Sprague's Pipit (Anthus spragueii), Tin House Valley, Coconino County

These Sprague's Pipits were found by Felipe Guerrero and David Vander Pluym on 12 November 2017 and photographed by David Vander Pluym on the same date.

3-4 individuals were found on this date with the bird on the ground different from the bird in flight.

This species winters regularly in southeast Arizona but is extremely rare north of there. This represents a first Coconino County record and perhaps only the second for northern Arizona. Declining throughout its range and now a Candidate Species under the Endangered Species Act. Candidate Species are those species that may qualify for Endangered Species protection but for which the FWS has not had time or funding to prepare formal documentation.

Streaked back, blank and "wide eyed" facial expression with buffy auriculars separate this species from the common American Pipit.

12 November 2017, photo by David Vander Pluym