LeConte's Sparrow (Ammodramus leconteii), Wild Burro Canyon, Pima County

This LeConte's Sparrow was found and photographed by Jennifer Hayduk on 26 September 2017 and also photographed by Chris McCreedy, Andrew Core, Laurens Halsey, and Ken Murphy on 27 September.

If accepted by the ABC, this would represent the third record for Arizona. The first was in Mohave County, 29 November 1981. The second was also in Pima County, wintering in 2004-2005.

This bird can be identified by a combination of features illustrated in the photos below. It is a short-tailed, flat-headed sparrow, typical of the genus Ammodramus. It is buffy-colored overall with a contrasting white belly, white edging on the tertials forming a white streak on the folded wing, fine dark streaking across the breast and flanks, and a finely streaked nape. The face pattern is sparse with grayish auriculars bordered above with a triangular streak behind the eye, and a dark spot behind the auriculars. The lores are pale. The crown has two broad dark lateral stripes bordering a white median stripe.

26 September 2017, photo by Jennifer Hayduk

 

27 September 2017, photo by Chris McCreedy

 

27 September 2017, photo by Andrew Core

 

27 September 2017, photo by Laurens Halsey

 

27 September 2017, photo by Ken Murphy

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