Rufous-winged Sparrow (Aimophila carpalis ), Guadalupe Canyon Gate, Cochise County

This Rufous-winged Sparrow was photographed by Cole Wolf on 28 June 2009.

Rufous-winged Sparrow is generally rare east of Pima County.  Guadelupe Canyon is as far east as this species has occurred so far in the US.  The first record from Guadalupe Canyon came in August 2003, when Rich Hoyer discovered a bird a mile up the canyon from the gate. Troy Corman reported that an AZFO expedition to the area in July 2007 found one or two birds at the gate. As is the case with this bird, both previous records are of singing birds, presumably males. Rufous-winged Sparrows are not known to be migratory, so these records may represent an attempted range expansion or simply dispersal by young males. This species has never been recorded in New Mexico, so a bird in the New Mexico portion of the canyon should be documented for submission to the NMBRC.

28 June 2009, photo by Cole Wolf