| Common Name | Lark Sparrow |
|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chondestes grammacus |
| Type of Report | Rare Species |
| Date of Observation | 12/09/2024 |
| Number Observed | 1 |
| Reporting Observer's Name | Martha Adams |
| Mailing Address | 213 Gage St Apt 203 Bellows Falls, VT 05101 United States Map It |
| Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
| Date Completed | 04/11/2025 |
| Latitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Longitude of Observation (enter 0 if unable to provide) | 0 |
| Place Name | D&R Auto Repair |
| Township | Westminster |
| County | Windham |
| Vermont eBird Checklist URL | ebird.org |
| Time of Day | 09:20 AM |
| Length of Time Observed | around 5 minutes, I think, but most of that time it was mostly hidden. |
| Maximum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 100 |
| Minimum Estimated Distance from Bird (in feet) | 80 |
| Optical Equipment Used for Observation | Nikon scope 75x 60x 40x |
| Observer’s Previous Acquaintance With This or Similar Species | Seen (and photographed) two separate times in Los Angeles County, CA in February 2023, and twice in Kleberg County, Texas in January 2024. |
| I certify that any attachments included with this report were captured during this observation event. | |
| Description of Habitat | Seen in a patch of dry vegetation with a piece of machinery on it foraging with a group of 9 DEJUs (slate colored). |
| Behaviors Observed | The LASP was foraging with the DEJUs. I didn’t notice any interaction among them. They all continued foraging while I got my scope out of the car and watched. The LASP moved to a spot where I couldn’t see it, but I didn’t see it fly so I assumed it was still there. When I turned to get my camera out of the car the group flushed. |
| Description of Vocalizations | None |
| Verbal Narrative & Description of Observation | I could see there was a sparrow in with the juncos, but all I could see for awhile was its brown stripey back because it kept its head down while foraging. I could tell it had a long tail. It finally popped its head up several times to give me several quick looks. Striking white median crown stripe with chestnut brown on either side. Very contrasty face. White eyebrow, black eyeline, chestnut patch on side of face. Black malar stripe, white above it. White throat blending to pale grey. No streaking. |
| Relative Size & Shape | About the size of a SOSP or ATSP, both of which I thought of as possibilities when I first saw there was a sparrow in with the juncos. |
| Head | (Covered in my description of observation.) |
| Feet & Bill | Non-descript sparrow bill. I couldn’t get a color (i.e. not yellow or pink). I didn’t see its legs or feet because it never came out of the vegetation. |
| Upper Back | Brown stripey. |
| Lower Back & Rump | Couldn’t see. |
| Wings | Wings also mostly hidden in the vegetation. |
| Breast, Belly, Flanks, Under Tail Coverts | Darn that vegetation. Upper breast was white/pale grey, and there was no streaking. |
| Tail | Also mostly hidden, but I could see it was long. |
| IMPORTANT: What similar species were eliminated when making the identification and how was this bird different? | Song Sparrow wouldn’t have as bold a median crown stripe, and would have a greyer face without chestnut brown. I would also have been able to see streaking on the upper breast. |
| Other Notes & Comments | Adult. |
| This report was written from notes taken: | Immediately After |
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