, 1802 E. Maple Street, Caldwell, ID  83605; 208-850-5885; deniseh449@gmail.com

Other Observers:  
Jay Carlisle (carlislejay@yahoo.com)
Heidi Ware (heidithebirdnerd@yahoo.com)

Date Report Prepared:  12/12/2010
Date Sighting Occurred:  12/5/2010

Locality of Observation:    On Rim Road approximately 1000 feet south of the intersection of Rim and Melmont Roads, in south Canyon County, Idaho
Habitat:  Plowed farmland
Conditions:  Snow covered fields (several inches), partly sunny when first sighted, heavy fog at end of sighting.

Did you take notes…No

Did you consult a field guide or other reference work?  During the observation and after the sighting
What guide(s) or reference(s) did you consult?  Sibley’s, National Geographic; Jay later examined many pictures of McCown’s online (Google image search)

Description: While scanning Horned Larks that were feeding in the roadway, we spotted one bird that was definitely not a Horned Lark.  It didn’t have the coloring of the Lapland Longspurs that we had just been watching in a different flock.  Cheryl pulled out her scope and I had my binoculars.  We called out field marks to each other: tail mostly white with black on tip and at center, pinkish bill, broad pale supercilium, brown cheek, and some dark coloration on chest.  It also had a relatively short tail, which gave it a chunky look compared to the Horned Larks and to the Lapland Longspurs we’d all seen that day. We eliminated the other longspurs in the field guide and determined we were looking at a McCown’s Longspur. But, we wanted verification of our finding so we called Jay. After Jay and Heidi arrived, the bird also called several times; a rattle-like call that was richer and more ‘voicy’ than the Lapland call.
Behavior:  Feeding in roadway or along shoulder of road with Horned Larks.  Walked very short distance; flew with Horned Larks when Northern Harrier flew above the flock or if scared by our movement. When Jay & Heidi arrived, it (as well as the lark flock) was about 50m away from the road in a narrow row of weeds. They soon flew back to the road, which allowed views of the tail coloration and overall shape.

How and when did you positively identify the bird, and what clinched the identification for you?  After consulting our field guide and eliminating other species we were convinced that we were looking at a McCown’s Longspur.  But as this is a new species for us, we decided to call a more experienced birder for backup so we called Jay (who was on his way home from birding this general area and, luckily, still pretty close by).  We described the bird to Jay and asked if there was anything else we should be looking for.  Based on our description, he got excited and returned to the area with Heidi and they also saw the bird.
How did you eliminate similar species, and what were they?  Lapland Longspurs are usually found in this area during the winter months.  The Lapland Longspurs have rufous coloring on the nape and wings, but there was no rufous on this bird.  We saw the bird fly several times and saw the tail feathers.  Other species with similar appearance include Chestnut-collared Longspur or, possibly, a female House Sparrow (b/c of the broad supercilium). The House Sparrow was eliminated by the rattle call as well as the short tail with the distinctive black-&-white pattern. Chestnut-collared Longspur has more black on the tail in a subtly different pattern (we all saw the black T – consisting of the central feathers and a terminal tip on every other feather – contrasting with white) and also has a smaller bill, more patterned auriculars, and a somewhat less contrasty or bold supercilium.

Experience with this species (and similar species):  Cheryl and Denise had never seen this species but have seen Lapland Longspurs several times. Heidi had seen Chestnut-collared and McCown’s in Montana this summer but none in winter plumage. Jay has more experience with all the longspurs, including call notes, but less so in winter.
General birding experience:  Good

Were photo(s), video, and/or audio obtained by you? (If yes, please include or attach) Yes, see attached images by Jay Carlisle (b/c pictures were taken after fog rolled in, the lighting was very low and the pictures are poor-quality. Thus, they were edited by Cliff Weisse using Photoshop in order to better show the birds coloration & shape)

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