Sighting Record for Utah

Common name:	Cassin's Sparrow
Scientific name:	Peucaea cassinii
Date:	July 16, 2020
Time:	8:20 am
Length of time observed:	Observed: About 30 seconds at close range.
Number:	1
Age:	Unknown
Sex:	Unknown
Location:	Desert Lake WMA
County:	Emery
Latilong:	Approximately 39 degrees 22 minutes, -110 degrees 47 minutes, or 39.37, -110.78
Elevation:	Approximately 5,600 feet
Distance to bird:	About 10 feet
Optical equipment:	It was close enough that I was concerned that attempting to raise my binoculars would scare it away, so just my eyes.
Weather:	Sunny and calm
Light Conditions:	Early morning sun
Description: Size of bird:	The size of an average to slightly larger than average sparrow.
(Description:) Basic Shape:	Typical sparrow shape, not as big and stocky as White-crowned Sparrow, for example, but not small and slender like Chipping Sparrow either.
(Description:) Overall Pattern:	Overall_Pattern: Brownish-gray above, with darker brown patterns on the back. Plain grayish breast and underside. I did not notice any streaking on breast, definitely no dark spots.
(Description:) Bill Type:	Typical sparrow-shaped bill, not really large but somewhat longer than that of Brewer's or Chipping Sparrow.
(Description:) Field Marks and Identifying Characteristics:	I went to this spot using coordinates previously reported on eBird, with the goal of finding this specific bird. I had studied the field guides and was somewhat concerned about the lack of distinguishing field marks, thinking I might not be able to identify it conclusively. (I'm not an expert by any means.) I had decided beforehand that my best bet would be to eliminate other possible sparrows based on their field marks, size, etc. I was mostly concerned about confusion with Brewer's Sparrow, which is also pretty nondescript. I pulled into the parking area beside a gate that blocked the access road. No one was around, and I decided not to go past the gate, as some others have been able to do with permission. I first scanned the brush to the east and listened, standing in the shade of the big railroad-tie post. For several minutes it was essentially silent, with a bit of distant indistinct twittering of some kind along with some Canada Geese calling from the direction of the pond to the northeast. No bird movement was observed in the brush to the east or in the small trees near the parking area. My next step was to play the recording on Cornell's Merlin app. While standing quietly in the shade of the post (with my camera still in the pickup, unfortunately), I played the "Song" and "Calls and complex song" from that app. Within seconds, a bird landed on the fence just to the south of me, about 10 feet away. Not daring to move or raise my binoculars (it was so close I didn't really need them), I quickly scanned the bird for field marks that would readily identify it as a Lark Sparrow,or Vesper Sparrow, or Savannah Sparrow. It obviously wasn't a Black-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, or any other sparrow I could think of that might be in that habitat. The easy field marks were absent. I focused on the side of the head, looking for any slightly darker ear patch that might indicate it was a Brewer's Sparrow. I have seen several Brewer's Sparrows at close range this summer, and the bird seemed to be a bit bigger and a bit chunkier than a Brewer's or Chipping Sparrow, but not by much. At about this time it flew off to the east and I didn't see it again. I admit that I wouldn't be able to distinguish a Cassin's Sparrow from another Peucaea, which I haven't seen before either, but given that it responded quickly to the recording, coming right to the source (and coming from the east, as it did, it couldn't have seen me behind the post until it landed on the fence), and given that several birders more experienced than I am have reported seeing a Cassin's Sparrow at this location in the last few days, and given that I could eliminate almost all other sparrows that would be typically found in a dry, brushy habitat in the middle of Utah, I feel pretty confident in the identification.
Song or call & method of delivery:	None heard.
Behavior:	It flew from the east and landed on the fence just a few feet away from me right after I played a recording of its song and call. We both stood there motionless eyeing each other for about 30 seconds, and then it flew back to the east. I followed its flight until it disappeared into the brush.
Habitat:	Dry, brushy desert.
Similar species and how were they eliminated:	I pretty much described this above, but to emphasize, it did not have the white breast with dark spot and colorful head of a Lark Sparrow; it did not have the darkly-outlined ear patch or the streaked breast of a Vesper Sparrow; it had no black throat or chin; it did not have the prominent eyebrow or streaked breast of a Savannah Sparrow; it did not have the gray head and other markings of a Sagebrush Sparrow; it didn't have the rufous cap and dark eye line of a Chipping Sparrow; and it appeared to me to be even plainer on the side of the face than a Brewer's Sparrow, and slightly larger and chunkier. And I doubt that any other species would fly directly and immediately toward the sound of a singing Cassin's Sparrow.
Previous experience with this & similar species:	I have no previous experience with this species, but I have seen the other sparrows I might expect in this habitat at least twice this year with the exception of the Sagebrush Sparrow.
References consulted:	Cornell University's eBird and Merlin app; Complete Birds of North America by National Geographic; Birds of Western North America by Sterry and Small; and Peterson's Field Guide to Birds of North America.
Description from:	Notes made later
Observer:	Noel Zaugg
Observer's address:	268 Sweetwater Drive, Springville, UT 84663
Observer's e-mail address:	**
Other observers who independently identified this bird:	None that were there with me, but the bird has been reported to eBird at this exact spot by Dennis Shirley, Suzi Holt, and many others in the last week or so.
Date prepared:	July 17, 2020
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